Geocaching, pronounced "geo-cashing," is a fun and easy family activity that is growing in popularity around the country. Discovering a geocache is very much like going on a treasure hunt using a hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) to plot map coordinates to locate a treasure or "cache." On the Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail, most of the caches are plastic lock-and-lock containers (similar to tupperware, but more heavy duty). Want to learn more? Check out these Frequently Asked Questions, FAQ, from the folks at geocaching.com.

The Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail will take you on a journey through history and across the Chesapeake Bay, from Portsmouth, Virginia to Havre de Grace, Maryland and beyond. Along the way, you can visit more than 35 sites, including over 30 Chesapeake Bay Gateways. Learn more here.

Captain John Smith Geotrail

Explore The Captain John Smith Geotrail!

Are you ready for an Adventure? Want to travel along the same rivers that Captain John Smith explored in the 17th century?

Then explore the Captain John Smith Geotrail!

What's geocaching? A geocache (pronounced "geo-cash") is a hidden treasure that one locates by using a GPS device. Geocaching is for adventure seekers all around the world who want to get outside and play. A geotrail, like the Captain John Smith geotrail, is a series of geocaches linked by a common theme or topic.

The Captain John Smith Geotrail was designed and created by volunteer geocachers working with the Chesapeake Conservancy and the National Park Service. Geocaches were placed at more than 40 sites on five rivers representing particular stories or scenes from John Smith's adventures on the Bay. If you are among the first to visit 15 of these sites, and record a codeword in your Geotrail Passport, you will receive a distinctive and collectible Geocoin. You can download a Geotrail Passport here.

A full list of sites and their cache coordinates can be found on Geocaching.com.

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