Gold Rush Days

Over Labor Day weekend we made a last minute decision and decided to go to the Sacramento Gold Rush Days. We had a great time! They take the streets in the old sac area and cover them with dirt and you see all sorts of horses and carriages and wagons and people dressed in period costumes everyone - the girls loved it! We've been talking about pioneers and the big girls love the "Little House on the Prairie" books so it was fun. It wasn't supposed to open until 11am but we got there early to go bug hunting along the river :) It worked out well...we were there by 10:30 and most of the booths were already open so we got to check things out without the crowd or the heat!

Our first visit was to the Mormon Battalion area. M got to make her own rope and Daddy had a GREAT time - once they found out he had ancestors who were in the Battallion he got into all sorts of conversations and enjoyed seeing the uniforms they wore and such. We actually ditched him for a little while so he could continue talking :)

While Daddy talked the girls and I went to pan gold. I was surprised at HOW much fun they had doing that! We stayed for quite awhile (since it wasn't crowded and Daddy was talking!). Afterwards they took their gold to the bank and were given a gold nugget (aka a rock spray painted godl!) and a certificate that they could use to go bowling, get a free drink and such. So we wandered around trying the free activities and had a great time. We actually went back to pan for gold again because they liked it so much!
Not the best picture but Mg sure enjoyed her gold!A of course enjoyed the ride and her thumb :) She was pretty good considering she didn't get a lot of walking time!
We brought a picnic and enjoyed the cannon getting fired off (well, at least Daddy did!) and went to check out the river and the steam train and the boats and then went home for a nice nap (and Daddy went to work)! Hooray for holidays!