If your kids love dinosaurs and you’re looking for something different in a daytrip, a place with 50 life-sized models of dinosaurs and a variety of amusements at the eastern end of the state could be just what makes that day the best one of spring break.
Nature’s Art Village, which includes The Dinosaur Place, its 60-acre “Outdoor Adventure Park,” is now open for the 2021 season.
It takes a while to get there from here — an hour and 14 minutes along I-95, according to Google Maps, but your kids may be so tuckered out that they’ll be sleeping on the return trip.
Here’s how the business describes The Dinosaur Place in its announcement about the season opening:
Home to over 50 life-sized dinosaurs on pristine nature trails, The Dinosaur Place is filled with fun adventures including a dinosaur-themed maze, two caves with animatronic dinosaurs, Monty’s Playground, featuring T-Rex Tower, and TWO brand-new exhibits which will be making their debut throughout the spring and summer in the newest section of the park, Lapilli Landing.
These attractions include Peewee Putters, a 6-hole miniature golf experience for children of every age, and Pedal Pushers, an equestrian-themed pedal kart track for ages 6 and up weaving its way around the new addition.
Image from Nature's Art Village website
A map of The Dinosaur Place
“After the year that we all had, we are excited to start new this spring and welcome families to walk among the dinosaurs at Nature’s Art Village,” said Colin Walsh, the executive director at Nature’s Art Village. “We have made some remarkable improvements to the park for our guests’ enjoyment, and we cannot wait to share these experiences with them in just a few weeks.”
Nature’s Art Village is recommending that all families who are going to visit The Dinosaur Place bring what they need for their visit, including their own food and beverages, socks, and anything else they may need as there is no reentry into the facility. The snack bar, Monty’s Munchies, will be open daily from June 12 through Labor Day.
During the summer and weather permitting, The Dinosaur Place also offers New England’s largest Splash Pad, a unique zero-depth water park.
Other attractions currently available at Nature’s Art Village include Discovery Depot, where guests can enjoy Thunder Creek to pan for “gold” and relive the California Gold Rush, Jackpot Mine to dig for crystals and minerals, and the Geode Center to handpick their own geode and have it sliced in half while you wait.
For the shopping enthusiast, The Shops at Nature’s Art Village houses a large collection of hand-picked gemstone jewelry, fossils, and minerals from around the world, educational toys and games, the region’s largest selection of beading and jewelry-making supplies, and much more.
Nature’s Art Village is also home to The PAST Antiques Marketplace, a showcase of over 90 vendors selling one-of-a-kind antiques, crafts, and collectibles and Genius Museum, a remarkable display of over 200 years of technological advancement from industries ranging from manufacturing to laundry to the printing press and more.
Following safe health protocols, families are invited to visit for enjoyment and educational opportunities as well as unique shopping experiences. Information regarding which attractions are currently open, hours of operation, when other attractions will be open this season, and any other information regarding Nature’s Art Village and its experiences can be found at www.naturesartvillage.com.
Call 860-443-4367 for more information.
Please note, due to seasonal operations and new safety protocols, some attractions may not be open at this time.