As geocachers around the world start planning for Maker Magic and work to earn Favorite Fan souvenirs for Wheel of Challenges this month by receiving Favorite points and finding highly-Favorited caches, certain questions are buzzing around geocaching communities. What should I do to help my owned geocache gain more Favorite points? Which caches should I award my own precious Favorite points to? To help guide you on your Favorite Fan journey, we’re offering some tips on what makes a Favorite point-worthy geocache. Read on to learn more.

Image by Captain_Cookie.

Creative containers
Putting some extra thought into the appearance or function of your geocache container is one tried and true way for a cache to earn more Favorite points. There are lots of ways to have fun with this. If your geocache has a certain theme or is in a location with a certain theme, get crafty and add detail to the container to make it match the theme in an eye-catching way. A great example of this is the geocache Dr. Who FVCB5 (GC9QX5E), which is hidden inside a replica of the famous time-traveling TARDIS from the Dr. Who TV show. If you lack the carpentry skills to build something that is bigger on the inside, there are many easier ways to make a container special, ranging from gluing rocks on the lid for camouflage, or doing the opposite for a very well-hidden ‘treasure chest’ by making it sparkle with glued on gemstones.

The Golden Circle (GC6AZJF). Image by Geo-Skelli.

Stunning locations
If you look at the highly-Favorited cache on the geocaching map, you’ll start to notice a pattern; geocaches with lots of Favorite points are often in locations that are enjoyable to look at. If you’re looking to increase the number of Favorite points received on your owned geocaches, consider placing a quality cache near a scenic view of nature, or impressive architecture.

Marooned (GC20). Image by PurpleCatPaws.

Memorable experiences
Many cachers award Favorite points to geocaches that create experiences beyond the typical walk to the coordinates and quick search for the container. Maybe your geocache could require tree climbing, or paddling by kayak to reach its hiding place? Another great way for your geocache to create a memorable experience is for it to require teamwork. Getting together with friends to solve a puzzle or figure out a gadget cache is a rewarding experience that can lead to awarding Favorite points.

What makes you want to give a geocache a Favorite point? Share in the comments below!