Have you heard of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterboxing">letterboxing</a>?

Ever thought of doing it with your kids?

The boys and I went this weekend, and let me tell you, I am the last person in the world who you would imagine doing something like this. But we loved it!

What is letterboxing? Basically, it's a real-life treasure hunt, filled with secrets and stamps and notebooks and hidden treasures and bugs. In other words: BOY NIRVANA.

What I really enjoyed about it is that it's a way to explore your neighborhood and discover amazing places that you never knew were there. We discovered a beautiful view of the Charles river that took our breath away -- and we'd been to that park many, many times before. We didn't know that we were supposed to go up that wooden staircase hidden between two trees -- but we did, because the clue told us to.

It's a great way to get the kids exploring, and to get mom and dad out of the comfort zone.

And the best part? It's free! All you need is a stamp, a notebook, a pen, and your spirit of adventure. Also? You need to be able to keep a secret. Can you do that? If you can, go to <a href="http://www.letterboxing.org/">letterboxing.org</a> and <a href="http://www.atlasquest.com/">atlasquest.com</a>, find some clues, grab your notebook and go out exploring.

Oh, and don't forget the kids. They'll love it too.

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