Dinosaurs Roar Into the Los Angeles Zoo!

CC and Will check out the Edmontonia.

The kiddos and I stepped back in time a few million years in April while checking out the newest exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo.

"Dinosaurs: Unextinct at the L.A. Zoo," which runs through October 31, features 17 life-like dinos that hissed and even spat at us as we walked by. (Will and CC were both fascinated and a little freaked out by that. Of course, it was the kind of "freaked out" where they kept running back for more!)

We're going in!

For $5 extra per person (in addition to regular Zoo admission), you and your family can check out such realistic-looking dinosaurs as the long-necked Brachiosaurus, a feathered Citipati, a Diabloceratops (with a baby and even a nest of eggs), as well has the spitting Dilophosaurus.

Watch out for the spitting Dilophosaurus!

The movements, noises and the actual bodies of these creatures were so cool and realistic, it was easy to imagine that we were walking through a much safer version of Jurassic Park. I also loved that we got to see dinos that don't usually headline exhibits. (I mean, who's heard of a Utahraptor?)

Of course, we did get to see a T-Rex, which was a little Terrifying.

Someone was hungry!

Parents, just as a precaution, you might need to warn kids that one dino becomes part of the circle of life. Will and CC were more fascinated than anything, but they definitely remarked on the bloody teeth marks.

I don't want to spoil the whole exhibit, which also includes a fun fossil dig, so I'll leave you with just one more photo. The addition, honestly, is perfect for the L.A. Zoo, and I'm wondering if it will become permanent. If not, at least it's open through Halloween.

No doubt the zoo will get super-creative for trick-or-treaters!

The Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Tickets: $20 (general admission, ages 13-61); $15 (children ages 2-12)
Admission to "Dinosaurs: Unextinct" is $5 per person in addition to regular zoo admission.