I’d like to know where to find cool gem mining areas where the public can search for native gems in the US.

I’ve checked out a few of the places that I’ve seen on The Travel Channel’s Cash and Treasure. It seems that after being featured on the show, the prices for such activity at these locations has gone up (doubled from $50 to $100 at one place.)

I know that there must be many more of the native gem and rockhounding areas available to the public than I have heard about. But, I don’t know where to find them. I thought that with so many people reading this question, that I’d surely find out about many less known places. So, please do let me know if you’ve been gem hunting, where and what you found and if you had a good experience.

I’d particularly like to know of any public native gem searching areas in the South East.

Thanks for you help.