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Note: Before heading out, be sure to check out the dino park's official website to plan your experience. As of late April 2025, the museum was officially open, but several key attractions, such as the fossil dig, were not yet open to the public. 

1. See Giant Dinosaur Replicas

The heart of the gallery is the main-level exhibit hall filled with full-scale reconstructions of dinosaurs, sea creatures, and reptiles that lived on the East Coast in prehistoric times. These rooms were my family's favorite spot in the museum, with wall projections and soft sound effects for an immersive experience. Start in Dinosaur Coast and see huge models, like a flying pteranodon, a tyrannosaur, and more. My kids loved the touch-and-feel learning opportunities, seeing the encased fossils, and reading all the interesting facts. There's even a short film to put everything into context. Take it slow, because there's a lot to see! Then move into the monstrous seas rooms, where you'll come face to face with an incredible 55-foot, life-sized replica of a mosasaur sea reptile. You'll end up in an exhibit devoted to extinction and steps to take to be a good steward of the earth. All told, we spent about an hour in these rooms. 

2. Try Interactive Exhibits

Use your Explorer Key (free with admission) to unlock special learning experiences on touchscreens like virtual artifact digs or a hidden fossils scavenger hunt around the galleries. We loved that each guest gets their very own key so you can keep track of their scores and learnings across exhibits.

3. Visit the Touch Tank

Coming soon to Critter Cover on the museum's bottom level is a touch tank of marine creatures and small tanks of fish.

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The museum offers kids lots of different ways to interact with dinosaurs. 

4. Hunt for Mabel

Join Mabel the Mammal on her mission to hide from stomping dinosaurs by burrowing and living underground. My daughter loved crawling around and bending low to spot Mabel's 10 hidden windows throughout the gallery. It's a great way to keep little ones engaged!

5. See Dinos in Virtual Reality

Opening in May, this unique add-on experience puts you on a mission to collect samples in the Cretaceous world. You'll get to "see" dinosaurs and other creatures in this free-roaming virtual reality adventure. The museum recommends the experience for ages 8 and up, and it requires physical movement. We'll definitely make a return trip for this one!

6. Enter Discovery Forest

Open drawers and doors and see the many rocks, bones, and fossils on display downstairs in the Discovery Forest. My kids loved looking through all the drawers at their own pace. It felt like there was something new and interesting to see in every drawer. And don't forget to come during daily story time, which starts at 11 a.m.

7. Visit Collections and Conservation

Time your visit just right, and you'll catch real scientists working on fossil curation and study.

8. Have a Snack on the Veranda

The museum has a cute coffee shop that sells small bites like salads, chips, cookies, cupcakes, and fruit and cheese. A true gem is the huge veranda with tables and magnificent views of the grounds and quarry. 

9. Dig for Fossils

Open May through October, visitors can purchase an add-on ticket to the quarry for the chance to dig for fossils. You might get a little dirty, but it promises to be an amazing hands-on experience, which includes 75 minutes of fossil digging and identification with a guide.

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The museum's playground features a massive and cool-looking pteranodon sculpture. 

10. Play on the Pteranodon-Themed Playground

Let the kids burn off some energy at the unique dino-themed playground. Relax on the saucer swing, climb the large pteranodon structure, dig in the sand pit, and slide down the slides. There are sections for all ages to enjoy.

11. Take a Nature Walk

Right next to the playground is a short nature trail that winds around trees and a pond. It's a lovely little walk and the right size for kids since the whole loop is about 1.5 miles long.

Know Before You Go to Edelman Fossil Park & Museum: Costs, Parking, and More

• Check the museum's website for current hours, opening days, and ticket costs. Tickets are sold for timed entries. As of April 2025, tickets for ages 13+ cost $29 and tickets for ages 3-12 cost $24. Children 2 and under are FREE. 
• Parking is FREE. 
• The museum itself is a nice size, though on the smaller side. You can probably explore it in 60-90 minutes. Extend your trip with playground time and add-on experiences.
• If you're visiting the quarry, save about 75 minutes for the dig. And since you'll get dirty, save it for last and consider bringing a change of clothes for the ride home. There are bathrooms located near the dig site. Note that the quarry dig is closed from November through April.
• Citizen Science Sundays are a FREE, weekly, hands-on program that lets visitors take part in real scientific research. Held every Sunday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, before the museum opens.
• Annual memberships are available and include 50% off the quarry digs.

Photos by the author