Home of the Largest Dino, Drumheller Alberta

Drumheller Alberta, home to the largest Dino the world. The town has a population of approx, 8,000 people. The town sits in the valley of the badlands and is home the largest dinosaur, the Trex. This Dino is 86 feet high and 148,000 lbs. There is so much to see and do. The view is fantastic. Our grandchildren were so excited to be here, and we couldn't decide what to do first. So we started by setting up camp, right in town. Then we needed to shake off our traveler's legs, so we went for a walk. We found a little gem right down the street from where we were staying. A rock and gem store. We were soon relieved, of a large amount of our hard-earned cash. Haha, oh well it was a vacation after all. Then as we are walking up the street, what do we see? A giant tree. My grandson squealed with delight. We had to go check it out. It's part of the community center with a gift shop, water park and swimming pool. That wasn't the half of it, for only 2.00 we got to climb inside the Dino and check out the view. You can see just about the whole town and some of the badlands. What a perfect place for family outings and a place to cool down in the heat of the summer. Now on with the holiday.

After checking out the gift shop and playing in the water park. It's quite the hike up, and there is a landing with a bench half way. Just in case you need a rest. Even after all the stairs, the look on their faces is priceless. You must go through the Dino and see the panoramic view of this awe-inspiring place. The picture is my grandchildren inside his mouth. See the teeth above their heads! They just can't stop smiling.

A leading travel magazine is calling Drumheller, the place to be in 2017. Here is my list of the places to see when your here. I recommend you take 4 to 5 days to see everything Drumheller has to offer. It's truly a family vacation spot.

• The Royal Tyrrell Museum. Gift Shop and trail system
• The giant Trex in town and the gift shop
• The variety of cute Dino's around town. Perfect for photo ops for the children
• The trails around the area for the outdoor enthusiast
• The go-cart raceway and bungee jumping
• The famous suspension bridge over the river
• The Kaleidoscope outdoor theater. In July
• The Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site
• Take the family out to hoodoos, only 15 min south of town
• Fossil World
• Ice Cream Shop

There are many excellent hotels to choose from or campgrounds in the area. So much to do but so little time. If you want to see it all but don't want to drive. You can use the Dinosaur Valley Express, Drumheller Rocks Geotourism. Or the guided walk tour. There is always a way to get around and see this beautiful town in the Red River Valley, in the badlands of Alberta.

These two think their acting a movie, LOL. You can't help but smile. Don't forget to take a walk about town. See how many painted Dinos you can find. Use it as a holiday memories photo op. We found 6. How many did you get? These cute little statues come in an array of different colors and patterns. It's a great way to tire out the kids, the fresh air is great. Tomorrow we check out all the beasts and bones at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

You can find the largest complete bone collection in Canada.They have been here for over 25 years. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is on dinosaur trail north, Drumheller, Alberta. It's a Canadian attraction, and a center of palaeontological research noted for its collection of more than 130,000 Fossils. You will find everything from partial skeletons to fossils and an impressive amount of completed Dinosaur displays. You can show up and wait in line or buy your ticket online. The average person spends 2.5 hrs here. There is also a trail system, gift shop, and restaurant. Whether you're inside or out, there is a lot to see here. You will need to plan to spend half your day here if you want to see it all.

If your thinking about a future as a paleontologist, check out the work in progress area with a window for viewing.You can watch the next dinosaur as it's being, unearthed. No wonder it's called one of the most complete, largest Dino museums in the world.

Watching the kids, was intense. My grandchildren loved it. If you have active children, you must try this. They slept like logs that night. Worn out but very content. They had a competition to see who could jump the highest And do flips. Bungee jumping is on the same road you take to get to the Tyrrell Museum.

Check out the Rosedale suspension bridge. It's 117 meters long, this pedestrian bridge crosses the Red Deer River in Rosedale, just outside of Drumheller. The Bridge was constructed, in 1931. The bridge was built, for coal workers of the star mines. We were there on a very windy day. You might not want to cross on a windy day If you suffer from motion sickness. It was a little tense at times, but the children loved it. But you can stand beside it and see down the river or watch the fish play. It's now a favorite of the locals, for fishing and accessing the vast badlands terrain. It was fun for entire family.

The Hoodoos is a must see, in my opinion. You can't tour Drumheller without going here. It's only 15 min east of town. The hoodoos are a site to behold, and there is a bit of an eerie feeling here. These land formations take millions of years to form and stand 5 to 7 meters tall. The area is now being roped off due to humans having an adverse effect, on the environment. Please remember, not to take anything, leave it as you came. This area is a Historical, Provincial Park. Above is a few of the pictures I took. Dinosaur bones are not the only thing to see here.

Last but not least. The Atlas Coal Mine Historical Site. For all the history buffs out there. You will want to check out this National Historic Site. It's one of the most complete, historic coal mines in Canada. It offers a range of tours on the surface and underground. Taking you up, into the last wooden tipple in the country.

Drumheller is, the family holiday you're looking for in 2017. The things to do and places to see covers all age groups. Whether you love the outdoors or being inside, you'll find something here. So make your families year and make Drumheller the place to see. If it's not on your bucket list, it should be.