Road Tripping Through Northern Ontario This Summer? Pack the Car, the Kids and a GPS and Play Parks Canada's Heritage Hide'n'Seek GeoTour!

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, July 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Parks Canada is pleased to announce the launch of the Heritage Hide'n'Seek GeoTour, a great new geocaching activity to entertain and teach families about Canada's history as they travel across northern Ontario.

Set up as a game, the Heritage Hide'n'Seek GeoTour guides adventurers to locations to learn about fascinating people, places and events that helped shape Canada—each cache teaches about one of Canada's national historic designations.

Using a GPS or GPS-enabled smartphone, participants can take either Highway 11 or 17 to locate as many as 16 geocaches. Each cache is assigned a point value depending on the level of difficulty involved in locating it. Anyone who collects 100+ points by finding several of the caches is eligible to receive a cool collectible coin from Parks Canada.

"Even if you've done the drive a number of times, you're sure to discover places that you never knew existed. Plan your stops around geocache locations while experiencing some of Ontario's most stunning settings!" says Nancy Saunders, Public Relations and Communications Officer with Parks Canada in Northern Ontario.

The Heritage Hide'n'Seek GeoTour is the only geotour in Ontario, and the second in the country.

Best described as a high-tech treasure hunt, geocaching is practiced worldwide by over 5 million people. Geocaching is a popular activity with all kinds of people from young families to retired couples. It's the perfect way to add some excitement to gas, coffee and bathroom breaks!

For more information on Parks Canada's Heritage Hide'n'Seek GeoTour, please visit parkscanada.com.sault and click on Geocaching.

SOURCE: Government of Canada

Nancy Saunders
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Parks Canada, Northern Ontario
807-346-2900