National Get Outdoors Day is tomorrow, and we have one question for you, TBAY. Are you up for a bit of adventure? Our region is chock-full of thrilling treasure hunts organized by community members through apps like Geocaching. There are hundreds of geocaches in Tampa Bay waiting to be discovered.
Let’s get right into the nitty gritty for the thrill of the hunt.
How do I play?
Geocaching is a free, worldwide scavenger hunt where participants use GPS coordinates to find hidden containers in outdoor public spaces.
- Create a free account to search for nearby geocaches
- Select an intriguing cache to find in a neighborhood you’ve yet to visit
- Navigate and follow the clues to the hiding spot
Treasure, you say?
Geocaches come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and difficulties but are typically hidden in plain sight. The contents of each cache vary — some only contain a log to sign (bring a pen), others house tradeable knickknacks and the occasional cash prize. Pro tip: Bring a fun item to trade just in case (think: stickers, key chains, and bouncy balls).
Respect the game. After you’ve relished in your victory, put the cache back where you found it for someone else to discover. Geocaches are meant to remain hidden, so the hunt can go on for years.
Bonus: Are you already a pro seeker? Sign up to hide a cache.
Start here
Ready to hunt? We’ve hand-picked some beginner-friendly outdoor beginner caches — with some clues.
- Something fishy | N 27° 47.784 W 082° 36.932 | Hunt for a small pill bottle — no fishing required.
- Baby Clark | N 27° 54.587 W 082° 30.750 | Hint: The four woody bandits are keeping an eye on their cache.
Happy hunting… and remember, there could be treasure hidden right under your nose.
