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syonix
syonix
Travel Ideas
Oct 29 2008, 6:34 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 29 2008, 6:34 PM EDT
I've been blessed this year with some left over airline credit from my work that i must book before the end of October. (about $650)

I am looking for ideas for cool or early spring winter rock hunting trips ..I want to go somewhere new and try something ive never done before.. something really cool! :-)

Anyone have suggestions?

Anywhere but the PacNW as i live here and flying would be a waste ;-)

-Jake
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TallTomSr
TallTomSr
1. RE: Travel Ideas
Oct 29 2008, 8:25 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 29 2008, 8:25 PM EDT
Well have you thought of contacting Tom azrockhound)and going flourscent rock hunting with him. That would be cool,, or I guess HOT since he lives in the desert,,,lol.
Tom Do you find this valuable?    
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
2. RE: Travel Ideas
Oct 29 2008, 9:39 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 29 2008, 9:39 PM EDT
"I've been blessed this year with some left over airline credit from my work that i must book before the end of October. (about $650)

I am looking for ideas for cool or early spring winter rock hunting trips ..I want to go somewhere new and try something ive never done before.. something really cool! :-)

Anyone have suggestions?

Anywhere but the PacNW as i live here and flying would be a waste ;-)

-Jake
"
Go to Hot Springs National Park , Arkansas. You will find the nations finest crystal mines where you can take home specimens worth hundreds of dollars. You can dig for really rare gems and specimens 12 miles from Hot Springs at Magnet Cove. There are Novaculite ridges where colorful cutting and napping material can be found. It is a short hour and fifteen minute drive to the diamond mine where if you are lucky you can go away rich. If not you can find lots of lace agate and colorful jaspers in the mine. A short drive west puts you in Mt Ida (35 miles) which has a number of working quartz mines and a rare Wavelite quarry. All that and a great tourist destination with attractions for the whole family. Every thing from hiking, fishing (three great lakes), top rate horse racing track, theme parks, museums, fine dinning, and a world class spa thrown in for good measure. You can stray in a 1890s hotel, new resorts or camp in a number of first class parks. When you get ready to ship your treasure home, you can send 70 pounds priority mail for $7.50. That's how I shipped Tom the last bunch of goodies. Check out what I posted for Arkansas on the National Directory. Most of the sights are near Hot Springs.

Second choice is the Black Hills of South Dakota or North Carolina.
Bill Do you find this valuable?    
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
3. RE: Travel Ideas
Oct 29 2008, 10:49 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 29 2008, 10:49 PM EDT
"Go to Hot Springs National Park , Arkansas. You will find the nations finest crystal mines where you can take home specimens worth hundreds of dollars. You can dig for really rare gems and specimens 12 miles from Hot Springs at Magnet Cove. There are Novaculite ridges where colorful cutting and napping material can be found. It is a short hour and fifteen minute drive to the diamond mine where if you are lucky you can go away rich. If not you can find lots of lace agate and colorful jaspers in the mine. A short drive west puts you in Mt Ida (35 miles) which has a number of working quartz mines and a rare Wavelite quarry. All that and a great tourist destination with attractions for the whole family. Every thing from hiking, fishing (three great lakes), top rate horse racing track, theme parks, museums, fine dinning, and a world class spa thrown in for good measure. You can stray in a 1890s hotel, new resorts or camp in a number of first class parks. When you get ready to ship your treasure home, you can send 70 pounds priority mail for $7.50. That's how I shipped Tom the last bunch of goodies. Check out what I posted for Arkansas on the National Directory. Most of the sights are near Hot Springs.

Second choice is the Black Hills of South Dakota or North Carolina.
Bill"
If you come this way let me know and I will schedule some time to show you some of my secret sites
Bill Do you find this valuable?    
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
4. RE: Travel Ideas
Oct 29 2008, 10:53 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 29 2008, 10:53 PM EDT
"If you come this way let me know and I will schedule some time to show you some of my secret sites
Bill"
Oh yes if you are into pet wood about an hour south of Hot Springs there are loads of wood.
Bill Do you find this valuable?    
AZrhound
AZrhound
5. RE: Travel Ideas
Oct 29 2008, 11:23 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 29 2008, 11:23 PM EDT
Hey Jake,

Come to AZ I'm sure I can find some time to go rockhounding. We could hunt for fluorescent crystals and minerals. I have been wanting to go hunt for fire agate. The blackhills rockhounding area is about a two hour drive from Phoenix. Just a suggestion. Let me know if you decide AZ.

Tom(AZrhound) Do you find this valuable?    

mudd1973
6. RE: Travel Ideas
Oct 30 2008, 5:45 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 30 2008, 5:45 PM EDT
Fly down to San Diego and go hunting for tourmaline. In northern San Diego county, there are 3 pay for tourmaline mines: Oceanview, Himalaya and Cryo-Genie. There are usually rock club field trips that are open to the public, also. You could go to the Yahoo Group "LA-Rocks" to see postings of trips, or better yet, join the group and post when you will be in Southern California and that you are looking for places to rock. Last January, we had a lovely couple from Alberta join us on a geode hunting trip to the Hauser geode beds. Ellen Do you find this valuable?    
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
7. RE: Travel Ideas
Oct 30 2008, 7:43 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 30 2008, 7:43 PM EDT
"I've been blessed this year with some left over airline credit from my work that i must book before the end of October. (about $650)

I am looking for ideas for cool or early spring winter rock hunting trips ..I want to go somewhere new and try something ive never done before.. something really cool! :-)

Anyone have suggestions?

Anywhere but the PacNW as i live here and flying would be a waste ;-)

-Jake
"
Here's an idea. The Two Hearts Buffalo Ranch near Fairburn, South Dakota is in the heart of rock country. There is a cabin that sleeps four that is available to rent by the week or less. The ranch is on the Cheyenne river near the French Creek agate beds. Not only Fairburn and Prairie agates, but pet wood, barite crystals, ammonites, baculites and other fossils. Five parks and in a short drive: Badlands National Park. Wind Cave National Park, Jewell Cave National Park, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore plus the beauty of the Black Hills. ask Tom if the Hills are special. This is one our favorite spots on earth. There is also gold prospecting in the Hills.
Bill
Bill Do you find this valuable?    
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
8. RE: Travel Ideas
Oct 31 2008, 7:51 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 31 2008, 7:51 PM EDT
"I've been blessed this year with some left over airline credit from my work that i must book before the end of October. (about $650)

I am looking for ideas for cool or early spring winter rock hunting trips ..I want to go somewhere new and try something ive never done before.. something really cool! :-)

Anyone have suggestions?

Anywhere but the PacNW as i live here and flying would be a waste ;-)

-Jake
"
Where did you purchase tickets to fly?
Bill Do you find this valuable?    
syonix
syonix
9. RE: Travel Ideas
Nov 1 2008, 11:34 AM EDT | Post edited: Nov 1 2008, 11:34 AM EDT
At the very last minute my damn work decided afterall it was going to book the credit. litterly at 4:50pm yesterday. 10 minutes before we left for the holiday and 10 minutes before i solidly had that credit to use without problems..
oh well so much is life.

I did get some good info from you guys though, and i have still talked my wife into going somewhere anyway even if its on our own dime. We'll most likly be driving instead. Figuring maybe heading towards southern california then over to AZ.. I'll let chall know when we go if you want to go hunting with us..

Bill you meantioned some great places. what is the best time of year to visit Arkansas? Do you find this valuable?    
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
10. RE: Travel Ideas
Nov 1 2008, 1:43 PM EDT | Post edited: Nov 1 2008, 1:43 PM EDT
"At the very last minute my damn work decided afterall it was going to book the credit. litterly at 4:50pm yesterday. 10 minutes before we left for the holiday and 10 minutes before i solidly had that credit to use without problems..
oh well so much is life.

I did get some good info from you guys though, and i have still talked my wife into going somewhere anyway even if its on our own dime. We'll most likly be driving instead. Figuring maybe heading towards southern california then over to AZ.. I'll let chall know when we go if you want to go hunting with us..

Bill you meantioned some great places. what is the best time of year to visit Arkansas?"
The best times are the Middle of March, April, May, and June- then forget July and August (unless you are looking for water sports or confine mining to the morning hours.) July and August the temps are in the 90s in the afternoon and I can not take slinging a pick or hammer in that kind of heat. September, October to the middle of November are also nice. Although November can have some cool days which in my opinion is the easiest time to work a digging. For the whole family I would pick May, June or October. Late May and June are great for playing in the water (jet skiing, boating, fishing) and the theme parks are open. It would still be best to work the Diamond Mine in the morning. Kimberlite clay is a blue green and it absorbs heat at an unbelievable rate. I have been to the Diamond Mine and Billie got heat exhaustion in October. We did not drink enough water while working. There is a water theme park at the Diamond mine which works out great. Work the mine until it gets to warm then let the the family slip and slide. There is also great camp sites at the mine or motels in Murphysboro or Hot Springs. Stay at a resort on Lake Ouachita (huge lake 30 mile long) and you will be in the middle of everything. October is fun because of the fall colors which do not pick until late October and early November. April is fun for the spring flowers and for Oaklawn race track if you are into horse racing. December, January, and February are months for the local rockhounds. There can be days in the 60s with low humidity which are excellent for the prospector. But it is hit and miss. Winter also has a great deal of rain. (Not much snow. ) I like winter the best for mining. No under brush , soft soil. and with a jacket I can sling all day. As for my secret site if you come I will meet you in Hot Springs and plan an outing to few few not on the map sites. With a car you can take hundreds of pounds home. A good half way stop could be Colorado or the Black Hills.
Bill Do you find this valuable?    
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
11. RE: Travel Ideas
Nov 1 2008, 1:55 PM EDT | Post edited: Nov 1 2008, 1:55 PM EDT
"At the very last minute my damn work decided afterall it was going to book the credit. litterly at 4:50pm yesterday. 10 minutes before we left for the holiday and 10 minutes before i solidly had that credit to use without problems..
oh well so much is life.

I did get some good info from you guys though, and i have still talked my wife into going somewhere anyway even if its on our own dime. We'll most likly be driving instead. Figuring maybe heading towards southern california then over to AZ.. I'll let chall know when we go if you want to go hunting with us..

Bill you meantioned some great places. what is the best time of year to visit Arkansas?"
I checked Goggle. By car it would be a very long drive. Although Paul drove a whole lot farther than Hot Springs on his trip to Georgia. Probable the easiest way would be to fly into Little Rock or Dallas and rent a car for a week.
Bill Do you find this valuable?    
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
aubreyreynolds9@gmai
12. RE: Travel Ideas
Nov 1 2008, 2:07 PM EDT | Post edited: Nov 1 2008, 2:07 PM EDT
"I checked Goggle. By car it would be a very long drive. Although Paul drove a whole lot farther than Hot Springs on his trip to Georgia. Probable the easiest way would be to fly into Little Rock or Dallas and rent a car for a week.
Bill"
Little Rock is 50 miles from Hot Springs. Round trip from Seatle to Little Rock is $398. If you are into camping I have all kings of camping gear.
Bill Do you find this valuable?