Geocaching – a treasure hunt for families with a difference

Geocaching Durdle Door

Durdle Door – a geocache location

I have to confess that the word geocaching used to leave me cold. I had visions of map-reading in extreme circumstances, rain, rock scrambling, and walking – WALKING! Just Dance it is not. Nor is it hanging out with friends, watching the X-Factor, or chilling out in bed with a book. In short, not something I wanted to do.

But then we did geocaching at Center Parcs: we scrapped over who was going to follow the GPS coordinates, and by the time we had our second code we were hooked. We came home determined to continue, and geocaching became a regular habit. It started with the discovery of our first trackable bug – Percy, whose goal was to get to Antarctica (we helped a little by transferring him from Hertfordshire to Weymouth. Now everywhere we go is an opportunity to join the world’s largest treasure hunt.

Geocaching trackable bug

How to go geocaching with kids

Daddy in particular has become a massive fan, to the extent that in planning his birthday celebrations this year we neglected to book Gaucho to fulfil his love of steak, and took him instead on a geocaching trail. First, we wrapped his presents, and labelled them clearly, on the offchance that someone else might find it first!

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Then 2 hours ahead of his return time from work, we set out on a geocaching trail, hiding his gifts alongside already plotted caches. We ended at a favourite pub, where we convinced the management to hand over the final gift, 2 glasses of champagne, and the location of Mummy’s table in the restaurant. He got his steak. And he declared it “the best birthday in a long time…”

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To get started on geocaching for yourself, visit www.geocaching.com. Or if you have very little children you might like these Gruffalo trails.

35 thoughts on “Geocaching – a treasure hunt for families with a difference”

  1. A trackable bug? Why have we never found one? I hope he makes it. (starts making plans to go geocaching this weekend)

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  2. I’m not sure if The Boy is too young for Geocaching, he’s 4.5, what do you reckon? YOu seem to be becoming a bit of a master at this! What a wonderful birthday surprise, you’ve given me ideas for my husband’s next birthday.

    Nipping over from Country Kids.

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    • I’d say maybe wait a year – they really do need to be able to walk a few k’s, but it’s a great distraction and mine walk much further on a geocaching session than they would on a normal walk. The Bug, at just turned 6, is just about the right age to cope, and GG at 9 loves it

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  3. A great idea for his birthday! I’ve been pondering this geocahing for a little while, and I think you’ve just convinced me 🙂

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  4. Keep meaning to try this, apparently we have a number of geocaches in our little town – need to get organised.

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  5. I think Mummy enjoyed it the most. You appear to have gained a few children along the way too. I like the idea of taking something and leaving something else behind.

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  6. What an amazing birthday surprise! I bet he loved that! 🙂 We haven’t actually done any geocaching yet, but it’s on the list!

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  7. I’ve always fancied geocaching but have only now got myself a decent phone which I could use. Does it use a lot of data as my monthly allowance is tiny?

    I think your birthday idea for your husband is inspired – I was excited just reading about it so your hubby must have been ecstatic!

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  8. we love GCing, we have 2 trackables out in the world, one has traveled the world and back again and the other is currently in Germany, its great exercise in the fresh air for kids without them even realising xxx

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  9. What a brilliant idea and one to put aside for a year or two until the girls can cope with long walks. I LOVE your husbands birthday cache, did he get all of his pressies? I’d be so worried someone found them

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  10. What fantastic fun and a special birthday treat for your Daddy. Durdle Door looks beautiful and a great spot for geocaching. Thanks for linking up and sharing your fun with Country Kids.

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  11. I have heard such amazing things about geocaching and it’s on my to do list! What a wonderful place to do it and what an amazing birthday indeed 🙂

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  12. We have a set of travel bugs ready to create our own caches 🙂 What an amazing birthday treat for Daddy! Fantastic x

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  13. It sounds like it was an amazing birthday and you’ve enlightened me into the world of geocaching! Linking up with #CountryKids

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  14. I’ve been curious about geocaching for a while, but it looks super fun and definitely like something we’d enjoy as a family. Definitely going to look into it a bit more now, thanks!

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  15. We are hooked too although were so busy on our holiday we completely forgot to do any in Cornwall! Never found a trackable though

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  16. I would like to try geocaching, though it might be too much walking for the littlest one. Would be a good way to get the big boys motivated, sometimes it’s hard to get them out for a walk, but they always have fun when we’re out!

    Popping over from Country Kids – I did read your post on Friday but I always find it rather challenging posting comments when I’m on the phone – is that just me?!

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  17. I’m currently being a bit naughty and holding on to a trackable. We found it in our first cache (we’ve only found 2 so far) and I keep looking for places it leave it, but we seem to go to places that only have micro cache. I must make more effort.

    Love the idea of birthday present trail, I hope they weren’t difficult to carry.

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  18. What a great birthday treasure hunt! My family loves to geocache. The trackable items are so much fun. We moved a trackable item from Texas, USA to Ottawa, Canada last Christmas and have enjoyed tracking where it has been since then. I stopped over from Country Kids.

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  19. I’ve been wanting to do this for ages, but never got round to finding out how to do it. So thanks for the kick in backside, so to speak! I’d LOVE this for my bday, which happens to fall in half term when we’ll be in Scotland next week – me thinks I’ll be forwarding your post to my OH…..cheers Helen, Sx

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