A Dinosaur Discovery Day in Connecticut Our Saturday was shaping up to be the usual drill – cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, you name it. Honestly, I wasn’t feeling it at all. So, I woke up the family bright and early and, well, kind of forced them to get moving. I had a better idea – let’s escape the house and enjoy this gorgeous day!
Escaping the Saturday Chores for Family Fun
With no particular destination in mind, we set off eastbound towards Connecticut, stopping at the first rest stop we came across to have breakfast and decide where our spontaneous road trip would take us. Connecticut has tons of cool places to visit, especially for families like ours.
Choosing Connecticut: A Spontaneous Road Trip
Our new target: Dinosaur State Park. It sounded perfect because my son is nuts about dinosaurs. Learning more about them always puts a big smile on his face. Plus, it’s a great place for our little one.
Dinosaur State Park: A Journey Back in Time
Dinosaur State Park sits in Rocky Hill, CT, about a two-hour drive from New York City. This remarkable park has been open to the public since 1968 and has a unique history. They found real dinosaur tracks while digging for a new state building – how cool is that?
Exploring the Exhibit Center: Kid-Friendly Fun
The exhibit center at the park is open from Tuesday to Sunday until 4:30 p.m. Admission is super affordable, just $6 for grown-ups and only $2 for kids 12 and up. If you’re not into the indoor stuff, you can wander around the park grounds for free. Check their website for more info.
Roaming the Trails: Nature Adventures
Our time at the exhibit center was a bit of a mixed bag. We were excited to explore, but the museum was smaller than we expected. We zipped through it in about 20 minutes. But the best part for the kids was the “Discover” area. They got to play with different types of rocks from the area and even create their own bookmarks with stamps – a great spot for the kiddos.
The Trail Zone Experience: Seeking Dinosaur Imprints
After we wrapped up at the exhibit center, it was time to hit the trails. The park’s trails are split into different zones, each offering a different experience. We started with the easiest one, the red trail zone, but quickly realized that bringing a stroller and a baby along wasn’t the best idea. Even though our little one took a few steps, we worried about her tripping on the rough terrain.
Cherishing Family Moments at Dinosaur State Park
So, we cut the trail short and switched to the yellow trail zone. This was a bit trickier, and we realized it’s better suited for older kids. We didn’t find any dinosaur prints like we hoped, but we did enjoy the beautiful nature all around us. Plus, it was a great way for us to bond as a family.
Heading Back Home with a Smile
All in all, our visit to Dinosaur State Park was a hit. The look of wonder in our kids’ eyes made it all worthwhile. When we head back home, I can’t help but think about the chores waiting for me. But, you know what? There’s always Sunday for that stuff, right? For now, we’ll treasure the memories of our dino-themed adventure in Connecticut.
Plan Your Own Dinosaur Adventure
So, why not plan your own visit to Dinosaur State Park? Whether you’re a dino fanatic like my son or just looking for a fun family day out, this place has something for everyone. Take a break from the usual routine, explore the wonders of the past, and make memories that will last a lifetime.
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Looks like a fun place! My kiddos love dinosaurs (in fact my 4 year old regularly schools me when I get the name of one of them wrong) and would love to visit a place like this!
Thanks for sharing and keep on travelling!
Oh what a fun park! If we’re ever in that area I’ll have to add it to our itinerary 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed your day – shame there wasn’t that much to fill the time though. Judging by your photos, the kids really enjoyed it 🙂
Thanks for linking to #AnythingGoes
Debbie
http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com