Sounds like a great trip. All 3 of those places are on the "must see" list of NC Rock History.
I haven't been to the Ray since hunting the creek is what you did. It was easy to see the rocks.
Apparently now, they don't want you to do that and have established a "designated digging area" up above the creek.
I have heard there are many mine tailings in this area to dig into finding beryl and kyanite.
But I really don't know if this designated area is still open.
The Ray is a big spread out area that would take a full day, or more, to get a feel for unless you go with someone that's been there before.
I like your idea of starting with Crabtree Emerald Mine. One of the prettiest spots in North Carolina
and the fact that it's an old emerald mine is a bonus! If you go to the Museum on McKinney Mine Road for directions and pay your entry
you'll want to get going early so you have time to look around there and still plenty of time at the mine.
Those little green emeralds can sometimes be hard to find anymore but there's all kinds of yellow and golden beryl and real pretty schorl tourmaline to be seen.
It's someplace you just want to see with your own eyes while you still can.
Same with the Little Pine, see it while you can. It's a beautiful drive over to it.
But it is a bit of a drive, so it would be hard to do all three mines in 3 days.
Ofcourse I'm slow, but I'd go to Crabtree and one other, and take my time, enjoy the scenery and save one for another trip.
The leaves are basically still green and just beginning to fall here, I wonder what it will be like up there?
I put a couple pics of specimens from the Crabtree to help give you an idea of what to look for.
First pic, on left is a piece with schorl tourmaline, which is everywhere, on right is a golden yellow beryl on matrix.
Second pic is how those little green emeralds will float thru just about anywhere.