[Jewelry making - Article 00919] - Re: [Orchid] Wildacres attractions

[Margaret Malm]

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Hi, Noel;

    You'll love Wildacres! It is so great!!! What course are you taking?
    (Or are you teaching?) 

    1) I don't think there are any "genuine" mines around there that are
    open to the public. There are a bunch of "gem mines" around there,
    but they're all of the "salted" type. The material is not necessarily
    collected locally, or even in N. Carolina. It goes like this: you pay
    your money and they give you a bucket of material, you take it over
    to the flume where there is a sieve and  ---. You can sometimes select
    what kind of gems you want, but usually you get a mixture; it's
    mostly "rockhound" material rather than anything particularly
    valuable.  A relatively inexpensive way to spend a hot summer
    afternoon in the shade with your hands in the water! 

    2) There is a neat museum just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near the
    Little Switzerland turnoff. There are also some very pretty waterfalls
    nearby. On our afternoon off we drove south to Mt  (?? Forgot the
    name; it's the high peak to the west of the Parkway); great views,
    great wildflowers. 

    3) Just relax and enjoy. Bring some snacks if you want, and soft
    drinks (no booze allowed) if you have some way of cooling them (they
    seldom have ice). You might want a small radio just to check the
    news. (Or, maybe they are not allowed, I don't remember now). No TV
    there. No phones in the rooms, I think. (i.e. no internet access) 

Cheers!
Margaret

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