Adventureland

Farmingdale, NY

prices available on website; half price for children with special needs and one parent; disability pass available at City Hall in the park

www.adventureland.us

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

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The only thing bad about going here on a 65 degree day is that the three water rides won't be so tempting!  Other than that, this is a great amusement park for preschool children and older kids alike!  There are rides for all to enjoy and lines aren't too crazy.  I lost my amusement-park-with-the-children-virginity to Disney World so this place was a breeze.  Not too big, free parking, food, arcade, outdoor rides, roller coasters, water rides...you name it they have!  I was here for six hours and could have gone the distance!  I will definitely come here again!  Perhaps in the afternoon on a hot summer day leading to sundown when the amusement park is all lit up and infinitely more charming!   And always check www.groupon.com for deals before you go.  

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Sesame Place Theme Park

Langhorne, PA

price varies for hotels; price for parking is $20; prices for park available on www.sesameplace.com

Hotels:  Spring Hill Suites 

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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"Go before they grow" is the Sesame Place slogan!  Here's a list of things to know before you go:

1)  I'd say it's best to go here before your oldest kid is 7 years old.  Or just take your younger kids!  

2) This park is only 14 acres.  To put things in perspective, I know a few people who own residential properties one third that size.  This is NOT a big amusement park. Especially after losing my amusement park virginity to Disney World, this was very small in comparison.  One day will get the job done here!  One long day!  But if your commute is long, staying overnight is a good idea.  Anyway, your $50 per person ticket (offered on the Sesame Place website) can be used for two days any time of the year.  May as well book a hotel close by, or as we did, across the street to avoid parking fees and for general convenience, just to go two days in a row.  This way, you can perhaps go on day trips to either nearby Philadelphia, Adventure Aquarium, Crayola Museum, Please Touch Museum, Giggle Berry Fair, and more.  Or, you can do water rides on one day and dry rides another.  You will be less rushed this way!

3)  This is neither an amazing water park (Splish Splash is better for older kids) nor an amazing amusement park (Adventure Land is better for young and old children alike).  The big draw here is the character meets, the shows, and the parade (night time preferable as weather is cooler).  Which make it all worth it in the end!  And for me, the landscaping.  Half the entry fee is probably spent on maintaining the beautiful grounds.  

4)  Go midweek.  Never go on a weekend.  And go when there is 20 percent chance of rain as we accidentally did.  (If it rains for more than 2 hours, you literally get a rain check.)  There are virtually no lines this way!  Do not go the last two weeks of August as I have been told they are the busiest time of the year.

5)  If you are a girl, be prepared to have chronic wedgies.  Unless you avoid the water slides.  And unless your butt is tiny.  And G-d has been good to you. Then, you are safe.

6)  I was a bit surprised by the general lack of enthusiasm by the staff.  Maybe I'm just comparing this service to that of Disney World, where every employee is on Nice Steroids.  But most of the people working here had braces and were going through puberty.  Which means they'd rather be going to first base than telling children to stand behind the line during a Sesame Place parade.  But they were all nice regardless!  

7)  The food kind of tastes like high-end airplane food.  And there are no good restaurants or supermarkets within a half mile radius.  Pack wisely for the day! This just in:  a number have you have counter claimed that there actually is food around the area!  But I was too blindsided by the Home Depot and BJ's to realize!  Allegedly, there is a Red Robin, TGI Fridays, and Ground Round close by.  And if you drive 10 minutes away, there are great restaurants that aren't chains.  But I'm sticking to my word, there was basically NOTHING!  I want food to go...and there was none of that anywhere close.  

8)  If you want a break from amusement parking, there are a few good strip centers around the area.  Just shop at Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx while your husband slaves away with your children.  

9)  I stayed at the Spring Hill Suites across the street.  This way, I avoided paying a parking fee.  But it was way overpriced.  Basically, I have stayed in boutique hotels as expensive as this.  It is a nice, clean, renovated hotel.  The continental breakfast is yucky. If you find a deal here, go for it.  If not, stay elsewhere and just take a shuttle to the park!  If you are flexible, try offering a price on priceline.com for the best rates on hotels nearby (but you won't get the hotel you want necessarily)

10)  There are groupon deals in May and June (I totally missed that one!).  Keep your eyes out on groupon.  You may get lucky and find a good price! Also, if you book for a group of 15 plus, there is a special rate (contact Sesame Place directly about this?)  But I didn't do enough research before purchasing so I'm really not certain about how to get the best price!  

11)  There are fireworks on 3rd and 4th of July!  Can imagine this being magical!

12)  Download the Sesame Place app before you go to familiarize yourself with the rides.  And remember, the water rides are best for an 85 plus day when you dream of getting wet under a waterfall on the lazy river!

Tips:  Bring bathing suits and towels!  Always check www.groupon.com for deals before you go.  

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Hershey Park

Lancaster, PA

price varies for hotels; prices for park available on www.hersheypark.com

Hotels:  Eden Resort and Suites

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer

Notes I've gathered from people:

-"complete waste of time"

-day or two is fine

-go to the zoo and chocolate world

-water park for all ages

-area for younger kids

-turkey hill and herrs nearby (don't know what this means...maybe their factory? google it)

Within an hour drive:

Dutch Wonderland

 

Dutch Wonderland

Lancaster, PA

price varies for hotels; prices for park available on www.dutchwonderland.com

Hotels:  Eden Resort and Suites

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer

Notes I've gathered from people:

-doesn't get crowded like Sesame Place

-has water rides

-can get deals through Dunkin or AAA

-if you live in NYC or it's suburbs, Dutch Wonderland is a farther drive than Sesame Place

-one to two days is suffice.  Most suggest two days.

-Peddler's Village is an attraction about 25 minutes from here (no idea what it is...google it)

-many farms and shops around the area

-you could do a second day at Hershey Park which is 20 minutes away.  They sell combo tickets.  

-if you buy your tickets later in the afternoon, you get to go to closing time and come back all of the next day

-good for younger kids

-"quaint and sweet and lots of fun"

-"old and tired"

Within an hour drive: 

Hershey Park

 

South Street Seaport (Pier 17) and The Circle Line

New York, NY

Optimum Seasons:  Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

www.circleline42.com

www.southstreetseaport.com
 

What a very magical place! With both Stone Street and Fulton Street (pedestrian cobblestone streets) just a couple blocks away! The South Street Seaport mall is still vacant aside from a few restaurants. But what a beautiful renovation! Best to go here during sunset and into evening hours to catch the mall illuminated blue! Also, this is a great place to watch the 4th of July Macy’s fireworks! Beautiful views of South Street Seaport can be found from DUMBO right across the East River.

Nearby:

East River Ferry

Oculus and Freedom Tower

Battery Park

Staten Island Ferry

Brooklyn Bridge

Boardwalk Towards Wall Street

Fulton Street

Fulton Street

Stone Street

 

Miami, FL

Miami, FL

price varies

Optimum Seasons:  Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

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Miami is home away from home for my family!  Kosher restaurants and supermarkets are abundant.  The city, like New York, has much culture and diversity, skyscrapers, beaches, amazing nightlife, top notch hotels, and great food.  Except Miami has year round perfect weather and water that is at times as beautiful as the Caribbean and always much nicer than the beaches in the Northeast of the country.  

There is so much to do in this city!  I have been well over ten times, as a single girl, as a married girl, as a mother, as a daughter, and a daughter-in-law. Every trip was as perfect as the last.  In the past, I have stayed at Lowes, Shore Club, Fountainbleau, Sea Coast Hotel, and the Catalina.  But there is no losing with any hotel the shore in Miami Beach.  Book your hotel through tripadvisor.com for the best deals.  Both the Fountainbleau and Sea Coast Hotel have apartment units as well with cleaning services.  So it feels like a hotel anyway!

Places you must visit when you are there:  Ocean Drive and Versace's mansion in South Beach, the neighborhood of Wynwood with its beautiful murals, and Lincoln Road which is a beautiful pedestrian street.  You should definitely hotel hop down the main strip.  Each lobby and pool is worth seeing. Especially the recently constructed Faena.  The lobby and courtyard is remarkable.  I am a big fan of the Edition as well.  Shore Club remains an old favorite...lots of nostalgia here.  But really, every hotel is remarkable!  and Fountainbleau and Lowes are perhaps the more kid friendly ones.  And Lowes has prime location!! 

The town of Coconut Grove is delicious in every way.  Go there one evening with the kids, but if you are single, you can skip this.  And before you dine there, go to Vizcaya mansion....truly one of the most remarkable pieces of architecture in the United States.  The gardens make you feel like you're on an Italian villa.

Drive down "millionaire row" and see all the beautiful houses on the bay.  You can take a cruise here too, but the landscaping in the front of the homes are as charming and driving is for free!  Take a day trip to Bal Harbour Mall for outdoor, high end shopping.  Dine in Aventura a town north of Miami.  Visit Key West or the Miami Seaquarium (which I regret never doing).  Or just have an Uber driver give you a tour of Miami (as we did).  There is no shortage of beauty at every corner of this vibrant city!  Definitely visit at least once in your life.  And stay at least 5 nights to make the most of your trip if you are going with children.  

I highly recommend getting a citi-bike for a couple of hours (find out where the closest one is to you), and bike riding down the boardwalk (which runs behind the hotel strip on the beach, and is a vision all of its own) and back up through the streets so you get the most intimate views of Miami.  And do it early in the day, and put on loads of sunblock!  

We also took a cruise from Downtown Miami which shows you all the backyards of celebrities homes on the water.  And offers spectacular views of Miami's downtown skyline.  

The sunsets in Miami are to die for.  Either you get a beach view room, or a bay view.  It is win win, because if you don't see the beach, you get the sunsets!  Unless you get a room with both...which is the best cast scenario.  

Uber in Miami is super cheap.  No need to rent a car here, even if you're staying a long time.  It'll just be a headache with parking!  

I have visited in the Spring, Summer and Fall.  Winter I understand is too cold here but a lot of celebrities flock here during Christmas so it might be a fun time to be here then.  The ocean and weather are perfect in the Spring and Summer, but 4th of July is a great time with the fireworks.  There is literally no losing in Miami!

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New York Public Library and Bryant Park

New York, NY

Free

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

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I have lived in New York City (Queens and now Long Island) for 34 years.  I've been to Manhattan over 500 times.  I have walked passed the NY Public Library in Bryant Park at least that many times in my life.   I have ice skated at Bryant Park.  I have had lunch in Bryant Park.  I've had dinner around Bryant Park.  I have gone to sample sales near Bryant Park.  I have taken pictures with my children outside the library.  But I never ever thought to go inside!  This is no admission people!  It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the entire city!  Don't go to read!  Don't go to pick out a book!  Go to sight see!  I walked in from the 5th Avenue entrance, I'm sure there is an entrance from the 6th Avenue side as well.  Every square inch from the outside and inside is breathtaking!  If you are ever in Midtown Manhattan, as important as Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Fifth Avenue, Grand Central Station, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Flat Iron Building....is the NY Public Library!  A must see for all residents and all tourists alike!  

And Bryant Park...what can I say?  It's true magic here during the winter.  Days are short so you can catch it at night with the children.  Definitely visit during winter wonderland and definitely experience ice skating here ($20 per skate rental but free admission.  If you own your own, just walk in and ask them for a wrist band).  The best time is during Christmas Season when the Hanukkah Tree is on display. I find this square block much more charming than Rockefeller Center.  The building surrounding the park are a beautiful mix of old and new and the skyline is electric with views of the Empire State Building.  Also, there are many vendors selling delicious food.  And if you are with young children, you must pay the $3 per kid per ride on Le Carousel on the 40th Street side.  Do this at night!

And there is no shortage of fun in Bryant Park in the summer.  Look at their calendar for details of events!

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Nearby:

City Rooftops

Christmas in NYC

Central Park

Central Park Zoo

F Train

Department Stores

Broadway Shows

 

Sands Point Preserve

Sands Point, NY

Parking Lot Fee, Admission Fee for Inside Mansion (some libraries offer free passes)

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

www.sandspointpreserveconservancy.org

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I have been here two times. And depending on the week and the weather, had two very different experiences. The first time, I wasn't entirely impressed by the grounds and garden (because it was a cloudy and chilly day in April and the rose garden had no blossoms). I went mid week with my friends and was unable to explore the insides of Castle Gould and Hempstead House. Castle Gould is like nothing I've ever seen (from the outside).   It brings you back to medieval times!  The second time I went was with my children and husband the first week of June and the garden was in full bloom and absolutely exquisite. It was also warm enough to walk down to the beach and enjoy the sand and water which is perfect on a hot day. I did not get to hike with my children but I did enjoy the one mile trail with my friends (there is so much to see here and I have only explored one half of the preserve).

For acquiring free passes, contact your local library.  For Great Neck residents, click here www.greatnecklibrary.org.

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Long Island Sound Beach

Hiking Trail Pond

Rose Garden

 

F Train (Elevated in Brooklyn)

Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens

Subway (elevated in some parts of Brooklyn)

Metrocard

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

www.mta.info

A few stops into Brooklyn, the F train emerges from its tunnel into the picturesque neighborhood of Carroll Gardens, where it rises and runs elevated over Park Slope.  Get out at the beautifully renovated Smith-9th Street stop and enjoy the views across Brooklyn to Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty from the platform--the highest elevated point of New York's train system.

This subway also makes a stop at Prospect Park so if you don't have a car, don't feel like looking for parking, and live close enough to the F train in any of the aforementioned boroughs, definitely pay for a MetroCard and visit this park at least once in your life!  The last stop from Manhattan to Brooklyn is Coney Island.  How many cities in the world can you access a beach by a subway system? New York City offers it all!  

I grew up in Kew Gardens, Queens.  I grew up on the F train!  Unfortunately, living in a suburb on Long Island, my children don't get this experience that is so uniquely New York.   One day when we were in the city enjoying Central Park, I decided that it was the perfect day just to introduce my children to NYC's subway system!   Check the video below for the views of the Statue of Liberty when riding on the F train, and the excitement on my kids' faces!

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Untermyer Park and Gardens

Yonkers, NY

Admission Fee, free parking lot

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

www.untermyergardens.com

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These gardens were once called "America's Most Spectacular Garden".  Based on the Garden of Eden as described in the Book of Genesis, the Walled Garden is the finest Persian garden in the Western Hemisphere.  To the west, a large Grecian temple stands atop a swiming pool and lower terrace.  Mosaic work is showcased throughout the Walled Garden.  Samuel Untermyer, a prominent Jew and Zionist, acquired the property in 1899 and sough to build "the finest garden in the world" on its steep slopes.  It was his intention for the gardens to become a state park after his death, to be maintained and preserved for the enjoyment of the public.  Unfortunately, the gardens were too expensive to maintain and only a portion was given to the City of Yonkers in 1946 as a city park.  

The gardens today contain about 43 acres.  I went here mid April during Spring Break with the children.  But I highly recommend waiting it out until May and the Summer months when the magnificent flowers are on display in the Walled Gardens.  Or the Fall during foliage for breathtaking views of the Palisades.  

Kill two birds with one stone:  Visit Wave Hill which is a twenty minute local drive from here

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Hello, World!

Queens Botanical Garden

Flushing, NY

Admission Fee, $6 parking, parking on street

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer

Free from November through March on Tuesdays through Sundays

Free on Wednesdays from April through October from 3 to 6pm (double check before you go)

Free on Sundays from April through October from 4 to 6pm (double check before you go)

www.queensbotanicalgarden.org

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If you live close by and have never seen a tree before, yeah sure, this is a decent enough garden.   But considering there are so many parks you can go to in New York for free that are ten times more beautiful, this is a complete waste of time.  Maybe it had something to do with me visiting a little too early (mid April) when enough flowers and trees hadn't bloomed. Regardless of which, it took less than an hour to navigate the entire garden and the programs offered for children were basically arts and crafts projects you can do at home with your kids.  If you are short on time and have to visit one botanical garden in all of New York, then Brooklyn Botanical Garden is the one worth your time and money!  Skip this!

Kill a few birds with one stone:  You can make a day trip with your kids during Spring break and take them to nearby Chuck E' Cheese right after.  If you are kosher, you can grab lunch from any restaurant on Main Street (south of the LIE) and go to this garden for a picnic.  

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Sporting Events

Still On My Bucket List

Knicks Game, Madison Square Garden

Rangers Game, Madison Square Garden

Yankees Game, Yankee Stadium 

El San Juan, San Juan Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico

price varies

Optimum Seasons:  Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Me on my husband went here in the winter of 2009 on our mini-moon. This had a lot to do with me being too lazy to renew my passport and very little to do with my actual desire to go to Puerto Rico over the million other sexy places the Caribbean has to offer for people who just got married and have no children.  If I were to do this all over again, I would have waited to have children and until they were teenagers before going to Puerto Rico. 

We stayed in El San Juan hotel.  This was a decent hotel literally 5 minute drive from the airport.  It is right next to the Ritz Carlton which is a few notches above in class and probably price.  I wasn't too impressed by the color of the ocean and nothing about the grounds or hotel was particularly so beautiful.  They had a few great restaurants in the hotel lobby.  They also had a taco bell and pizza hut located on the street right outside the hotel in case you're a fan of fast food!  The big problem with this strip is that there isn't much else to do.  

One night we decided to go to dinner in Old San Juan, a very charming and colonial port town located in San Juan.  You are able to walk the cobblestone streets and see the whole town probably in short of two hours.   This is definitely a must.  It was a good 20 minute cab ride from our hotel, however the hotels closer to Old San Juan don't have sand beaches like those of ours so that is why we chose to stay at El San Juan hotel.  

Also, Puerto Rico is all about nature and exploration.  Me and my husband did our first and last hike up of our entire eight year marriage on this trip.  We wanted to go see a waterfall in the mountain.  This is probably as close to doing something exotic as I will ever get.  But I'm sure this is much more beautiful in Hawaii or other places in the world. This was also a half hour cab ride from our hotel.

We also were convinced to go canoeing in a bioluminiscent bay (where you can see the animals in the water at night because of the reflection of the moon...which makes them appear to glow.  Or at least I think that's the reason).  This ended up being the worst money we ever spent in our lives.  If your husband doesn't know his right from his left, and neither of you have ever canoed before, be prepared to have your canoe toed.  Literally, a neighboring canoe had to throw a rope our way so they can get us back to shore.  

Basically, the only thing I really adored about Puerto Rico was the proximity to New York and Old San Juan.  No other Caribbean island has a town this historic and beautiful (maybe they do, but I haven't been to them yet).  

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Mets Game - Citi Field

Flushing, NY

price varies

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

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There is no shortage of cheap tickets available for a regular season Mets game!  Best annual tradition for father and son! And if the game gets too boring (always), there is enough to do at Citifield with the kids to keep them occupied!  Batting cages and an "amusement park" as my husband alleges will get you and your child through a 9 inning, uneventful game!  

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US Open

Flushing, NY

price varies

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

www.usopen.org

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The best time to go to the US Open with your children is on Arthur Ashe Day (free when you walk the grounds, admission to see the concert in Ashe) which is held the Saturday before the tournament begins.  There are practice rounds where the kids will get to see their favorite players playing on all the different courts.  They also hold different events and the kids can actually practice hitting their ground strokes against adult professionals.  Basically, you expose your children to all the fun without the hefty price and without having to sit and watch a one and a half hour match.  No attention span needed!  

When your kids get older, definitely take them to both day and night matches! Nothing beats US Open at the end of the summer!  

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Hello, World!

europe

Still On My Bucket List

Istanbul and Antalia, Turkey

Italy  (Capri, Sorrento, Positano, Rome, Sardinia)

Paris and Amsterdam

Santorini and Mykonos, Greece

vacations

Still On My Bucket List

Aruba

Austin, TX

Bermuda (Cruise from New York City)

Chicago

Istanbul and Antalia, Turkey

Italy (Cinque Terre, Rome, Positano, Capri)

Montreal and Quebec

Negril, Jamaica (Beaches Hotel)

Paris and Amsterdam

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

San Francisco

Santorini and Mykonos, Greece

Savannah, GA

Sedona, Bryce National Park, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon

St. Maarten

Vancouver, Canada

road trips

Still On My Bucket List

Best to use www.tripadvisor.com to find deals!  If you have points through travel you can book directly through the hotel itself.  Some of these places are great for summer road trips, others are great during school break in the dead of winter!  I always look for the biggest bang for my buck. And a nice hotel that offers a great breakfast and an indoor pool when I'm traveling in the winter.  Always make sure you filter your search to get what best fits your needs.  

Boston, MA (Perhaps can go in the summer.  Spend two nights here and two nights in Cape Cod.  Kill two birds with one stone.)

Montreal and Quebec City

Camelback Resort or Kalahari (check www.groupon.com for occasional deals)

Cape Cod, MA  (Perhaps can go in the summer.  Spend two nights here and two nights in Boston.  Kill two birds with one stone.)

Lake George, NY (Sagamore, Surfside on the Lake Hotel & Suites, Comfort Suites, Marine Village Resort)  (Worth doing this and Montreal in one trip)

Lake Placid, NY  (Definitely worth doing this and Montreal in one trip.  Also some nearby waterfalls you can swim in)

Newport, RI  (I've been told it's nice during Christmas.  Much less crowded and less expensive.  Mansions all have Christmas decorations.  But it's definitely the nicest during fall foliage the peak of which is the last two weeks of October)

Washington DC (best time is Spring during Cherry Blossoms)

Amusement and Theme Parks

Still On My Bucket List

Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster  PA

Hershey Park, Hershey PA

Luna Park, Coney Island  NY http://lunaparknyc.com/

Rye Playland, Rye  NY http://playlandpark.org

Splish Splash Waterpark, Calverton  NY www.splishsplash.com

Tiki Action Park, Centereach NY http://www.tikiactionpark.com

indoors with children

Don't say I didn't warn you!  Most of these places are hell on earth when you go on a rainy or cold day or when school is off!  They are overcrowded, germ-infested and stuffy!  That's why most of these indoor spaces are still on my bucket list because I'm avoiding them at all costs!  I'd rather take the less travelled approach and go to more unorthodox indoor spaces.  Like a train station in the city or a big toy store or anywhere that has space and no admission fee!  That's how I like to roll.  Always check groupon for deals before you go!  Revolve your day around the deal.  Always the best way to decide!   

Still On My Bucket List

Preschool Age:

Barnes and Noble www.barnesandnoble.com

BounceU of Oceanside www.bounceu.com/oceanside-ny/

Children's Museum of Manhattan www.cmom.org

Cup Of Fun Cafe, Valley Stream, NY www.cupofuncafe.com

Fun 4 All Indoor Playground, Port Jefferson NY www.fun4allpark.com

Kiddie Playland, Williston Park NY  www.kiddieplayland.com

KZAM in Farmingdale (Open Play on Various Days, call or check website for schedule) www.KZAMLI.com

LegoLand, Westchester NY www.lilaserbounce.com

Liddle Bites Cafe, Long Beach www.liddlebites.com

Little Dreamers Kingdom, Little Neck, NY www.littledreamerskingdom.com

Lolli Bop Cafe and Play, Lawrence NY www.lollibopkids.com

Play Amusements, Farmingdale, NY  (Laser Tag, Inflatables, 2 Level Soft Play Roller Coaster, Carousel, Bumper Cars, Arcade Games & More!  Call for hours)  www.atPlayAmusement.com

Safari Adventure www.thesafariadventure.com

The Sandbox Playspace, Huntington, www.facebook.com/sandboxplayspace

 

Elementary School Age:  

Broadway Shows

Barnes and Noble www.barnesandnoble.com

Boomers!, Medford NY (check www.groupon.com for deals before you go) www.boomerslongisland.com

Chelsea Piers

Children's Museum of Manhattan www.cmom.org

Color Factory

FunFuzion, New Rochelle NY www.funfuziononline.com

iFLY Westchester Indoor Skydiving, Yonkers NY www.iflyworld.com

Glowgolf, Roosevelt Field Mall, Garden City  www.groupon.com

Guggenheim Museum www.guggenheim.org

Island Rock Gym, Plainview NY  www.islandrock.net

KZAM in Farmingdale (Open Play on Various Days, call or check website for schedule) www.KZAMLI.com

The Lanyard Ladies, Mineola, NY  www.thelanyardladies.com

Laser Bounce, Levittown NY (check www.groupon.com for deals before you go)

Long Island Aquarium, Riverhead NY www.longislandaquarium.com

Museum of Illusions

Museum of Modern Art www.moma.org

Museum of the Moving Image www.movingimage.us

Museum of Natural History

Nassau County Museum of Art www.nassaumuseum.org

New York Aquarium, Brooklyn NY  www.nyaquarium.com

Pole Position Raceway, Farmingdale NY www.polepositionraceway.com

Play Amusements, Farmingdale, NY  (Laser Tag, Inflatables, 2 Level Soft Play Roller Coaster, Carousel, Bumper Cars, Arcade Games & More!  Call for hours)  www.atPlayAmusement.com

Q-Zar, Carle Place, NY  www.qzarny.com  

Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Deer Park NY  www.skyzone.com