Geocaching Is The Original Pokemon Go

Do you regularly explore, looking for adventure? Geocaching is a treasure hunting game that takes players throughout the world looking for hidden “caches” or containers with items in them. They can be hidden anywhere, with some closer than expected.

The website was started in late 2000 by Jeremy Irish, who used it to record “geocache” locations and has now grown it into a worldwide phenomenon with more than 3 million caches placed. With more active Geocachers than the entire population of Hong Kong, now is a better time than ever to set out on this adventure.

Becoming a Geocacher is quite simple. After downloading the app on your smartphone, create an account and look at the surrounding area on the provided map. Marked locations signify caches. Tap on their icon and the cache’s page will come up, giving information on it and how to find it.

Because every cache is different, there are some things to consider. Every cache has a difficulty rating and a terrain rating, showing how difficult traversing the area could be or how well-hidden it is. It will also display its size, ranging from micro (XS) to large (L), or an other category for caches than don’t fit in regularly with the others. There will also be a general description to tell you a story or give context about the cache. Finally, there is the optional hint that the hider may or may not give, the comment section where other players discuss their experience on the adventure and, of course, the GPS/map with its marked location. This is all the information a basic cache can offer, so now it’s up to the player to get to the searching.

Florida alone has 42,252 caches hidden inside its state borders, each one offering a unique experience for players. Some stand-out spots include a trail of caches along the road to Key West, perfectly placed caches to form the shape of an airplane in Pennsuco placed by user “Kutiepie,” as well as a dolphin in Boca Raton by user “-DOLFINANDO-”.

There are currently two caches at Wolfson Campus, one near Medical Campus and West Campus, and three near Hialeah Campus. There are also 10 located at Kendall Campus, with more in the surrounding area.

Chase Daniel Johnson from Chaffe, New York began his adventure in 2004, not expecting that 14 years later he would be only a bit short of 30,000 successful cache finds and have traveled all around the world for them.

“I would say that the two things that have kept me doing geocaching for so long would have to be my mom because it’s a bonding activity that we share and also the fact that geocaching allows me to have some alone time away from the craziness of everyday life,” Johnson said.  

Clearly the game has made an impact on Johnson’s life and has allowed him to experience travel differently than a regular tourist. He’s traveled across most of the United States and internationally, landing in countries like England, Dubai and Bahrain. When asked where he wanted to go Geocaching, he said, “Alaska, so I can complete my US 50 State Map and also Barcelona.”