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Day Tripping: Dinosaurs & Other Creatures Come to Life

at the Museum of Nature and Science

The weather outside may be frightful, but the holidays at the Museum of Nature and Science (MNS) in Dallas, Texas, are delightful! Along with extended holiday hours, the MNS has special offers on gift memberships and discounts at their gift shop. It's a perfect getaway for a daytrip or for a weekend of family fun this holiday season.

Your family will delight in the following exhibits:

Dinosaurs Unearthed
We now know that many dinosaurs were warm-blooded, so come huddle with them during the cold winter months! Dinosaurs Unearthed features a gallery full of life-size, animatronic dinosaurs that seemingly come to life – they roar, move their arms, crane their necks and recreate the Jurassic Period as never before. The replicas of Dinosaurs Unearthed also represent the very latest fossil findings – and could completely reverse "conventional wisdom" about dinosaurs! The exhibit's team of paleontologists, artists, engineers and live entertainment producers created 10 life-size animatronic adult dinosaurs, five juvenile animatronic creatures, 20 huge fossils, and numerous full-scale articulated skeletons reflecting the latest dinosaur discoveries.

This exhibit showcases:
• The world's largest and most advanced animatronic dinosaurs – some of which visitors can control.
• Ten life-size, adult dinosaur robots, five juvenile-sized replicas, 20 huge fossils and several full-scale articulated skeletons and skeletal parts.
• First exhibit in the world to feature life-sized, feather-covered dinosaur models.
• A dinosaur dig that lets visitors become amateur paleontologists and unearth the fossils that remained long after the dinosaurs disappeared.
• Video games and activities on touch-screen kiosks.

This exhibit runs until May 1, 2011 at the MNS' Science Building (1318 S. 2nd Ave. in Fair Park). Admission requires a surcharge along with the purchase of MNS general exhibits and admission. Members enjoy free general exhibits admission and reduced admission to Dinosaurs Unearthed. All visitors can enhance their dinosaur experience by picking up a scavenger-hunt-like "Dino Trail Guide" and visiting the Museum's permanent collections and active paleo lab.

For more information or to purchase online tickets, visit www.natureandscience.org/dinosunearthed/default.asp.

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure
This is a perfect companion to Dinosaurs Unearthed, (and they are available together as a prehistoric package) this award-winning film by National Geographic brings the Late Cretaceous seas to life. Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure blends a series of modern-day paleontological digs around the globe with a compelling, animated recreation of life in the seas that covered North America 65 million years ago. The film follows the adventures of "Dolly" - a curious Dolichorhynchops - as she travels through the most dangerous oceans in history. Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure runs through March 10, 2011 in the TI Founders IMAX® Theater, MNS' Science Building (1318 S. 2nd Ave. in Fair Park). To complement the film, visitors can revisit the museum's permanent exhibit, Ocean Dallas, in the Nature Building to see actual fossils of creatures featured in the film.

Trailers, pictures and educational support are available at www.nationalgeographic.com/seamonsters/.

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure admission requires a ticket. Showtimes and online ticketing are available at www.natureandscience.org/imax/imax_showtimes.asp.

Admission and Fees
Regular general exhibit admission is $10 for adults 18-61; $9 for seniors 62+ and students 12-17; $7 for children 2-11; children under 2 are free; MNS members of all ages are admitted for free.
Military personnel and their families receive a $2 discount off MNS exhibits admission when tickets are purchased at the box office with Military ID.
Dinosaurs Unearthed admission requires a surcharge in addition to the purchase of MNS general exhibit admission; Non-members are $5, MNS members are $3. Children under 2 are free.
IMAX® shows require additional tickets: $7 for adults 18-61 (member adults $6); $6 for seniors 62+, and students 12-17 (member seniors and students $5); $6 for children 2-11 (member children $5). Children under 2 are free.
With plenty of family-friendly exhibits, your family is sure to have a roaring good time! For museum hours or more information about all of their exhibits, visit www.natureandscience.org.