If you think museums are dull and tiresome, you haven’t visited these. It’s time to redefine the term “museum.” For example, lets start with City Museum in St. Louis for the most fun, joyous and hands-on experience, no matter how old you are.

This 10-story, 600,000ft former shoe company warehouse has been converted into a wacky and wild wonderland that will make you rethink museums. There are slides and crawlspaces, treehouses and dinosaur bones, and, yes, that IS a real school bus dangling off the side of the roof. And those ARE real airplanes.

There are lots of surprising museums around the country that will keep you entertained and educated. Here are 12 of my favorites.