The Baileys: Dahlonega & Chestatee Wild Life Refuge

Childhood memories can be the best. You see things from such an innocent and fun view that the memories are some that never can be erased or forgotten. Matt and I want to give these cherished memories to our children to have forever! We have decided that we're going to try and do day trips at least once every other month to locations that are within a couple of driving hours (at the most) of our home. This day, we chose to pan for gold and visit the wild animals!

We first went to an abandoned mine where we got a tour, then panned for gold and then panned for precious stones. The place Matt picked (Consolidated Mine Company) was spectacular and we'll go back again and again. (I'm thinking a family trip around Christmas time for sure!) The guide was knowledgeable and kind. Once the tour was over, we were given our pans to being our hunt for gold. Just before we dug in, a gentleman asked to see Lilah's brown eyes and as she confirmed her name for him, he pulled a purple stone out of her ear (I'm guessing that said stone was keeping her from listening to mom & dad.) She was so thrilled and still tells people she had a beautiful stone in her ear. After finding gold, we were given a HUGE bucket that we panned through for precious stones. Lilah had such a great time. Wyatt, you ask? He LOVED splashing in the puddles in the mine and LOVED splashing in the water that was used to sort sand/dirt from gold and stones. This adventure was only a couple of hours, but SO MUCH FUN!

After becoming millionaires with finding gold and stones, we went out to eat and then headed over to Chestatee Wild Life Reserve (about an hour north of us). It is such a low key and friendly environment. We walked around looking at the animals and getting to pet a few of them. One "bird" (Which should be Thanksgiving dinner) 'bit' Wyatt. He put his finger through the fence and it pecked him. His face was so funny! Matt and I were cracking up. For the rest of the time, Wyatt did his "snake arm" and hissed at the turkey. Matt got a great video of Wyatt hissing at the bird. There was another turkey that loved to follow folks around. This particular friendly turkey took to Li. We all got to pet this sweet bird.

Once we were home, it was pool time! Yes, Daddy still had energy for the kids! They played in the pool for a little while and then it was time for dinner and bed. What an exhausting, but incredible day!

(Get ready for a TON of pictures!)

Our guide

Hard Hat Time!

Going into the mine...

Miners found a streak of where gold could possibly be and began to dig. They dug so much so that they broke through daylight. Behind Matt and the kids you can see plants growing way above them. This is about half way down.

See the tracks that the carts used?

We had just descended down these stairs.

Even after this mine had been flooded and then drained...this tool (the guide is standing next to) still WORKED! Our guide turned it on, at half power, and you could see it still working. Once he turned it off, you heard the noise bouncing off the walls of the mine. It was a little bit loud. Many miners went deaf from working in the mines.

Gold Diggers.....

Once you get your pan down to a small amount of sand, you take it over to someone who then finds the gold for you. He then puts it into a tube for keeps!