American Museum of Natural History

Lonely Planet review

Founded in 1869, this museum is a classic for kids. Its halls are fascinating wonderlands of more than 30 million artefacts, and the thrilling Rose Center for Earth & Space was added in 2000. Plan to spend most of a day here so you and your littlies can see as much as possible. The museum is most famous for its three large, dinosaur halls, as well as for the enormous (fake) blue whale hanging from the ceiling of the Hall and Ocean Life.

Kids of all ages will find something to intrigue them, whether it's the stuffed Alaskan Brown Bear, the Star of India sapphire or the skullcap of a pachycephulasasurus - a plant-eating dino that roamed the earth 65 million years ago. In all sections of the museum, you'll find enthusiastic volunteer guides keen to answer questions.

It's the Rose Center for Earth & Space, though, that has been the star attraction since its much-heralded opening. Just gazing at its facade - a massive glass box containing a silver globe, home to space-show theatres and the planetarium - is mesmerising, especially at night, when all its otherworldly features are aglow.