Start your downtown Drumheller touring by making your way to the visitor center. Drumheller Information Centre is in the local chamber of commerce building beside the Red Deer River at the corner of Riverside Drive and 2nd Street W (403/823-8100 or 866/823-3100, www.traveldrumheller.com, daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m., until 9 p.m. Fri. and Sat. in summer).

You can’t miss it—look for the seven-story Tyrannosaurus rex in front—it’s the world’s largest dinosaur (403/823-8100, July–Aug. daily 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Sept.–June daily 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., adult $2, children under five free). An actual Tyrannosaurus rex would have been intimidating enough towering over its fellow creatures millions of years ago. But this one is even bigger—at 26 meters (85 feet) high, it is four times as big as the real thing.

A flight of stairs leads up to a viewpoint in its open mouth. Also downtown, the Badlands Historical Centre (335 1st St. E, 403/823-2593, May–Sept. daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m., adult $5) is a small museum with an interesting display of privately owned and donated prehistoric pieces, most of which have been collected from the Red Deer River Valley.

Along North Dinosaur Trail is Fossil World (1381 North Dinosaur Trail, 403/823-4333, summer daily 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m., the rest of the year daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.) is a modern indoor attraction anchored by a life-size animated Tyrannosaurus rex. The seven-meter-long (21-foot) creature towers above the display room, with eyes that blink, a chest that contracts, and even a wagging tail.

A number of interesting fossils are on display and for kids, there’s also a climbing wall, dinosaur-themed play area, and the chance to dig for (and keep) a fossil. General admission for everyone aged four or more is $5, or pay $22 for admission and all activities.