Where do you find gold in the United States? I know! Fort Knox! But you can't just go there and take that gold. And if you think that you can strike it rich by prospecting, remember the lesson of the California Gold Rush- the people who made the most money off of it were the ones who bought city property, shipped people and supplies to California, made jeans for, and sold tools to those prospectors. But there are people today who see prospecting for gold as a hobby, and one with the potential for excitement. Some use the classic panning method, while most use metal detectors. They know where to go for gold, and you can, too.
You might never find the equivalent of the Comstock Lode, but there are places where you can give it a try, and not only enjoy prospecting as a hobby but take in awesome scenery and commune with nature. You might even pick up some nuggets, too! Read about five of those places at Smithsonian.
(Image credit: US Forest Service)