Dinosaurs may have disappeared 66 million years ago, but in Mantua, they’ve left plenty behind. At Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, you can dig into the distant past – quite literally – and discover a side of the Garden State that’s much wilder than you might expect.

Here are five reasons it deserves a spot on your must-visit list.

You can dig for actual fossils

We’re not talking about plastic replicas buried in a sandbox. During the seasonal Quarry Dig Experience, you’ll search for genuine fossils left behind by creatures that lived millions of years ago. More than 100,000 fossils – including shark teeth and remains from mosasaurs and sea turtles – have already been found here. You may even uncover one to take home or donate back to the museum. 

The quarry dig is a premium ticketed experience, so book ahead – and wear something you don’t mind getting dirty. 

You’ll meet some seriously impressive prehistoric creatures

In the museum’s immersive galleries, life-sized creatures bring the Cretaceous Period roaring back to life. One of the biggest showstoppers is a 55-foot mosasaur based on a specimen discovered in the museum’s own quarry. 

You can watch real scientists at work

This isn’t a museum where all the science happens behind closed doors. At Collections & Conservation, you can watch paleontologists prepare, preserve and study genuine fossils.

There’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained

Got kids with energy to burn? Perfect. They can explore interactive displays, meet living animals in Critter Cove, investigate marine life at the touch tank and run wild at the Pterosaur Pterrace playground. It’s hands-on, educational and entertaining enough that they might not even notice they’re learning. 

You can easily make a day of it

Once you’ve met the dinosaurs and hunted for fossils, there’s still plenty to do. Take a walk along the nature trails, grab lunch or coffee at Quarry Grounds Café, enjoy views over the quarry and browse fossil-inspired finds at Darwin & Co. The park also hosts special programs and events throughout the year.