There’s nothing like whacking into a piece of granite to find a shiny gemstone to set the pulse to racing. For more than 40 years, rock hounds of all ages have been trekking into the caves and canyons of a former mica mine founded by Sam Ruggles in the 19th Century to try their hand at prospecting for semi-precious stones. Kids are given their own rock hammers to search for quartz, beryl, aquamarine, tourmaline and even amethyst and uranium. Best of all: finders, keepers.
Ruggles Mine
Route 4 at Village Green, Grafton, NH
