The May half-term break will be coming up for many families this week in Devon, and if you were looking for opportunities for days out then International Dinosaur Day could be the one for you.
Taking place on Thursday, June 1 the day is marked to learn about dinosaurs and their history.
On the South Western Railway website, it states: "People celebrate by going fossil hunting, visiting museums, reading their favourite dinosaur books and hosting dinosaur-themed parties."
South Western Railway (SWR) has a list of options for families to go to in Dorset and around the South of England on its website if you want to travel further out, but here are some you can get to in and around Devon.
Best spot for family days out for Dinosaur Day 2023
Just outside of Devon the town of Lyme Regis has a couple of options for Dinosaur Day as it is steeped in archaeological heritage.
One option is visiting its beaches (East Cliff Beach and Monmouth Beach), which are incredibly popular for fossil hunting, and organised fossil walks take place in the area.
Alternatively, you have the Dinosaurland Fossil Museum which has 16,000 specimens on permanent display.
SWR adds: "Admire the spectacular collection of marine fossils in all shapes and sizes, including the Diving Ichthyosaur and the Langdon Ichthyosaur. Then, head to the Time Gallery to discover how geologists date and identify rocks."
It has also been well-received on Tripadvisor, receiving a 4.5/5 rating from 470 reviews.
If you are happy to travel further afield then Torquay's Dinosaur World could also work for a day out.
On its website, it says: "Torquay’s Dinosaur World is a fun interactive indoor exhibition that brings the world of dinosaurs to life.
"See amazing full size & scaled dinosaurs, discover incredible fossils, learn about these awesome beasts, enjoy our fun Explorer Quiz and even sit on a deadly dinosaur."
It has also been well-received on Tripadvisor, with a score of 4.5/5 from 655 reviews.
Finally in North Devon, you could also head out to the Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park.
On its website, it says: "Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park is home to not just modern-day animals but to prehistoric ones as well!
"Dotted throughout the Dinosaur Domain & the Valley of the Dinosaurs are over 30 animatronic and static dinosaur models and let’s not forget our life-sized model of Tyrannosaurus Rex, the star attraction, who along with our Megalosaurus & Dilophosaurus wakes up every hour on the hour to delight and terrify in equal parts!
"Last but not least, don’t forget to visit the park’s Dinosaur Museum which holds [a] wealth of real & replica fossils such as a nest of fossil eggs and dinosaur footprints."
On top of all of that you also have the regular wildlife park to explore alongside it.
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