Dino Trekking in Poland

Before the Holy Cross Mountains were even holy, they actually contained trails for large dinosaurs. That was the discovery made by scientists when the first dinosaur footprints were discovered there in the 1970s. Geologists have since concluded the area once featured shallow sea water and the nearby land — the present-day Batlow region — was dominated by dinosaurs. Geologists also found the area's exposed limestone to contain a wealth of fossilized animals and plant life from the Late Jurassic period. With these discoveries, Europe had another dinosaur hot spot.

Naturally, the area didn't want to miss out on a tourism opportunity and so the Baltow Jurassic Park was officially opened five years ago. Located about 120 miles southeast of Warsaw, the park features a walk through time that includes 40 giant dinosaur models near where their footprints were originally found. The route even includes a 120-foot Seismosaurus, built according to the size of its footprint, which makes it the largest sauropod known to history. Gerard Gierln?ski, a famed Warsaw geologist and "dinosaur pathfinder," oversaw the research and science that went into the country's first Jurassic Park. He found the first footprints on a hill called Devil's Foot, which I imagine was not named by the same person who coined Holy Cross Mountains.

In addition to the dinosaur trail, the park features a Jurassic Museum that includes the bones of Cretaceous dinosaurs, shark teeth, sea corals, Palaeozoic trilobites and the remains of marine reptiles. Currently on display is an exhibit titled "Morocco — Fossil Factory."

If you make the trek to Batlow from Warsaw, Krakow, or another city, you will definitely have other recreational options in addition to the park. There's rafting along the Kamienna river, which takes about one hour to cover the three mile raft-friendly stretch. There is also a horse riding farm, Kraina Koni (Horse Land), where you can channel your inner-Lone Ranger and even stay the night. There's a nearby Archaeology and Nature Reserve featuring a preserved mine from about 5,000 years ago and a re-constructed neolithic village. Finally, there is the Baltow Zoo with over 20 species of wild animals. Ever wondered what a chamois or racka looked like? Now's your chance. The zoo grounds strive to imitate the animals' natural habitat, which means your zoo tour is only possible by park buses to ensure your safety.

Hopefully you don't need an abacus to add up that this is a family-friendly attraction. Now if you are taking the whole family on a trip to Poland, I can already tell you the kids are bored of the museums, but you can make their day with a trip to the land where the dinosaurs roamed. And admit it, the trip will bring out the inner kid in you as well. Just do us all a favor and don't try to ride the stegosaurus.

Photos courtesy of Bea Koteckta and Tomek Witan via Flickr.