Glen Rose is just a couple of hours from Abilene and has some fun and exciting places for the family to visit. There are three main places you don't want to pass up Dinosaur Valley State Park, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and Dinosaur World. All are super family friendly and can be a short day trip or an overnight stay.

Let's talk about Dinosaur Valley State Park first. It is really cool because there are real dinosaur tracks to see. The river bed is full of them and kids eat this up. Think about it, you can put your foot or hand in the very track that an actual dinosaur made millions of years ago. Of course you can camp, hike, bike, picnic, fish, swim and more at this park just like any other.

Older kids will enjoy finding the actual dinosaur tracks but the younger ones will enjoy seeing the dinosaur models and having their pictures taken with them. Over 100 life size dinosaur models are scattered along a 20 acre trail. There is also a playground, museum and dinosaur dig that the kids will love. My mom and best friend took her 3 kids (ages 2-5) to the park last week and they all had a blast. You will see some of the pics of them with the dinosaur models in the gallery below.

Fossil Rim is a privately funded drive through animal park. It is a conservation and research facility focused on education and preservation of our wildlife. The park is open 364 days a year, and the animals roam free inside the preserve. As you drive through seeking wildlife you will see deer, giraffe, zebra, rhino, cheetah, aoudad, birds, bison and much more. You can even coax the animals to come closer to your vehicle by feeding them special food that can be purchased at the park. There is also a Children's Animal Center where you will see potbellied pigs, goats, macaws, tortoise and more. The kids can even brush the goats as they tour the center. You can also choose from several guided tours that will take you behind the scenes for a super educational experience.

I still remember going to these places when I was younger and I know small kids will have a blast. If you can keep 3 kids under the age of 5 interested all afternoon then you know you are in a special place.

Here are photos of my mom and best friends recent trip to Glen Rose.

For more fun attractions and information see the Glen Rose Convention and Visitors Bureau website. You can also check out these YouTube videos of Dinosaur Valley State Park and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.

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