Prehistoric Gardens Has 23 Dinosaurs in the Oregon Woods

Dinosaurs are cool, right? I've always "liked" dinos in a casual way but ever since I became a father to a dinosaur-loving girl, I've been going out of my way to incorporate them more into her life. We were thrilled while watching Prehistoric Planet, a documentary event hosted by Sir David Attenborough. It was one of those few times when dinosaurs felt real.

Photo by Rafał Danhoffer on Unsplash

When I say my kid loves dinosaurs, I'm underselling it. Last Halloween, we went to a neighborhood that had a block party atmosphere. Once we hit the house with the people having a T-Rex dance party, she made sure we never left. When she was little, she would take us up and down the floors of the traveling animatronic dinosaur show.

Author pictured with dino-loving daughter.
(Photo by Caitlin Christensen)

She, at two, was the expert. When she was older, we took her to OMSI. I remember feeling underwhelmed by that show because it wasn't too different from the traveling shows. Even my daughter was disappointed. But wait until I take her to the Prehistoric Gardens in southern Oregon.

External view of Prehistoric Gardens, Google Street View

Prehistoric Gardens is located along Highway 101 on the southern Oregon coast. What makes this experience atypical to the usual dino experience I've encountered is that the dinosaurs are shrouded throughout the woods, giving off a prehistoric rainforest feeling. Now, these dinosaurs appear to be statues, so they're not going to be moving or growling. But just imagine the fun of exploring nature with 23 different dinos to find. Fun for kids, sure. I think this would be a lot of fun for adults, too!

LOOK: This Magical Dome Airbnb is All the Rage in Bend, Oregon

I've been using Airbnb instead of staying at hotels for quite some time. They're typically cheaper and if not, far cozier and "lived-in." There's a heart that you can feel when you step inside a rental that's been well cared for.

In all of my travels across Washington and Oregon, I have never seen an Airbnb rental with as much character as this geodesic dome in Bend. It gives me hints of Return of the Jedi and even some Lord of the Rings. I've never stayed in Bend, Oregon but this rental has me making some plans. See what I mean below.

LOOK: 38 Amazing Actors That Have Called Washington State Home

Sure, Washington is known for Amazon, coffee, wine, apples, grunge music, Microsoft, and Boeing. But you may not know how many actors and actresses have come from the Evergreen State. Yeah, our state has had an impact on the television and film industry. We've got A-listers, an Oscar winner, and faces of big franchises.

Check out our list below, I'm sure you'll find some surprises.