What to do with kids when it rains on Long Island
Don't let a little rain get in the way of family fun. There are many indoor places to play and explore in Nassau and Suffolk.
Take a look at some of our favorites.
Check out Safari Adventure
At Safari Adventure in Riverhead you'll find inflatable bouncers, video games and a four-level playground boasting tubes, tunnels, slides and obstacle courses. The new Motion Commotion, powered by iPlay, features a projector mounted on the ceiling that beams 10 different computer-generated games onto the floor.
Bowl or play games at Bowlmor Long Island
Besides the glow-in-the-dark bowling at Bowlmor Long Island in Melville, the alley recently opened a new arcade featuring 44 new games. The family-friendly arcade features kids' favorites and retro games that adults will love, including a giant Connect Four, Candy Crush, 4 Racer Mario Kart, skee-ball and basketball hoops. You'll also find a glow-in-the-dark air hockey game and a photo booth.
Ride a carousel
Children and adults alike will enjoy the colorful wooden horses -- and even a lion -- on the 100-year-old Nunley's Carousel in Garden City. Riders can catch a brass ring for a free ride.
Or, take a spin on the Greenport Carousel in Greenport. The restored vintage 1920s carousel is located in the Glass Carousel Pavilion at Mitchell Park. If you grab the brass ring, you win a free ride.
The Brick Center
481 Johnson Ave., Bohemia, 631-572-8801, thebrickcenter.com. Features- Kids can unleash their creativity by building unique creations, playing games and more simply by playing with Lego bricks. Programs are tailored to specific age groups and areas of interest.
Play for the day at Once Upon a Treetop
Once Upon a Treetop in Plainview features a tree house area that has nets, mats and a slide. You can also explore a mini-village, train station, grocery store, schoolhouse and more.
Ride go-karts
RPM Raceway in Farmingdale lets up to 10 child and adult drivers at a time compete in side-by-side racing on two separate, quarter-mile indoor tracks. The go-karts can reach speeds of 45 miles per hour as the drivers negotiate straightaways and hairpin turns.
Karts Indoor Raceway in Ronkonkoma features a 750-foot indoor track with go-karts capable of reaching 35 mph for adults or 20 mph for drivers younger than 18.
Create a work of art
There are many places on Long Island where kids and adults can paint pottery. Try these paint-your-own-pottery places that feature children's classes and more: Paint a Piece Pottery in Commack, Artrageous Studio in Rockville Centre, Claynation in Glen Cove, and Once Upon a Dish in Garden City.
Explore the Long Island Children's Museum
Located in Garden City, the Long Island Children's Museum is both the first and the largest museum for kids on L.I. You'll find dozens of hands-on exhibits, concerts, theater and themed workshops that give kids something to take home.
Go roller skating
Head over to United Skates of America, an indoor roller skating rink. Bring your own skates, or rent. Or, lace up your roller skates and head to the George D. Costello Sr. Memorial Skating rink in Greenport for a family-friendly day.
Jump around at indoor trampoline parks
Bounce! Trampoline Sports in Syosset is an indoor trampoline park complete with the first trampoline bungee jump, a rope swing over foam pits and a volleyball court, which can be transformed into a junior soccer field. The park also features three large trampoline jump courts, separate slam dunk basketball lanes and separate toddler and youth areas for ages 2-6 with a bounce court and inflatables.
Check out other indoor places to bounce and jump on Long Island.
Check out sea life at the Long Island Aquarium
The Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead features many indoor interactive exhibits that allow kids to get up close and personal with stingrays, sharks and other sea life.
Head to a toddler-friendly spot
Momo's Clubhouse (140 Eileen Way Suite 200, Syosset) is a play space for children 2 to 8 years old. Inside, kids can play on a three-tier jungle gym with four slides and an obstacle course, a play farmers market, art nook, Legos, a bean bag wall play, ride-on cars, a play bus and an open area for crawlers and toddlers. There is also a (real) cafe, which serves coffee, snacks and baked goods. The venue hosts open play 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, times vary on Saturday and Sunday. Price: $18 walker; $9 crawler; $5 additional adults (rates are for one child and two adults). More Information: 516-921-1004; momosclubhouse.com.
Learn something at the Children's Museum of the East End
Perfect for kids ages 12 and younger, the family-friendly Children's Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton features hands-on activities, exhibits and classes.
Play at Sandbox Playspace
A drop-in play space in Huntington Village called Sandbox Playspace is geared to babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., kids can roam the different stations, which include a kitchen play area, a hardware store, a teepee, a wooden slide, a flower market and a dress-up area.
Go bowling in Nassau and Suffolk
Long Island has dozens of bowling alleys. Some are equipped with arcades, fun dining options and more. Search for bowling alleys in your area.
Play laser tag
At Q-Zar in Carle Place, check out the indoor laser tag, games and contests in a Star Wars-type maze with glowing walls and starred carpeting.
Zip line at Bouncers & Slydos
Check out the 20-foot-high, brightly colored slide, and then climb eight stairs to ride down the chutes at Bouncers & Slydos in Farmingdale. There are nine inflatables during open play. In addition to its inflatables, check out the 90-foot zip line in their indoor park.
Check out more places to bounce on Long Island.
Visit the Long Island Maritime Museum
The Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville features a working boatyard and more. You'll see 19th century clam boats, an oyster sloop and gear associated with everything from whaling to sportfishing.