You can go to the mining museum and pan gold for yourself. This is an outstanding way for children to learn history in an educational vacation. You may be able to use a rocker. Notice and explore the gold dredge which is located at the museum. It would be interesting to watch it at work.
Visitors frequently take their own gold and garnets out of the sand in Virginia City.
You can be part of living history and reenactment as you find your own gold. You will find all of this, and located close to spectacular Yellowstone National Park.