Visiting Area Station: Dinosaurs with Youngsters – Mommy Poppins

Calling all pint-size paleontologists: Area Station: Dinosaurs, New Jersey’s dinosaur-themed journey park is celebrating its tenth anniversary this season and is celebrating it with some enjoyable new additions to a park that has already featured greater than 30 animatronic dinos, together with Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus , Triceratops and Spinosaurus.

Learn on for our assessment of this seasonal dinosaur attraction, which is a good day journey from the tri-state space. Discover extra locations for prehistoric enjoyable on this listing of native dinosaur locations.

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Area Station Dinosaurs is house to many interactive stations, together with the model new Jurassic Soar. Picture by Katherine Dhurandhar

Why Area Station: Dinosaurs is a good household vacation spot

Area Station: Dinosaurs returns for the summer time season with new exhibits and sights, together with the Jurassic Soar, which propels friends excessive into the sky with trampolines and bungee cords, an lovely Toddlersaurus present, and Dinos after Darkish that takes over the park on Friday and Saturday evenings in October.

Along with these new sights, guests to Area Station: Dinosaurs can benefit from the dinosaur path, which permits friends to observe the path because it winds by way of the park, encountering a number of dinos alongside the way in which. The dinosaurs are animatronic, in order that they make small actions and a few shouts and growls right here and there. Some are fairly small, whereas others are astonishingly tall or lengthy, such because the 90-meter-long Argentinosaurus. There are birds of prey, the favored Stegosaurus, child dinosaurs and rather more. All specimens are behind a rope, so youngsters aren’t allowed to the touch them.

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Surprises seemingly await round each twist and switch at Area Station: Dinosaurs, fascinating children! Picture by Katherine Dhurandhar

The T. rex specimens, that are over 15 ft lengthy, make some very real looking monster sounds, so be careful! There are small aspect trails into the forest that give the sensation of an actual dinosaur safari as dinos randomly seem within the bushes and transfer and roar. These woodland trails additionally present much-needed shade on sizzling days, and there are benches to sit down on and take a break (after all my son did not need to!).

Throughout our go to, there have been so many interactive stations scattered across the path, we barely had time to do all of them. Every day can be full of family-friendly programming, from children’ concert events to fossil Q&As. So when you might most likely run by way of the path and see all of the dinosaurs in half-hour, you would be lacking out on a few of the finest components of your “expedition.” Keep in mind, we’re taking part in scientist right here! We spent two hours there and nonetheless did not get to every part, though we did see each dinosaur. Youngsters can earn stamps on the varied stations to fill their “credential” discipline e-book alongside the way in which.

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Youngsters can play a paleontologist who carves marine fossils from bricks and determine them within the paleontologist’s lab. Picture by Katherine Dhurandhar

Should-See Issues at Area Station: Dinosaurs

Paleontologist Lab

This was one of the crucial widespread hands-on stations we got here throughout. Youngsters are given a stone with actual marine fossils in it and instruments to chop it open and discover the treasure. They will then determine what they discovered by matching it with the cardboard supplied and taking it house in a sachet as a souvenir.

the amphitheater

Catch a narrative, sing-along, dance, and extra on this play area, all with instructional components woven into it, such because the historical past of native dinosaur discoveries and varied dinosaur species trivia.

The musical exhibits embody the “Feeding Frenzy” present, which affords a musical introduction to T. rex’s gory consuming habits. A model new debut this summer time is the “Toddlersaurus Shock Social gathering,” the place the Dinosaur Troubadour sings and dances with the lovable and lifelike Toddlersaurus, a child T. rex doll who’s educated to carry out tips however does not wish to observe directions. After the Toddlersaurus leaves the stage, the massive T. rex comes out and the viewers is chosen to play video games with the dino whereas studying enjoyable information. The T. rex is sort of lifelike and “in your face,” so smaller youngsters who may get scared shouldn’t be within the entrance row. Even my 7 yr outdated was a bit shocked when the large enamel received shut.

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The sandbox at Area Station: Dinosaurs is crammed with prehistoric treasures to dig up. Picture by Katherine Dhurandhar

dig fossils

This expertise is a big sandbox with huge bones the dimensions of a dino buried within the sand, and it was one other huge hit. Good luck convincing your children to depart this enjoyable zone behind.

Extra Enjoyable Actions at Area Station: Dinosaurs

There are many extras if the children want extra dino enjoyable. Subsequent time we should always go to the Dinos Origami workshop, Paleo Picasso, the place children draw their dinos, or a scavenger hunt. And we could not resist testing the present store for some dinosaur memorabilia (we got here away with a dinosaur tail hooked up to the waist and two “watch them develop” dinosaur eggs that sponge dinos hatched after being submerged in water for a number of days).

There are numerous alternatives for hands-on exploration and discovery. Picture by writer

What it’s good to know earlier than going to Area Station: dinosaurs

• The employees, wearing khaki and cargo shorts, are pleasant and beneficiant.
• Do you need to deal with your dino lover to a celebration or a snack? There is a celebration tent and a concession stand the place we grabbed pretzels, sizzling canines, and Gatorades.
• There’s a deluxe elevated port-a-potty kind consolation station, however no altering desk. The path is large and laborious packed, and strollers are welcome.
• Everybody from 2 years outdated should purchase a ticket to take part. Purchase them on website on arrival or on-line upfront. Tickets begin at $17.75 per particular person.
• Parking is FREE. It’s a quick drive from NYC and accessible by NJ Transit bus from the George Washington Bus Terminal.
• Area Station: Dinosaurs is situated at 40 Fort Lee Highway in Overpeck County Park in Leonia, New Jersey. Opening hours fluctuate by season, so go to the web site for the present schedule.

Initially revealed in 2016. Katherine Dhurandhar contributed extra reporting