Geocaching is one of those terms that I’ve heard but never really knew what it meant. Several people suggested it as a fun and cheap activity to do here in Colorado Springs, so I looked it up and it sounds like tons of fun!
According to Geocaching.com, “geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing) is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure. A geocacher can place a geocache in the world, pinpoint its location using GPS technology and then share the geocache’s existence and location online. Anyone with a GPS device can then try to locate the geocache.”
You can go to Geocaching.com and enter your zip code to find geocaches near you. Here’s some to get you started in Colorado Springs.
Now to find a deal on a GPS device… ;) Thanks for the awesome suggestion, Erin, Katrina, and Heather!
Another similar-sounding activity with no cost or initial investment is letterboxing. Alyse said:
“It is very similar to geocaching but without the GPS. There are hundreds of boxes in the springs and the two websites for finding them is atlasquest.com and letterboxing.org. You simply have a log book and stamp (homemade or store bought), stamps pads, pen, and bring the whole family.
The letterbox contains a logbook, stamp(usually homemade), and sometimes a stamp pad. You follow the directions, discreetly find the box, stamp your stamp in the letterbox log book and stamp the boxes stamp in yours, and discreetly return the box to its hiding place. Kids absolutely love this and it is basically free. Check the websites above for the rules of etiquitte for letterboxing.”
Reader Erin is an avid letterboxer and was interviewed by the Gazette in this article about letterboxing. Sounds like cheap fun!
Have you geocached or letterboxed in Colorado Springs? What are your insider tips? Make sure to check out the growing list of Cheap Things To Do in Colorado Springs.
$1.25 for Lucerne (half gallon) at Safeway, Fri-Sun Only
We have been geocaching for a couple of years now and my kids absolutely love it. The initial investment of the GPS (we bought ours on craigslist) has been well worth the hours of fun it has provided our family. My kids are always asking me when are we going on our next “treasure hunt”.
Never heard about Letterboxing, but will give it a try with the kids soon. Thanks.
I have geocached for years – it is great, healthy, cheap fun that you can do anywhere you go!
Geocaching is great. It makes a long 3 day trip back to the east coast a lot more fun, and when deciding to drive overnight getting the the next cache keeps you going. Also they have great get togethers with other local cachers.
I’ve Geocached for a few years now. Yes, the initial cost can be steep, but I found a used GPS on craigslist! (to replace to one hubby bought me for my b-day that died, and was resurrected – so now I have two!)
You don’t HAVE to take or leave anything from the caches you find – all that’s required is that you sign the log and then come back to your computer and sign the on-line log (so you account will be credited for the find!) Membership CAN be free! I’ve never become a premium member (don’t do it regularly enough to warrant that — yet!) and there are still a TON of caches available to me – for free!! I never knew there were SOOO many established trails around here. I even found an ancient cemetary on monarch pass that I would never have know about had I not be ‘caching! – so it can be educational too! I highly recommend it!!