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Bayville Adventure Park-the Perfect One Day Amusement Park Vacation on Long Island

Jun 30 2009
  • Shea's blog
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By Shea
Bayville Adventure Park-the Perfect One Day Amusement Park Vacation on Long Island

Around my house, these few weeks before my kids’ Summer camps officially start can be tough. The Summer weather seems to have arrived finally and the kids are anxious to take advantage of it. With plenty of beach days ahead, I wanted to do something special to celebrate today being the first official “day I don’t have to go to school” this Summer.  So, we  headed to Bayville this afternoon and hit the best mini-amusement park on Long Island-the  Bayville Adventure Park. 

For young kids, really, nothing could be better. First of all, there are lots of parking spaces right up front or just across the street, and you don’t even have to take a train to get into the park, like you do at Disneyland or those other big amusement parks. There is just enough activities to keep them from getting bored, but also the right amount to squeeze into the average young child’s visit without missing any (which I’d say is a few hours). 

One of the biggest attractions here is the pirate theme Minature Golf Course (think minature golf  a’la Pirates of the Caribbean).  It was really fun, and even though it was really hot on the course, there is plenty of water and shade and even a shack you can duck into toward the end of the course where you can get sprayed with a cooling mist. 
 
The Bumper Boats are the major draw though during the summer, and if you hit the park on a quiet day or in the late afternoon when less people are there, your kids will be allowed to stay on the boats until they want to get off and then won’t even have to wait in line to get back on. Anyone over 44” can go in their boat alone, while littler ones need an adult or older friend or sibling with them. The boats are great, easy to steer, and each has their own built in squirt gun to spray other boats. While your kids are cooling off on the boats, you can sit in the shade under an awning and relax. 
 
We also loved the  Climbing Tree Top Rope attraction, although I admit it is for older kids, probably 6 and up. My 6 year old amazed me as he climbed the ropes and literally appeared to be walking on air at times while safely harnessed in with gear. For any aspiring acrobats this would be a draw. 
 
Bayville does a great job all year long with a terrific Haunted House scene and a great Holiday program, but it really makes a terrific day trip during the Summer for young families. Besides the bigger attractions mentioned already, they have a nice, clean(er) arcarde area with a variety of games and machines, a ride on train, gigantic inflatable slides and equipment and an indoor rock climbing wall.  Here are a few tips we suggest –
 
  • Purchase the one day VIP pass; it might seem expensive, but you get two free day passes for the park to be used later. It’s buy one get one free.
  • If you don’t have a napper, visit the park in the later afternoon; there will be fewer people and no wait times
  • If you can, make a day of it and pack a picnic lunch for the beautiful beach which is directly across the street. There are play structures, restrooms, and some of the cleanest and smoothest sand you’ll find on the North Shore.
  • If you share the same sticker shock that I did, pack your lunch, snacks and drinks (there are plenty of picnic tables there) and avoid the arcade; it is really expensive and while clean and organized, your kids walk away with the same cheap prizes they get anywhere else.
  • Bayville Amusement Park is probably best enjoyed by children ages 4-10; much younger they can’t enjoy the attractions and much older I think they’d be bored. 
 
 
Bayville Adventure Park
8 Bayville Avenue
Bayville
516.624.RIDE

 

For other fun summer trip ideas visit our summer guide.

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Comments

So not worth the time nor money

Submitted by LI Mom (not verified) on June 26, 2010 - 8:25pm.

First thing you need to know is this is not a park for younger kids. Between the treetop climb, which I was afraid to do (and I'm 40 years old) and the pirate-themed miniature golf course which scared my 8 year old to death, there is very little for younger kids to do, with the exception of the bumper boats. The place is overpriced and they only accept American Express or cash. The POP bracelet for one day is almost $30 and it doesn't include the fossil/gem treasure hunt which will run you another $5-10 per kid. Most of staff that we encountered were either disinterested or acted annoyed that I had to interrupt their conversations to ask for help. One of the few truly helpful people was the guy in the arcade (another overpriced rip-off) who didn't even work at the park but was there to service the machines. What does that say ! I wouldn't go there again nor would I recommend it to anyone. $120 later and I regret choosing it for our end of school celebration.

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assistance please

Submitted by bob (not verified) on July 25, 2010 - 1:26pm.

I am considering buying a beach house close to this amusement park. I live out of state and I was hopping you could tell me whether or not the park would be a negative living seveal blocks away.

Thanks
Bob

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I just want to say the staff

Submitted by Neetu (not verified) on February 14, 2010 - 8:18pm.

I just want to say the staff there is so graet. They always are so upbeat and friendly. Honest to God, I do not take my kids to other parks because of their size.

The Bayville Park is a great place. I think each time I went there I was greated by a manager and they remember all guests, by something unique. Always upbeat, and friendly. The atmosphere is remarkable.

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I am considering buying a

Submitted by bob (not verified) on July 25, 2010 - 1:27pm.

I am considering buying a beach house close to this amusement park. I live out of state and I was hopping you could tell me whether or not the park would be a negative living seveal blocks away.

Thanks
Bob

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I feel compelled to add that

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 1, 2009 - 8:43am.

I feel compelled to add that I took my 5 year old to this amusement park last year and found it to be horrifyingly dangerous. The inflatable area in particular was a crazy free-for-all with bigger kids pushing past little kids who were already 12 feet up in the air trying to navigate a steep slope. The attendants did nothing to ensure safety. I am by no means an overly protective parent, but my kid got whacked, pushed, run over, and my heart was in my throat the whole time. (One of the inflatables, if it's the same as last year, has an inside area that isn't visible to adults - also really scary). I came home and told my husband that I would not be at all surprised to hear of a fatality at this place. So unless safety standards have been significantly upped since last year, beware. I do agree that the miniature golf is great, the beach is great, and that Bayville can be a fun day trip.

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Thank you for this post. I

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 19, 2009 - 8:41am.

Thank you for this post. I am actually getting ready to go there right now and just wanted some last minute info. I will keep away from the inflatables!

  • reply

Inflatables

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 14, 2010 - 8:15pm.

I would just like to say that I have been there many times over the summer with my children. The staff is soooooooooooo well aware of any guests walking through the establishment and they are so hospitable.

I feel that the management is so wonderful. Each time I go in they are so professional and upbeat and friendly. They are a great choice whoever hired them. The staff in the Ice Cream Parlour is sooooooo great. They are always in a cute attire with matching hats. I think it is so cute. I have bought a pink shirt for myself as well.

I would just like to say, "YOU HAVE TOO MUCH FREE TIME."

The park is one of a kind, there aren't any establishments like it anywhere. I will take my kids there everyday this season. I am looking forward to when they open.

By the way my kids have a great time on the inflatables. They are protected by wonderful courteous staff.

Have a nice day!

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