Larry
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 267
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Post by Larry on Nov 6, 2009 11:10:45 GMT -5
Hello all. We (me, wife, 3-year-old) are going to be planning a vacation to somewhere this fall/winter/spring. Our off times at work is pretty much Jan., Feb. and March. I origianally wanted to do the Burro Creek thing in February but I think that's a little extreme because 1) the most we have done is weekend tent camping, 2) we've never been to the desert, 3) we wanted to mix our trip with part rocks, part tourism. What I'm looking for is a place to hound rocks, that is also close to touristy stuff, hotels, restaurants, people, etc. It would be like rockhound for 2-3 days then see the sights (grand canyon or something else) for a few days. Being only a beachcomber, if I went someplace near one or more members and they would be willing to go out and show me the ropes a bit, that would be a wonderful, most-appreciate experience. Also, where I am it's between 0 and 40 degrees that time of year. We would prefer something a bit more comfortable than that  I think we are thinking like Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, California... preferably someplace where my daughter won't get eaten by a rattlesnake. Soooo... any ideas? Anybody willing to hang out a couple days for a few hours? We are good company and my daughter is adorable Thanks for reading! You guys are a great community. |
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Post by roswelljero on Nov 6, 2009 16:29:05 GMT -5
Sure wish I had a suggestion for you. My limited experience has been that rockhounding and touristy stuff don't seem to go together.  Later, jeri |
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Post by Toad on Nov 6, 2009 16:39:09 GMT -5
Hello all. We (me, wife, 3-year-old) are going to be planning a vacation to somewhere this fall/winter/spring. Our off times at work is pretty much Jan., Feb. and March. . If your off time is actually in Jan/Feb/Mar - are you actually planning for fall/spring? ;D For that time of year, I'd say CA or AZ. Check this thread out: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=locations&action=display&thread=21340 |
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Larry
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 267
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Post by Larry on Nov 6, 2009 23:42:05 GMT -5
I might just pick a spot from the list, who knows. The biggest problem I have is I don't know what I'm doing so I'll probably just be wasting my time. If I were flying solo, I'd definately do the Burro Creek event, but that's a no-go. And as far as the touristy thing, it's not like mixing rocks and tourism in one day. Just someplace close enough so after a couple days of hounding, we can move on to the sight-seeing in a nearby area. Like 2 mini-vacations. Oh yeah, being Jan-Mar, I guess fall is out That was a typo. Thanks for the responses so far. I do appreciate any guidance I can get. |
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Thunder69
Cave Dweller 
Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
Posts: 3,105
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Post by Thunder69 on Nov 7, 2009 20:57:55 GMT -5
Where is your starting point at ..... that would be help as to tell you where to go/do....John.....
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Larry
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 267
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Post by Larry on Nov 7, 2009 22:39:02 GMT -5
Well, my starting point is home in upstate NY. We have done the same vacation destination for the last 10 years with no real other vacations so this year is a big switch. I would just love to hound some real rocks for a couple days then head to someplace nice and touristy for a few days to a week more. I'm not talking like top-10 tourist traps, just something to do besides digging in the dirt.
***
Now I'm thinking start off in Tucson for the show in late January. Anything notable nearby that has good digs?
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Post by rockmanken on Nov 8, 2009 8:09:44 GMT -5
Do the NC, SC, GA thing. NC has over 300 rocks and minerals, Ga is the GOLD and amethyst place along with SC for amethyst and crystals. Go to www.magmarocks.com and click on the M.A.G.M.A. emblem. That will take you to a discussion board for all the trips that are planned for that area. There is Carrowinds ouside Charlotte, NC, Six Flags outside Atlanta, Ga. Blowing Rock, Chimney Rock, Boone, Cherokee etc. in western NC. Dalonega, Ga. where the Gold mint was. Then 4-5 hours east is the coast. Atlantic Beach, Myrtle Beach, Nags Head at Outer Banks for the touristy things. About the only game you will see is deer and wild turkey and maybe some of the two legged turkeys. ;D |
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Post by Toad on Nov 8, 2009 8:51:32 GMT -5
That SE thing sounds cool.
You could also try the Tucson Gem show and Quartzite - there is some overlap. Not digging in the dirt, but fun to see - and Quartzite you can pick up nice rough. Touristy in the area is gran canyon, petrified national forest, Hoover Dam. I've heard the cities of Phoenix and Tucson are nice. Just throwing it out there.
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Larry
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 267
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Post by Larry on Nov 8, 2009 16:23:13 GMT -5
Thanks guys. Ken, I should go to that area anyways. My Mom lives in Greenville, SC and it's always nice to visit. I've only been there once and did go to Chimney Rock I think, but that was before I was into rocks so didn't really look around.
Maybe that's the way to go then work on the bigger vacation next year. If we do that, I'd be sure to check out the MAGMA events.
Thanks again!
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Post by rockmanken on Nov 8, 2009 23:08:24 GMT -5
Just south of Greeneville is Antreville, SC where Diamond Hill is and they are finding some nice amethyst now after the machine dig.
The Crabtree emerald mine in Spruce Pine, NC has some nice emerald in matrix and some beryl. (I love that place)
Just north of Greeneville is Franklin, NC and Cowee Valley is famous for sapphires and rubies. A lot of salted mines(tourist traps) but, the Cherokee and the Mason mines(out by the airport) are the ONLY two that has NATIVE stones. Others get them from Brazil, India, Columbia, etc.
You will have to wait a little closer to the date to find out MAGMA's schedule of mines they are going to. Somewhere every weekend. A lot of them are machine digs(they bring in a backhoe to open up new areas). Check the dirtyrockhounds link from MAGMA(it is the discussion board for the digs) to find out what is coming up. Also, you can look at the trip reports from past digs to see what you can find.
Ken
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Larry
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 267
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Post by Larry on Nov 9, 2009 13:20:36 GMT -5
Thanks for all the info Ken. Looks like we'll be going that route. Who knows, I may see you down there at an event.
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Post by Toad on Nov 9, 2009 13:37:31 GMT -5
Sounds like a fun trip.
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Post by roswelljero on Nov 10, 2009 0:11:53 GMT -5
Have fun Larry! Take lots of pics.  Later, jeri |
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gemhunter
starting to spend too much on rocks
"Rock On"
Member since November 2009
Posts: 243
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Post by gemhunter on Nov 17, 2009 9:58:20 GMT -5
Hey I just got back from the Lake Lure Chimmney Rock area of N.C., fantasic. it is a tough climb up the rock. There are a lot of rock stuff in the area. I love Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddennite NC. Its about an hour and a half from Lake Lure going East, and 30 minutes from Statesville, NC going West.
Emeral Hollow does have seeded and non seeded buckets. It is cheap to find a ton of stuff.
Costs $5 to get in and they give you $2 bucket. Not seeded, but a lot of stuff in the dirt.
You can also creek, and dig. They did this on an old Travel Channel Show, Treasue Hunter. There are 62 natural occuring stones on the mountain. Old Volcano. This is were I fell in Love with rockhounding. Also my wife and pop-in-law.
They have a Lapidary shop on site....The charge about $30 to clean and cut your stone and about the same for the setting....They Do Not Charge By Carat. I found and Emerald piece about the size of my palm and I am having it made into a large man's ring, with a lot left over. About $60. I will post a pic when I get it next month. I also found Shappire (for my wife) and garnet, and lots of quartz. Sorry got windy. Going down again around Presidents Day, plan to creek and sort buckets. Ed
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Larry
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 267
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Post by Larry on Feb 14, 2010 22:40:44 GMT -5
So I have my final trip dates set at Feb 24 - Mar 3 to visit my Mom in Greenville, SC. I'll probably take either 1 or 2 day trips to try and look for some rocks with my Mom's husband... no wife and kid as origanally planned. Thanks to those that posted above about hounding locations near there. Being that I'm a total newbie, are there any places that are easy enough to walk into and know where I'm looking and such. I've cut enough rocks that I'm comfortable in knowing what's decent when I see it, it's just knowing where to see it is the issue. All that being said, is there any bored rockhound near that area that has the hounding itch that would enjoy a day out digging with a complete stranger? I promise I'm good company. lol I have no plans set in stone, so I can go anywhere within a reasonable drive of Greenville on any day. Either way, any tips I can get would be great. mostly someplace I can just walk into and not spend all day being laughed at for looking in all the wrong spots. If somebody feels like taking time out to go hounding, that would be the most fun time. Thanks so much for any helpful information. I do appreciate it! -Larry |
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