American Museum of Natural History

Over 36 million specimens, from dinosaur fossils to moon rock and the very finest state-of-the-art exhibitions.

Exhaustingly large and utterly entertaining, the American Museum of Natural History provides a jaw-dropping showcase for our planet's past and present inhabitants and geology, as well as a mesmerising look into space. All exhibits are authentic and/or expertly replicated. These include a life-sized whale suspended from the ceiling, mid-swim, in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life and perfect reconstructions from the ancient bones of the dinosaurs.

Education is a vital part of the museum's ethos and mission statement, and there are classes taught even during public opening hours. There is also a groundbreaking exhibition devoted to highlighting the pressing need to protect and preserve the Earth's biodiversity, upon which all life depends.

Of course, many come to AMNH to visit the dinosaurs, and with more than 100 specimens, the museum has the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the world. The Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs features some of the its most famous, including a Tyrannosaurus rex and an enormous Apatosaurus (previously known as Brontosaurus). Both have been re-positioned to reflect current scientific thinking, the T-rex is now in a menacing, low stalking position rather than its traditional upright stance. Listen out for squeals of delight and/or terror from junior visitors.

Mammals and their Ancestors is a fascinating skeletal journey through evolution. The intimidatingly large skeletons of the forebears tend to become smaller, more refined and increasingly familiar. Surprising of all is the Giant Ground Sloth, also known as Megalonyx (Greek for giant claw). At around 10 feet long, complete with enormous talons, it seems impossible to imagine the current version appearing so threatening, or indeed that active.

In the darkness of the Hayden Planetarium Space Theatre visitors can gaze into the universe spread across its domed ceiling. Journey to the Stars, narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, is showing currently: an awe-inspiring treat charting the history and make-up of stars, including our own sun.

At the time of writing there is also a space exhibition complementing this perfectly, entitled Beyond Planet Earth: The Future of Space Exploration. A fascinating peek into the future, it reveals the practicalities, and pitfalls, of space travel and the increasingly realistic prospect of establishing bases on the Moon, and even on Mars.

There is plenty of hands-on activity here and in other parts of the museum, such as the Ross Hall of Meteorites where the huge Cape York Meteorite, the world's largest, is located and available for human contact. At 3.4 tons of iron and nickel, this 4.5 billion year old specimen is so heavy that its supports go through the floor right down to the foundations beneath the building. Watch out for static electricity if you've been shuffling your feet!

Next door the Guggenheim Hall of Minerals and the Morgan Memorial Hall of Gems present a mesmerising collection of crystals, such as enormous spiky amethysts and quartz. Some are open for tactile inspection, others, such as the 563-carat Star of India, the world's largest and most famous star sapphire, are understandably kept away from eager hands.

The creatures of the natural world are also given their due over a vast range of exhibits including the aforementioned Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, the Hall of Biodiversity, Primates, the Sanford Hall of North American Birds and more.

And not forgetting our own enthralling human history, explored from very basic, and much hairier, beginnings in the Spitzer Hall of Human Origins to the history and cultures of Asia, Africa, North and South America, and the Pacific.

With so many enthralling exhibits, it takes a whole day to explore AMNH comfortably and ample eateries are available to facilitate this. A great day out for kids and adults, this shouldn't be missed.