Dinosaur Trips

22/01/2025

Metro UK says the Jurassic Coast should be at the top of your 2025 travel list and we couldn't agree more!

There's more than dusty fossils to be discovered here.

14/11/2024

IYKYK!

'In Mary Anning's Footsteps' with paleontologist Amy Atwater.

All-Women Expedition - UK's Jurassic Coast
May 4-13, 2025

Limited space available! Solo travellers encouraged!

16/10/2024

“I like that it proves to kids that this kind of thing could happen anywhere. Even if a dinosaur has never been found where they live, there’s still hope they might find something someday.”

In our newest ‘Working with Dinosaurs’ Q&A we chat with author Kelly Milner Halls about her newest book ‘A Dinosaur for Washington’ and what it’s like to have a career writing about dinosaurs!

https://dinosaurtrips.com/2024/10/15/working-with-dinosaurs-kelly-milner-halls/

04/10/2024

Over the next few days, we’ll be using our social channels to talk a little more about Mary Anning; the inspiration and namesake of our 2025 all-women Jurassic Coast adventure: In Mary Anning’s Footsteps.

Born on May 21, 1799, in the small coastal town of Lyme Regis, Mary Anning grew up where the sea could be as unforgiving as society was at the time. While most people strolled the beach, she spent her days combing the cliffs—limestone and shale—fighting the elements. After winter storms, when the cliffs crumbled, Mary knew treasures would be revealed: fossils. Fossils that would change the world—if anyone bothered to listen.

19/09/2024

Lyme Regis is much more than just a postcard town. This place has character, layers, history, and pre-history in every cobblestone and salty gust of wind. Nestled along the Jurassic Coast, it’s a little slice of English charm where you can kick back, get lost in time, and rediscover your sense of wonder.

Whether you’re chasing fossils or fresh seafood, walking The Cobb or just soaking up that raw, natural beauty, Lyme Regis is where you go to forget the noise and taste life. Beaches, boats, and a vibe that’ll make you want to stay.

You’ll get to spend a couple days exploring this historic English seaside town as you kick off your 10-day, all-women trip along the Jurassic Coast!

Join ‘In Mary Anning’s Footsteps,’ led by Amy Atwater, co-host of the Weird & Dead podcast, all along the Jurassic Coast next May!

USD$7,990 per person. Room share options are available for solo travellers!

https://dinosaurtrips.com/all-women-jurassic-coast/

Photos by Lewis Clarke, Rob Leake

18/09/2024

Durdle Door is one of those jaw-dropping, iconic landmarks that commands your attention the moment you see it; a jagged limestone arch carved out by time and the relentless crash of the sea/ You can’t help but stand there, dwarfed by its ancient grandeur, knowing that long after you're gone, it'll still be standing, defying the elements.

It’s part of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, a stretch of shoreline so stunning, so geologically significant, it’s been rightfully given UNESCO World Heritage status. To put that in perspective, it’s sharing company with the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef—places where nature flexes its raw, untamed power.

The name Durdle comes from the Old English word 'thirl,’ which means to pierce, bore, or drill. Makes sense when you see it—waves pounding the rock for millennia, slowly carving a perfect hole right through the middle. You can witness this, and a host of other incredible views and experiences, when you join Amy Atwater for our 10-day, all-women expedition along the UK’s Jurassic Coast next May.

Grab the details at the link below!

https://dinosaurtrips.com/all-women-jurassic-coast/

Photo by: James Stevens

17/09/2024

From August 16th to 24th, 2025, Dinosaur Trips is gearing up for “Badlands to the Black Hills, a 9-day South Dakota small group expedition!

Get ready for dramatic landscapes and unforgettable discoveries as we hike canyons, climb hills, and check out some mind-blowing, jaw-dropping rock formations hiding millions of years of secrets just waiting to be uncovered. But hey, it’s not just about the rocks. We’re going to dive into the history of this place, learn about the Indigenous tribes who called it home, and even check out some awesome wildlife.

And the kicker: you’re going to spend a few days digging for fossils with a bunch of local dinosaur experts. Finally, when we’ve had our adventure in the American west, we celebrate with a feast at Saloon #10 in the legendary wild west town of Deadwood.

Grab the complete itinerary, rates, and details here: https://dinosaurtrips.com/south-dakota/

29/08/2024

At Dinosaur Trips, we’re diving deep into the world of dinosaurs, but it’s not just the bones that fascinate us. It’s the rich history of paleontology, the trailblazers in the field, and the generations of curious minds who’ve shaped our understanding of these ancient giants. But let’s be real—how do you even land one of these jobs?

Zach Vanasse, our founder and director, is on a mission to find out. In this edition of ‘Working With Dinosaurs,’ he’s chatting with Amy Atwater, a force of nature herself—interim director of paleontology at Dinosaur Ridge, co-founder of the Mary Anning's Revenge blog, co-host of the Weird and Dead podcast, and the woman leading our 2025 ‘In Mary Anning’s Footsteps’ all-women Jurassic Coast adventure in the UK.

If you’re curious about the wild, weird, and wonderful world of paleontology, you won’t want to miss this!

Working With Dinosaurs – A Q&A with Amy Atwater, Interim Director of Paleontology & Director of Development, Dinosaur Ridge At Dinosaur Trips, we’re not just interested in dinosaurs and prehistoric life, we’re also interested in the history of paleontology, the people who work in dinosaur muse...

24/04/2024

24/04/2024

10/04/2024

This photo might look ancient, but it’s only a few decades old. The Triceratops skeleton being unloaded here is on display in our Dinosaur Hall. The Drumheller water tower is visible in the far background.

22/02/2024

Absolutely Vicious

Day 3, May the 4th be with you, 2024 the Route 66 Million Years Ago trip will be visiting this amazing animal at the Petrified Forest! This stop is going to be awesome, as are all of the adventures planned for this epic roadtrip across the Southwest!

This visit will be hot on the heels of the Arizona Museum of Natural History, and right before the Grand Canyon! If you enjoy dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, museums, vistas of the Southwest, and amazing people this is the trip for you! Visit www.dinosaurtrips.com for more info.

On to our animal info 🙂.

, “chisel crocodile”, was 30’ of raw power. The skull, long and lean, was the end of many an animal.

A , it was well adapted for an aqueous environ, though being an egg-laying reptile meant it had to dig a nest and lay eggs. It was the largest predator of its time, eating anything it wanted. Dinosaurs were tiny ( ) and would provide its toughest prey. The water’s edge was not safe, especially considering there were lots of about.

This animal has has the usual taxonomic challenges of animals named long ago. First dubbed by Camp in 1930, it has had four (?) other genus names tied to it at some time. In 1995 the material was dubbed , splitting it from . My goodness it can be challenging to work with fossils 🙂! (But that’s where the fun is!).

Note where its nose is, right in front of the eyes and not on the top of its snout. These are not , but convergent evolution arriving at the same perfect predator shape of long snout and tail, ideal for tweezing fish whilst efficiently swimming with lateral undulations of a deep tail.

22/02/2024

The Zodiacal light event is taking place this week and what better place to see it than at Dinosaur Provincial Park – away from city lights with a great view of the night sky.

This event, known as false dawn, appears just after twilight as a cone of faint light spreading upward from the horizon.

Book a campsite, pack your warm layers and grab your thermos of tea or hot chocolate for an evening under the stars.

https://albertaparks.ca/parks/south/dinosaur-pp/information-facilities/camping/dinosaur/

20/02/2024

Today, Dinosaur Trips celebrates a monumental anniversary in dinosaur explorations. Two centuries ago today, in the annals of scientific history, the curtain rose on our epic journey with the description and naming of the first dinosaur, the Megalosaurus. On Feb. 20, 1824, William Buckland, a minister and geologist, first formally named a dinosaur, even though we wouldn’t have the word ‘dinosaur’ for another 20 years.

The Oxford University scholar based his paper in which he described and named Megalosaurus on fossils that had been discovered at Stonesfield in Oxfordshire, UK. The bones had actually been collected several decades prior. This pivotal moment in scientific history introduced us to a whole new group of animals that would completely reframe our understanding of life on Earth and give rise to the study of dinosaurs!

18/02/2024

12/02/2024

12/02/2024

Today, we raise a glass to the man who first unearthed the Tyrannosaurs rex; Barnum Brown (Feb. 12, 1873 - Feb. 5, 1963).

Barnum Brown was a charismatic individual, a relentless explorer, and a true pioneer of paleontology who left an indelible mark on the world of science and our fascination with the prehistoric.

In the spirit of adventure and exploration, let’s celebrate the man who unceasingly dug deep, both literally and metaphorically, into the mysteries of our planet’s past.

From the Badlands of Alberta to the jungles of Guatemala, Brown’s discoveries unlocked the age of dinosaurs, unveiling the awe-inspiring tales of colossal creatures that ruled the ancient landscapes.

Here’s to the intrepid explorer who brought dinosaurs out of the shadows and into our imaginations!

Happy Birthday, Barnum Brown. May your legacy continue to inspire the curious souls chasing their own fossils and discoveries.

10/02/2024

Your recommended read! Michael Crichton’s fictionalized telling of the legendary battle between palaeontologists Marsh & Cope across the wild American west: Dragon Teeth.