GeoCache Tours
 Create a Garmin TourGuide using GeoCache location data. |
Here is how to do paperless geocaching by creating Garmin TourGuides for Garmin nuvi.
As you may know, GeoCaching is recreational activity for GPS enthusiasts. It's a game like hide-and-seek or a high-tech treasure hunt. The game involves hiding the "treasure" - a cache of dollar-store items stashed in a tupperware container - and publishing the exact coordinates of its location on the internet for others to find. GPS users then enter the coordinates of the cache's location into a handheld GPS receiver and go to look for it.
What you may not know is that your Garmin nuvi can be used for paperless geocaching by creating TourGuides from cache location information. Typically, TourGuides play audio narrative when approaching points of interest on a sightseeing tour. And, a GPS tour author usually goes to a lot of trouble to research location information about points of interest on a prescribed route. But if you want to create for yourself a GeoCashing Tour, much of the research and been done for you. All you have to do is put the information in a format that can be transferred to your Garmin TourGuide compatible GPS. TourGuides are available from various publishers (like TravelByGPS.com) but you can create you own TourGuides with the tools discussed below.
| "...instead of creating a historical tour, how about creating real adventure!" |
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 GeoTours GPS tour authoring interface |
GPS Tour Authoring using PC Tool
TourPoint Editor software enables you to create professional-looking GPS tour guides for personal or commercial use. Designed especially for developing content for Garmin TourGuide compatible GPS. TourPoint integrates audio and pictures along with descriptive text to create media-rich GPS tour guide content.
GPS Tour Authoring using On-line Tool
GeoTours Premium Service does what TourPoint Editor does and more. Like TourPoint Editor, you use this tool to integrate your location data with audio and pictures to create multi-media tour guides for Garmin TourGuide compatible GPS.. But in addition, GeoTour Premium Services include: access and organization of your files within your private online account, giving you the option to share, or sell, your tours to others; "mini-site" and "widgets" can be customized with your colors and branding elements.
Tutorials
There are lots of reasons to keep you eyes on the road, especially when driving around national parks – the sudden appearance wildlife and scenic vistas are reasons enough to be looking out the windshield and not at little displayscreen. Recently, on a trip to Yellowstone National Park, I combined GPS Touring with Geocaching. The fun of it was being able to enjoy the scenery, without having to fiddle with my GPS while driving. When I came within proximity of a cache, my car navigation system alerted me and pointed to the approaching cache location. Every time, I experienced a rush of excitement when considering whether or not to take on the challenge. Here is how to… [more]
November 2007
TourPoint software enables you to create professinoal-looking GPS tour guides for personal or commercial use. Especially designed for use with Garmin® car navigation units, TourPoint integrates audio format and visual images along with descriptive text to create media-rich GPS tour guide content. [More...]
October 2007
Overview of GeoTours Premium Serivce
In cyberspace and down at street-level, GeoTours are the latest and greatest way to market your destination. Visitors to web sites employing GeoTours Premium Services can view virtual tours using interactive, multi-media maps, then download the tour to car navigation systems and experience the real places with GPS-guidance, audio narrative and visual images. For any size Destination Marking Organization (DMO), GeoTours are the most cost effective ways to orient visitors - from near and far, all day, everyday. [more...]
March 2008
GeoCache Location Data at TravelByGPS.com
In several of the areas covered by my GPS Maps and Guides, I have stashed a GeoCache. Click on the links below for more details about the GeoCaches I've placed.
- Download this GeoCache Location
data in GPS eXchange (.GPX) file format which can use to create a
GeoCache Tour using the tools described above.
(The .gpx file will appear in a new window where you can File > Save as... on your computer).
This cachelist includes:
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"River Bluff" Chattahoochee River NRA Atlanta, Georgia
This one gets more hits than a cookie jar at Christmas, but only a few navigate to the second stage. -
"Delta Dash" Tensaw Delta; Mobile, Alabama
Two hurricanes have put one of the earliest geocaches in Alabama out of reach. The cache has been archived, but still a great set of coordinates. -
"Turkey Pen 37" Jocassee Gorges, North Carolina
This cache is so out-of-the-way, I can't get there anymore! -
"Granite Slush" Squaw Valley, California
One of my "coolest" caches. -
"Paint Rock Intruder" Watts Bar Lake, Tennessee
Special thanks to "Ole Injun" for replacing a Tennessee Tradition. -
"Bull Run" Bull Island South Carolina
Archived, but yet another great coordinate. -
"Devils Courthouse" Whiteside Mountain, North Carolina
Popular for the adventurers. -
"Hatfield's View" Matewan (Sarah Ann), West Virginia
"Hatfiled's View" has been replaced by "Devil's Backyard" - "Hoosier Home" Bloomington
(Lake Lemon), Indiana
High sentimental value.
For more GeoCache location information, check out
Geocaching.com, Navicache, and more at GPSames.org
Looking for maps to Geocaches? Check out Buxley's.
