Jurassic Forest Review & Feature
Looking for the best dinosaur day ever? Driving to Drumheller for the Tyrell Museum (but you should do too! Check out this other Alberta dinosaur blog post!) can be too long for a day trip for Edmonton families, but there is a place a bit north from Edmonton that will entertain you kids just as much…the Jurassic Forest!
Both my oldest children’s (7 and 5 years old) favourite part of being at Jurassic Forest was playing in the main sand area with the dinosaurs that you can climb on. Next time we may spend majority of our time there, because it is so fun!
Here are some in depth questions and answers for what to expect when you go:
How far from Edmonton is Jurassic Forest?
The drive is about 45 minutes from Central Edmonton, but from St. Albert it was 30 mins.
Can I buy Jurassic Forest tickets online or in-person?
You can pay and print your own tickets, or you can now purchase them at the entrance. Check the Jurassic Forest website for current prices, here.
What is in Jurassic Forest? What is there to do?
When you enter the Jurassic Forest, there is a large sand space with climbable dinosaurs and pretend excavation sites with paint brushes for kids to brush the sand off dinosaur skeletons in the sand.
There are two different dinosaur discovery trails from the main area, North and South. You walk the discovery trails to see and read more about prehistoric life – from plants to insects to motion activated dinosaurs with the forest.
Can I bring a stroller? Is it baby friendly?
Yes, the walk ways are boarded and wide enough for strollers. There are also rentable dinosaur carts to put a toddler in, the carts are first come first serve – the price for renting was about $5.
Can kids touch the dinosaurs on the discovery trails?
Both – yes for the area with sand and climbable dinosaurs. But when you are on the discovery trails, do not leave the roped off trails. The dinosaurs are far into the forest but very visible from the trails.
How long does it take to walk the trails?
It took my children and I about an hour to enjoy both trails, and then we spent a total of another hour playing in the sand area.
Is there a place to buy food and drinks inside?
Yes, there is a concession inside Jurassic Forest that opens around 11-11:30am for lunch. They serve hotdogs, popcorn, pizza, pop, coffee, water, and a variety of different snacks. The closest restaurants to Jurassic Forest are in the town of Gibbons, that is about 5 minutes South of Jurassic Forest.
Are there bathrooms available?
Yes, there is one inside the main building – between the entrance and gift shop. And then two more bathrooms accessible from outside the front entrance.
The Jurassic Forest is a great spot to take your toddlers and older kids – what a place to host a dinosaur birthday if you are from the Edmonton area! I hope this helps you make the discussion to venture out on a dinosaur day with your family!
If you like this post, check out my 3 Reasons You Need To Add Slave Lake To Your Summer Travel List post!
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