Day trips to exciting locales abound in the Tar Heel State but few places give you the opportunity to become a paleontologist for the day - for free. The next time you're seeking a one-of-a-kind experience in North Carolina, head to the tiny town of Aurora (population: about 525). Load the trunk with some digging tools, gloves, and a bag to tote home your treasures - and have a ball digging for fossils from the Miocene Epoch from the Neogene Period (ranging from about 23 million years ago to five million years ago).

Aurora is situated in Beaufort County along the banks of the Pamlico River.

It's home to the Aurora Fossil Museum which houses, among other things, a large collection of Miocene fossils recovered at the nearby phosphate mine. And across the street from the museum is a fossil park that's a fun adventure the whole family will enjoy.

The nearby phosphate mine donates truckloads of fossil-rich soil that's removed during the mining process - and sends it over by the truckloads to the fossil park.

Gather up the kids and some essential tools and prepare for a epic adventure searching for the remains of ancient whales, sharks, and more.

The kids — and the kids at heart — make incredible discoveries among the huge fossiliferous piles deposited in the park. What can be more exciting than sifting through a freshly loaded screen only to find a huge shark tooth? If you don't have a screen to use for sifting, then the museum keeps two sizes in stock.

When you recover a fossil and need some help identifying the precise origin...

The fossil park has a handy reference board posted right by the digging pit. And if you want to know more, you can always ask one of the knowledgeable staff at the museum to elaborate on your discovery.

Did we mention this activity is entirely free? For now, the museum operates solely on donations from kind visitors. Feel free to add to the collection box when you visit!

The Aurora Fossil Museum is open year-round, but with fewer hours in the winter. For a complete and up-to-date list of hours, see the official website at this link. You can also follow the Facebook page here. And don't pass up the chance to visit during the Aurora Fossil Festival, taking place in May!