Get up close and personal with some of earth's oldest inhabitants. Photo by the author

The Dinosaur exhibit transports you back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and visitors get to see seventeen life-size animatronic dinosaurs set amongst trees and plants. They move around innocently, swinging long necks from side to side, bending in to get a closer look at the same time you do, and one - the - even squirts water out as he dines on a fish.

Needless to say, my 5-year-old son was in heaven... after verifying multiple times that they were in fact robots and not real.

In addition to the dinosaurs along the path, there are also signs that connect the dots between dinosaurs of the past and plants and animals of the present, allowing visitors to see some of the progression from how things were to how things are now. 

Just hatched! Photo courtesy Stephanie Adams/The Houston Zoo

Of the 17 dinosaurs inhabiting the zoo, many are easily identifiable: Stegoceras, various raptors, and of course the Big Daddy of them all - the Tyrannosaurus Rex; however, there were many lesser known dinosaurs gracing the path as well, with some family favorites being the Coelephysis, the Iguanodon, and the Quetzalcoatlus. Not sure what those are? We weren't either, which is exactly why you should take a trip the zoo to check them out! 

Plus, after you make your way through the exhibit your ticket grants you a pass on the Carousel, which was almost as exciting for my kids as the dinosaurs! All in all, this trip was a favorite and a fun diversion. The kids are already ready to go back and see the dinosaurs again. 

Meeting the Allosaurus for the first time. Photo by the author.

• Dinosaurs is through Sept. 2, 2019
• The Dinosaur add-on pass is $5.95 for Zoo members and $6.95 for non-members. This does not include Zoo admission (members get in free!), but does include admission to the exhibit and unlimited carousel rides. 
• You can also buy a Value Pass ($24.95 for adults, $22.95 for children) that gets you general Zoo admission, unlimited walks through the Dinosaurs exhibit, a souvenir conservation bracelet, and unlimited carousel rides.
• Pro-tip: get there right when the Zoo opens. We walked straight in and avoided the majority of the crowds, and by the time we were finishing up our visit right after lunchtime the Zoo was packed. 
• Visit the website for more information.

Top photo courtesy the Houston Zoo