Letterboxing is an intriguing “treasure hunt” style outdoor activity. Letterboxers hide small, weatherproof boxes in publicly-accessible places (like parks) and post clues to finding the box online on one of several Web sites. However, clues to finding some of the most highly-sought boxes are passed around by word of mouth.

There are about 60,000 active letterboxes listed on LbNA alone. Individual letterboxes usually contain a log book, an often hand-carved rubber stamp and occasionally contain an ink pad. Finders make an imprint of the letterbox’s stamp on their personal log book, and leave an imprint of their personal stamp on the letterbox’s logbook.

1. The Story Nest at Cottage Gardens Colchester, CT
2. Girl Scout Troop 75937 - Hickory Creek Forest Preserve Frankfort, IL
3. Ringo Independence, CA
4. Woodlawn Preserve Surprise Schenectady, NY
5. Flip Flop Fun! Cambria, CA
6. IT: Horror Classics Series- 1 of 6 Brookfield, VT
7. Pack 74- Mt. Misery Voluntown, CT
8. Famous Ed's Liquor El Monte, CA
9. Carollyn's Brownie letterbox Colorado springs, CO
10. Heather's 10th birthday box Colorado springs, CO
11. Country View Park Lincoln, NE
12. Girl Scout Love Webster, NY (2)

More new letterboxes

1. Mobius Arch Lone Pine, CA
2. Charcoal Kilns Lone Pine, CA
3. Little Free Library - West Floral Park Santa Ana, CA
4. Pushing Up Daisies #46 Nepaug (New Hartford), CT
5. Disney: Pearl Fullerton, CA
6. View of Mt. Whitney Lone Pine, CA
7. Lunette - Zerubbabel Collins #2 Columbia, CT
8. A Fun Friend Columbia, CT
9. Her Name ???, CT
10. The Demise of Cathy Crutch Lebanon, CT
11. Box of the Month 2008-2009: Lebanon, CT Lebanon, CT (1/13)
12. Buckeye Butterfly Covina, CA

As a letterboxer who loves the thrill of the hunt as much as planting them, my biggest tip is being as detailed as possible with instructions. Hidden messages are fine and dandy, but I have come across more confusing directions then I can count. Check over your stories and revise if need be to make it simpler. Lots of boxes are hunted for by children and their parents. [by berchta76]