Pack Your Sleeping Bag and Go Museum Camping. Oh, Take the Kids Too!
May 20th, 2008 Categories: Things to Do
Looking for something a bit different to do for a birthday party, graduation or other special occasion? Museums in neighboring Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, Richmond, VA, Philadelphia, PA and even a bit further up the road in New York, all offer some kind of organized activity for overnight guests.
It will take a bit of planning on your part, with reservations often made months in advance, but how often do you get to sleep with the fishes and live to talk about it?
Here is a brief rundown of some of the available programs:
In Washington, The National Zoo, under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution, offers a “Snore and Roar” program April through September.
The overnight features a two hour exploration of an animal house or exhibit led by a zoo keeper; a late night flashlight tour of the zoo; and lodging in a four person tent (provided by the Zoo) on Lion/Tiger hill.
Wake up with the animals, enjoy breakfast and a morning activity before departing. Snore and Roar is open only to FONZ (Friends of the National Zoo) members.
The Science Museum in Richmond, offers a “Camp In” with a Segway ride inside the museum, a snake show and an IMAX movie.
Baltimore’s National Aquarium focuses on specific themes like Australia or sharks and includes a behind-the-scenes-tour, crafts and dinner. Campers sleep under the tank of stingrays or dolphins and or beneath the glass pyramid that overlooks the harbor. Breakfast is followed by fish-friendly games.
No enlistment is required to board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Taney or the submarine USS Torsk at the Baltimore Maritime Museum. On the Cutter Overnight honorary sailors are assigned watch detail and learn about navigation and the inner workings of the steam room. The floating, not submerged, Submarine Program follows a similar itinerary.
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michael’s. MD is open to guests who want to sleep in a lighthouse. There is an interactive lesson on life in a lighthouse, a picnic dinner by the Miles River and a firm sleeping spot on the wooden floor inside the 19th century structure.
“Roar ‘n Snore” at the Maryland Zoo sets up tents in the Waterfowl Lake Pavilion and campers gather round the campfire for pizza, songs and s’mores. Morning means breakfast for both man and beast.
In Philadelphia, the Zoo offers a “Night Flight” program with a hike and animal encounters.
Overnight on the Battleship New Jersey in Camden, NJ, begins with a tour of the ship which served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam and is now permanently retired.
Guests ride a simulator over Iwo Jima before tucking into the sailor’s bunks. Dinner and breakfast are served in – what else – the mess hall.
Is mountaineering your interest? Visit the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City where the Himalayan art museum transforms into Mt. Everest complete with Tibetan gruel and real Sherpas.
There is even a Peak Experience up the gallery staircases, a puja ceremony and trust exercises.
And finally, A Night at the Museum in the venerable American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
Campers have the run of the museum with time to actually READ the exhibit material, look for clues in the dinosaur and fossil rooms and take in a planetarium show before mandatory lights out at midnight. A favorite sleeping space beneath the big blue whale fills fills quickly.
Anyone ready to go ?
Michael
; ?>/images/MatoChiclet.gif)
Hi, I’ve been researching this topic for awhile and I must say the information is great. Thanks!