Geocaching

While camping this summer, we discovered geocaching. Geocaching is entering given coordinates into a handheld device, and then finding your way to that point to obtain the coordinates to the next point, or a hidden "cache". All of the state parks have a cache hidden in them, but 25 of the state parks in MN are offering a free geocaching trial, where you can check out the equipment at the ranger station, and they give you a quick rundown on how to use it. There are usually 3 separate stops to gather coordinates, and then the final stop, where there's a box. Each box contains, among other things, little collectors cards - a different animal card for each park. We had a blast with it at Savannah Portage State Park this summer, and now search out the parks with the free trial.

Nerstrand Big Woods is the nearest State Park to us, and it happens to have the geocaching, so we made a day trip of it.

It was a great day for a walk. Even Moose behaved himself for the most part. That's another wonderful thing about the State Parks. As long as your dog is on a leash, he is welcome to use the trails too.

Alex is proud that he found the geocaching box. Usually James and I find them first, but Alex and Bella get so excited to find them that we steer them in the right direction so they can discover them by themselves.

After we did the geocaching, we took a little hike to see the waterfall. Part of the trail was these tree stumps. The kids had so much fun running back and forth on them!

And this was the waterfall. If you really squint, you can see a drop or two of water trickling over the rocks. This was taken at the end of September, during our dry spell. I'd like to go back now, after the last 2 weeks of rain and snow, and see what it looks like. Maybe we'll go tomorrow if the weather stays nice.