Interview with geocaching duo, lostwithlydia
❤️ A geocaching date?! ❤️ What’s not to love about spending time with your favorite person and traveling the world? Meet Lydia from (joepluslydia): full-time blogger, social media content creator, travel planning enthusiast, and geocacher!
We interviewed Lydia, one half of the dynamic duo of lostwithlydia from Instagram and TikTok to learn how they discovered geocaching, what makes for the best geocaching partnership, favorite travel destinations, and much more.
Geocaching HQ: What’s your background outside of geocaching? How did you two meet?
We actually met in preschool! We were family friends growing up but didn’t start dating until we were 18. We attended prom together (at both of our high schools) and happened to be attending the same university. We’ve now been together for over 10 years and travel full-time together! Adventure has always been an important part of our relationship – we ziplined at our wedding!
Geocaching HQ: How and when did you hear about geocaching? Have you always cached together?
Joe was involved in the Boy Scouts growing up and learned about geocaching through that. He used to use an old-school GPS to find caches on camping trips. I had never heard of it until he introduced it to me.
I quickly fell in love with it and became something that we loved to do together early in our relationship. At the time, I had never hiked, and I think of geocaching as the gateway that encouraged me to spend more and more time outdoors.
Geocaching HQ: Which cache got you two hooked?
Our first cache was a simple one. It was a magnetic micro cache in a local Subway parking lot. It blew my mind that these could just be hidden in plain sight and that you would never know they were there unless you were looking! I was hooked right away.
@lostwithlydia What started your love for the outdoors? A little over 10 years ago, when Joe and I first started dating, he introduced me to Geocaching. I was immediately hooked and it became an activity that we loved to do together. If you’re not familiar, @Geocaching HQ is the world’s largest treasure hunt! 🗺️ There are millions of caches hidden all over the world, and you find them by downloading the app and following the coordinates. If you get stuck, there are hints to help you out. And when you find it, you can sign the log and keep track of your findings on the app. [A D] It’s a fantastic activity to do as a date, with your friends or with your family. It’s also a great way to explore a new city, or your own backyard 💚 Download the app and give it a try! Have you been Geocaching before? #GetOutsideMore #AdventureSeekers #GetOutsideandPlay #ExploreMore ♬ original sound – Lost with Lydia
Geocaching HQ: Why do you like to cache together?
I have a bit of an obsession with making lists and exploring new places. Geocaching is the perfect activity for us because it can be done anywhere and satisfies my urge to visit new places. It has encouraged us to discover some new hidden gems, spend more time outside, and work together to solve problems.
Geocaching HQ: Do you both bring different skills to geocaching? If so, what are they?
I’m someone who loves doing research, so I’m usually the one controlling the app, reading the clues if needed, and planning out where to hunt. Joe, on the other hand, has great observation skills. He is usually the one who actually ends up finding the cache!
Geocaching HQ: What do you enjoy most about finding and filming geocaches?
The sense of discovery and the feeling of accomplishment. I love that it encourages us to spend more time outside, and I love the “rush” I get whenever I find a new cache. Taking a little time to search for a cache can immediately turn my mood around.
Geocaching HQ: What is your favorite geocaching location you’ve traveled to? Why does it stand out as a favorite?
I’d have to say the city of Lisbon, Portugal. It is a beautiful city full of history and had been on our bucket list for years.
We incorporated geocaching into our own self-guided walk around the city and found a cache at a stunning viewpoint overlooking the water. We also found a cache right next to a popular tourist attraction. It always fascinates me when I find caches in busy areas. It makes me wonder about all of the little things that we miss and reminds me to be present.
Geocaching HQ: What are your favorite cache(s) you’ve found together?
Recently, we intentionally sought to find some more unique caches in Ohio. We found some great ones! One included a puzzle and a secret code (GCA03Z4). You had to plug in a battery and count blinking lights in order to decode it and open the padlock. Plus, it was right next to a delicious donut shop!
We also found a “large” geocache for the first time (GC3J5AD). It was in a giant bucket hidden at a nature center, and it was full of toys and goodies. We are used to finding microcaches, so this was a really special find.
@lostwithlydia If you need a last-minute gift idea and you prefer giving experiences > things, I have an idea for you! [ad] A @Geocaching Premium Membership makes a fantastic gift. If you’re not familiar, Geocaching is essentially a worldwide scavenger hunt. Caches are hidden all over the world. Some involve riddles. Some involve answering a question about geology or history. Some are gigantic and others are miniscule. There are 1000’s around the world and they’re all unique, so you’ll never get bored! Geocaching is free, but the Premium Membership gives you more access to special caches. If you’d like to try out the membership, use code LOSTWITHLYDIA and you’ll get a 7-day free trial. You must select a monthly subscription to use the code. If you’ve been Geocaching, what is the most unique cache you’ve found? And if you haven’t tried it yet, download the app and see if there are any caches enroute for your next road trip. Check out the link in my bio to download the app! #Geocaching #OutdoorAdventure #OhioRoadTrip #AdventureMore ♬ original sound – Lost with Lydia
Geocaching HQ: What advice would you give to couples who want to start geocaching together?
I recommend planning a date around geocaching! Choose a part of your city that you want to explore and hunt for several geocaches throughout the day. Plus, pick out a nearby restaurant or ice cream shop, and enjoy a day full of exploring. It can be so much fun to explore your own backyard.
I also recommend having fun with it and not putting too much pressure on it. You may not always be able to find them, and that’s okay.
Finally, don’t forget a pen!
Geocaching HQ: How and where can people find you and your geocaching content?
You can find me at @lostwithlydia on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook! You can also read about our adventures and find travel guides at https://www.lostwithlydia.com.
