There’s A Dinosaur-Themed Park In Michigan That Is Free For Visitors

Do you find yourself becoming excited when you hear the open strains of John Williams' theme song to "Jurassic Park"? Or maybe, you had a childhood dream of becoming a paleontologist, but life got in the way? Well, there is a dinosaur-themed park in Michigan that I think you'll love. It's located in Kalamazoo, which also happens to be home to some gorgeous summertime hikes.

Located on the Western Michigan University campus, these scale-size dinosaurs make for an exciting afternoon of discovery. You'll find the outdoor dinosaur display behind Lee Honors College and Rood Hall.

Or you could simply ask a passing college kid to point you to the dinos! I know if I were attending WMU, I'd know exactly where the dinosaurs live.

There is a wide variety of these majestic creatures available for you to view. And not just view, but walk among during your visit to this incredible Michigan dinosaur display.

Admission to the Schmaltz Geology Museum and Dinosaur Park is completely free for visitors to explore. In addition to the outdoor dino exhibits, there is also a very educational museum inisde.

Entry to the museum is free, as well. There you'll learn about the fascinating creatures that walked the earth before we did.

You'll learn all about the native environment of the Brachiosaurus, which I assume is not next to a tall, campus building. You'll also learn about the dinos' eating habits, which are probably more substantial than whatever the WMU dining hall is serving that day.

The Schmaltz Geology Museum features 40 exhibits with more than 600 specimens. These include an impressive array of Michigan fossils, rocks, and minerals.

One of the WMU Museum's most notable exhibits is the Kelley Collection of Fossils and Modern Shark Teeth. I'm a rock lover myself, and am very much looking forward to laying my eyes on the Michigan copper boulder.

There are also a couple of interactive displays at this Kalamazoo-area museum. There is an augmented reality sandbox, as well as an ultraviolet fluorescent display.

However, the real attraction for those looking for an interactive activity is the dinosaurs outside. They are the true stars of this Michigan museum, after all.

The dinosaurs at this outdoor exhibit on Western Michigan University's campus are all from the Mesozoic Era. The displays include triceratops, stegosaurus, spinosaurus, and more.

Pictured above is one of the newest additions to this dinosaur-themed park in Michigan. Remember these spitting things from the original Jurassic Park?

They are called Dilophosaurus and there is no evidence that they did any spitting in real life... only the movies. In fact, there is no evidence that any dinosaurs spit venom of any kind. Guess you can't believe everything you see in the movies!

They are, however, ready for selfies. I gotta say, it would be very difficult to stop me from snapping a pic with each and every dino at Schmaltz Geology Museum and Dinosaur Park.

If you plan to take the entire family to this dinosaur-themed park in Michigan, I have a fabulous suggestion for your meal. This combination of restaurant, bar, and 7-acre outdoor play area is perfect for kids of all ages. There is so much to do in the magical town of Kalamazoo, that it might be worth making an overnight stay of it. Here's an option with rooms so comfortable the whole family can share one.

If you decide to make the trip out to see these dinos, I'd love to hear about it! Tell me your experience in the comments.