location-pin
Store Locator

Visit These Attractions Where Your Family Can Sleep Over

We round up the top Canadian museums that let kids stay the night

Smiling little girl in a pink zip-up holding a rolled up green sleeping bag

Are your kids fans of Night at the Museum? Discover whether the exhibits really come to life after hours at these five venues that let families and organized groups sleep over. Flashlight-led tours, scavenger hunts, and a karaoke pajama party, are just some of the memorable moments on offer. Here’s what to expect.  

1. Fossils by Flashlight

On select nights between September and June, Ottawa’s Canadian Museum of Nature takes groups of budding explorers on a flashlight fossil tour and a scavenger hunt in the mammal gallery. The event ends with live insect handling and a 3-D movie. 

Price: $68 per person

Minimum age requirement: Five years old

Children holding flashlights enjoying an exhibit at night at Ottawa's Canadian Museum of Nature

2. Saturday Sleepover

The Ontario Science Centre’s overnight adventure is themed around Phenomenal Forensics. Take in an IMAX film, explore the exhibits in the dark, learn from science demonstrations, and then let loose at a DJ/PJ party.

Price: From $59 per person

Minimum age requirement: Five years old

Kids play on a multi-coloured floor at the Ontario Science Centre

3. Prehistoric Overnight

The Royal Ontario Museum sleepover includes after-hours access to some of the museum galleries, digging for bones, hands-on fossil time with ROM experts, a late night snack and a karaoke pajama party. 

Price: From $77 per person

Minimum age requirement: Five years old

Kids in sleepwear playing with fossils at the Royal Ontario Museum

4. Shut-Eye Under the Sea

For a slumber party to remember, Ripley’s Aquarium lets families camp out in its Dangerous Lagoon shark tunnel. Explore the exhibits, participate in hands-on, educational experiences and sleep with the fishes.

Price: $99 per person

Minimum age requirement: Four years old

Kids enjoy gazing at fish at Ripley's Aquarium

5. Dozing With Dinosaurs

Located near Drumheller, Alta., the Royal Tyrell Museum is home to Canada’s largest collection of dinosaur specimens. Family “camp-ins” are held on select Friday and Saturday nights between October and November and February and April. Activities include fossil casting and digging for real fossils.

Price: $44 per person

Minimum age requirement: Five years old

Little boy and little girl playing with fossil casting at the Royal Tyrell Museum

Looking for more family fun?

Learn how to plan for a better Disney experience, take advantage of these free museums, and check out these cool water parks around the world.

Show your CAA card and save!

CAA Members save on attraction tickets to great places like the ROM. Click here to see the full list of Member-exclusive discounts.

Image credits: Tourism TorontoStephanie Koning/Canadian Museum of NatureCourtesy Royal Ontario MuseumOntario Science CenterRipley’s Aquarium of Canada,Image Courtesy of the Royal Tyrrell Museum

Advertisement