If you are planning a winter vacation this year that is both exciting, adventurous, and fun for the entire family, you may wish to consider the Gold Cliff Mines in Angels Camp, California, as the perfect destination that combines them all.

As you travel back in time to the days of the gold rush, you and your family will be enthralled, not only by the mines, as you explore them deep beneath the surface, but also by the many fun-filled recreational activities in the area.

As you begin your journey, you are met by the guides at the Gold Cliff site. Here you are given equipment such as hard hats and other necessary gear to keep you safe as you explore the mines. There is also a wavier you have to sign before you enter the mines.

The guide will commence the tour with a history of the mine which, in its original state between 1899 and 1920, produced approximately three million dollars in gold!

After the introduction, you will be taken into the mine’s chambers. There is hiking and climbing involved, and although the entire distance is about one mile, you will nonetheless become mesmerized by the various chambers inside the mines.

In addition, you will be taken aboard a raft which runs across a 100-foot mine. You may come upon some bats along the way, all living deep inside the earth during the day, only coming out at night.

After you finish exploring the first mine, you will be taken to the second one in the system. This is a particularly exciting adventure, since the use of hand-lines will be utilized in order to descend into the mine shaft. Here you will find crystal clear waters and geological formations that are breathtaking.

After your tour is completed, you can rest up at your hotel accommodations, and consider other tours in the area during the rest of your stay.

This may include a visit to Columbia State Park, a gold rush town where you will find store owners dressed in period costume.

You may also wish to visit Calaveras Big Trees State Park, where you will find the infamous giant Sequoia trees.

Or you can take a trip to Jamestown, and visit the Rail Town Historic Park, where you will come upon some of the oldest trains in existence today.

There are plenty of activities for you and your children to round out this vacation of adventure. Check online for more details about the area, airfares and accommodation. Your Gold Cliff Mines will be an unforgettable journey of exploration for the whole family.

Getting Ready to Explore the Caverns
Whether you are planning a trip to the Black Chasm Caverns, the Gold Cliff Mines, Moaning Cavern, Carlsbad Cavern, or taking the Zip Lines over the foot hills of Gold Country – the more you know about the rules and regulations for each location, the better prepared you and your children will be to enjoy any one of these exciting trips.

If you are planning to explore any one of the well-known caverns during your family vacation this winter, but still have questions about the caves and how your kids or teens will fare during these tours, here is information that may alleviate your concerns.

* If you are taking any of the walking tours available, it’s recommended that you do not carry a child without support such as a baby sling or carried strapped to your front. Strollers and wheelchairs are not permitted in the caves.

* Children should be old enough to walk in the caves. Also keep in mind there are narrow pathways and low ceilings that require a bit of maneuvering by them as well.

* Good health is required for kids as well as adults. Anyone who has a heart or lung condition, or any woman who is pregnant should forego exploring caverns because of all the bending and twisting.

* All family members must be in good health when exploring the Gold Cliff Mines. If there are special needs required, you should notify the guide before taking the tour.

* No backpacks should be utilized during exploration of the caverns, so travel light.

* Everyone who is touring the caverns will have to sign a waiver.

* If you choose to rappel down Moaning Cavern, children must be at least 12 years of age, weigh a minimum of 100 pounds, and be a minimum of four feet tall.

* If you plan to take the Zip Lines tours, you must weigh approximately 70 to 260 pounds. There is no age limit at any zip line facility. However, a waiver must be signed here as well.

* Walking tours of mines require that every person wears a hard hat. Children must be at least four years of age.

You can find more information on each site, plus details about the weather, what to wear, and facilities available at each location online.

There are so many wonderful channels on TV such as Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and the Learning Channel, that can pique the curiosity of any child. This, together with reading material, and research online, can enhance the vacation experience immeasurably.

For example, kids love animals. They may have seen a documentary on the lions of Africa, or the rainforest in the Amazon. While it may not be feasible to take a trip to Africa, there are National Parks wherein these animals make their home.

To see them in a recreated natural habitat, children will begin to understand and make the connection between the TV program and the books they have read. Eventually, more questions arise, which require more exploration.

All kids love dinosaurs, so what about a trip to Moaning Cavern Park, or the La Brea tar pits in California? If you can’t go that far, what about a trip to your local museum?
It can be said that as adults we may visit a country a dozen times and still not know everything about it. Thus, taking children on vacations early in life prepares them for later explorations as adults. No matter what city, state, or country they may go to, there is always something to learn, even in their own city.

Words are powerful, but the visual aspects in the learning process cannot be underestimated.

With the economy being so poor at the moment, ’staycations’ are becoming more and more popular. So treat yourself and your family to a visit to your educational local attractions, or look for bargains online and plan an educational trip to one of our magnificent national parks.

There is sure to be fun and adventure for the whole family, as well as educational experiences that will last a lifetime.

One of the methods of educating children today is through practical experience – getting up close and personal with people, places, animals, and experiences that kids can associate with and learn from.

Taking children on vacation not only allows them to enjoy their time away from home, but to experience different cultures and the historic value of the places they visit.

Whether they visit National Parks in their state, or travel abroad to distant lands, they will always learn a lesson or two about people they encounter and places they visit- whether it’s museums or caverns, and carry those lessons with them for reference later on.

Anything can be an adventure if you approach it with the right mind set, and prepare well for your trip in order to get the most out of it.

For parents, encouraging children to read about a destination beforehand or watching a DVD together can go a long way in stimulating the child’s interest, no matter where they are traveling to.

It’s one thing to read about the pyramids or the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in books. It is an entirely different experience to see them up close and personal.

Children, by nature, love to explore. Instilling in them the curiosity to ask the standard who, what, when, where why, and how questions is part of their learning experience.

Visiting National Parks for a winter vacation gives the entire family the opportunity to commune with nature, enjoy the different species of trees and flowers, and have more time to explore the area during the off-peak season.

They can also be very educational, as well as adventure-filled trips.

National Parks offer a variety of activities for the entire family. Some of the well-known parks that are visited during the winter months are Great Smoky National Park, Glazier National Park, Biscayne National Park, and Death Valley National Park.

There are also wonderful places to explore like Carlsbad Caverns.

In addition, winter is a great time to visit these parks because you will have more time to explore, and the park rangers will undoubtedly be more accessible during this time. In the wintertime, you may see different species of animals as well.

Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park are two additional parks you may enjoy during the winter months. But no matter what time of year you visit any National Park, you are sure to experience a trip of a lifetime.

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