Long Island has tons of awesome birthday party places on offer, which is good news when you consider that there is nothing more exciting for a toddler or a pre-schooler than a birthday party. Still, planning the special day can be exceedingly stressful, especially when young children aren't quite ready for the more standard birthday party venues.

The good news? We've compiled a list of some of Long Island's best venues for your littlest birthday boy or girl. Whether you're looking for an engaging indoor play space, an outdoor environment, or even a home party with entertainment, there are plenty of toddler-friendly options across Long Island.

As always, check out our Long Island Party Guide for more on planning the ideal party for a child of any age, which includes our list of the best parks and playgrounds for hosting bdays on LI.

New Jersey boasts plenty of fun birthday party places for children, including a cool selection of birthday party destinations on the Jersey Shore. If you are looking to host a kids’ birthday party in Monmouth County, Ocean County, or Cape May County, then this list is for you.

From Ocean City and Toms River to Point Pleasant and Red Bank, our picks for the best birthday party places on the Jersey Shore include unique birthday party venues, birthday parties focused on creative crafts, indoor playgrounds, and even a glow-in-the-dark dance birthday party. Find more birthday party planning tips in our Birthday Party Guide for New Jersey Families.

Don't cha know: Fargo, ND is a vibrant city with lots of family-friendly attractions and great restaurants. This town—the most populous in North Dakota and located just over the border from Minnesota—is becoming a real travel destination. And while Fargo may be best known for its namesake 90s movie (an absolute classic, though not appropriate for kids), it's much more than just a place to hear funny accents. Fargo, ND has become a real foodie city with top-notch museums, a zoo, and even a Viking ship on display.

Here are our favorite things to do in Fargo, ND with kids, including some delicious Fargo restaurants and a few great hotels in Fargo, ND for families. Check out our Midwest Travel Guide for more great cities to visit with kids, like Chicago and Minneapolis.

Stroller hikes allow us to get in some exercise and scenery without carrying a three-year-old all the way back to the car. If you've ever been hiking with little kids, you know that having a backup for when their legs get tired is as important as bringing snacks. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite kid-friendly stroller hikes to help you out. These hikes swap steep inclines and rocky terrains for smooth, paved, or gravel surfaces that make it easy to push a stroller with kids. You’ll get your steps in while taking in beautiful sights and the kids get outdoors, away from screens. These strolls are perfect for littles still in a stroller and siblings who want to get their wiggles out without the need for hiking gear.

Looking for more kid-friendly fun outdoors? Check out our round-up of kid-friendly hikes for after the stroller days come to an end and this list of best outdoor adventures for kids.

Visiting the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk lets kids see extraordinary sea life. Sharks. Octopuses. Seahorses. Jellies and meerkats. Whether it is your first or twentieth visit to the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium in Fairfield County, its cool, bubbly, mysteriously blue world will not fail to awe and amuse you with a truly one-of-a-kind experience and insight into the rich biodiversity of Long Island Sound.

Botanical gardens in Los Angeles and beyond might be the answer for when you want to take the kids on an outdoor adventure but don't feel like carrying toddlers up a mountain and toting a surplus of supplies. 

Lush, plentiful, and open year-round in Southern California, botanical gardens are perfect for casual nature strolls with little ones in tow, whether in a stroller or sprinting toward children's gardens and koi ponds. Kids won't even realize they're on an educational outing as they become itty-bitty botanists for a day. From beloved botanical gardens to lesser-known free hidden gems, we've dug into the roots of the best botanical gardens in Los Angeles. 

Enjoy more blooms on wildflower hikes, stretch your limbs on stroller-friendly hikes, and explore more fauna and flora in our Zoos & Gardens for Los Angeles Kids Guide. 

Everyone needs a little pampering sometimes—even kids! But at-home spa days often lead to polish-splattered carpets and makeup-smeared faces. If that thought terrifies you, head to one of several kid-friendly spas near DC. These spas in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia make a great setting for a relaxing parent-child outing, a fun gathering of your child's besties, or even a glam birthday party.

Prefer the comfort of your own home (minus the mess)? There are also companies that bring kid spa parties to you, all with the aim of making your child and their friends feel special and beautiful.

Read on for 10 kid-friendly spas and companies that host kid spa parties near Washington, DC. Check out our DC Kids' Birthday Party Guide for more kids' party ideas, from fun indoor birthday party places for preschoolers to cool teen birthday party spots.

An abundance of parks and playgrounds makes Long Island a wonderful place to raise a family. We’ve scoured the island to find the best playgrounds, all of which offer plenty of space and entertainment for you and your little ones.

These destination-worthy playgrounds are all a cut above your local jungle gym, and many have fun features like epic splash pads, mini-golf courses, skating rinks, and more.

For more playground inspiration, check our Guide to Long Island's Top Parks and Playgrounds, plus our list of the top playgrounds for toddlers.