American Dinosaur Tour | Inspiring Travel Company

Itinerary Highlights

Enjoy some time visiting museums in Salt Lake City with impressive skeletal reconstruction displays.
Experience state-of-the-art dinosaur exhibits at the Moab Giants with a face to face experience of the underwater world in its 5D Prehistoric Aquarium.
Be mesmerised by the breathtaking beauty of the red-sand desert region of Monument Valley.
Join a guided excursion of the stunning Antelope Canyon in Lake Powell to see the awe-inspiring Horseshoe Bend via a lake cruise or a scenic flight.

What's Included

Accommodation Throughout
Car Hire
GPS Device
International Flights

13 nights from £3,199 per person

Best time to travel APR - OCT

01244 435 806

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Take tour through our prehistoric past on our Follow in the Footsteps of the Dinosaurs fly-drive tour through Utah.

Pack your camera whilst the children pack their dinosaur books for this themed fly-drive holiday.

Discovering the treasures of Utah at the same time, you'll trace the history of the dinosaurs that once roamed this land. From footprints to full-size replicas, dinosaur history and evidence is all around and easily accessible.

Whether you’re travelling with your children who are dinosaur enthusiasts or you yourself have a passion for this era in natural history, indulge in as much dinosaur activity or as little as you wish.

The national parks on this route include Zion, Canyonlands and Arches and offer plenty of hiking opportunities and of course, fantastic photos to treasure on your return. We recommend extending your holiday for a night or two in Las Vegas, perhaps catching one of the stunning Cirque de Soleil shows which you and your family are sure to enjoy or shopping in the outlet stores before the flight home.

Itinerary

Day 1 Travel to Salt Lake City

Travel from the UK on an indirect flight to Salt Lake City, where upon arrival pick up your car and drive approximately 15 minutes to your downtown hotel.

Staying at

Exterior of Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City

Lobby at Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City

Room at Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City

Day 2 Natural Museum of Utah & the Dinosaur Park

This morning visit the Natural Museum of Utah set on the grounds of the University of Utah. There are 10 permanent exhibitions including 'Past Worlds' which traces back 500 million years and has 30 skeletal reconstructions. These include the only display in the world of the 14 Certaopsian (horned) dinosaur skulls. In the afternoon, drive approximately 45 minutes north of the city to Ogden where there are over 100 life-size sculptures in the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park and enormous dinosaur skeletons.

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Day 3 The Museum of Ancient Life

Located only 30 minutes from the city, drive to The Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point, where there are 60 complete dinosaur skeletons to view as well as plenty of opportunities for you to participate in interactive exhibitions. See the palaeontology lab where doctors might be discovering bones at that moment.

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Day 4 Salt Lake City to Dinosaur National Monument (208 miles)

Drive to Dinosaur National Monument which straddles the Utah and Colorado border. It is a truly unique and must-see park where it is possible to view over a thousand bones in the cliff face at the Quarry Exhibit Hall. Walk the fossil discovery trail enjoying views of the Petroglyphs, Green River and Split Mountain. In the afternoon stop to visit the Utah Field House of Natural History, marvel up at the 90 foot model of Diplodocus, on your way to Vernal.

Day 5 Vernal to Moab (229 miles)

Follow the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway and cross the border to Colorado briefly before heading back across the border to Moab, Utah. Take the route around Arches National Park and stop off at Moab Giants where you can experience state-of-the-art dinosaur exhibits, wander among full-size dinosaur replicas and take a 5D virtual adventure underwater and explore the prehistoric deep.

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Day 6 Arches & Canyonlands National Parks

Spend the day enjoying the treasures of Utah, Moab is a fantastic centre for outdoor activity and also the gateway town of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. These parks offer ample hiking and photo opportunities. Highlights of Arches National Park include Delicate Arch, well worth the 3.2 mile hike while Canyonlands National Park offers dramatic landscapes carved by the Colorado River.

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Day 7 Moab's Attractions

There are still plenty of dinosaur attractions in Moab including self-guided walking tours such as the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail and Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackway. Other dinosaur attractions include Potash Road Dinosaur Tracks and Petroglyphs and Museum of Moab where there are geology, paleontology and archaeology exhibits.

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Day 8 Moab to Monument Valley (146 miles)

Leaving Moab today, travel to the area of Blanding home to another Dinosaur Museum with sculptures of dinosaurs, eggs and footprints. Leaving Blanding, it would be a great shame to miss out on a visit to Monument Valley. This famous scenery has been used frequently in western and Hollywood films and is a great stop for a couple of nights.

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View From Main Lodge at Goulding's Trading Post and Lodge

Pool Lodge at Goulding's Trading Post and Lodge

Motel Room at Goulding's Trading Post and Lodge

Day 9 Monument Valley

The landscapes of Monument Valley are awe-inspiring and an adventure playground. You can explore the area by car or for a true western experience head out on horseback for an hour or more. There are plenty of hiking opportunities and for a real Navajo experience you can even spend a night in a traditional 'hogan', a sacred mud dwelling, sparsely furnished with a mattress or sheepskin on the dirt floor, there is no running water or electricity.

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Day 10 Monument Valley to Lake Powell (135 miles)

Journey onto Lake Powell for a guided excursion into Antelope Canyon, a stunning slot canyon on the borders of both Utah and Arizona. Spend the night in Lake Powell, where we recommend dining at the Rainbow Room of the Lake Powell Resort & Marina.

Staying at

Boat activity at lake powell resort marina

restaurant overlooking the marina at lake powell resort marina

Day 11 Lake Powell

Lake Powell is the gateway to several Utah and Arizona attractions. You may wish to take it easy and enjoy a gentle cruise on the lake itself or take a float trip through Glen Canyon which includes viewing dinosaur tracks, passing through the awe-inspiring Horseshoe Bend and a visit to Petroglyph Beach. Alternatively take to the skies in a light aircraft for a scenic flight over Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell and Horseshoe Bend.

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Day 12 Lake Powell to Zion National Park (114 miles)

The final national park of the trip is Zion National Park where there are many beautiful walks passing small springs, waterfalls and greenery. Hiking the Narrows is not for the faint-hearted and be sure to rent some waterproof gear for this, as you may well need it!

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garden pavilion at cliffrose lodge gardens

Day 13 Zion National Park

Enjoy a full day exploring the spectacular Zion National Park. Take the Warner Valley Dinosaur Tracks Trail where there are over 400 fossilized tracks. The scenery is beautiful and the hike is an easy 4-mile round-trip. For the more adventurous there are opportunities to go rock climbing, canyoneering or explore the park by mountain bike.

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Day 14 Dinosaur Discovery Site & Las Vegas (270 miles)

Your final dinosaur treat is the Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson’s Farm where there are 2,000 preserved tracks. This can be visited en route from Springdale (Zion) and Las Vegas, where you might wish to extend your holiday.