This place is amazing! I have a fourth grader and going here to enforce her learning by having fun with couple of her friends is wonderful. I called to know how they operate with a small number of guests for my party and they were so pleasant and very informative. They do not host their elaborate birthday parties yet due to Covid but you can book a time slot to mine. When I was ready to book a date and time, I called but missed them. They called me promptly the next day. Since we are still in the Covid season, they were very open to their protocols so we were not put out by it when we got there, hand sanitizer when coming in and mask. No problem! Better be safe! They have a huge display of gems, stones, shells and shark teeth. Their "mining" station is located on the side of the store. We browsed around before our time was called and my party of four was so eager to start finding treasures. I got to join in too. It was fun finding gems and shells and it's not like going to the beach and just finding oyster, clam, or mussel shells, we found some cool looking ones. The best finds were a megalodon tooth and a big quarts. So many treasures! If you have children or you are an avid collector/miner, visit this store. You will have fun. Just take your time when sifting because there's a lot of small rocks like a star ones that you might miss if you sift too fast. What will you find in your bucket of treasure? read more

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We had such an amazing experience. Huge shout out to Lexi who helped us out today! My child and I had such a fun and exciting experience hunting for shark teeth and other marine fossils! What a fabulous experience. Highly recommend! We will be back next time we are in the area! Thank you for making our trip! read more

Incredible selection I had to stop myself from spending more money. Definitely will come back again. read more

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This place is worth the visit! This is an original, and unique family owned shop. A dynamite place to find amazing one-of-a- kind items. Incredible authentic ancient fossils, from larger than imagination, sized dinosaurs. Beautifully polished mineral And gem stones, whimsical items, great gifts and " Not your run of the mill"items of interest. Fossils, petrified wood, crystals and so much more can be found in the kid friendly, and family fun on site, " Mining Experience " This REALLY is a GREAT STORE and worth the visit. A professional grade selection, wide variety and value priced! Great place for kids and the entire family. Find out for yourself and enjoy! read more

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Yes this is the place to go and discover your love for different rocks and dinosaurs/bones and have a lot of cool stuff and most of there prices are worth it!! And really get more profit out of the random stuff that you would find that says `explore and find these rock or bones in this dirt or some what stone and dig it out' but if you just spend a little more there is a bucket that you can buy and have the same experience by sifting through the dirt and finding the rock and they also reuse there bones and rock that other people didn't see so you can find it.They are also vary nice with kiddos and for the whole family. read more

We brought our kids and they enjoyed the mining experience. The store has some beautiful gem pieces and jewelry read more

Treasure Quest Mining - Kids Activities Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

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Had a great father son day here. We got the large box and mined for about an hour. Very fun experience. Lovely place to be. read more

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I'm a big fan of Treasure Quest, but this family-run place really is as good as it gets for what it is: 5 STARS! We've been sluicing over in Hiddenite and that can't really be topped, but for an indoor, kid-friendly, sluicing experience, this place ROCKS! There are both shell and gem/mineral buckets available - everything is guaranteed to have some treasure to find. Our latest Prospector bucket had even more "big gems" than previous buckets we've had in the same size. My 5 year old is always thrilled to find the tiny shells, medium-sized gems, big crystals, and even shark teeth that sometimes are found when we're here. Today, one of the "big ones" was different from any we've had before and it really looked like a citrine (my kiddo's birthstone); one of the owners happened to walk by as we found it and we mentioned it to him. He said it does look like the citrine in the poster they have on the wall, but that they had to darken it for printing and it was actually a calcite (my kiddo just loved it no matter that it wasn't her birthstone). The owner came back a few moments later and actually gave her a large citrine (no charge!) -- above and beyond customer service! We also love how the owners already recognize us: it really gives for a personalized experience when we're here. This family run business really does have the family feel. Even the owners' son is sometimes there and he is very knowledgeable and helpful with the various rocks and shells. Everyone who works here is always willing to help identify your new treasures too. We highly recommend the geode station as well. I love the "lighter" ones because I prefer the super sparkling crystals (heavier geodes crack into larger size crystals - still pretty!). The shop is well organized, and there are lots of different items from plush toys to really beautiful finds. Helpful tip: we like to bring a smock for our 5 year old to keep her shirt dry. Older kiddos may not need anything like that, but I would definitely recommend something for the younger set (or a dry shirt to change into afterwards). There is a dry area for younger preschool age children too if the thought of water gets intimidating. The smaller size buckets are also great for those with shorter-activity attention spans or those who just want a taste of sluicing. I think I've recommended this spot to several friends - we always have a great time when we're here. The experience of finding the treasures herself really make for a special collection: every rock, gem, mineral, shell, tooth is important to her. We haven't been to one, but Treasure Quest also offers birthday parties. We happened to swing by today and one was in progress - everything looked very organized and the kiddos seemed happy. I'm sure we'll be back again soon! read more

Treasure Quest Mining - Finding treasures from the Prospector bucket - Kids Activities Near Me - Apex, North Carolina

It was our first visit to Treasure Quest today. We arrived shortly after they opened on Saturday and were pleased that it was not crowded yet. I recently broke my ankle and am in a motorized medical scooter. The ladies were happy to accommodate me and my chair, and made sure I had ample space to be next to my kids. I really appreciated how kind they were. We ordered the large bucket of gems and split amongst 3 kids (ages 4, 6, and 7). We felt it was an appropriate size to split, and each kids enjoyed the treasures they mined! Great indoor activity to try! read more

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A lot of fun. We got a $30 bucket and it was enough for the girls to share and they each got some pretty stones.

I've lived in Apex for YEARS and never knew this place was here. Treasure Quest Mining is a hidden *treasure* that deserves more attention than it is getting. The staff is AMAZING with kids and super helpful if you have any questions. Definitely stop by if you have a chance!! read more

We had an absolutely amazing experience here!! There were eight of us, 2 adults, 2 grandparents, 2 teenagers, and 2 little kids ages 4 and 2. And to quote the 4 year old "Nana this was the most awesome best water play ever!!" The staff/owners were super friendly and helpful and didn't seem to mind the 2 year old screaming with excitement every time she would find a crystal or colored stone!! It was a great way to spend a few hours with "all" our kids!! Not to mention finding 2 rubies and 1 emerald large enough to have cut and set wasn't too bad either!! Come check this place out! You won't be disappointed!! read more

Treasure comes in many forms. If you are hoping to strike it rich by finding the next Hope diamond in a bucket of soil, you will likely leave disappointed. If you find your riches in a child's squeal of delight...this adventure is for you. Firstly, for those adventures who detest heat, bugs, and the lack of indoor plumbing...you will be happy to find that all facilities are indoors. It's a standing slew so people with back and hip problems may have issues (hint, stools would keep people around longer and the lack is why I deducted a star). Dirt is bought by the pail and seeded enough to keep the interest of a 10 yr old with ADHD for a good 20-30 minutes. The staff is knowledgeable and will go through your treasures and identify what you have found. Bathrooms are family friendly and clean. Didnt ber the specific treasure you are looking for???....the small but well stocked gift shop likely has it. Treasure Quest is a locally owned business. Come out and support your neighbor by having the cleanest fun you can have involving dirt! read more

We went to treasure quest based on suggestions from friends. This place is great! The perfect place to go on those rainy days. They offer both gem and shell buckets to mine. We purchased the large shell bucket which came with a megalodon tooth that my son was so excited about! The staff is super friendly and was extremely helpful. It can get crowded and there is limited seating if you wanted to sit while your kid does their mining. After mining, the staff offers to go over all the things you found in your bucket. It's nice to add that educational aspect to something fun for the kids!! They do also have a large selection of unique gifts to purchase. I think that the price is very reasonable, especially if you have multiple children sharing a bucket. I did notice they host birthday parties as well. We will definitely be back to do the gem bucket! read more

This was a great experience especially in a hot day. The kids had a great time with their buckets sorting for gems (even found some sharks teeth as an added bonus in the rockhound bucket). It entertained my son, niece and nephew who are ages 7 through 12 but they had a special dry dog that would entertain younger kids as well. The water was clean and not muddy and the prices were extremely reasonable. They spent time with each child identifying the different gems and minerals that they had in their loot. Then we picked out geodes and broke them open in their special geode breaking machine. It was great and the kids are already begging to go back as soon as possible. read more

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Fun, affordable birthday parties. My 9-year-old son had his birthday party here and all the kids (aged 5 through 12) had a great time. The party room was very nicely decorated and well-stocked with paper supplies, water bottles, and a fridge to keep drinks cold. I did not have to bring any decorations myself, which was different than other places where walls were bare and boring. I was a bit worried that the website said parties are parent-led with minimal staff involvement but I felt the staff helped a lot and clearly explained how everything worked to the kids. The over all price was less than other birthday party places and we were completely satisfied with the whole experience. I will note that our 5-year-old needed adult help to do the mining while everyone 7 and up did not. If you are planning a party mostly made up of 5 or 6-year-olds, I would suggest having parents stick around to assist their kids rather than do a drop off party. read more

Up for an adventure in the a/c? Treasure Quest, a new indoor gem mining experience, is now open in Apex! I relieved my favorite college course [Geology] and had a blast guessing the gems I sluiced at their soft opening yesterday! Stop in the pick up unique gifts, host a party, and/or go on a treasure hunt. The shop owners and sweet son are extremely helpful and knowledgeable about gems, fossils, and dinosaurs. This day date ROCKED and we'll be back! read more

I went here for Father's Day with the family. The owner was super helpful and very nice. We bought the $30 bucket and it was plenty for my family of 4 to sift through. We found a bunch of great gems, part of a geode and one huge crystal. The gems are planted in the buckets but that doesn't make the experience any less enjoyable. It's still neat sifting for what you can find. I had a great time and my kids keep begging me to go back. It's a great idea for a birthday party or just a fun little treat for the family to do. We'll definitely try this place again. The shop also has a nice display of gems, fossils and other knickknacks you can buy. It's very nice inside and looks almost like a museum. Fun place! read more

What a great find! I was browsing through reviews and I thought I would check it out. A couple of families were panning for gems, which looked like so much fun. I decided to just browse the gift shop. I'll definitely be returning read more

We love this business! There is a large variety of rocks, gems, fossils and shells. The "mining" area is clean and enticing for the entire family, not just the kids. The owner is a fabulous teacher! Make sure you bring your gems and stones to her after you have mined them. Her knowledge is expansive and you feel as though you've had a wonderful geology lesson after you've left. The staff members are helpful, welcoming and interactive. It's been a 5 star experience each time we have gone. read more

Treasure Quest Mining is a treasure indeed. This unique store has by far the most fabulous treasure trove of gems, geodes, fossils, ever! The best yet, my family, plus two visiting grand kids, panned for an amazing array of gems and fossils hidden in buckets of fine sandy gravel. We all found an amazing number of treasures in our $10 buckets which we slushed in screened trays, which we washed in water until all kinds of wonderful things appeared, both big and small: citrine, crystals of every color and even sharks teeth and fossils. It is a fabulous place for all ages! Plus, a wonderfully clean bathroom and incredibly knowledgeable husband and wife owner. Haven't had so much fun since we planned for gold in Colorado when we were young. This is the real thing. Great activity for families, birthday parties, etc. We can't wait to go back. It's on 414 Upchurch Street in Apex, NC. Pat C in Cary, NC read more

We spent a lovely morning here with my boys! They could get dirty--and then clean! My older one found so many treasures he was happy to share with my younger one. Miss Angeline is so kind and patient with the children, carefully explaining their treasures to them. Thanks for your help today!!! read more

My daughter took my six year old granddaughter and loved it. The price is great, they both had a blast and it was very educational. Highly recommend! read more

Awesome place that paid attention to store setup for those in wheelchairs. I was very impressed upon entering Treasure Quest because usually, if you or your party require a wheelchair, the majority of little fun shops are closed to you because they can't seem to make enough room in the aisles for a wheelchair. Not so here. There was plenty of room to maneuver and see every inch of the store. Rock samples, geology art, jewelry, sparkly things everywhere! There is an in-store "river" that you can use for "mining" and even that was wheelchair friendly! We broke a geode, mined for gems, and found some nice samples of our favorite rocks to take home, and the prices were great. The owners were incredibly nice and knowledgeable. They even had a few recommendations of where we could go "in the wild" to find interesting treasures. We will be returning and bringing many friends back here for more mining! read more