Letterboxing: A Treasure Hunt in Your Own Backyard

When looking for something to do on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Why not go on a treasure hunt? Letterboxing is a hobby that gives you the opportunity to go a treasure hunt where ever you are in the united states, and even when your traveling abroad. With thousands of boxes hidden all over, your bound to find a treasure hunt waiting, no matter where your travels take you.

The basic premise is this. Letterboxers around the globe will hide a “Letterbox” in an outdoor public location, be it a park, hiking trail, or other location. In the box will be a small notebook, and a rubber stamp. The letterboxer will then write directions to the box in such a way that finding the box will be like a treasure hunt, and then will make those directions available to other letterboxers.

As a letterboxer you will also purchase a small notebook and a rubber stamp that you carry along with you. Your notebook acts as a type of passport, and your rubber stamp a symbol of you. When you find a letterbox, you use the stamp found with the letterbox to mark in your passport your trip, and use your stamp to mark in the letterboxes notebook that you were there. You then replace the letterbox where you found it for the next treasure seeker.

Since your stamp is going to be a representation of you, you will want to select something that is representative of your personality or something that is important to you. Many serious letterboxers will have a stamp made for them personally so that they know their mark will never be duplicated, and so they can have something that they feel represents them as a letterboxer.

If you decide to create a box of your own, make sure you are placing the box in a safe location where it will most likely not be disrupted. You also want to make sure that you are placing the box in an airtight container that is going to hold up against the weather and other elements. A Rubbermaid container, or a plastic bag can be a great choice to keep out the elements. Some letterboxers also will include in their letterboxes self addressed postcards so that those who come across the box can drop them a line letting them know how the box is doing, and simply that they were there.

Letterboxing journeys can be as simple as a few directions, or as intricate as hikes that take several hours. It all depends on how intricate the letterboxer hiding the box wants to be, and how committed you are as a letterboxer to finding a hidden box. Many letterboxers will hide several boxes in a variety of different locations, sometimes in different cities, or even different countries from where they personally live. Letterboxing can be a great way to get to see parts of cities you never knew existed.

Next time your on vacation, or even when you sitting around at home looking for something to do. Try going on a treasure hunt, you wont be disappointed.