Make Dinosaurland the Destination of Your Next Family Adventure

This article is brought to you by our friends at Dinosaurland.

It finally feels like spring here today.  The sky is blue, there’s a light breeze, and it’s supposed to reach the high 70s this afternoon.  I even went out without a jacket this morning!  Of course, now that I’ve had a taste of warmer weather, I’m pining for summer and dreaming of things like ice cream cones, sandals, and vacations, particularly road trips.

One of my bucket list goals is to take a long summer road trip “out west”.  There’s just so much to see and do, especially in the Rocky Mountains area.  Like me, you’re probably already familiar with places like Yellowstone National Park and Arches National Park, but you might know about some of the other attractions in that region, like Dinosaur National Monument and its home, Dinosaurland!

Near Vernal, Utah, Dinosaur National Monument is located centrally between Yellowstone and Arches, which makes it a perfect stop between national parks.  It’s a great destination for families, as children and adults will all find plenty of fun things to do!

Utah’s Dinosaurland is the only place in the world that provides an interactive experience with over 1,500 dinosaur bones and fossils.  In fact, Dinosaurland boasts a fossil bone wall, where visitors can actually touch dinosaur bones that are 150 million years old. These fossils are located in Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry, where you can look out over the fossils and check out up-close views of the bone bed at theQuarry Exhibit Hall.  You and your family will have a chance to see a variety of fossils from different dinosaurs, including Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus, Diplodicus, and more.

In addition to the Fossil Wall, Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry, and three museums, there are loads of other family activities to make your vacation fun!  You’ll find scenic hiking routes, white-water rafting, wildlife refuge, and plenty of bike trails.  Not only that, you’ll catch some of the darkest night skies anywhere in the country, and on a clear night you’ll have a chance to see the Milky Way more clearly than you’ve probably ever seen it before.  After a full day of fun and an evening of stargazing, you’ll also find great local pubs and restaurants to wind down and relax before bed.

As I mentioned, Dinosaurland is located near Vernal, Utah, which is in Uintah County.  Uintah County is known for having many petroglyphs and pictographs, and is one of the best places in America to observe prehistoric art.  It’s also home to some of Utah’s most scenic canyons, rivers, and mountains, and offers accommodation options to fit any traveler’s needs (you’ll find everything from campgrounds to hotels).

Any road trip in the western US is sure to be overflowing with fun activities and full itineraries, and I think Dinosaurland should definitely be on that list!  I love the idea of getting to check out fossils up close and actually touch them – how cool is that?  It’s both educational and fun, and it’s nice to be able to incorporate a little learning into any family trip.  To learn more about Dinosaurland, Dinosaur National Monument, and the many different activities you’ll find there, visit Dinoland.com.