Stonyman Gemstone Mining

Kids go absolutely wild for this place, and honestly it’s one of the better stops in the Luray Caverns area if you’ve got little ones in tow. You grab a bag of gem-filled sand, head to the sluice, and let them sift through until they find their haul — arrowheads, gemstones, minerals, the works. It’s hands-on enough to hold attention spans past the typical five-minute mark, and the stuff they find actually feels worth keeping. Good value too, especially compared to some of the other tourist traps nearby. Best for kids roughly 4 to 12, though younger ones will need a little help at the sluice.