New York City insider site NewYorkology has a fun list of city museums and zoos that offer special sleepover dates, with the chance to roll out a sleeping bag under a big blue whale, on an aircraft carrier or in other unusual places.
For example, the American Museum of Natural History’s "Night at the Museum" events are open to children ages six through 13 plus their chaperones. (Ages and prices are different on scout nights.) The price includes a cot, an evening snack and light breakfast, fossil hunt by flashlight, an IMAX film or space show, and a tour of the live-animal special exhibition or a live-animal presentation. Participants must bring their own sleeping bags.
"Operation Slumber" sleepovers at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum are open to 6- to 17-year-olds with their chaperones, and include dinner, snack and breakfast, ride on the XD Theater Cosmic Coaster, a scavenger hunt, a exploration of the Flight Deck by flashlight, a ride on the XD Theater Cosmic Coaster. Participants also get a voucher for future museum admission. Cots are provided, but guests must bring their own sleeping bags.
And the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square’s "Extreme Sleepover" is open to 6- to 18-year-olds and includes a flashlight scavenger hunt, a laser race, a trip through the museum, dinner, breakfast and a T-shirt.