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This spring we will be so busy with the kids’ sports (baseball and golf), special occasions (Communion, Mother’s Day, family birthdays) and end of school events. I literally just sat down with my Cozi app, school calendar and sports schedules to see if I could get ahead of the game! So this upcoming week, when the kids are off for Easter and Passover, I am super excited to have whole days available to plan fun local outings! I am also super excited to share my best things to do with Kids on Long Island list. Save this for spring break, summer vacation or a weekend where you have nothing else planned!
Things to do with Kids on Long Island This Spring Break
UPDATED APRIL 2019
We have been on the go all winter. A weekend in Atlantic City, two trips to Florida, Naples and Orlando, a stop at Disney, two days at Legoland, some time in North Carolina and a big birthday trip to Italy. I am so glad to be spending this break mostly close to home. We have an overnight to Rhode Island planned, and we are hosting Easter so that will structure our week. But here is a list of the activities we are planning to do. Even if you are not a local reader, you can take some inspiration for spring activities in your area! And as always, check Groupon and online (I like to Google the name of the place + “discount”) to try to save money on admission. Especially at this time of year you can often get good deals on places that are more traditionally summer venues (mini-golf, amusement parks, etc).
UPDATED FOR APRIL 2019 – TWO NEW THINGS WE DID THIS SPRING BREAK:
National Geographic Encounter Ocean Odyssey – Instead of SCUBA diving in the Pacific Ocean, we are going to opt for a closer (NYC) visit to learn about the amazing life under the sea! This experience is located in the Times Square area, so easily accessible from Long Island. Read more about the Nat Geo Encounter.
Pip’s Island – We also have tickets for this show, again, in NYC! Pip’s Island is an immersive theatre experience for kids age 4-10. We have not been to many theater shows, so we are super excited to be checking this out over spring break! Pip’s Island is located in the Times Square area as well, so the perfect afternoon add on to a morning at Nat Geo! Purchase tickets for Pip’s Island here.
NY Hall of Science – we used to live 10 minutes from this museum, and for many years had an annual pass, but we haven’t visited in a while. This is a great place to visit in the spring because there are some outdoor activities (mini-golf and the science playground) but there is plenty to see and do indoors. I am looking forward to returning here now that we can check out the bigger kid exhibits and activities, although their Preschool Playplace is awesome for kids 3 and under! Read more about a Hall of Science visit here!
Heartland Driving Range and Mini-Golf – My kids are starting up their next season of golf lessons and I know they want to practice. Heartland is our favorite golf facility in the area. Its big, clean and we can hit balls on the driving range and then play a round of mini-golf all in the same place! Plus they have automatic ball teeing on the range (downstairs only) and who doesn’t love that?
Adventureland – This is the activity my kids are most excited to do. We have our eye on the weather forecast and are planning this for the warmest day of the week. My kids love Adventureland and we will spend an entire day riding all of the rides! We visit this amusement park often, and I have found that spring and fall are the best times to avoid the crowds! The park is open daily for spring break. Check the schedule here.
Sign up for Adventureland coupons HERE.
Legoland Discovery Center Westchester – You all know we loved visiting Legoland Florida this winter, well the Discovery Center is a smaller, indoor version of the theme park. There are two rides, a play structure, a 3-D movie, a mini-land and lots of opportunities to build with legos. This center is located in Westchester, about an hour from the south shore of Long Island, traffic dependent, but worth the trip!
Read our full Legoland Discovery Center Westchester review and click the ad below to buy your Legoland Discovery Center Tickets!
Museum of Math – We are planning a day trip to NYC, taking the train, visiting daddy’s office and then I am dying to check out this museum. I am a math teacher, after all! I have heard great things about this place, and I know my kids are going to love it! I will definitely give a full review after our visit. This museum is located in midtown and we are planning a lunch at Eataly after! I love Eataly, but my kids have never been. I think they are going to be so excited for the gelateria and I can’t wait to get a real Italian café!
UPDATE: Read our review of the Museum of Mathematics HERE, and check out our photos from Eataly!
Get out and see some animals! Between Long Island and New York City we have some great options for animal loving kids! If you have a whole day, head to the Bronx Zoo, always a family favorite. With smaller kids, or if you don’t want to travel as far, The Queens Zoo is a great option! Heading to Manhattan, the stop by the Central Park Zoo, the iconic home of the Madagascar movie animals!
If you are interested in Marine Life – the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead is always a great choice, especially on a beautiful day when you can enjoy the outdoor exhibits. We also love the New York Aquarium, located in Coney Island. Maybe stop by Nathan’s or Walburger’s for a meal, and then ride some rides at Luna Park, or walk the iconic Coney Island Boardwalk!
Long Beach Boardwalk – I wrote about how much we love this boardwalk in my Fall Activities post, and I am sure we will pop down there for walking and biking this break. This is a great place to fit in a little exercise during school vacation. In addition to the Boardwalk, the kids love the playground at Magnolia Boulevard. Maybe it will even be warm enough to play around in the sand? We also are overdue for a meal at Diner by the Sea. If you haven’t been to this diner, put it on your Long Island to-do list ASAP! The milkshakes there are amazing and worth the trip (and wait!).
The Adventure Park at Long Island: We just came home from a great visit to Tree Trek Orlando, and have done the adventure park at the Vieux Port in Montreal. We are hoping to check this out sometime this spring or summer! This ropes course, located in Wheatley Heights, is for kids (and adults) age 7 and up. Make your climbing reservation HERE.
Other Long Island Spring Break Ideas:
Looking for Indoor Long Island Fun? Then check out this round up of the Best Indoor Activities on Long Island
Head to NYC for The Trolls Experience (they have also dropped the price!) or an Afternoon Tea at the American Girl Cafe
Take a day trip (or overnight) out east to Greenport
Looking for a quick overnight getaway? Then head up to Dutchess County for a night or two, or maybe a quick trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey (and yes, there is lots for kids to do in AC)
Want to visit an indoor waterpark? Then check out my tips for an awesome night at Great Wolf Lodge in Poconos, PA
When the kids were smaller I used to dread these weeks off, but now that they really can enjoy these fun activities, and our normal life is so busy, I am excited about this upcoming break. What do you have planned this spring vacation?
Visiting from out of town, or looking for a stay-cation? Then find a Long Island Hotel here!
OTHER AWESOME LONG ISLAND POSTS:
The Best Place to go Roller Skating on Long Island
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Ohhhhh I forgot about the Cozi app I need to download that again.
So busy lately need something to keep track of our busy lives..
I’ve never heard of the Cozi app, but I will definitely have to check this out. My sister lives in NYC, so this is a great list of activities for when we go to visit her.
Some of my best childhood memories are all of these. We STILL do miniature golf as a family whenever we are all together. Love these ideas thanks for sharing!
You guys have a fun spring break planned! We have a Lego Discovery Center here, but we haven’t gone yet. Adventureland sounds really fun!
You have a fun week planned! We are going to spend spring as tourists in our little town and then explore our state during the summer. Hoping to make it to the East Coast next year!
I’m a museum junkie and the science and math museum sound like home runs!! Hopefully I can check NY off my list one day 🙂
This is great! Love these fun ideas! Spring Break is this week for my kids.
we are off to adventureland today! we did heartland golf yesterday!
I love this. What fun there!