Get (Safely!) Out and About on Long Island
Your family could really use a fun outing, but you're committed to social distancing. Many popular nature trails and lake beaches seem like a good idea until you realize that many others had the same idea, making some of these destinations too crowded for comfort.. Luckily, there are new and interesting places to explore while staying a safe distance for others. If you can, switch your schedule and do your outings on weekdays to avoid weekend crowds. Here are a few suggestions you may not have considered, and all of them are on Long Island.
Drive-In Fun
Local places have transformed their usual fun to offer drive-in adventures! Adventureland is offering some Quarantainment with a socially distant Dine-In Night. Dine-In at Adventureland and enjoy dinner while playing bingo and watching a movie in your car! Bayville Adventure Park is also offering dinner delivered to your car and a drive-in movie. Check their websites to find out shows, times, and other details.
Fruit Picking
Lewin Farms (631-929-4327) and Windy Acres Farm, (631-727-4554) both in Calverton, and Wickham's Fruit Farm in Cutchogue all have fruit picking available now. It's a good idea to check their website or U-Pick lines to make sure fruit picking is available before you head out. Check out our tips for berry picking with kids.
Sculpture Parks
Designated essential because parks are a source of refuge, you can visit Socrates Sculpture Park, in Long Island City, Queens, and you'll get plenty of art with your nature. Although Nassau County Museum of Art's buildings are temporarily closed, their sculpture garden is open. They also have fun Museum from Home activities, including a kids' scavenger hunt designed for the sculpture park.
Botanical Gardens
While the wonderful children's habitat and buildingsare currently closed, visitors can still stroll the gardens at Bailey Arboretum in Lattingtown. Clark Botanic Garden in North Hempstead will be open from 10 am to 3:30 pm to visitors walking paths while in their masks. At both gardens, bathrooms are currently closed.
Animal Encounters
Live Animals and Dinosaurs at The Center for Science Teaching and Learning in Rockville Centre is open for groups by reservation. Browder’s Birds, a livestock farm on the North Fork of Long Island’s East End, raises poultry, turkeys, ducks & sheep. Their farmstand is open everyday from 9 am-6 pm with self-service poultry, eggs and baked goods. Take a walk around the farm and pasture.
Historic Grounds
At Sands Point Preserve Conservancy, the Great Lawn, Rose Garden, forest trails, and pond area are accessible. Restrooms are available in Castle Gould’s Black Box, and are closed periodically for sterlizing and cleaning throughout the day. The number of cars will be limited, so visitors are asked to be patient if they must wait for entry. Hallockville Museum Farm is an open air museum venue, so while the homestead, barn, and other buildings aren't open, visitors can still stroll through the grounds or pay for a docent tour on the weekend or by appointment.
Have an update or a suggestion to add to this list? Contact Katie at katie@kidsoutandabout.com.