How to Plan a Geocaching Vacation

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Techie travelers have long embraced the fun, tech-driven, on-the-road adventure that is geocaching. For those of us who haven't caught on to the craze just yet, here's a quick-and-easy guide to geocaching:
WHAT'S THE HISTORY OF GEOCACHING?

Back in 2000, the U.S. government released the "selective availability" hold on GPS technology, essentially opening up satellite access to anyone with a GPS device. The very next day, a computer consultant named Dave Ulmer buried a bucket of trinkets in the woods outside of Beavercreek, Oregon, and then posted the coordinates on a GPS user's group with the simple instructions, "Take something, leave something." And, just like that, geocaching was born.
WHO USES GEOCACHING?

In the 14 years since that first "cache" was hidden, geocaching has grown into a popular hobby practiced by over 6 million people in 185 countries—and has been used in locations as remote as Antarctica or Easter Island, and even underwater or in space.

HOW DOES GEOCACHING WORK?

The premise is simple: Anyone can hide a container (called a cache), register the coordinates online, and check on the cache regularly to make sure it is still active (and hasn't been carted away by an animal or out-of-the-loop human). Then, participants can use smartphone apps or GPS devices to go in search of these hidden "treasures," which are located just about everywhere: think suburban parking lots, hotel lobbies, city parks, or along hiking trails in remote national parks.

Each cache is categorized based on the difficulty of the terrain and how tricky it might be to find. Cache containers vary considerably—from camouflaged Altoids tins to fake rocks to tree stumps—and typically contain a logbook and pencil (so successful geocachers can record their find), and trinkets like key chains, plastic toys, beads, or coins. The "take something, leave something" rule still applies, meaning that you should replace whatever you uncover, while keeping in mind that the goal of geocaching is less about what you turn up than the journey you take to get there.
WHAT'S THE POINT OF GEOCACHING?

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Given its aim of getting people out to explore new areas—be it a natural setting or even parts of their own cities—geocaching has proved a hit with a wide array of users. The most popular geocaching app and website, Geocaching.com, has logged rave reviews from parents (who love it as a way to get kids active and out in nature), pilots and flight crews (who use it as a fun way to explore a new layover city), environmentalists (who have incorporated it into cleanup drives), and more. Some folks have even set up geocaching-themed proposals and birthday surprises. American astronaut Rick Mastracchio recently took one of Geocaching.com'sckable TravelBug tags (a sort of dog tag) with him on a trip to the International Space Station to help teach kids about geography—and then proceeded to find another cache that had been hidden on the International Space Station five years ago.

Back on earth, Geocacaching.com has partnered with tourism boards, historical societies, and national parks around the world to create "GeoTours" that lead users through a particular area in search of a series of caches, each highlighting a noteworthy site or picturesque setting. The themed trails might include anywhere from 10 to over 100 caches, and participants can spend just a couple of hours or devote a few days in the area to try and log them all; there are typically prizes for participants who complete the whole list.
HOW CAN I GET STARTED GEOCACHING?

Here are the basics on five standout domestic GeoTours (with no location spoilers!) to get you started; for more details on geocaching and to download the free or upgraded apps, visitGeocaching.com.

1. GeoTour: '20s Speakeasy

Location: West City, IL

Number of Caches: 40

Located in southern Illinois, about a 90-minute drive from St. Louis, Missouri, West City and its surrounding Benton County were notorious during the 1920s Prohibition era, thanks to local gangster Charlie Birger's bootlegging (and other, more violently criminal) activities. This GeoTour's 40 caches, mostly found along Interstate 57 and near Rend Lake, are themed around this scandalous period, with names like "Stool Pigeon," "Bathtub Gin," "Gumshoe," and "Dollface."

2. GeoTour: Eugene, Cascades & Coast

Location: Oregon

Number of Caches: 108

One of the largest GeoTours currently offered, this Oregon option is actually made up of four adjacent editions. The McKenzie River tour highlights the waterfalls, old-growth forests, and lava fields along the river and in the Cascade Mountains (including hikes in several national parks), while the Florence tour goes from charming small towns and lighthouses to the seal caves and dunes along the beautiful Oregon coast. Lakes, fish hatcheries, and woodlands are part of the Oakridge/Westfir edition, and the Territorial Highway version—launching March 2014—spotlights historic covered bridges, farm stands, old Gold Rush towns, and several South Willamette Valleywineries.

3. GeoTour: Birthplace of Texas

Location: Washington County, TX

Number of Caches: 28

Set between Houston and Austin, Washington County, Texas, boasts rolling hills, notable historic sites and homes, and wildflower-filled scenic spots—plus Bluebell, the most famous ice cream brand in the state. If you go in search of all 28 caches along this trail, you'll travel about 80 miles and through five towns, stopping at locations like the oldest continuously operating cotton gin in the nation, an 1898 mansion, an antique carousel, and the church where Sam Houston was baptized. Of course, there's some ice cream involved, too.

4. GeoTour: Smithsonian Natural History

Location: Washington, D.C.; Pennsylvania; Maryland; and Virginia

Number of Caches: 9

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Sponsored by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, this trail is a bit different from the others: the coordinates of each of the nine caches are only revealed after you've solved a puzzle or answered a question, which may require web research, museum visits, or in-the-field activities. Since archeological and geological education is the goal, you'll learn about some of the activities, research programs, and exhibits at the museum along the way. The caches are spread out over three states and Washington, D.C, and are located in areas like a wetland habitat and a fossil-rich dinosaur park.

Road Trip Planner: South Africa's Karoo Region

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Though it lacks the grandeur of a Moroccan dune at sunset or the Moab, South Africa's Karoo, the desert hinterland separating the Western Cape from the country's interior, is filled with interesting people, fascinating history, and charmingly bizarre towns that complement its sublime natural beauty. To see the best this region has to offer, pack up the car and hit the road.
COASTS TO GHOSTS: CAPE TOWN TO PRINCE ALBERT



Decamping from Cape Town, take the nation's N1 arterial highway northeast, where the backdrop quickly turns picturesque with farmland and mountain passes. At the town of Worcester, divert to the scenic Route 62 towards Barrydale if you're not in a hurry. A pretty little town nestled against the Langeberg Mountains, Barrydale is known for its style brigade of artists and weavers, natural hot springs, and enthusiastically gay-friendly vibe, particularly at the excellent Barrydale Karoo Hotel. Alternately, stay on the N1 and stop for a country-style meal at Die Veld Country Store (just after the Hex River Valley).

In a few hours you'll reach Prince Albert, a serious contender for South Africa's most charming town and the gateway to the breathtaking Swartberg Pass. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this unpaved mountain pass climbs just shy of a mile high through lichen-covered cliffs; its craggy surrounds are perfect for epic hiking and mountain-biking expeditions. If you're interested, the owners of the gorgeous Dennehof Guesthouse organize day trips.

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Prince Albert itself is a tribute to local architectural styles from the 18th to early-20th centuries. To learn about the stories behind these walls, join historian Alisa Tudhope's fantastically bizarre Ghost Walk. When hunger strikes, head to Prince Albert's Gallery Café and Bistro for spectacular fine cuisine sans attitude, surrounded by tasteful fine art (the nearby galery Watershed sells iconic black-and-white photographs).



When it's time to call it a day, you'll have your pick of lovely guesthouses for all budgets. A top choice would be the stylish De Bergkant Lodge, an immaculately restored Cape Dutch home brimming with exquisite antiques with all the modern conveniences and truly superb service.
GET WILD: PRINCE ALBERT TO SAMARA GAME RESERVE



Leaving Prince Albert, take the route via the Meiringspoort Gorge. Another spectacular mountain pass, Meiringspoort follows the low road through a stunning canyon gorge, crossing the Groot River no less than 25 times in 15 miles. A deep swimming hole at the well-marked Great Waterfall makes a great picnic stop. Head toward Graaff-Reinet, an architecturally fascinating town perfect for a quick visit on the way to your final destination.

Your next stop is Samara Private Game Reserve, a 70,000-acre reserve whose exquisite landscape—watch out for wildlife—will serve as backdrop for another 45 minutes until you reach the lodge. The ambiance and service here are top-notch, with spacious private bungalows that boast views of a waterhole. Spend your days tracking cheetah and rhino on foot, or on game drives through some of the most stunning scenery available in a South African game area.
QUIRKY CHARACTERS: SAMARA TO NIEU-BETHESDA



From Samara, it's about an hour and a half to Nieu-Bethesda, a tiny village off a dirt road, where a population of local artists has created a funky, shabby-chic vibe—look for the post office that serves tea and cake, a surprisingly well-stocked bookstore, and a B&B in a fairy-tale tower. Though you won't find any banks or gas stations here, Nieu-Bethesda is well worth a visit.

The main attraction here is The Owl House. Once the residence of recluse Helen Martins, the walls of the now-museum are covered in a rainbow of crushed glass, and its garden is crowded with cement-and-wire sculptures of owls, camels, and angels. Fascinating, bizarre, and a little creepy, Martins' masterpiece was made famous by South African playwright Athol Fugard, who also called Nieu-Bethesda home.

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About four miles out of town, the Ganora Guest Farm is not to be missed. For those looking to stay in the area, this gorgeous sheep farm boasts a variety of excellent lodging options, all housed in the farm's tastefully renovated outbuildings. Meanwhile, amateur (or professional) paleontologists should not miss the outstanding fossil collection at the farm's small museum; even better, join owner J.P. on a fossil walk through the bush. Hikes to see high-caliber Bushman rock art are also fantastic and informative.