Geocaching

Geocaching is a way to spice up a trip for kids. Who wouldn’t like hunting for hidden treasure? Plus, the search can take you to places you would never otherwise have thought of going.

In short, it is about finding hidden “caches” (treasures) using GPS coordinates. A cache can be of various sizes and contain various things. Usually there is a logbook inside where you write down when and where you found the cache. Some caches also contain items you can swap.

Watch out for the difficulty. Some caches can be very hard to reach and may even require climbing gear. So always read the cache description and check the difficulty and terrain rating.

To be able to search, you need to register for free on the geocaching.com website. Then you download an app that shows you where the cache is located. On Android there is the free app c:geo; on iOS it is the official Geocaching app, which unfortunately has a monthly fee.

Before the trip it is a good idea to check where the caches are, whether they are still active and whether they can be found (in the logbook). Some caches may have already been removed or destroyed. Since the signal at the location may be poor, it is wise to save the cache information so that it is available offline too.

A hint is usually stored with the cache, which you can use if you cannot find it.

Once you find it, you sign the logbook and record the find in the app.