Long Island offers a variety of family amusement parks. Visitors can choose from indoor or outdoor activities, which is great when the weather at the beach is not cooperating. Families can play a game of laser tag, rock climb, play video games, ride roller coasters and go-karts. Parks such as Fun Station USA, Fun Zone, Adventureland and Boomers Family Fun Center have rides specifically for young children as well as the whole family. The outdoor rides are open seasonally while the indoor parks usually have year-round hours.
For a day of learning, take the family to visit a museum. At the Science Museum of Long Island, kids can explore exhibits that feature fun facts about robotics and the physics of flight. The Science Museum is open seven days a week and is constantly updating its programs to keep them enlightening and entertaining. Kids can experience hands-on science experiments during their visit. Another museum in the area is the American Merchant Marine Museum. Kids can see nautical artifacts, learn about the life of a midshipman and view ship models. The Long Island Children’s Museum offers tactile exhibits for school-aged children. The exhibits range in subject matter from the culture of Vietnam to bubbles. Located in a historical home, the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum is a place where families can discover the history of whaling and famous New York whalers. These stories are what legends of the sea are made of, so children should listen closely to the tales of the whale trade in the Hamptons.
The island landscape of The Hamptons and Long Island offer many beach activities for active families. While on the beach, families can swim or go shelling. There are also stops along the beach to visit, such as lighthouses. Built in 1796, the Montauk Point Lighthouse in the Hamptons is the oldest in New York State. The staff offers daily tours of the lighthouse and the keeper’s quarters. The lighthouse still functions and emits a flash of light every five seconds that can be seen for 19 nautical miles. Families can climb the 137 stairs to the top for a breathtaking view. Families can also ride horses on the beach or learn a new water sport. Enroll the kids and even the adults in surf lessons. Many surf shops offer lessons for beginners up to intermediate wave riders. Some shops offer family surf outings with multiple instructors, board and wetsuit rentals. Longboarding is a crowd favorite at the beaches.
Eating is one of the best parts of visiting new areas. The adventure of dining at a new restaurant every meal is exciting for all of the members of the family. Long Island and The Hamptons are all about great food. Set a family goal of finding the best New York pizza. The region is a melting pot of people and offers many different types of cuisine. Try a different one every night--Thai, Indian, Greek or French. When in The Hamptons, definitely scope out a seafood restaurant for some local catches. The trip wouldn't be complete without a trip to the East Hampton location of Dylan’s Candy Bar. There are hundreds of types of candies to choose from. Kids will love this real-life Candy Land so don’t miss it.
