Earlier this month we took an overnight trip to Drumheller, Alberta – dinosaur capital of the world. In case you’re planning a family road trip of your own, I’m sharing some of the best Drumheller activities with kids we enjoyed during our 24-hour whirlwind trip to the Canadian Badlands.
Best Drumheller Activities With Kids In 24 Hours
World’s Largest Dinosaur
At 86 feet tall and 151 feet long, it’s hard to miss the World’s Largest Dinosaur towering above the Drumheller Valley. Emmet and Elle literally screamed in excitement when they first spotted it.
We decided to ascend up the structure’s 106 stairs to drink up the city view from within the giant dino’s gaping jaws.
It was a quick yet fun stop. Plus, right across the street there’s a spray park, picnic area, skateboard park and the local Aquaplex.
Admission is $5 per person or $15 per family (and kids under 5 are free).
Drumheller DinoWalk – Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt
There are over 30 dino statues dotted throughout the heart of downtown Drumheller, each more artistic than the last.
Our two little ones had a BLAST going on a dinosaur scavenger hunt. In fact, Elle insisted on taking a photo of each statue so we could keep track of how many we found.
All in all, it was a beautiful walk and a chance to check out some of the local boutiques and coffee shops in this charming town.
Take A Walk Along Drumheller’s Hoodoos Trail
A highlight of our trip was visiting Hoodoos Trail and marvelling at these one-of-a-kind rock formations that took millions of years to form. Mind blowing!
Travel Back In Time At The Last Chance Saloon
Aaron and I are suckers for restaurants with a story and The Last Chance Saloon definitely has a colorful one.
Located in Wayne, Alberta, you take a winding, 10-minute drive through the scenic Badlands and across some wooden bridges before you find yourself at the hotel and saloon which was once the heart of a bustling coal mine town.
The space is said to be haunted, the decor was eclectic and the food was delicious. We’d definitely visit again!
Royal Tyrrell Museum
I’m sure it goes without saying but visiting the Royal Tyrrell Museum is a must during any trip to Drumheller!
I worked for Alberta Culture for years and continue to be astounded by the quality of this museum’s exhibits and its scientists’ research . Truly world-class.
Make sure you go! Its open seven days a week, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., May 15 – August 31.
September 1 – May 14 it’s open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, except holiday Mondays.
Drumheller Questions I’ve Received
Where Did You Stay In Drumheller?
We stayed at the SureStay Plus by Best Western Drumheller. Was it dated? Yes. But it was clean and had a pool, hot tub and waterslide, which is exactly what we were looking for.
Bonus points: a buffet-style breakfast was included.
Was Drumheller Busy?
Drumheller is known for being busy throughout the summer so, if possible, I’d recommend heading there mid-week.
We had a bit of rain in our forecast which definitely worked in our favor. We arrived on a Sunday and visited the Royal Tyrrell Museum on a Monday and found it to be very quiet (which was awesome).
Would you go back?
Yes! We took Elle to the Royal Tyrrell Museum four years ago. I also visited Drumheller for work a few years back (we flew in and seeing the Badlands from above was SUCH a cool experience).
Though I don’t think we’ll make it an annual trip, I do see us returning every few years for a fun family vacation.
Xo Holly Hunka
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