Share |
Print Article
Family Travel Files Ezine Family Vacations Resource
USA: Mid Atlantic, Tracking Dinosaurs on a Family 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.

Pennsylvania: Academy of Natural Science Museum. Here you can see fourteen complete life-size, nests, hatchlings, footprints (one you can crawl into.), even an animated Apatosaurus and the marine reptile Elamosaurus are all on display at this museum, which is one of the oldest in the US. Philadelphia. The Academy of Natural Sciences offers a wide range of enriching experiences for the whole family; see the site for more details. (1900 Ben Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19103. (215) 299-1000 or www.acnatsci.org)
 
Pennsylvania: The Carnegie Museum of Natural History. At the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, eleven different dinosaur skeletons are all on display. These include the; Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, Diplodocus, Apatosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex. Explore the museum's rich paleontological history then check in with the PaleoLab to learn more about future plans for Dinosaur Hall. (4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. (412) 622-3131 or www.carnegiemuseums.org/cmnh)

New Jersey: New Jersey State Museum. The four major components of the New Jersey State Museum cover archaeology/ethnology, cultural history, fine art, and natural history. However, the museum’s main focus and one of its most unique fossils are the Hadrodaur or duckbill fossil evidence. Many Ice Age mammal fossils are also available for your viewing pleasure. (P.O. Box 530, Trenton, NJ 08625. (609) 292-6330 or  www.state.nj.us/state/museum)

Virginia: Virginia Museum of Natural History.  Unique to this museum is a computer-controlled Triceratops model. Due to the excellent paleontological staff the exhibits reflect the expertise of those working at the museum. On display are smaller dinosaur models, and a wealth of dinosaur track-castings. There’s an animated Triceratops nicknamed "Cera" also on display. There are two other branches of this museum, one in Charlottesville, and the other in Blacksburg. All three facilities present exhibits, programs, and field trips for the general public. They also offer teacher-training seminars, special publications for teachers on natural history called “Nature Notes” and science kits for classroom use. Their “Museum Without Walls” provides traveling exhibits and fun science education kits to the state of Virginia and classroom programs within a one-hour radius of the museum. (1001 Douglas Avenue, Martinsville, VA 24112. (703) 666-8600 or www.vmnh.net

Maryland: Calvert Marine Museum. Come and search for and collect Miocene (the period when a shallow ocean covered the state of Maryland) fossils 10 to 15 million years old at the Calvert Marine Museum. This opportunity is rare because it is illegal to remove most fossils from state or federal land. The exhibits of this museum include a fossil preparation lab, a restoration of the fossil bearing cliffs, and large, full scale Miocene dioramas. (P.O. Box 97, Solomons, MD 20688. (410) 326-2042 or www.calvertmarinemuseum.com)

Delaware: Dino Days at the Delaware Museum of Natural History. Dino Days is a public art project located on the sidewalks of downtown Wilmington. This exhibit of 48 decoratively painted dinosaurs is available for public viewing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  This exhibit of dinosaur statues is associated with the Delaware Museum of Natural History, a fascinating visit, even though there are no exhibits on prehistoric reptiles at this time. (4840 Kennett Pike, P.O. Box 3937, Wilmington, DE 19807. (302) 658 – 9111 or www.delmnh.org)

For fun, kid-friendly things to do in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the Mid Atlantic check out Uptake.com. They search 5000 travel sites...so you don't have to!
 
Researched and compiled by staff at Travel Communications; image provided byThe Academy of Natural Sciences. Copyright 2008. 
Share |
RELATED ARTICLES
USA: Mid Atlantic Spring Break Family Vacation Ideas – Egg Hunts, Ziplines, and Living History.
From Virginia Beach, and Richmond to Valley Forge, PA and Southern West Virginia there is still time for shopping, whale watching, snow tubing, ziplining, hiking, canoeing, and kite flying. Maybe rock climbing, a cavern adventure, horseback riding or campfire stories sound like fun.
USA: Best Rated Fall Festivals & Corn Mazes 2009 – Quick Family Roadtrip Getaways Across America.
Fun, quick, and easy is the magic phrase for families; pint-sized fun is better than no fun at all whether it’s a getaway for a day or an escape for a weekend, enjoying time together and making memories matters.
Pennsylvania: Valley Forge, Family Vacation Fun - Valley Forge Historical Park, General George Washington, and Shopping.
Every 10-year-old makes the connection between Valley Forge and George Washington so visiting Valley Forge is a bonus for families because there is no need to explain why the place is important. Kids love to feel the power of knowing and sharing important stuff.
Virginia: Traveling U.S. 1 with the KIds.
If your family vacation plans include a road trip, consider U.S. 1 in Virginia. It offers plenty of interesting stops along the way.
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Family Vacation Ideas - Geckos, Dinosaurs, and Butterflies.
From the end of May until the beginning of September the Academy of Natural Sciences is the home of Geckos: Tails to Toepads, a special exhibit which showcases the diversity of geckos and the way they live through live gecko habitats, interactive exhibits and informational displays.

Read More Articles

FAMILY VACATION IDEAS
Wilmington Restaurant Reviews

Read restaurant reviews in Wilmington [Read More]

Wilmington DE Restaurant Revie...

Historic Inns of Annapolis

Stay with us and learn how to sail. [Read More]

Historic Inns of Annapolis Le...

Historic Inns of Annapolis

Enjoy the Bay with our Outdoor Fun Vacation Package. [Read More]

Historic Inns Fun Vacation Pa...

Ramada Midatlantic

Stay at one of our Ramada hotels and enjoy the east coast with your family. [Read More]

Ramada Midatlantic

The Hope & Glory Inn

Sleep in the school house, stay in a cottage or sleep in a vineyard tent. [Read More]

The Hope & Glory Inn

Woodloch Pines Resort

A tradition of exceeding expectations mixed with loads of fun like a cruise on land. [Read More]

Related Article Related Article

Woodloch Pines Resort

Best Western - The Inn at King of Prussia

History and Fun All in One. [Read More]

Best Western - The Inn at King...

Valley Forge, Gas Card Packages

Stay, shop, sight see, spa and the gas is on us. Book online and get a free $35 Sunoco gas card upon check-in. [Read More]

Related Article Related Article

Valley Forge Visitors Bureau

CityPass Philadelphia - A Family Vacation Idea

An Easy Urban Family Vacation. [Read More]

Related Article Related Article

CityPass Philadelphia

Great Wolf Lodge - Poconos

Come experience the great north woods with us. [Read More]

Great Wolf Lodge - Poconos

Bethesda Court Hotel

A Washington D.C. Family Zoo Package. [Read More]

Related Article Related Article

Bethesda Court Hotel

Country Inns and Suites

Reunions and togethering: We have flexible space for up to 100 people and a professional hotel staff, our hotel is an ideal location for meetings and social occasions. [Read More]

Country Inns and Suites VA

The Homestead Resort and Spa

Welcoming generations at our spa. [Read More]

The Homestead Resort and Spa

Atlantic Oceanside Suites

Located just two blocks from the beach on the border between Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach. [Read More]

Atlantic Oceanside Suites

Hyatt Regency Crystal City

Airport convenience. [Read More]

Related Article Related Article

Hyatt Regency Crystal City

Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort

Located on the shore of Lake Habeeb. [Read More]

Related Article Related Article

Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort

Battlefield Bed & Breakfast

Stay with Florence and hear Civil War Ghost stories. [Read More]

Related Article Related Article

Battlefield Bed & Breakfast

Hershey Lodge Resort Hotel

Family Fun Package. [Read More]

Hershey Lodge Resort Hotel

The Refuge Inn

The Chincoteague ponies live here. [Read More]

Related Article Related Article

The Refuge Inn

Kingsmill Resort & Spa

Family Vacation Package from $699 for a family of 4! [Read More]

Kingsmill Resort & Spa

See More Family Vacation Ideas