Over Forty and Loving It!

I’m a trivia hound (I KILL in Trivial Pursuit.) Several years ago we used to frequent a local restaurant across the street from us, in Charlotte, NC. We loved their weekly trivia contest. We were pretty good, if I do say so myself. We won two or three times and placed in the top three a couple of times. One night the last question, the bonus question, was “What state has the only active diamond mine that allows visitors to dig for diamonds?” Before we were even given the choices, my husband and I looked at each other and smiled, because we knew the answer.

Arkansas.

I grew up there and one of the attractions in the state is Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, south of Little Rock, just outside of Pine Bluff. It is the only place in the U.S. where you can dig for loose diamonds. Pretty cool, huh?

Believe it or not, I lived in the state most of my life and never visited. But I always thought it would be neat to dig for diamonds in the hopes of bringing home a beauty. And for those who think, “There can’t be any diamonds left to find.” Think again. The last diamond found was in May of this year—a 1 carat, 11 point diamond. And as a FYI, the first diamond was found in 1906.

So here is what you need to know. While there are places to stay around the state park, you might consider staying in lovely Hot Springs, AR at the base of the Ouachita (pronounced wash-a-tah) Mountains. There you can shop, visit spas and hey, take in the horse races (another way to make your vaca pay—hopefully.) Murfreesboro is roughly 1 1/2 hours away (60 miles.)

It should be noted, do not, under any circumstances, stay in Pine Bluff. Pine Bluff is where the state prison is located and is the armpit of Arkansas. It’s not a pretty place. Also, should you choose a stop-over stay in Little Rock (roughly 2 ½ hours away-120 miles, but it's a beautiful city with lots to see and enjoy) please, stay away from North Little Rock. North Little Rock is akin to East St. Louis.

Admittance into Crater of Diamonds State Park is $7.00 for adults, $4.00 children 6-12 and children under 6 are free. Since the park plows the fields, many people find diamonds lying on top of the dirt. However, if you prefer to dig, you can bring your own bucket and shovel, or you can buy or rent an assortment of mining tools at the park for nominal fees, ranging in price from $2.50-$11.00 with deposits ranging from $10.00-$60.00.

The staff will be able to confirm that you have indeed found a diamond, but they cannot tell you the worth. Should you find a diamond big enough to have cut, they will provide you with a list of reputable diamond cutters.

So now, go forth and make your vacation pay for itself. *Fingers crossed*