When is a hike more than just a hike? Geocaching can turn an everyday hike into a treasure hunt. With 171 state parks and weather that lets you enjoy the outdoors nearly year round, Florida is a geocaching hot spot. There are more than 65 hidden caches you can discover on a geocaching tour of Florida.
With 171 state parks throughout the state, Florida has many miles of hiking trails, much of which are part of the geocache trail, an informal group of spots with secrets to uncover.
Geocaching is a fun and family friendly activity using GPS devices to track down hidden goodies with a set of coordinates. Players can get their coordinates from geocaching groups and clubs, then search for their prize, usually a small trinket or souvenir. Geocachers then leave their own small token for the next player to find. You never know what you might discover!
Geocaching enthusiasts keep logbooks of their finds, including the coordinates. Some submit their findings in online forums. The geocaching trails in Florida range from easy to moderate and, given the large number of state parks, finding one nearby is almost a given. Whether you’re a visitor or a resident, there is probably a hidden cache near you.
Players leave all sorts of prizes for others to find. Anything from seashells to pretty stones, postcards, small toys, coins (especially foreign currency), or friendship bracelets might be found tucked into a hollow tree or placed under a pile of stones.
While it is not recommended that people leave food items or anything heavily scented in a cache, you should also remember that people of all ages take part in this activity so keep prizes appropriate for kids as well as adults.
Taking a geocaching tour of Florida can add new energy to a family outing and make for a fun and memorable weekend adventure.
Featured Image from Annie Spratt/Unsplash
