The self guided mine tour was great and very educational. It was also cool to see where they did the stamping of the Quartz to get more gold. However, the panning for gold is exceptionally DECEPTIVE! Over 30 people panning for gold and not a single person found so much as a speck. Which would be fine except that the person working the panning area was quite rude! My children were there with their grandparents and when my mother (a southern lady if there ever was one)asked a few polite questions about some of the rocks they had found (trying to point interesting stuff like Quartz out to the grandkids) the employee was quite dismissive, snarky and then through all the rocks back in the panning water. The panning was a disappointing experience! I would not recommend at all!!! If you want a cool panning experience go to Hiddenite mine - they are first class - kind, informative and fun!!!