Drumheller

When the coal-mining industry begain to fade in the 1960s and 1970s, Drumheller was smart enough to figure out a way to re-invent itself. Recognizing the importance of the fossil excavations going on at Dinosaur National Park AND the appeal it has to kids, Drumheller re-styled itself as the Dinosaur Capital of the World, with the "World's Largest Dinosaur" (above, at the information center).

This dinosaur is actually a tower you can climb (for a small fee), and the view from its mouth is great! So is the climb itself (not too bad, considering the 100 or so steps), and the looks on kids' faces are indescribable.

Dinosaurs (and other prehistoric animals) are on every other street corner in downtown Drumheller. Even the benches look like they're made out of fossilized bones.

There is more to see in Drumheller than just dinosaur kitsch. The Reptile World was very interesting, and just walking around the old, well-preserved downtown (having a snack at Mom's Diner) was worth an afternoon. And the flapjacks at Whif's were unbeatable!

But it's the territory around Drumheller (the Tyrrell Museum and the Dinosaur Trail) that were the biggest reasons for visiting here.

Above is a picture of the giant dinosaur from the parking lot (looking straight up from where our car was parked). At left, Tom is about to have his head snapped by the giant T-Rex teeth!

The left view of residential Drumheller (with the Badlands in the distance) is from our very comfortable room at the Drumheller Ramada Inn, adjacent to an Irish pub, Boston Pizza, and a short walk from downtown.