TV
See a Long Island summer through a child’s eyes of laughter and wonder. Whether your kid adores animals and nature, is an adrenaline-seeking athlete, or loves to learn, there are countless ways to keep them delighted and create long-lasting family memories.
Here are some favorite activities sure to keep all kids entertained.
Encounter All Kinds of Animals
Kids and animals go together for their innocence and playfulness. The Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park and Children’s Zoo features exotic wildlife, such as an African Serval cat, lemurs, wallaby, capybaras, and even Madagascar hissing cockroaches. Children can feed and touch deer and other select species. At White Post Animal Farm, kids can feed giraffes and birds in free-flying aviaries, pet farm animals, and watch playful lemurs and squirrel monkeys. At the Long Island Aquarium, they can touch stingrays and starfish, see sharks, eels, and piranhas swim by, and watch a sea lion show.
Thrill-Seek at Family Fun Parks
No matter where you go on Long Island, you’re sure to find thrills at every corner. At Adventureland, dare to ride the Moon Chaser or Fireball, or sit back and enjoy classics such as a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and teacups. Zipline along the shore, or take a 40-foot freefall at the WildPlay Jones Beach. Step into a virtual reality game and bounce on the trampolines at Urban Air Adventure Park.
Hit the Beaches and Water Parks
Summer on Long Island just isn’t complete without playing in the surf and building sandcastles at one of the many beaches. If you can take your child to just one beach, make it the world-famous Jones Beach on Long Island. Likewise, if you can visit just one of the Long Island water parks, make it Splish Splash.
Enjoy Kid-Friendly Programming at Local Libraries
Local libraries offer fun learning for everyone from infants to teens. For little ones, there are story times, craft classes, animal encounters, yoga, dance, and so much more. For young adults, there are game nights, crafts, and of course, food.
At the East Hampton Library, for example, they make origami and lip balms, dance among floating bubbles, see live rabbits and ducks, compete in Magic the Gathering card games, and paint while eating pizza.
Marvel at a Museum
Among Long Island’s array of museums are ones geared specifically for kids.
At the Long Island Children’s Museum, little ones can step into a butterfly habitat or a giant bubble, play in the mud or a drum circle, see the inner workings of a beehive, or find themselves in patterns in the Hall of Mirrors.
At the Long Island Explorium, children gain STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), learn about diversity, environmental justice and more. The “IF she can see it, THEN she can be it” campaign, for example, encourages girls by highlighting women who excel in math and science.
Climb to the Top of a Historic Lighthouse
Take 182 steps up at the Fire Island Lighthouse or 137 at the Montauk Point Lighthouse for an incredible panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and near and far landmarks.
Be sure to take plenty of pictures! As the saying goes, kids grow up so fast, but you’ll never grow tired of looking at all the fun they had on Long Island.
