Family Vacations to California's Gold Country

Experience Gold Rush in 1849 by the visit in California's Gold Country region. You will be amazed to see that a large part is our gold rush heritage is well preserved, with many restored old mining towns. Take washing a mine tour, gold, visit ghost towns, ride a stagecoach or enjoy a historic steam train, beautiful scenery, camp, hike swim, explore caves, go rafting, see a spectacular grove of giant sequoia trees, or perhaps strike it rich. With so much to see and do thereundertakes something for everyone.

The discovery of gold here in 1848 sparked the greatest gold rush in history. Memories of California's Gold Rush period can be found everywhere along historic Highway 49th California's Gold Country stretches over 320 miles from Sierra City to the foothills of Yosemite and combines many of the old mining towns of the Motherlode. One of the best preserved towns near the center of Gold Country is Sutter Creek. It lies about 55 miles southeast ofSacramento, and would also serve as a base while exploring the region.

There is so much to see and do here that you can literally spend a week there are excursions into the surroundings. However, here are some good ideas if you spend just a few days:

Sutter Gold Mine

Visit the Sutter Gold Mine, a modern hard rock mine on the Highway 49 north of Sutter Creek. It was originally designed for gold mining in the late 1980s, and now works exclusively for the pitTours. The 1-hour tour offers a great lesson on gold mining. Your real mine experience begins with gearing in hard-hats and tagging in like a real miner. Enjoy a wonderful tour and I will be safe, and some gold panning afterwards (www.caverntours.com / sgmt.html).

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

The hotel is located in Coloma, just 36 miles north of Sutter Creek, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is the place where James W. Marshall discoveredbright spots of gold in the tailrace of the sawmill he built for himself and John Sutter. Here you can find a copy of the original sawmill and more than 20 historic buildings. Try panning for gold in the American River and enjoy hikes and picnics here (www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=484).

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Approximately 55 miles southeast of Sutter Creek, you will have the opportunity to see a spectacular grove of redwood trees in their natural environment. Other AttractionsPark include the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek, the Lava Bluff Trail and Bradley Trail. The park is also home to two campgrounds with 129 campsites, six picnic areas and hundreds of miles of established trails (www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551).

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

In Jamestown, about 46 miles south of Sutter Creek, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park is located in the Historic Jamestown Shops andRoundhouse an intact and functioning steam locomotive repair facility, parts of which date back 1897th In the spring, summer and fall, climb aboard a vintage steam-powered excursion train. Trains run every Saturday and Sunday from April to October, a departure from the Railtown Depot on-the-hour 11 am to 3 clock Enjoy a six-mile, 40-minute roller-coaster ride through the scenic Sierra Foothills (www.parks . ca.gov /? page_id = 491).

Yosemite National Park

Only oneslightly more than 90 miles southeast of Sutter Creek, Yosemite National Park is truly a "must see" spectacular waterfalls, mountains, rocks, redwoods, wildlife, and incredible views and hiking trails
(www.nps.gov / yose).

No trip to Gold Country in California, completed without a serious gold mining or gold panning trip. There are a number of established businesses in the region that you are only with the gold mining trip, you can provide. Several top ratedCompanies are listed below:

California Gold Company

Located in the vicinity of Jamestown, offers geologist Joshua Vick gold mining gold panning trips and tours to the famous Woods Creek. His travels have been appearing on television, and fun for the whole family (www.goldfun.com).

Gold prospecting adventures

In Jamestown, in 1849 Gold Mining Camp, an exact replica of the original, and is located on the site of the original camp. They offer gold prospectingClasses, family trips and other packages. The camp has 25 attractions, there is something fun for everyone (www.goldprospecting.com).

Roaring Camp Mining Company

In Pine Grove, California located Roaring Camp is an old gold mining camp on the Mokelumne River. So far, only with the horse, which remains most gold. Visitors can see the operating gold mine, plus their own gold by panning me, flushing, dredging, or dry laundry(www.roaringcampgold.com).

Hopefully this brief article has give you a little taste of California's Gold Country, and provided you with some good ideas for your next family vacation. Our family really enjoys the outdoors. There is nothing more beautiful than in the fresh air, enjoy beautiful scenery and have fun together as a family. Have fun, be safe, and good luck prospecting.

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No Shortage of Family Actvities in Ruidoso, New Mexico

Ruidoso, New Mexico is a lot of things for many people. A ski resort, a thriving horse-racing destination and more than anything else, a great place to spend time with your family. And where there is a more fun mix of activities and events for the children than in southern New Mexico!

Ruidoso has a wonderful selection of activities for children of all ages. Enjoy horseback riding with four stalls in the city and on the nearby Mescalero Apache Reservation. If you are fishing for theHot spots are at Grindstone Dam, Mescalero Reservation and the mighty river the Rio Ruidoso, with plenty of good sized trout stocked. Just be sure and keep a local fishing license, easily obtainable at the local Wal-Mart and Western Auto. If you catch anything there, head trout pond on past the racetrack to Seeping Springs. They provide the gear, the fishing hole and you only pay 50 cents per inch for what you catch, no license required. Here's the best part ... they clean it for you!My daughter has the family and came with 4 beautiful 12 + inch trout everything ready for the grill.

Of course, in the mountains of New Mexico, there are many hiking and nature. The Lincoln National Forest is a beginning with many other diverse landscapes in the vicinity. If you are after more urban efforts, has Amusements in Ruidoso Fun Trackers Go Karts, Bumper Boats and Goofy Golf. This is only the beginning. Add in the history of the region and you've got a plate.

Ruidoso has its ownhistoric spots. There are Dowlin's Mill, where Billy the Kid stayed. Do not forget a stop at the Hubbard Museum of the American West for a magnificent view of the past for all age groups.

Capitan, a brief twenty minutes from Ruidoso is home to the only American figure with its own ZIP code ... Smokey Bear. The Smokey Bear Historical Park is packed with tips on preventing forest fires with a lot of interactive display for children. There is a small theater with a regularPresentations, an informative garden with many species of native flora and of course spot the final resting place of the old Smokey himself. Always there is a tear appears.

In Lincoln, just 30 minutes, you have received the hub of the Lincoln County Wars. Characters such as John Tunstall, Sheriff Bob Ollenger and of course, William Bonney, who was better known as Billy the Kid. It is the bloodiest street in America ... in any time ... with a fine selection of museums, shops and original building. The classicWortley Hotel operates, the more seasonal and Ellis Store, now a delightful bed and breakfast are just examples.

An hour south of Ruidoso is Alamagordo. Visit the zoo. Perhaps the really big screen calls from the IMAX cinema. Mystified by the stars? The Space Museum is bound to inspire. Do not forget the charm of the magical White Sands National Monument ... All good reasons to 60 minutes drive away.

Only 75 minutes from the infamous Roswell UFO buffs homefrom around the world. Is it a weather balloon or something else? The UFO Museum has an opinion on this issue. Check them out!

If it seems like there's a lot of things that children love the area, a good thing to keep, for there is! Often, concerned parents who ask to come and enjoy the race track or casino, "Is there something for the children?". You bet!

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