If your family loves dinosaurs, an amazing adventure awaits at our biggest and best dinosaur-themed attractions in Connecticut! Become a Dino Trail Insider below to read the latest from our dino locations and receive exclusive discounts!
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Connecticut Science Center
250 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103
The Connecticut Science Center in downtown Hartford is the state’s newest and most remarkable learning destination and family attraction. It’s a mind-expanding, hands-on museum for kids of all ages. Explore ten galleries with topics ranging from our planet Earth to health and sports. You can play games with a robot, get splashy in Kidspace or get up-close and personal with a native Connecticut creature in our marine touch tank. The Connecticut Science Center is a fantastic family experience with blockbuster traveling exhibits included free with General Admission.The Science Center features dinosaurs as part of more than 150 thrilling permanent exhibits. Come see our soaring Pterosaur and hear the roar of our life-like animatronic Dilophosaurus. See a real fossil and find your own in our dig pit. Take a stroll on our Rooftop Garden and meet our pal, Julius the Apatosaurus, in the children’s garden.But that’s not all. Take a seat in our state-of-the-art theater and be transported millions of years back in time with a dinosaur-themed 3D movie.And stay tuned, because the Connecticut Science Center plans to add even more dinosaur themed exhibits in 2014.
Dominating the Great Hall of Dinosaurs at this family-friendly museum is the original type specimen of Brontosaurus, a 150-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton from the Jurassic period. Also on view here are the fossils of Stegosaurus and Triceratops and the world’s largest dinosaur mural, Rudolph Zallinger’s The Age of Reptiles, documenting 300 million years and several prehistoric periods. Noted exhibits feature Egyptian mummies, prehistoric mammals, primates, birds, rare gems, minerals and meteorites. Kids love the Discovery Room for its touchable specimens and live critters, including poison dart frogs, snakes, lizards and a working leafcutter ant farm. Fossil carts in the exhibit halls are manned by students who enjoy talking about the specimens and encourage you to touch them. Samurai and the Culture of Japan’s Last Peace features shimmering swords and impressive armor and shows how a sword is forged from iron sand and charcoal.
Dinosaur State Park is home of the Connecticut State Fossil – Eubrontes. Located in Rocky Hill, it is the site of an actual fossil discovery of 2,000 early Jurassic dinosaur footprints. These tracks were made by carnivorous dinosaurs who were walking along an ancient lakeshore. At this one-of-a-kind attraction you can view 600 of these footprints and associated exhibits inside the geodesic dome that houses the museum. In addition, the museum also features a gift shop and Discovery Room with interactive exhibits for all ages. Outside, the park sits on 60 acres, including a picnic area, a mining activity, the unique Arboretum of Evolution, flower gardens and 2 ½ miles of hiking trails. There is even a track-casting area where you can make a plaster cast of a dinosaur footprint, just like a paleontologist! In 2016 the park will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery with a full year of special events.
1650 Hartford-New London Turnpike, Montville, CT 06370
The Dinosaur Place™ at Nature’s Art Village located in Montville, CT is a family-owned and operated interactive science, nature and shopping experience. Outdoors: The whole family will love exploring the 60 acre Outdoor Adventure Park featuring over 40 life-sized dinosaurs, an active volcano, a”MAZE”asaurus dinosaur themed maze, a DINO-sized state-of-the-art playground, and New England’s largest Splashpad® – a unique zero depth water park (Open seasonally). Indoors: Discovery Depot at Nature’s Art Village where your family can dig for gems in the Jackpot Mine, pan for gold in Thunder Creek or unearth dinosaur fossils in The Bone Zone. Each indoor activity comes with its own unique souvenir, from crystals & minerals to real fossils! While at Nature’s Art Village, don’t miss our six amazing & unique retail shops, The PAST Antiques Marketplace & Gateway Museum: A Village of Progress!
Closest participating Hotel: Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa
Lake Compounce, part of the Palace Entertainment family of parks, is New England's Family Theme Park . It is the oldest, continuously-operating amusement park in North America, having its genesis more than 165 years ago in 1846! Check out their 'Dino Expedition' a new attraction that will offer guests of all ages the opportunity to encounter moving and breathing lifelike dinosaurs and explore their history within a Connecticut theme park. A walk through the prehistoric paths will give you the chance to experience the up to 40 foot long animatronic dinosaurs up close while exploring the pathways at your own pace. You'll forget you're at a theme park near Bristol, CT! The open-air fossil dig area will give even the littlest guests the chance to unearth fossils.
Located right next to the Connecticut Science Center, the Hartford Marriott Downtown is the premiere hotel choice when staying in Downtown Hartford. After an adventurous journey through Connecticut Science Center, be sure to stop by our indoor pool on the top floor of the hotel for a fun experience for the entire family. Finish your day with a delectable meal at our restaurant, Vivo Seasonal Trattoria.
Current offer: 30% Off
Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa
The Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa, just minutes away from The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village, is the perfect place to stay for a family-friendly vacation along the Connecticut Shoreline. Be sure to enjoy our indoor pool and our AAA Four Diamond Restaurant, Octagon Steakhouse.