Healthy Me

With the economy still bad after so many years, what is left to invest in that will see a good return?  I know our 401K took a huge hit when the economy first tumbled and it's wheezing itself slowing back out of the negatives.  I've heard that gold is a good investment. How do you invest in gold? Gold bars? Just buy stock in a gold company?

I am a ninny when it comes to investing. As you can tell, I know nothing about it.