Fun in the Sun: A day of ocean adventure is waiting (as if a visit to the beach wasn’t exciting enough). Set up your spot on the sand early at Long Beach and reserve an exciting surfing lesson for the kids (and parents too). Stroll the boardwalk; dine at a local seafood spot. Then get ready for your afternoon trapeze lesson, just behind the boardwalk and in full view of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a thrill you’ll never forget.
Infinity and Beyond: Kids will be thrilled to discover a museum made just for them. The Long Island Children’s Museum in Garden City is a hands-on museum housed in a former airplane hangar, located on Nassau County’s Museum Row. Also visit the Nassau County Firefighter’s Museum and the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Here children and adults alike will be over the moon with excitement, walking among the actual Lunar Module model and one of Charles Lindbergh’s planes. Take a spin on the historic Nunley’s Carousel and finish up with a bite to eat in the Red Planet café.
Amazing Adventures: Visit Long Island’s most iconic theme park, recently used as a setting in a film by the same name, Adventureland! It’s quite manageable for small children and teens, with 30 adult and kiddie rides, a state-of-the-art arcade, restaurant and gift shop. Then, in the evening experience the tree-top Adventure Park at Long Island. If the time is right there may even be decorative lighting! The park consists of eight varying difficulty rope courses, or trails, through the trees – from introductory to advanced. These self-guided trails do not require previous climbing experience and will keep you having fun while you are working hard!
Water Park and Aquarium: Discover Riverhead, gateway to Long Island’s twin forks: the world-famous Hamptons on the South Fork and the wine/farm country on the North Fork. From Riverhead you can explore either fork after a day of fun and adventure for the kids. Choose a day at Splish Splash Water Park, rated one of the top water parks in the country with exciting water rides for the littlest ones and teens/adults. Or explore aquatic life at the Long Island Aquarium where you’ll find lots of fascinating sea life exhibits, a sea lion show and for the truly adventurous, sign up to be a sea lion ‘Trainer for a Day’ or reserve an unforgettable (caged) ‘Shark Dive.’
The Long Island Game Farm: Spend the day at the Long Island Game Farm Wildlife and Children’s Zoo where you’ll see hundreds of animals, including an 18-foot giraffe, red kangaroos, kinkajous, cougars, Barbados sheep, peacocks, and the only lemurs born and bred on Long Island. Spend time amongst the monkeys, buffalo, colorful parrots, zebra, aoudads, camels, ostrich, alligator, and more. Experience the thrill of discovery as you explore nature trails that lead to places like “Bambiland,” “The Nursery,” and “Old MacDonald’s Farmyard.” Children can also enjoy the carnival-style rides, pony rides and special performances scheduled from day to day.