Children from the Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter School get up close and personal with an Albertosaurus on Santa Monica Beach for the launch of the Travel Alberta summer campaign.
Credits: HANDOUT/QMI AGENCY
In a bid to encourage Californians to visit Alberta, the province has set up a fake dinosaur excavation on Santa Monica Beach.
A replica of an Albertosaurus was placed on the beach Thursday for locals to uncover.
Royal Tyrrell Museum paleontologist Francois Therrien said the event highlights an interesting area of the province.
"Alberta is home to some of the world's richest fossil beds and draws tourists from around the world to experience authentic dinosaur adventures," Therrien said in a release about the event. "The Canadian Badlands are one of the most intriguing areas in Alberta. The striking landscape of hoodoos, canyons and coulees that are found in that area are an explorer's dream."
Shelley Grollmuss of Travel Alberta said the event would help promote Dinosaur Provincial Park, where visitors can uncover dinosaur fossils.
The event highlighted several tour options, including a Dinotour, a mountain adventure by horseback, and the Calgary Stampede thrill package.
