| When one thinks of the Outer Banks as a potential | | | | your visit. Anybody with a yen for outdoor exploration |
| vacation destination, the possibilities may seem endless. | | | | and figuring out clues will enjoy this hobby. |
| Between trips to the beach, landmarks like the | | | | Where to find Letterboxes |
| Whalehead Club and the Currituck Lighthouse, and | | | | Enthusiasts may create and hide letterboxes in a |
| sightseeing for wild mustangs, one would expect a full | | | | variety of places: parks, attractions, beaches, and even |
| itinerary. Yet, if the family is up for a bit of adventure, | | | | urban areas. An Internet search for letterbox locations |
| you may want to consider another activity that not | | | | (Atlasquest and Letterboxing.org are two of the prime |
| only takes you to some of the most beautiful areas of | | | | sites for collecting clues on whereabouts) will guide you |
| the North Carolina shore, but is practically free. This | | | | to where you need to go. |
| summer, why not go "letterboxing"? | | | | In the Outer Banks area, for example, one may find |
| What is Letterboxing? | | | | special treasures on Knotts Island, in Coinjock near the |
| Letterboxing is an outdoor game of sorts - a treasure | | | | famous Gravedigger attraction, and in Corolla, where |
| hunt that may involve deciphering clues and a bit of | | | | several stamps celebrating the Wright Brothers' flight |
| orienteering to reach the goal. The "treasure" in | | | | and Outer Banks horses are waiting for new |
| question is usually a box (most times plastic and | | | | discoverers. If you want exact locations, however, |
| water-tight) containing a rubber stamp, maybe some | | | | you'll have to try the aforementioned websites for |
| stickers or other small items for hunters to enjoy. The | | | | clues. |
| idea behind letterboxing is to find the box and enclosed | | | | The Rules of Letterboxing |
| stamp to imprint the design in a notebook. Hunters with | | | | Two things to know before you embark on a |
| personal rubber stamps acknowledge finding the | | | | letterboxing adventure: |
| "treasure" by stamping and signing a guestbook found | | | | Be Discreet! Many boxes are hidden in high traffic |
| in the box. The practice of letterboxing is similar to | | | | area, especially in a region popular for tourists like the |
| "geocaching" but does not necessarily require use of a | | | | Outer Banks. It is advised when you find the box and |
| GPS system to find boxes. | | | | collect your stamp, to return the box carefully and try |
| Who can go Letterboxing? | | | | not to attract too much attention. Boxes are |
| Letterboxing is a very family-friendly activity, a perfect | | | | sometimes at risk for being stolen and lost if not |
| way to spend a morning, especially when on vacation | | | | handled properly. |
| in the Outer Banks. You have the opportunity to come | | | | Secondly, have fun! Letterboxing provides a great |
| away with a unique souvenir of the area, and keeping | | | | opportunity to explore the beaches of Currituck and |
| a scrapbook of your stamps allows you to add | | | | enjoy the companionship of fellow treasure hunters. |
| pictures of the scenery to enhance the memories of | | | | |