MargieHar

4 seniors traveling in May: (live in PA) Using I-90 going across Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California ,to Nevada, to Wyoming, to South Dakota - home. We enjoy small town museums, would like to visit small town "wild west history" museums, small town with down town shops, coffee shops, - when one finds these gems, (which there aren't really that many) it is nice to share the info. Question: noticed many ads for dino digs, we also would like to select one and visit. Noticed there is one in upper Utah, and one south east of Yellowstone Park. Has anyone been to both and could comment? We also know that the out of the way stops always turn out to be the best. Any ideas for that?

Gretchen

I think there are several in Wyoming that are significant. When we were planning a dino trip for the grands, I looked at some there, but it was too long a drive from Denver (with 6 year olds!!) There are some in western Colorado. But continue to look--they are really interesting.

Gretchen

I think this is the site my sister in law took one of her grandchildren to on an Elderhostel inter-generational trip. She said it was really terrific.
http://www.wyodino.org/dig-for-a-day/

emalloy

Are you using I90 or I-70 for your trip? 70 goes through Nebraska, Colorado, Utah and there are several sites to see evidence of dinosaurs all over the Colorado area, many not too far from the hwy. Dinosaur National park is north of 70, on the Utah/Colorado border. We've never done"digs", but have found lots of tracks here in CT. Just look for a place where they are doing construction in sedimentary rock from the Triassic/Jurassic.

We also saw tracks just north of Moab UT, the visitor's center at Arches NP had maps.

MargieHar

Thank you so much, we'll use the reference and keep looking. Made a mistake - we are actually traveling on I-80 to Colorado. Wanted to stop at the museum in Kearney that goes over the Interstate. We also really want to do some small western towns. I80 to I76 to I70 down through Utah to Las Vegas (to see the lights) on to death valley also will be in the Yellowstone area, etc. thanks for the help

Dayle

There was a major dino track site discovered just outside of St. George UT a few years ago. Farmer Johnson was tilling his land, turned over a large slab of petrified mud and wow. Thousands upon thousands of dino tracks. The farm has been made into a park due to the heavy visitor traffic.

Dinosaur Natl Monument (has it been made a park?) is the place where the biggest concentration of dino fossils have been dug up. The visitor's center/museum was closed for a few years while they remodeled and made it earthquake proof. Definitely go.

Virgina City, NV is a real old west town. Complete with Boot Hill. Very touristy, but still was the real, very famous gold rush town.

Gretchen

If you are heading through Denver, Morrison on the outskirts of Denver on 1470 has a little dinosaur museum, and there is Dinosaur Ridge nearby to see tracks, etc. Denver was once under water!!
South of Denver outside Colorado Springs is Woodland Park and a nice museum with a lab where they are doing more cleaning, etc. but not a dig.

Bitter

Lincoln might be worth a stop. Not exactly what you are looking for but they have a natural history museum (on the campus) featuring a collection of Mammoth skeletons, etc. Small but interesting. Nearby, they have a nice capitol building, an art museum (on campus) and a small restaurant area called the Haymarket District.

MargieHar

In the little towns, we are looking for a main street with coffee shops, little shops, a local museum in town, old stately buildings, interesting court house, any or all of the above. Some place along the way to break the riding, and enjoy the local flavor. I will post the route soon and perhaps someone will remember a stop like that along the way. Sure enjoy the forum, great help for any who take the time to read the posts. thank you one and all

Nelson

We are traveling through Texas for several weeks and are using these sites, among others, to find the sort of things you are looking for:

http://www.drkenjones.com/index.php
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/location/
http://www.texasescapes.com/Texas_ar...ourthouses.htm

One is obviously specific to Texas, but maybe there are similar sites for your planned route.

I also just Google the towns we will be passing through each day and see what turns up. We have come across some interesting or quirky museums and sites, and some darn good pecan pie in these small towns.

We also just turned into a cotton gin one day, never having seen one, and the owner took us on a tour, which was really cool.

Have fun.