Some of our go-to Long Island adventures when we need to get out of the house and make a day of it — farms, animals, beaches, gardens, parks, and those little places where the kids can run around, explore, and actually have fun without everything fee...
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5
Outdoor Activities
Restaurants
Other Food & Drinks
Arts & Entertainment
Local Favorites
Outdoor Activities
Some of our favorite ways to get outside, explore, and make a day of it around Long Island — from farms and animal adventures to beaches, gardens, parks, and places where the kids can run, climb, and discover something new.
fun outdoor animal day with feeding opportunities and wildlife encounters
Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park
One of my favorite types of family farm days filled with animals, playgrounds, bounce pillows, a hedge maze, trikes, hayrides, and seasonal farm fun
Harbes Family Farm
A smaller, easy outing where kids can explore outdoor ponds, feed trout, and learn about local freshwater wildlife.
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium
Beautiful gardens, ponds, lawns, and walking paths that make a peaceful outdoor family day.
Old Westbury Gardens
A beautiful spot for long walks, biking, wildlife watching, open fields, woods, and Long Island Sound views.
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
A classic Long Island day: beach, boardwalk walks, biking, playground areas, and plenty of room to spend the day outside.
Jones Beach State Park
Forest trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, and beautiful views overlooking the Long Island Sound.
Wildwood State Park
Outdoor climbing and aerial obstacle courses for a more adventurous family day.
The Adventure Park at Long Island
Beaches, dunes, boardwalks, nature, wildlife, and long shoreline walks when you want a true outdoor adventure.
Fire Island National Seashore
An easy family park day with playgrounds, trails, picnicking, lake views, and seasonal pedal boat and kayak rentals.
Belmont Lake State Park
Great for bike rides, walking, playgrounds, picnics, wide-open fields, and Great South Bay views.
Heckscher State Park
Lots of outdoor options in one place: playgrounds, open space, sports, walking, and a paved bike route toward Jones Beach.
Cedar Creek Park
A nice low-key choice for an easy nature walk, bay views, and playground time.
Gardiner County Park
More than just golf: there are walking and biking trails, picnic areas, fields, and plenty of outdoor space to explore.
Bethpage State Park
A great all-around family park with playgrounds, open green space, waterfront scenery, and seasonal recreation.
Wantagh Park
A cute farm outing with animals, play areas, hayrides, corn mazes, and lots of seasonal fall fun.
Fink's Country Farm
A fun family mini-golf spot with waterfalls and ponds: perfect when you want an activity without committing to an entire day.
Sayville Falls Mini Golf
A Long Island classic for rides, kiddie attractions, games, and an easy local amusement-park day.
Adventureland
Restaurants
A curated mix of beautiful restaurants, cozy hidden gems, date-night spots, waterfront dining, and places that feel a little different from the usual.
Super cute spot
The Secret Garden Tearoom & Gift Shoppe
You can have lunch or afternoon tea overlooking the gardens and water
The Hidden Oak Café
An intimate French restaurant with a polished little bistro feel
L'Etoile
Chef-driven Italian food inside a charming historic home
Orto
Upscale Greek and Mediterranean dining with fresh seafood
LIMANI GRILLE
Other Food & Drinks
Long Island wineries, specialty coffee, artisan baked goods, and fun dessert stops
gorgeous local vineyard with a Tuscany-inspired atmosphere, wine, and food
Del Vino Vineyards
A beautiful North Fork vineyard with guided tastings and incredible vineyard views.
Macari Vineyards
One of those quintessential Hamptons spots: beautiful vineyard views, rosé, small bites, and sunset wine outings. Southdown Coffee - Northport
Wölffer Estate Vineyard
A cute little specialty coffee stop with seasonal drinks, espresso, fresh pastries, and breakfast favorites
Southdown Coffee
An artisan bakery that feels like a true local find
Duck Island Bread Company
A North Fork ice-cream stop known for homemade ice cream and really unusual rotating flavors
Magic Fountain
Arts & Entertainment
A mix of museums, live theater, hands-on learning, art, and unique cultural experiences around Long Island
The best indoor long island place to take your kids
Long Island Children's Museum
Airplanes, spacecraft, hands-on exhibits, and Long Island’s incredible aviation history — especially fun for kids who love anything that flies.
Cradle of Aviation Museum
Such a unique combination of a historic Gold Coast mansion, museum collections, beautiful grounds, and planetarium shows.
Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
A gorgeous Hamptons art museum featuring modern and contemporary work, with the architecture and surrounding meadow making the visit part of the experience.
Parrish Art Museum
Professional live theater right in Northport Village — a great option when you want a Broadway-style show without heading into Manhattan.
John W Engeman Theater At Northport
A smaller, peaceful art museum inside Heckscher Park with rotating exhibitions — easy to pair with a park walk and lunch in Huntington Village.
The Heckscher Museum of Art
Local Favorites
A collection of the little places that make Commack and Smithtown feel like home: favorite coffee stops, bakeries, sweet treats, breakfast spots, and family-friendly gems we’d actually recommend to friends and go back to ourselves.
A true neighborhood breakfast spot with fresh bagels, breakfast sandwiches, creative stuffed bagels, and lots of classic Long Island favorites.
Everything Bagel: HOME
A cute local stop for coffee, matcha, boba, pastries, and desserts with a cozy sit-and-stay atmosphere.
Mimi's Coffee, Bubble Tea & Bakery Commack Long Island
My weekly spot
Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve
A longtime family-owned Italian bakery that’s perfect for cannoli, rainbow cookies, pastries, cakes, and grabbing something special for a celebration.
Alpine Pastry Shop
A fun dessert stop known for over-the-top cheesecake creations and cheesecake on a stick — definitely more of a treat-yourself kind of place.
