Elevate your family vacation into an epic treasure-hunting adventure with an item that most families are guaranteed to have at least one of – a smartphone.
Have you heard of geocaching?
Geocaching is a worldwide ‘treasure hunt’ game enjoyed by all ages. All you need is a smartphone or GPS device, and you can find yourself discovering new places.
The first geocache was hidden way back in May 2000, when Dave Ulmer wanted to try out GPS technology which had become available to the public. He set prizes for members of the public in Beaverton, Oregon, who could find his treasures, and pretty soon people were hiding their own. This initiative has snowballed to over 3 million geocaches hidden worldwide today, spread over 191 different countries on all seven continents, including Antarctica!
Geocaches come in all shapes and sizes, and some even contain ‘treasures’ – small trinkets you can take out and replace with one of your own. The trinket is usually something of token value, such as a key ring, novelty toy, or small memento.
Here’s how you do it
To find geocaches near you, download and open the Geocaching App. Select a geocache to find, and use the app to navigate close to it. If you are using a dedicated GPS device, you will input the coordinates beforehand.
When you approach the location, you will need to hunt around for it, guided by clues and messages in the app left by previous seekers. Be sure to return it for the next treasure hunter to find!
But…why?
Kim Tate, who runs a popular family travel website, has found plenty of geocaches with her girls and completed the GeoTour at Rocky Mountain National Park. She emphasizes, “Geocaching and GeoTours are fantastic for families as they encourage outdoor exploration. Anytime I can get my kids outdoors, being active, and having fun, I consider it a family vacation win.”
She loves witnessing how her children are drawn into the excitement of finding the next clue while exploring unique aspects of their surroundings. “City searches can be enjoyable because they often lead you to popular sites that you would typically want to see on a walking tour.”
A huge advantage is that most families already possess a smartphone, making geocaching a practically free activity to enjoy wherever you travel.
The world’s longest treasure hunt?
Australia is home to the Outback Way-Finder Geocache Trail, featuring 35 caches situated at points of natural, cultural, historic, or scientific interest. Beginning at Winton in Queensland and extending along a dusty and often corrugated 2800km (1740-mile) road, the trail concludes at Laverton in Western Australia, and passes by the iconic Uluru along the way.
This adventure requires an adventurous spirit and a 4WD, but you will discover parts of Australia that even many locals have yet to experience.
Finally! Something your teenager will also enjoy
Geocaching is not just for families with younger children. Cameron Davis, age 15, has explored numerous geocaches worldwide with his family and shares his adventures on his YouTube channel. He states, “The ones I loved the most were during our RV trip in the Pacific Northwest and the one I did most recently at Val Jalbert.”
Val Jalbert is a historical village located in the heart of the 1920s in Quebec, Canada. This unique village offers an interactive treasure hunt that involves using GPS and answering questions to enhance the adventure.
“I appreciated how the questions in Quebec weren’t too hard but still made you think,” Cameron adds, noting “The caches were all scattered around Val Jalbert’s property, creating an exciting opportunity to explore new sights.”
Level up your next family holiday with a cache-pedition
So give the theme parks a miss, get everyone outdoors and active, and embark on an unforgettable treasure hunt. You don’t have to travel far to experience a geocaching adventure, and who knows, you might uncover a side of your own city that you haven’t yet explored.
