Drumheller is located in South Eastern Alberta, Canada, (1.5 hours NE of Calgary). The area is known as the Badlands, famous for the many dinosaur bones discovered in the area, it also features some interesting tourist stops. Plan your trip to Drumheller to see these Tourist Attractions.
The Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology
The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology is a wonderful museum for anyone interested in Dinosaurs and prehistoric life. You can even go on a hike to look for dinosaur bones or take in a tour or other activity when the weather is good. You can see paleontologists at work in the museum itself. This stop will hold the interest of kids and adults alike. One should allow 2-4 hours to take in the Museum and additional time to hike in the hills nearby. Of course, there is a gift store. If you are planning to hike, be sure to use sunscreen and carry a water bottle.
The Hoodoos
About 15 minutes east of Drumheller, again on Highway 10, just beyond Rosedale, is a geological feature, referred to as “The Hoodoos”. These odd-looking structures were formed when erosion removed softer bits of sandstone leaving some columns untouched because they had harder stones protecting the sandstone beneath.
The whole Drumheller area is fascinating, otherworldly in appearance, and frequently used in movies as an alien planet. Unfortunately, the Hoodoos have been somewhat destroyed by tourists who have carved their names into them, climbed on them, and tried to gain their 15 minutes of fame by destroying a feature that took thousands of years to form.
The Bridges of Wayne
You must drive off Highway 10 for a short distance south, to find this Guinness Record Book title holder, for “The Most Bridges in the Shortest Distance”. Again this area is surrounded by the alien landscape that the area is so well known for. Even if it were not for these other attractions, the unusual landscape alone is worth the trip.
Rosedale Suspension Bridge
A short 5-minute drive east of Drumheller on Highway 10, is the town of Rosedale. Not much of a town, but there is a nice treed picnic area, and a Suspension Bridge, which is a free tourist attraction. The Bridge is suspended over the Red Deer River but isn’t so high, or so wobbly to be intimidating.
On the other side of the river is a very prehistoric-looking area, and although the land looks inhospitable now, millions of years ago it was very lush. When the dinosaurs trod on this part of the earth, it did not resemble the desert it is today. Also, remember that it is a desert, do not stick your hands in holes, or places you cannot see. In this part of Canada, there are scorpions, black widow spiders, and rattlesnakes.
The city of Drumheller is certainly worth a visit too and has many tourist attractions in itself.
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