You’ve driven by them on your way to work, walked past on the way to lunch and may even be sitting on one right now! No, I’m not talking about gnomes, but, something just as challenging – the geocache (geo-cash)! Men, women and children of all ages and even the family pets are players in an international game of high tech hide and see known as geocaching. You may have bumped into JerseyGirl and FSUDad while strolling around Lake Mirror or even worked with CacheGal and Gem617 at FedEx. Ladybug358, downtown resident, is also a regular on the scene. Downtown Lakeland, historical in architecture and cool with technology, is teeming with geo-activity!

Equipped with a GPSr (Global Positioning System Receiver) and sense for the hunt, cachers roam nature areas, neighborhoods and even busy downtown areas searching for the elusive smiley that is received when they log a cache find. All the while, hunting in sometimes strange places and trying not to attract the attention of muggles (non-caching folk). The caches can be as small as a pencil eraser (the dreaded “nano”) or as large as a mountain view (“earth” or “virtual”). Some are disguised as everyday items like a brick while others are simply reused ammo cans. They all have a few things in common – a log book or sheet, family friendly and an attempt by the hider to get you to go to places or do things – legal – that you would not otherwise do. Some even have treasure “swag” or trinkets to trade! I was introduced to caching in October 2008 by a customer (Gem617) – and now I am hooked (as I write this, I have a page of cache notes in my pocket of a few I can grab on the way home!) – I love the fact that Sparky can come along, we don’t have to get dressed up – not that Sparky EVER does – and all it costs is a computer with internet access, handheld GPS (car units are more difficult) that you can find used for $65ish on EBay / Craigslist, and, at this point (because there are so many caches nearby), very little gas! Downtown even provides internet access via the free surflakeland wi-fi. I am meeting lots of fun people and discovering places on my own front porch that I didn’t know existed! Just a few weeks ago, Ladybug358 and I went to a caching event for “newbies” and discovered the Circle Bar B Reserve just south of the Polk Parkway on 540/Winter Lake Road. WOW! What a beautiful place to get back to nature while being just outside the city limits!

According to geocaching.com, THE site for all things caching, there are currently more than 745,150 active caches all over the world – and at least 30 within a one-mile radius of The General Store (125 South Kentucky Avenue) in downtown, and more are being placed daily! If you’re seeking a “training ground” for caching, downtown Lakeland is the place. From small to large, easy and hard, traditional to creative – you’ll find them all here! To find out more, go to geocaching.com and create an account. There is no cost. Should you wish to upgrade to access more features, you can for a mere $30 per year. On this site, you will be able to place queries to caches in specific areas as well as events you can attend to meet other cachers. The site is VERY user friendly as are the fellow cachers! If you’d like to chat about caching – and/or exchange stories of “situations” encountered, come on down to The General Store – where stories are plenty, and some are even true!