On the trail of dinosaurs in Durham

Yesterday we went to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham to preview their new dinosaur trail. We were invited to this sneak preview — and given free passes — because I follow the Museum on Twitter. So in case you were wondering, there are some benefits to Twitter after all.

A friendly dinosaur on the trail.

I remember walking the Dinosaur Trail as an exciting event when I was a kid. The dinosaurs were hidden among the trees, and I thought it was a game to try and spot them. Today we think of dinosaurs as more colorful and more active, and some even have feathers. So the dinosaurs on this trail were due for a makeover, and they really look stunning.

Watch out! There's a dinosaur!

The Museum of Life and Science is a great local resource with lots to do, especially for kids. Besides the brand-new dinosaur trail, there is a wildlife area, a wetlands, a farmyard, a butterfly house and plenty of hands-on exhibits. The kid enjoyed the toddler play area, and we enjoyed sitting down for a few minutes in the air conditioning while he played.

Patting the dinosaur nose.

I have to add that the Museum really knows how to use social media to create a sense of community. Besides their clever use of Twitter to get people to come in, they are also on Facebook, collecting photos on Flickr and quoting blog posts on a participation page on their website. Very clever!

• Become a fan of the Museum on Facebook
• More dino trail tweets; also here
• Flickr photo group
• My hubby’s blog post about the tour