Roaring Good Fun at The Dinosaur Place in Connecticut
If you’re looking for a family-friendly adventure that blends outdoor play, science, and some seriously awesome photo ops, The Dinosaur Place in Montville, Connecticut should be on your list. We recently visited this prehistoric-themed park and had an unforgettable time exploring its life-sized dinosaur trail, erupting volcano, splash pad, and more!
Life-Size Dinosaurs around every corner
As soon as we stepped on the 1.5 mile nature trail, we were greeted by towering dinosaurs nestled among the trees and play spaces. These statues aren’t just big, they’re life-sized! It was thrilling (and a little humbling!) to walk alongside creatures that once ruled the earth. Our kids loved spotting their favorite dinos and reading the educational signs that told us more about each species. Along the trail, you can also find animatronic dino caves and sensory boxes. It truly was an educational, Jurassic world, experience, without the risk of being chased by a T-Rex!
The Volcano That Steals the Show
One of the highlights of our visit was the erupting volcano, which puts on a show every hour, just past the hour. The anticipation built up when we heard it rumbling on the trail. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it close enough to fully enjoy the eruption with sound and steam. But we enjoyed it from the other side of the pond! It’s the kind of thing that sticks with you, to be able to safely experience a volcano eruption.
Cooling off at the splash pad
After exploring the trail, we headed to the splash pad to cool down. It was perfect for a warm day, with plenty of interactive water features to keep kids active and engaged. Whether they were dodging spraying fountains or getting soaked under tipping buckets, our kids were all smiles - and honestly, so were we.
*There are bathrooms, changing rooms, a lunch shack called Monty’s Munchies, and picnicking spaces just outside the splash pad
Climbing, sliding, and imaginative play
The playscape tower is another can’t-miss feature. It’s a giant, themed play structure with plenty of room for climbing, sliding, swinging, and creative play. Our daughter ran and played for a long time while we enjoyed a break at a picnic table in the shade nearby. We were also able to watch the first volcano eruption from our picnic table.
*Tip: lunch coolers are allowed in the park. We used this opportunity as a chance to dig into our lunch and fuel up for the walk around the trail.
The Dinosaur place is more than just a park - it’s an immersive experience that’s fun and educational for the whole family. We ran out of time to enjoy the train ride or pedal cars, so it’s on the list for next time! Whether you have a dino-loving kid, your kids are learning about these prehistoric creatures, or you are just parents looking to sneak a little learning in to your day, this spot delivers. We left with tired feet, happy hearts, and a lot of great memories. If you’re in the area or planning a trip, it’s well worth the visit!
*How we visited: We visited right at park opening, and enjoyed an early lunch while our daughter played at the playground. When she was tired, we let her fuel up, then we hit the trail. From there, we traveled Lava Lane, backtracked up the Pumice Pass and circled the pond down to Raptor Bay. Finally, we went up to the A-Maze-ing trail to experience the maze. It may seem like a lot of backtracking, but we did all this to avoid passing the splash pad and save it as our last trip. So our kids left the park cooled off, tired, and happy.