Penn Dixie, Buffalo

At the heart of Penn Dixie is a fossil quarry—one that's so prolific it captures the attention of science buffs from around the world. But this isn't a look-and-don't-touch kind of quarry. At this 54-acre site, visitors are encouraged to dig into what was once a shallow ocean environment (380 million years ago) and to keep the fossils they find. The visitors' center even offers buckets of tools available to rent. Once they're finished with their paleontological expeditions, guests can spend the rest of their day exploring nature trails and wetlands and spotting wildlife such as bald eagles and red-tailed hawks.