Summer Vacation Idea: Ohio -Geocaching & Great Outdoors

Ohio's Salt Fork State Park --an easy drive from Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh-- has 20,000 acres, two marinas, historic Kennedy Stone House, and the Salt Fork Lodge, which has dreamed up some fun family packages for summer-time.

Salt Fork Lodge has private balconies overlooking rolling hills; 54 housekeeping cabins have views of the park's lake. The resort has indoor/outdoor pools, game room, family programs, basketball, volleyball, tennis, golf, and paintballing.

And new this year: Salt Fork State Park Resort will offer "geocaching" packages.

Geocaching is a kind of high-tech treasure hunt, using GPS (Global Positioning Systems.) Caches are hidden in a waterproof container with a logbook; the cache itself has no value, beyond the satisfaction of getting your hands on it after following a set of clues.

Packages are available April 1 through Oct. 31 2006, and the resort will provide guests with a hand-held GPS.

See details... continued below...

Ohio: Salt Fork Lodge's Summer Geocaching Packages

This information has been provided by Xanterra Resorts

Family Fun Package

• includes use of the global positioning system
• accommodations in a bunk room with two double beds and a bunk bed
• one hour of private time on one of the resort's two paintball courses, four paintball guns and 400 paintballs
• available seven days a week April 1 - June 17 and August 27 - October 31 2006, and Sunday through Thursday June 19 - August 25
• $179 per family for one night
• second night costs only $99

Stash in the Cache Package

• overnight accommodations in a room with a king bed or two double beds and breakfast for two
• package is available seven days a week April 1 - June 17 and August 27 - October 31 2006, and Sunday through Thursday June 19 - August 25
• package is $129 for one night
• second night from $79

Nature Nuts Package

• accommodations for two nights
• nature-related and educational activities with the resort's naturalists
• activities vary by day of the week and include scavenger hunts, nature hikes, cane pole fishing and arts and crafts
• four hours of geocaching, with use of GPS
• bonfire, Tuesday and Thursday nights
• breakfast for four
• use of the GPS for four hours
• daily interpretive nature activities
• special gift including two adult-size fannie packs and two kid-size backpacks filled with necessities for any outdoor explorer
• package available Sunday through Thursday June 26 - August 17 2006
• $319 per family for two nights in a room with two double beds; $339 per family in a room with two double beds and a bunk bed and $359 per family in a fully equipped, two-bedroom hillside cabin. $45 per extra person, including all package amenities

Read more about Salt Fork Resort.