If you have a family and you’re planning on doing some traveling this summer to see the sights, you know that it takes a bit of planning to make sure that everyone is going to have a good time. Having the family together in the family truckster is going to be bad enough, but visiting destinations that only appeal to one or two members of the family is a sure-fire recipe for disastrous meltdowns and temper tantrums and having your perfect family vacation completely ruined.
Since I am determined for us to take a vacation together as a family this year, somewhere that we all will enjoy, I’ve been scouring the internet looking for places near and far that has something that will appeal to each member of the family and I have found the perfect spot. The Dinosaur National Monument is located on the borders of Utah and Colorado.
Also known as Dinosaurland, the Dinosaur National Monument is about more than just dinosaurs. This national monument spans more than 200,000 acres (definitely plenty to see and keep the teenagers busy) with thousands of fossils that were discovered in 1909. 80 acres were declared a protected national treasure in 1915 and the huge expansion came later to protect the site’s natural history. You can actually touch 149 million year old dinosaur bones on the fossil wall and around the various attractions!
There is so much more to see than “just dinosaurs” though. There are four beautiful state parks to enjoy – Red Fleet State Park offers camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing and boating; Starvation State Park offers fishing, boating or waterskiing, and evenings of camping; Steinaker State Park offers fishing, waterskiing, picnicking, relaxing on the beach and camping; and finally the beautiful 20,000 square foot Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum. Just the state parks alone offer something for everyone in our family!
There is so much more to see though. Do you know what a petroglyph is? Petroglyphs are images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving or abrading, as a form of rock art and often associated with prehistoric people. Well Dinosaurland has two different areas where you can view petroglyphs up close and personal! The McConkie Ranch Petroglpyhs and Nine Mile Canyon. As with any historical site, please treat the artwork with respect. The gallery of primitive art at McConkie dates from 1-1200 A.D. and shows examples of the Fremont Native American culture. Nine Mile Canyon offers ancient cliff dwellings and remnants of early pioneer cabins from those who once called the canyon home. This is something definitely up mom’s alley!
I could sit here and write a 3000 word post on this amazing vacation destination. There literally are tons of experiences to be had, so many that you would probably need at least a week or more to experience everything. A really good reason to keep coming back if you don’t have more time!
There are so many amazing trails to walk, bike, and hike. Don’t forget the Old West where you can ride the same trails the outlaws did, take in some professional bull riding, or how about checking out the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway? I love stopping at scenic overlooks – the view is always guaranteed to be spectacular and a great photo opportunity for the family!
If that’s not your cup of tea, there is always the river trip down Northeastern Utah’s Green or Yampa River. Easy or wild, the choice is yours, and there are guides and outfitters who can get you and your family the experience of a lifetime!
Love to fish like hubby? I could probably plant him at Flaming Gorge or Jones Hole and pick him back up when the vacation was over and he would never miss us! I would love to see the abundance of wildlife in the area – from bighorn sheep, moose, elk, antelopes, cougars, coyotes and a golden eagle? I would be the lady on the tour with the camera permanently glued to her face snapping away quite happily!
So if you’re like me and you’re looking to pack up the family and take a family friendly vacation this summer that will not only be educational but one that has something for everyone – Dinosaur National Monument and all the attractions it holds is the ideal vacation destination spot for 2016!
If you have already planned a vacation to Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, or the Arches National Parks this summer, did you know that Vernal and Dinosaur National Monument are centrally located between each of these parks? Definitely a must stop and see on your itinerary!
If camping out and “roughing it” isn’t your thing, there are many accommodation options, from campgrounds, to B+B’s, and various hotels. You will definitely be able to find the perfect accommodations for your family.
Check out the Dinosaurland website and see for yourself all the amazing activities available for a family friendly vacation destination. You can also watch videos and check out the photo gallery.
I was compensated to take part in this sponsored campaign on behalf of Cooperatize in partnership with Dinosaurland. As the owner of this blog, Life in a House of Testosterone, I am compensated to offer my opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. This blog may contain affiliate links. As the owner of this blog and main author, I always give my honest opinions, findings and personal experiences on these particular topics or products regardless of any compensation for posts or advertisements. Life in a House abides by the word-of-mouth marketing standards and we believe in being honest and upfront with each of our readers. The views and opinions that I express on this blog are purely my own. If we include a statistic, quote, product claim or any other representation about a product or service – we urge you to verify it with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
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oh my goodness, DEFINITELY have to put this on the schedule! so cool!
I would love to go here to Dinosaurland as it really looks like quite a Vacation Destination.
This looks like a great destination to do while on vacation.
My youngest grandson is so into dinosaurs he would just love it. Looks fun!
Looks like it would be a lot of fun for adults and kids 🙂
Awesome! My kids would have a blast here. And how fun to combine it with a ride down the river and fishing. This is a vacation I need to plan asap!
Beautiful place.
Dinosaurland looks so amazing! Anyone would love this place … children or adults!!
This monument looks very fun and interesting. Thanks for sharing!
This looks like a great vacation. A lot of fun, and nice aura.
I think this would be fantastic to visit and a wonderful family fun vacation.
twinkle at optonline dot net
Totally cool! This is something that my family would enjoy!
We almost visited there a few years back. Several of my grandsons really really wanted to go. For the life of me, I can’t remember why we didn’t go. Since I have kids that live in Colorado, maybe we will go the next time we visit. Your post has really peeked my interest.
You would think since I lived in CO for nearly 6 years that I would have gone there. Nope!
I want to visit the place so bad. I love dinos!
My daughter loves dinos and would really love to visit here. I wish it was closer. That just means we need to take a road trip there!
My stepson would LOVE this! Heck, I’d love it! So much to do and learn!
Wow, my grandsons would love this, looks like a blast
Looks like fun!
I’m dying to take the kids!
That looks like a fun thing to do with family.
That raft ride looks awesome! What a fun experience!
Sweet! My son would have a blast at this place!
I would like to go here. Maybe on my next vacation.
I highly recommend Rocky Mountain National Park.
I’ve never taken the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway.
I think that Dinosaurland is so cute! My nephew would love to vacation here.
You can see a full dinosaur skeleton at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
This looks so much fun. I would love to take my family to visit Dinosaurland!
Dinosaurs are fun for the whole family.
My kids would love to visit Dinosaurland!
That’s one of the best kept secrets in my home state of Colorado. Love river rafting there.
slehan at juno dot com
this is the first I’ve heard of this destination, and it sounds wonderful. We have a huge dinosaur in our area, and I know how much kids just go crazy for it, this would be so much fun!
Oh whereabouts are you Rosie? I love going and checking out fossils and things like that – maybe we can do an article about your dinosaur too!
connecticut – there is a conn dinosaur trail you can find online
Oh that’s awesome! Thanks for sharing that Rosie!!!
I love stuff like this. Anytime you can learn and have fun it is something enjoyable. I love all the different activities
ellen beck
There’s definitely a lot to do lol!
i have never heard of this and i am definitely checking it!
I had not either @mollivandehey:disqus which is why I was so excited about it once I started researching all the cool stuff available here!
Wow, this sounds like a must-visit! Kids or no kids! Thank you so much for sharing! Definitely keeping Dinosaurland in mind!:)
I would love to hear from someone who has had the chance to visit and tell us what their favorite aspect of the whole adventure was. Wouldn’t that be totally awesome?
I have never heard of this, but is too cool! Thank you for sharing!
You are most welcome @kimberlyflickinger:disqus!
I’ve never heard of DinosaurLand. My daughter would love it. Thanks for sharing!
It’s an amazing area of this great country of ours! It is most definitely on our #MustVisit2016 road trip list!
This place sure sounds like a great place to visit for the whole family, I know my grandson would like it-
I bet he would June! I’m actually kind of jealous of the people who live with this amazing spot in their backyard lol!
My little archeologist would love this. I’m afraid she wouldn’t want to leave.
Giggles … have to tell her that you need to come back another day and give the other little archeologists a chance too!
Dinosaurland looks totally fun! My son is too old for things now but me and my hubby would love it!
I was thinking the same thing about my teens – but there is so much more that they would love to do … the white water rafting, the hiking, they would have a ball doing that!
My boys would absolutely love this! I will have to check it out, maybe we can take a family road trip this summer.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that things work out and we are able to go this summer. If not this summer definitely next summer. I think we may have some summer schooling in our future this year – sigh
This looks like a really fun place to go!! Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Edye // Gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
You are most welcome @edyenicolesmakeup:disqus and I hope you get a chance to visit!