6 new attractions for families coming to LI this summer
Todd Murtha, of Brooklyn, enjoys the Bombs Away ride at Splish Splash in Calverton. The splash park is getting a new-and-improved ride this summer. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
- A ride at Splish Splash gets an upgrade.
- Adventureland gets a towering new coaster.
- Coconut Bay habitat is a new addition at the Long Island Aquarium.
The Vanderbilt Museum gets a family music program.
Get up close at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
LICM’s summer exhibit introduces visitors to making art Indigenous art.
A re-imagined ride at Splish Splash, a plunging roller coaster at Adventureland, a musical experience for children at the Vanderbilt Museum — these are some of the new entertainment awaiting Long Islanders this season.
Here are the details for six new summer experiences for families.
Hyperlight at Splish Splash in Calverton
The former Abyss waterslide has been re-imagined with a new theme and an immersive light and sound experience inside the enclosed slide. Riders will use a one- or two-person tube to careen down Hyperlight, with flashing colored lights and sounds that change every 30 seconds. “It’s painted white on the inside, so lights really bounce off,” says Lynsey Winters, public relations manager for the water park. “It’s family-friendly, not super intense.” The ride, which has a 42-inch minimum height requirement for riders, will be included in park admission of $64.99 at the gate, or $60 if purchased online, Winters says. The park is also rebranding a nearby food stand, Hyperbites. It will feature funnel cakes and fried Oreos, Winters says. Splish Splash opens for the season May 28. 2549 Splish Splash Dr., Calverton. 631-727-3600, splishsplash.com.
FireBall at Adventureland in Farmingdale
Visitors will see the new FireBall roller coaster’s LED-screen flame at the top as they arrive at the park. The vertical, red-and-yellow roller coaster has plunging curves that make riders feel they are falling off a cliff. The ride was custom-made for Adventureland by a company in Switzerland and is the first one in North America, says Steve Gentile, the park's co-owner. Riders have to be 41 inches tall. FireBall is the third roller coaster at the park, joining the Rattlesnake and Turbulence. To make room for the new ride, Adventureland retired the kiddie carousel and the bungee jump. FireBall is included with the pay-one-price entry of $41.99 for ages 2 to 24 and $31.99 for people older than 24. Tickets are an additional $5 when purchased at the park. Adventureland is open weekends until June 17, when it will be open daily. 2245 Broad Hollow Rd., Farmingdale. 631-694-6868, adventureland.us.
Coconut Bay at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead
The new Coconut Bay habitat at the Long Island Aquarium stars the coconut crab, joined by other coastal animals such as lizards and fish. “The main focus is the coconut crabs, which are these enormous crabs,” says Darlene Puntillo, marketing director. The indoor habitat, which replaced the aquarium’s bird habitat, is a walk-through experience, Puntillo says. It’s included with aquarium admission of $27.99 for ages 3 to 12; $39.99, ages 13 to 61; and $29.99, ages 62 and older. 431 E. Main St., Riverhead. 631-208-9200, longislandaquarium.com.
Spirit of St. Louis at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City
A replica of the cockpit of the famed Spirit of St. Louis has joined the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Cockpit Trail, which allows visitors to enter plane and helicopter cockpits and pull levers, touch buttons and pretend to pilot planes form different eras in the history of aviation. The museum already has a replica of the full plane hanging from the ceiling; now visitors can sit in the replica on the ground, says Jerelyn Zontini, director of marketing. The original Spirit of St. Louis was a single-engine, single-seat plane flown by Charles Lindbergh in 1927 on the first solo nonstop trans-Atlantic flight from Long Island to Paris. Admission to the museum galleries is $16 for ages 13 to 61, $14 for ages 2 to 12 or 62 and older. Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Garden City. 516-572-4111, cradleofaviation.org.
Meet the Instruments at the Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport
A new family program at the museum introduces children ages 4 and older to different musical instruments and their sounds. Each hourlong session, run by Long Island Chamber Music, focuses on a different sound. At 10 a.m. on July 2, meet the brass family — trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba in an interactive program featuring jazz, classical and movie soundtracks. At 10 a.m. on July 16, it’s the string instruments — violins, viola and cello; at 10 a.m. on July 22 it’s the woodwinds’ turn, featuring flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon introducing families to tango, classical and more. Sessions cost $15 for adults and $10 for children. 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport. 631-854-5579, vanderbiltmuseum.org.
Learn about the Shinnecock Indian Nation at the Long Island Children's Museum
The new exhibit at the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City explores art forms including photography, sculpture, beading and applique through the summer. Indigenous artists, all members of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, will be in residence to help children make a connection between art, story and identity. The exhibit is included with museum admission of $15 per adult or child older than 1. 11 Davis Ave., Garden City. 516-224-5800, licm.org.
Beth Whitehouse writes about families, parenting and great things to do with the kids on Long Island. She’s been a Newsday editor and shared a 1997 Newsday staff Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the crash of TWA Flight 800.
