If you're traveling here to New York City with your little ones, why not make it a trip of a lifetime? We're here to let you know that there is nothing more exciting for little ones to do here in the city than spend a night at the museum.
The American Museum of Natural History has designated specific nights where the kiddos can come and snooze either in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life under the 94-foot-long blue whale, or beneath famous dioramas in the Hall of African Mammals or Hall of North American Mammals, or among the geological formations in the Hall of Planet Earth.
Before crashing, the little ones can take part in a fossil-finding mission with flashlight, and take in the family nature movie Backyard Wilderness, which follows a young girl as she discovers the secrets of nature hidden in plain sight right outside her back door.
Here's what you need to know:
One adult (21 or older) must be on hand to accompany every three kids (aged 6 to 13). The adventure begins at 6 p.m. and lasts all night until 9 am. Although sleeping cots are provided, guests should plan to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, flashlight, toothbrush and toothpaste, a washcloth and change for the vending machine. Oh, and jammies. Everyone should bring jammies. And don't forget the camera! An evening snack all be provided, along with breakfast the next morning. In addition to the snacks, vending machines will be available all night long, and the food court will be open until 7:30 p.m.The whole thing costs $150 per person (young and old). Yeah, it might be a little pricey, but how often do you get to check out the four-foot-long jaw of the tyrannosaurus rex after hours?Don't have kids? You won't have to rent one for the experience, because the museum offers adults-only nights that include a champagne reception, music by the 12th Night Jazz Trio in the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall and a delicious buffet dinner complete with wine and beer.