Three Great Dinosaur Adventures in Utah!

The best snow on earth is only one of Utah's popular attractions. After the spring thaw, when summer arrives, dinosaurs can be found everywhere in this state. These summer time adventures are both fun and educational for the young and the old. Come to Utah and explore the past, you won't regret it!

In Ogden, the most popular location for dinosaurs is the George S. Eccles' Dinosaur Park. Located at the mouth of the Ogden Canyon, they have created a beautiful backdrop for more than 100 specimens in the museum and park. Animatronics and sounds bring these prehistoric creatures to life throughout the park.The George S. Eccles' Dinosaur Park is an awesome place to visit with the children, with a gem mine, gold mine, play area and laboratory there is plenty of hands-on experience including a giant "sandbox" with fossils imbedded in the bottom. The park supplies the brushes and other paleontology tools to uncover the fossils. A popular destination of local residents, it was recently featured in an Associated Content article Five Family Friendly Trips in Utah by Denise Prince.
Your dinosaur adventure could not be complete without a stop the Dinosaur National Monument. Located on the Utah/Colorado border, this National Park is devoted to dinosaurs that includes National Park Rangers' guided tours and expeditions. Explore for Dinosaurs in Utah and Colorado by Regina Sass is another excellent resource for exploring this region.

There are literally thousands of specimens located throughout this park, concentrated in the quarry. There are seven campgrounds located in the park. As with all National Park Campgrounds, be sure and call ahead or use the Internet to reserve your spot during busy time periods. As of the writing of this article, the quarry at the Dinosaur National Monument is closed until further notice. But don't let this stop you; there is still plenty to do here. There are trails a plenty, also with guided tours just beyond the quarry.

If you are coming through Southern Utah and the weather is good (the road does become impassable when really wet), don't pass the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail. This trail is described as a "bold experiment" because there are no fences or guard rails to protect the fossils from us. Described in Free Experimental Outdoor DinosaurMuseum in Utah by D. A. Garrido as a place that "teaches responsibility and integrity", there is a self-guided tour with the opportunity to teach your children our responsibility to these historical artifacts and fossils. The self-guided tour information can be picked up at the Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, Utah 84532.

This hike has got to be one of the best dinosaur adventures available to the public anywhere. Fossilized bones of many shapes and sizes, tracks leading up the sides of a hill, and petrified wood all exist for you to explore. Remember not to take anything from this precious place. Teach your children that we are responsible for these resources. As well as being illegal, "It is illegal to remove, deface, or destroy improvements, rocks, and fossils."

Utah can be very dry and hot during the summer months. Be sure and protect yourself from this harsh environment by properly preparing and protecting yourself. The Mountaineer's Organization of Washington State has prepared ten essentials that you should have on any outdoor expedition. This list may not be all inclusive for your particular adventure, but serves as a minimum you should have when you walk away from your vehicle and step onto the trail.

The Ten Essentials include: 1. Navigation (map and compass). 2. Sun protection (summertime and Utah equal's lots of sun block). 3. Insulation (extra clothing). 4. Illumination (flashlight or headlamp). 5. First-aid supplies. 6. A way to create fire. 7. Repair kit and tools (this can be anything from a sewing kit to a multi-tool). 8. Nutrition (extra food, energy bars, etc.). 9. Hydration (Extra water, especially in the desert environments of Utah). 10. Emergency shelter (Think about spending the night and the weather turns cold and wet).

Utah is a prime location for your dinosaur vacation. We have all been fascinated with paleontology sometime in our lifetime, bring back those childhood fantasies or create the vacation of a lifetime for your children. The dinosaurs in Utah are waiting to be discovered by you!