Top 20 Places to Take Kids on Long Island - 2019
2019's Best Places for Kids on Long Island!
The best places to take kids on Long Island, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. But there is so much more to do beyond the favorite 20 places listed below: Take some time to explore our calendar and the rest of our lists, and then get out and about! And be sure to investigate Everything That's Free!
My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Long Island area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them #1 in best places to take kids this year!
Once Upon a Treetop
Once Upon a Treetop is an interactive CITY designed for imaginations young and old! Believe us - you have never seen anything like it on Long Island! We are proud to be the largest interactive, indoor playgound around! A perfect play place for children from birth and up! Join us for Open Play, take an educational class ,or have a great one-of-a-kind birthday party!
Adventureland
Adventureland is Long Island's Amusement Park since 1962! Enjoy a fun and exciting day on rides, attractions, games, and more. Adventureland Amusement Park is only located 30 minutes east of New York City, at 2245 Broad Hollow Rd. in Farmingdale, New York and features over 30 fun and exciting rides and attractions. Adventureland has something for everyone with a variety of thrill rides, family rides, kiddie rides, and water rides.
Long Island Children's Museum
The Long Island Children's Museum offers 14 interactive exhibits plus live theater, art spaces and daily activities to provide hours of discovery for children of all ages.
Harbes Family Farm
Harbes Family Farm, celebrating its 30th Anniversary Season in 2019, is home to Harbes Barnyard Adventure. The Barnyard, open May-October, has eight fun-filled acres to explore. At this family-friendly attraction, visitors will discover hands-on learning experiences, including farm animals, chicken and bee observatories. There are also fun and games for all ages such as playgrounds, Jumbo Jumpers bounce pillows, a trike track, a gnome-themed hedge maze, a sports zone, and much more. On weekends, holidays, and summer Fridays, pig races, a singing hayride tour, and hosted kids activities are included in admission. In the fall, Harbes Family Farm also offers lots of Autumn fun including pumpkin picking and corn mazes.
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Old Bethpage Village Restoration is a living history museum that provides visitors with the unique opportunity to step back in time and experience life as it was on Long Island during the 19th century. The village consists of 36 houses, barns, and buildings dating from 1765 through 1865.
Southold Indian Museum
The Long Island Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association houses an extensive collection of Native American artifacts, and specializes in Long Island Algonquian material culture. Follow them on Facebook here.
Suffolk County Farm & Education Center
The Suffolk County Farm & Education Center's mission is to provide hands-on research-based learning to all residents with themes in agriculture, animal sciences, history, STEM, healthy living, and life skills in a unique year-round learning environment and in community spaces. The Farm's vision is to connect with our agricultural heritage and to pave the way for a bright, healthy, and sustainable future.
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum — a unique combination of mansion, marine and natural history museum, planetarium and park — is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of the people of Long Island and beyond.
BounceU
With awesome bounce stadiums and easy planning, BounceU of Farmingdale and BounceU of Oceanside are perfect for kids' birthday parties, team fundraising, & more!
Planting Fields Arboretum
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, which includes the Coe Hall Historic House Museum, is an arboretum and state park covering over 400 acres located in the village of Upper Brookville in the town of Oyster Bay, New York.
Sky Zone
Jump into Sky Zone - the world's first all-walled trampoline playing court! Sky Zone features an array of fun, fit and low-impact activities ranging from Freestyle Jump, Ultimate Dodgeball and SkyFit fitness classes to birthday parties!
Xplore Family Fun Center - New York
Welcome to Xplore: North Shore, one of Long Island's best indoor play centers! Xplore Family Fun Center has fun attractions for kids 1-12 as well as multiple birthday party packages to choose from. Xplore is a great party place for kids! 20-foot tall indoor playground unit is one of the largest soft playgrounds of its kind on Long Island; it includes a 20-foot slide, swing, zipline, and more.
Bounce Trampoline Sports
Bounce! Trampoline Sports is the most exciting sports facility to come to Long Island! 25,000 square feet of interconnected trampolines! Slam dunk basketball, trampoline dodgeball, foam pit jumping, open jump, trampoline bungee jump and a Bounce! Jr. area.
Broad Hollow Theatre Company
BroadHollow Theatre Company includes three performance locations, children's theatre, educational theatre and more! BroadHollow provides theatrical education through a variety of programs, workshops, and classes for all ages, including a full-length summer theatre camp and a wide range of classes available at our dance studio. BroadHollow Players is seriously committed to the schools on Long Island with a quality Educational Theatre program for over 30 years. In addition to thought-provoking educational works we provide thoroughly researched study guides and post show Q&A sessions for the students.
Hallockville Museum Farm
Hallockville Museum Farm is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to re-connecting the community to our shared agricultural heritage. We invite you to visit for a museum tour, attend an educational class or workshop, bring your friends and family to the special events, fairs and festivals throughout the year!
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is a nonprofit, educational institution featuring the legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid, the space shuttle Enterprise, the world’s fastest jets and a guided missile submarine. Located on Pier 86 at the Hudson River in Manhattan.
Bayville Adventure Park
Offering pirate mini golf, bumper boats, arcade, rock climbing and more. Fun adventures for the whole family.
Benner's Farm
Benner's Farm is a historic family homestead and educational center. We have been sharing our farm and teaching about its history with children and adults in our community for more than 30 years. We offer seasonal weekend visiting hours, after school programs, mommy and me, birthday parties, special events, and even private rental of the farm for weddings, rehearsal dinners, work retreats, or celebrations. Whether it's an evening concert, or a week of summer camp, we look forward to sharing the farm with you!
Boomers Long Island
Boomers Long Island features acres of family fun and excitement, making it the best place on Long Island for date nights, birthday parties, team building, and family fun. Featuring exciting rides and attractions including go karts, miniature golf, bumper boats, batting cages, kiddie rides, a rock wall, and a state-of-the art game room featuring over 50 of the hottest video games, we offer fun for everyone!
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in two categories. Here were their choices.Favorite Arts Education
Theatre Three- Broadway On Main StreetTheatre Three is one of the premiere producers of live theatre and entertainment on Long Island. Located in the village of Port Jefferson, Theatre Three is dedicated to bringing arts and culture to the community and providing the professional entertainment for a reasonable price to anyone and everyone. Programming includes Broadway-quality Mainstage productions, Children’s Theatre productions for kids and families, improv, concerts, kids’ acting classes, summer programs and much more!
Favorite Sports/Physical Education
Gravity CheerGravity Cheer provides a safe, fun, competitive atmosphere for all children and athletes ages 3 years to adult. Our trained, experienced staff specialize in many areas to ensure the best experience for each of our students. Gravity Cheer, located in Holbrook, Long Island, provides a clean, friendly environment with spring, foam, and dance floors, a cheer pro shop, an on site team personal trainer and much more!
