Spring is a great time to get out and explore the world around you. One great way to get to know a place is via geocaching, essentially a GPS-assisted treasure hunt.
A number of tourism, park and land management agencies have created geocaching trails, taking the fun one step further and allowing you to explore a historic theme.
Finding the approximately 70 caches of the Delaware Geocaching Trail will take you to estates, gardens and sanctuaries at historical, agricultural and cultural sites of America’s First State.
Dahlonega Gold Museum courtesy Get Outdoors Georgia
Georgia’s History Trail takes you to fourteen historic sites. Each site, however, is the site of a multi-cache, a mini-treasure hunt requiring going to two or more locations within the site.
The Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail takes you on a multi-state journey commemorating the birth of America’s national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. The trail links more than thirty sites that are part of the landscape of the Chesapeake Campaign of the War of 1812.
The Ohio Historic Society has placed caches at a number of its historic sites, such as Flint Ridge, Fort Ancient and the Zane Grey Museum. They are planning more!
While it is forbidden for individuals to place geocaches on US Federal lands, the National Park Service is itself getting involved in geocaching. They are a partner in the Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail; the Fort Smith National Historic Site, in Arkansas, has put a multi-stage geocache on their grounds. Others are sure to follow!
Parks Canada image
Parks Canada actively welcomes geocachers and, with restrictions and procedures, allows individuals to place cases at national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas. Their guide is available online. You can get started hunting for the six caches at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site in Nova Scotia.
Now get going! Cache in on history!
Learn more about geocaching and set up an account to log your finds at geocaching.com. You will need an account (free to register) to see the locations and other details of the caches.
As with any visit to culturally significant sites, please tread lightly and respectfully.
