JAMESTOWN, CALIFORNIA, USA -- Even today, there's still plenty of gold in the hills of Tuolumne County.

Panning for gold is an inexpensive, educational and fun activity that the entire family can get into. An expert guide accompanies your party, demonstrating proper gold panning and sluice box techniques. Everyone will have fun with this hands on adventure that can yield valuable results.

About 3/4 of the folks in our group found at least small specks of gold pieces and one lucky prospector found an ounce plus gold nugget!

This is the real things folks, not a tourist attraction that has "stocked the pond."

According to Gold Prospecting Adventures proprietors Brent and Bryant Shock, "as big as the 1848 California gold rush was, it's a estimated that only 15% of the gold in the Mother Lode Country has been found."

That leaves a lot of gold for modern day panners and prospectors to find.

An expedition with Gold Prospecting Adventures in Jamestown includes all necessary equipment and instruction, along with use of the company's claim -- the Jimtown1849 Mining Camp, along Wood's Creek. This picturesque setting really takes you back in time to experience the mechanical process California's early prospectors went through to seek their fortunes. Luckily you won't have to deal with unethical assayers, saloon brawls, violent tempers and other hardships of the old west.

Practicalities:

You can find Gold Prospecting Adventures home office at 18170 Main Street in Jamestown, CA. Call 800-596-0009 or 209-984-4653 or visit www.goldprospecting.com.

You can learn more about visiting all the attractions in Tuolumne County by calling the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-446-1333 or 209-533-4420 or visit their website: www.tcvb.com.

Cheri Sicard, in addition to being the editor of FabulousTravel.com and its sister site, Fabulous Foods.com is the author of The Great American Handbook: What You Can Do For Your Country Today and Every Day and The Low Carb Restaurant Guide, and the co-author of US Citizenship for Dummies. To learn more about Cheri, click here.