If you've ever been a "dinosaur kid" - we most definitely have been, and still kinda are - the next best thing to actually visiting 'Jurassic Park' (yes, we know it's just a movie) was always a trip with mom and dad to the American Museum of Natural History. It's still the only place where your seven-years-old, four-foot-one self can gasp in amazed awe at the sheer size and fearsome majesty of a real Tyrannosaurus rex.

Surely uniquely understanding that generation-spanning sense of awe are the good people who actually run the AMNH. And it's them we have to thank for allowing kids the possibly-greatest-thing-ever experience of sleeping amongst the bones of the Prehistoric giants. Indeed, A Night at the Museum: The Overnight Experience returned October 24 for another spine-tingling run, and even as adults, we couldn't possibly be more thrilled.

“We are excited to reintroduce this celebrated program," enthuses Museum President Sean Decatur, "that provides a rare opportunity for guests to experience the wonders of the Museum long after visitors have gone home. "

As one would imagine, "sleep" is pretty much the last thing on kids' minds when they show up. For sure, the museum has organized a program of activities that will make for serious playground boasting rights for years to come, starting with a guided flashlight tour of the storied fossil halls, where one can "ooh" and "ahh" at a real Titanosaur.

Families can then strike out on their own, exploring spaces like the Akeley Hall of African Mammals and the new-ish (inaugurated in 2023) Susan and Peter J. Solomon Family Insectarium. The fun continues with trivia, karaoke, scavenger hunts, and surely the greatest bedtime story hour ever in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life.

Decatur promises, “Whether it’s the thrill of encountering Tyrannosaurus rex by flashlight, or the awe of sleeping beneath the massive Blue Whale, the experience is sure to create memories that families will treasure forever.”

We couldn't possibly agree more.

(Note: For those kids and families who do not have easy access to visiting in person, the AMNH offers a terrific program of virtual field trips, which anyone can access by clicking on this link on their website. After all, learning about history and nature should be for everyone, right?)