Hit the Trails in Search of Geocache Treasures

When you visit the Inn at the Canal, Maryland’s beautiful Eastern Shore is right outside of your door. With fall quickly approaching, the crisp air and vibrant foliage will have you wanting to explore the natural beauty of the Upper Eastern Shore in all its autumn splendor. An easy and fun way to enjoy more time outdoors, whether here in Maryland or most places across the country, is by going on a geocache adventure.

Haven’t heard of geocaching? It's a modern-day treasure hunt where you use a hand-held GPS to plot map coordinates that lead you to the “cache.” Sometimes caches will have numerous trinkets, notes and surprises in them, while others may only be the container and a log book. The anticipation of participating in the hunt and locating the container is one of the reasons why geocaching has become a popular hobby for outdoor enthusiasts.

While you're visiting Maryland's Upper Eastern Shore, the Maryland Geocaching Society can help guide your treasure hunting adventure. They advocate for the sport of geocaching, work with parks and recreation organizations, and promote geocaching as a tourism activity to draw visitors from all over to enjoy Maryland's scenic destinations in a new way. You also can check out the Maryland Municipal League's Geocache Trail for seasonal activities.

Before you begin the hunt for your first cache, make sure you understand the proper geocaching etiquette:

1. Return the container to the exact spot it was found. If it was hidden underneath something, make sure it's hidden before leaving. Geocache adventurers only hurt the fun of the next couple trying to find the geocache if they don’t return it to its proper home.
2. If a geocache adventurer takes something from the cache, such as a trinket, it’s expected they will replace it with another item. It’s more fun to find a cache filled with surprises.
3. Have fun! Geocaching is an exciting adventure that helps visitors see more of the area they are visiting in a short amount of time. Be present in the moment with your fellow adventurers.

Sometimes geocaches are hidden right in front of your nose, and other times you have to search a little to find them. Either way, looking for geocaches is an easy way to explore Maryland's Upper Eastern Shore and experience the beauty of nature in a new way.