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USA: Southwest, Tracking Dinosaurs on Vacation. Dino fanatics of all ages found their interest in the magnificent prehistoric reptiles rekindled with the ABC Mega Series of Dinotopia, based one of my favorite childhood books. Luckily nearly everyone in North America is within a short drive of ancient “lizards” and mammals.

From still active dig sites to cool hallways in which immense skeletons loom, to fascinating exhibits which display the most recent theories on lifestyle this list sums them all up. Coast to coast, from sunny California to Connecticut, the U.S. offers dinosaur lovers and their families a chance to get up close and personal with natural history. Only what we believe to be the best is featured on this list. Of course if you’ve visited a fantastic dinosaur site, let me know and I will add it. Have a great time tracking dinosaurs.

Arizona: Holbrook, Petrified Forest National Park. This is the place to buy rocks and fossils. The area itself is not very exciting unless you know what to look for along the way. This area is desolate and wild looking. It is an easy day trip from the Flagstaff area.  The visitor’s center features the skeletons of many dinosaurs, some older even than T. Rex. The skeletons include Triassic phytosaurs, similar to modern day crocodiles. Bonus points: A Junior Ranger certification program is also offered. The gift shops adjacent to the gas station have copious specimen choices. Need to know: We purchased an audiotape at the Petrified Forest Museum. It is called Dawn of the Dinosaurs. It provides just enough information so that the ride is not boring. It is not a story tape so it is best suited for those older than six. (P.O. Box 2217, Petrified Forest, National Park, AZ 86028. Holbrook. 1 (928) 524-6228 or www.petrified.forest.national-park.com) 

New Mexico: Albuquerque, Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology. This museum displays more than 100 complete skeletons of Coelophysis, one of the smallest carnivorous dinosaurs. Shop at the gift shop and buy apparel or gifts for your family members. Grab some books on paleontology as well. Bonus points: Paleontology seminars of Northern New Mexico are available as well as hikes to important sites.    (HC 77 Box 11, Abiquiu, NM 87510. Albuquerque. 1 (505) 685-4333, www.nmculture.org)  

New Mexico: Albuquerque, New Mexico Museum of Natural History. This museum features a wealth of pale ontological wonders such as life-like scenes of a Parasaurolophus, and other dinosaurs like the Stegosaurus, Camarasaurus, and Coelphysis. It has eight permanent exhibit halls based upon time periods of the dinosaurs, referred to as “Timetracks”. Bonus points: There is a Young Explorer’s Summer Camp program available for kids in kindergarten up to seventh grade. (1801 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104. Albuquerque. 1 (505) 841-8837, www.nmmnh-abq.mus.nm.us/nmmnh/nmmnh.html)

Oklahoma: Norman, Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. This is a family friendly museum that will entertain and educate but not overwhelm a good thing when on vacation with kids. Cool things include a rare horned rodent, Epigaulus hatcheri, is on display, along with better-known mammals such as ground sloths, giant bison, and early camels. One of the best displays is a skeleton of a baby Apatosaurus . In the Ancient Life gallery, displays show the dramatic changes in Oklahoma’s environment over time and how that influenced the dinosaurs' eventual demise. The journey through the Ancient Life exhibit begins in Oklahoma's Precambrian seas with an abundance of early marine life. Visitors then experience the Age of Dinosaurs and the rise of mammals. Bonus points: The Discovery Room in the museum has hands-on, self-paced educational experiences that reflect the main themes of the museum's exhibits. This museum is terrific and the city is a nice place for families. Nice means not overwhelming for little ones yet ideal for teens because of the University of Oklahoma campus. (2401 Chautauqau Avenue, Norman, OK 73072. Norman. 1 (405) 325-4712 or  www.omnh.ou.edu) 

Texas: Dallas, Museum of Natural History. The only collections-based, research-driven public natural history museum in Texas features a large exhibit on paleontology. There is also a Paleontology Lab, an exhibit on Prehistoric Texas, a Lagoon Nature Walk and several wildlife dioramas. With working archaeologists and paleontologists on staff, the museum not only repackages and interprets scientific knowledge but also actively expands its frontiers. It is a great learning place for families. (3535 Grand Avenue, Dallas, TX. Dallas. 1 (214) 421-DINO or www.dallasdino.org) 

Texas: Dallas, Shuler Museum of Paleontology.  The museum’s director, Dr. Louis Jacobs, is a world-famous paleontologist. When you visit the Shuler Museum of Paleontology you’ll be able to examine much of his work firsthand. Dr. Louis Jacobs has a project where he is developing a traveling exhibit with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History called Lone Star Dinosaurs. Laboratories for fossil preparation, molding and casting are the main facilities of the Shuler Museum. (310 Heroy Hall, Dallas, TX 75275. Dallas. 1 (214) 768-2000 or www.geology.smu.edu/~vineyard/shulermus.html)  

Texas: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The native Texas dinosaur, Tenotosaurus is highlighted at this museum, as well as an actual replica of the Doss Ranch bone beds, in which Dinosaur fans of all ages can experience real-life paleontology, without suffering rugged conditions. Bonus points: There is a Museum school children that are ages three to five they can attend. The fall session starts on September first and then in 2007 there is a spring session. (1501 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, TX 76107. Fort Worth. 1 (817) 255-9300, 1-888-255-9300 or www.fwmuseum.org)  

Texas: Glen Rose, Dinosaur Valley State Park. One hundred and thirteen million years ago limestones, sandstones, and mudstones were deposited along the shorelines of the seas forming the park. This park contains the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world which are located in the riverbed. For the eyes, there are two fiberglass models; an Apatosaurus (seventy feet tall) and a Tyrannosaurus Rex (forty-five feet tall). (P.O. Box 396, Glen Rose, TX 76043. 1 (254) 897-4588 or www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/dinosaur_valley)

Texas: San Antonio, Witte Museum. Visit the permanent exhibit entitled, Dinosaurs: Vanished Texans in the Dinosaur Gallery where you can see a fossil model of the Triceratops and the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Bonus points: This museum also has tons of great programs for kids. The Witte Museum has interactive programs, birthday parties, and overnight camps. (3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209. 1 (210) 357-1900 or www.wittemuseum.org/index.html)
 
 
Researched and compiled by Travel Communications. Copyright 2008.
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