Ideas for fossil/ Romans ruins/ interesting beaches/ geology holidays please

[Peaceanddoves]

So we love Weymouth, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Whitby etc in the UK. We have teen and adult children. They all like fossil hunting, interesting geology etc
They like Roman Ruins and castles. We are now going part time so much more holiday to play with and days out for us with or without them.

Where would you go UK and abroad ? What would you put on your list? Looking for ideas. Dog friendly is a bonus but doesn’t have to be, but can be U.K. or abroad?

Pompeii and Herculanum and M Vesuvius done. Love Durdle Door and south coast and done but also love going back.

Was planning Jerash, Petra, and down to Wadi Rum for wonderful Star Wars desert, rocky outcrops and fancy camping.

Nobody can do Petra and Little Petra, but for "wonderful Star Wars desert, rocky outcrops and fancy camping" try Tunisia. It gets loads of criticism, none of which I have ever experienced. And you can't do Star Wars better than where it was largely filmed. You can even stay in the hotel where Luke and Obi Wan met Han Solo (if you book early enough - not many rooms). Bedouin "fancy camping" in the Sahara. Loads of Roman ruins and (in my opinion) El Jem is the finest amphitheatre in the world - ok, not the largest, but you can sit up at the top of there and see the gladiators. And because it is underrated Tunisia is very cheap. I took my two friends year before last and we had a private guide / driver for 10 days - cost us about £120 each, and he haggled all our hotels etc so very, very cheap.

Also, Lullingston villa is Kent is a roman villa and museum ....

Another vote for Caerleon. DC loved the Roman baths, and also the amphitheater which we had to ourselves when we went. Fortunately had bought swords at the museum which is up the road from the baths, so a lot of gladiatorial combat took place!

And all the castles you can shake an arrow at, around Northumberland, intact and crumbled.

Agree with all the suggestions for Turkey - amazing place.

If you are open to not-Roman, the underground cities and the hills carved into buidings are very cool.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derinkuyu_underground_city

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock-cut_architecture_of_Cappadocia

This is on my bucket list!

Scotland's most remote railway adventure - BBC Travel https://share.google/E6P5uESrlVo570WjV

Place marking too. We enjoyed finding fossils at Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset and also Robins Hood Bay in Yorkshire.

Another vote for Drumheller in Canada. The Royal Tyrrell Museum and world’s largest Dinosaur are there. Although, according to google you’ve only got until 2029 to see the latter before it closes for good. Although we didn’t do one, you can also book guided fossil walks. Combine with a trip through the Rockies.

For fossil hunting in the UK, this website is great.
https://ukfossils.co.uk

If you haven't already been this is pretty local to you for a little bit of novelty for an afternoon out: https://secretbristol.com/starwell-wiltshire-fossils/
My parents have taken my kids (albeit primary age) and they found loads of 'stars', take a fishing net, I'd like to go too!

If in the UK, Herne Bay (of all places!) is great for both Roman ruins and fossils

The Reculver Towers are along the same stretch of beach that is absolutely full of fossilised shark teeth! Canterbury is 10 minutes down the road and full of history (I highly recommend the punting and ghost tours), and the Richborough fort and amphitheatre also only about 20 minutes away. Dover Castle is also within very easy reach.

Kilve which is North Somerset for amazing ammonites!