December 1, 2014 / Janelle /

Croatia! Hrvatska! New Country Souvenirs! Ura!

Croatia/Hrvatska Geocaching Souvenir will be officially released on Monday, December 22nd, 2014

Croatia, a.k.a. Republika Hrvatska, is a centuries-old country that is situated between central and eastern Europe and the Adriatic Sea. It covers 56,594 square kilometers (21,851 square miles) with a population of over 4.3 million. Croatia has it all – mountains, beaches, bustling cities, big outdoor adventures, culture, art, and of course, geocaches. Lots and lots of geocaches.

Country Souvenirs are virtual pieces of art that are displayed on your Geocaching profile page when you find a geocache in certain locations.

Today we proudly unveil the Geocaching Souvenir for The Land of a Thousand Islands: Croatia! To celebrate, we are also highlighting five must-see geocaches from this marvelous land. Ura!

Croatia's 5 Must-See Geocaches — Croatia’s 5 Must-See Geocaches

1. GC34ZA7 – Tkalca – Zagreb – Traditonal Geocache

We begin our tour in the capitol city of Zagreb on Tkalčićeva Street. Full of restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, and plenty of nightlife, this is a great place to meet up with friends, take a stroll, or grab a traditional geocache. And while you’re there, make sure to visit the statue of Marija Juric Zagorka, a Croatian journalist, novelist, and dramatist.

2. GC1FNKR – plitvice lakes – Earth Cache

Next we head south to the very famous series of 16 cascading lakes known as Plitvice Lakes. This breathtaking natural wonder ranges in color from tropical blue to slate grey depending on the amount of minerals and/or organisms, and the angle of the sunlight. At 282 Favorite Points, this geocache is the most geo-beloved in the entire country.

If you need more, check out this link to a virtual panorama and an interactive map from the Plitvice Lakes National Parks website.

3. GC1TDDE – Kamenjak Sandy Beach – in the vicinity of Pula near the small village Premantura – Traditional Geocache

Third stop on our tour is in Cape Kamenjak. So says the geocache page:

…one of the most beautiful areas in the vicinity of Pula, near the small and pittoresque village of Premantura. It’s the southernmost part of the peninsula of Istria, a strip of land fully exposed to the sun and the sea.

The coastline and beaches of Cape Kamenjak are rocky, some small gravel beaches are situated in beautiful coves – and you wouldn’t believe it, but there also exists a tiny and small sandy beach in this area, one of the very few sandy beaches all over Istria! In summer it is crowded, of course, but in spring or autumn it’s a nice place to take a bath in the clear and blue waters of Cape Kamenjak. This little traditional will lead you to this cove…have fun!

So grab a picnic basket, some sunscreen, and your cache-bag, and start searchin’!

4. GC322MF – Zadar Sea Organ – Zadar – Traditional Geocache

The amazing sculpture/instrument known as the Sea Organ (Croatian: Morske orgulje) is made up of tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps underwater. The movement of the waves crashing over the tubes creates music. At sunset, the Sun Salutation switches on and displays a series of bright colorful lights. The motion of the lights depends on the solar energy collected throughout the day as well as the power of the waves and mimics the motion of the solar system. All eight planets are represented by solar lights placed at their proportional distances from the sun. Both installations were designed by the architect Nikola Bašić. Far out!

5. GCG8XE – Port a Foot – Dubrovnic – Virtual Geocache

Our final destination is Dubrovnik (also spelled Dubrovnic), known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Dubrovnik is believed to be one of the ten best preserved medieval walled cities in the world. It’s full of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces, and fountains. Absolutely gorgeous!

Yep. It’s definitely time to book your flight to Croatia to see the amazing sites and earn this sweet souvenir!

We will unveil two new souvenirs each week until all SIX are officially released and awarded on Monday, December 22, 2014 to be proudly displayed on your profile. Souvenirs that are currently available can be found here. You can view which ones you’ve already earned by checking out your Souvenirs on Geocaching.com.

What’s your favorite geocaching souvenir that you’ve earned?

September 30, 2014 / Derek H /

3 Ideas for Creating a Deviously Clever Geocache

A decoy from Before You Can Torment, You Must Learn to Annoy (GCK2BA). Photo by geocacher calipidder

I recently attended a the Berkshire Geobash #3 Mega-Event in Massachusetts and came across one of the most devious hides I’ve ever seen. So devious, it inspired me to write a whole blog post dedicated to creating geocaches that some may consider “evil”. Not evil in the possessed by spirits evil, but evil in that when searching, frustration is inevitable. If you’re ever in western Massachusetts, near Pittsfield, finding My Wife Thinks I’m Nuts (GC1MW7), created by Gary, is an absolute must.

Step 1: Decoys

Geocachers with a few finds under their belts will have developed a keen geo-sense, i.e. they know common places to look for geocaches. Some of these folks have seen it all, so getting past them can be hard. This is where decoys come in. Some geocaches have containers in all of the obvious spots, but instead of a logbook, it’s a note that let’s them know they’ve only found a decoy. Placing multiple decoys can create a fog of frustration that may cloud geocacher’s judgement when looking for the real container. (See image above.)

Step 2: Really Clever Camouflage

Don’t get me wrong—I love camo duct tape. It’s an easy way to add a little bit of cloaking to your geocache. However, when it comes to being truly devious, the right camouflage can make or break your hide. The real challenge is to make your geocache look like everything that’s around it—like it belongs there. Think fake logs, fake rocks, fake gum (ew) or even the always maligned fake dog poo.

Step 3: Hide in Plain Sight

You read that right. Hide in plain sight. This might mean skipping the traditional geocache container for something a little more creative. Just think: if your geocache looks like it’s just part of the surrounding decor, geocachers may not be apt to look there. This step is crucial for clever urban hides.

This just looks like it's supposed to be there. Surprise! Geocache! Photo by geocacher Lady Nomad. — This just looks like it’s supposed to be there. Surprise! Geocache! Photo by geocacher Lady Nomad.

These are just a few ideas. How would you make your geocache truly devious? Tell us in the comments. You can also check out some devious geocache containers at Shop Geocaching.

September 22, 2014 / Eric Schudiske /

7 Souvenirs of August Achieved

We always knew you were an Achiever. Thanks for proving us right.

This August, we challenged you to explore more of the geocaching universe by unlocking the 7 Souvenirs of August. The results are now in and it’s official: geocachers are not just Achievers—they are Over-Achievers.

Want proof? Check out 7 Souvenirs of August in numbers:

555,000 geocachers earned the Explorer souvenir. That means 100,000 more geocachers logged a Traditional geocache in August 2014 than in August 2013.
160,000 geocachers found a Multi-Cache to earn the Sightseer souvenir.
Nearly 150,000 geocachers earned the Puzzler souvenir by logging a Mystery Cache.
Over 85,000 geocachers earned the Socializer souvenir. The number of geocachers who attended an Event Cache more than doubled from August 2013.
Over 100,000 geocachers unlocked the Nature Lover souvenir. This doubled the number of geocachers who found an Earth Cache and quadrupled the number who attended a CITO event.
More than 100,000 geocachers found a Letterbox Hybrid, Virtual, Webcam or Whereigo to earn the Collector souvenir.

That’s not all. A whopping 69,550 geocachers around the world earned all six souvenirs to become Geocaching Achievers. Not too shabby.

With each new Found It log, geocachers unlocked more than a souvenir. They unlocked a new adventure, a new discovery and a new memory to share with friends and family.

Want to relive the 7 Souvenirs of August? Watch 15 seconds of #7SofA geocaching through the lens of geocachers like you:

Did you find your first Earth Cache? Mystery Cache? Make a new friend? Tell us about your favorite adventure from 7 Souvenirs of August in the comments below.

September 15, 2014 / Guest Writer /

A Wagging Good Time: Tips for Geocaching with Pups

By Dani Navarre

Nothing is better than geocaching with your best friend and who could be better than man’s best friend? Geocaching isn’t just a hobby for humans—your four-legged friends can join in on the fun too.

Coming home to slobbery kisses and a wagging tail is enough to brighten anyone’s day. Your dog waits patiently for you to return home, he hears the hum of the car engine, and bounds down the stairs to greet you at the door. He does so much for you and deserves a little treat. You can add a little color to your favorite canine’s grey day by putting a leash on that enthusiasm and heading out for some geocaches. Sounds like a walk in the park that earns more than one kind of smiley. As someone who has trained with scent detecting dogs, I know exactly how rewarding working with animals can feel. One of the most enjoyable parts is having a goal that you and your furry friend can work toward together. Whether you are practicing obedience training or just want to get out for some fresh air, geocaching can be a fun way to get all the members of your family (human and canine) outside.

So here are HQ’s top tips for geocaching pups:

Socialize at your local dog park. While your dog is having the time of his life, you could be catching a few smilies. Dog parks are a popular places to hide geocaches, so next time you are out take a look.
Is your dog an adventurous pup or does he make sloths look hyperactive? Be sure to choose caches that match your dog’s fitness level. If your dog is a trailblazer he may enjoy longer hikes with more challenging terrain, but if your dog is a couch potato an easy urban stroll might be a better match.

Turn your dog into a geocache. Has science gone too far? Don’t worry your pooch is safe, but he can become a trackable puppy with a geo dog tag. Your pup will enjoy all of the pets and your human friends will love the new trackable.
Sensitive puppy paws. Be aware of the geocache’s terrain. The summer heat and cement or metal surfaces can be a dangerous combination for your dog’s sensitive paw pads.
Carry water. Make sure you and your dog are hydrated to keep those tongues wagging.
A safe pup is a happy pup. Check to see that your dog’s vaccinations are up to date for tick and mosquito protection. A hike through the woods can make for a fun day…until you come home with a car full of ticks and one sad puppy.
Collars aren’t just a fashion trend. Local leash laws vary by city. Before you set Rover free to roam, check to see if a leash is required.

Geocaching with your dog can be fun for whole family. What’s your favorite geocaching animal story?

August 27, 2014 / Alex /

An Achiever’s Reflection on the 7 Souvenirs of August

Bri Suffety is one of the awesome Geocaching HQ lackeys who participated in this month’s 7 Souvenirs of August promotion. Here, she tells us how she became an Achiever.

You can’t see me, but my head is held high as I admit that I have a competitive streak.

Not the every-man-for-himself kind; it’s more like I’m in a constant competition with myself. So from the announcement of the 7 Souvenirs of August (7SofA) promotion, I began loosely crafting a plan for which caches I should save for the month. The next thing I knew, Geocaching HQ was split into teams to compete in a 7SofA cache-a-thon.

The game had changed, and with it my strategy.

I was going to be out of town during the first part of August and I couldn’t accept lagging behind. With a cup of coffee in hand I sat down to scour the map for caches in Michigan and Ohio. By the end of my “research” session I had all of the caches picked out with the exception of an event cache. There were a few options but none that were logistically possible. [Insert groans of frustration here.]

In order to earn The Socializer souvenir, and with it The Achiever, I was left with two choices: waiting until my return to Seattle to attend an event, or creating my own in Ohio. I don’t know about you, but I always find my stomach a flutter when I arrive at an event where I don’t know anyone. So with much hesitation I found myself with the event cache form filled out and my mouse hovering over the submit button.

I bit the bullet and sent it off.

The event itself was small (unsurprisingly, since it was on an island) but I found myself chuckling not only at the conversations we had but at myself for being nervous.

You might not know who’s going to show up at an event, but they aren’t strangers. You all share a love of geocaching and once you get through the initial exchanging of names, the conversations start flowing.

10620750_10202505372378662_219954571397205965_n — There’s no such thing as strangers at a geocaching event!

I knew the 7 Souvenirs of August was going to rock, but I didn’t know exactly where it would take me. The month is now winding down and I’ve attended six events including my own. Each one has been a different and stellar experience. There is something to be said about finding others who are as wildly excited about the game as you are. Not to mention, it’s nice to have a break from the blank stares your muggle friends give you when you geek out about a cache.

Tips for hosting the (geocaching) event of the season:

Location location location! It can be as easy as meeting at a local park, a restaurant you love or a pub you’ve been wanting to try. Remember that entrance into and participation at the event needs to be free.
Pick a time. What does your availability look like? Make sure to pick a time when you are unlikely to run late or miss your own event. And don’t forget the golden rule: the event form needs to be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event date!
Recruit a friend. Reach out to your geocaching friends or acquaintances and let them know about the event. You could even bring that muggle friend who is always following you around the woods while you search for tupperware.
Ask questions. Find out what everyone’s favorite cache is, their best geocaching day or if they’re working on any challenges.
Relax. It’s going to be great!

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Tag: Souvenirs