Sailing on tall ships is a great way for families to explore the waters off Long Island's shores. From fishing trips and educational tours to private charters and schooner sails, these Long Island boats are the perfect way for your family to set off on a nautical adventure. 

Take the Ginny Marie, a 50-foot topsail schooner based in Port Jefferson Harbor. Sailing 7 days a week, three times a day from May to October, this 1920s wooden ship boasts a pirate ship vibe, which is perfect for families. My mateys and I were granted permission to come aboard for an afternoon sail. 

Below, a review of our tour, followed by a round-up of other sloop, schooner, and sailboat adventures around Long Island that are sure to make a big splash.

History is plentiful here on Long Island, from the oldest lighthouse in New York, the Montauk Point Lighthouse, to Teddy Roosevelt's digs at Sagamore Hill. Famous residents have included poets, presidents, and captains of industry.

This all adds up to an impressive roster of historic sites, many of which offer great photo opportunities and fun for kids–read on for our top picks. 

For more educational and historic places to explore on Long Island, check out our Museums and Art Guide for Long Island Kids.

Whether you're day-tripping or hunkering down for a few days, Riverhead, on Long Island's East End, offers plenty of family-friendly things to do. Located at the end of the Long Island Expressway, Riverhead boasts the kid-friendly Long Island Aquarium, plus a slew of family-friendly wineries to visit with kids, vintage ice cream parlors, Long Island Sound beaches, rustic farms, and a quaint Main Street.

For more fun expeditions, check out our Guide to Day Trips on Long Island, and keep up to date with all the East End happenings with our Hamptons & North Fork Guide.

Extreme sports aficionados on Long Island don't have to go far to get their adventure on, because both Suffolk and Nassau counties offer plenty of businesses catering to thrill-seeking kids.  

Want to go for a spin? Long Island go-kart tracks put kids in the driver’s seat, while ropes courses and axe-throwing venues provide an enduring adrenaline rush. However your child prefers to get his or her adventure fix, you'll probably find it on Long Island. So ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. 

In the meantime, check out our Long Island Guide to Play Spaces and Fun Zones. If your kids prefer to pedal, our guide to Long Island biking trails offers great rides in Nassau, Suffolk, and the East End.

When I heard the first ever East Coast OSIM Experience Store was opening on Long Island, I couldn’t have volunteered myself any faster to try out the brand’s totally innovative massage chairs and gadgets.

With my husband along for the ride, we headed to OSIM’s beautiful new storefront in Roosevelt Field Mall, where we were able to test drive their newest, luxurious offering, the OSIM uLove 3 Well-Being Massage Chair–pun intended, as this top-of-the-line chair was actually designed in Italy by the same geniuses behind Ferrari!

What was it like to take a spin in this innovative, app-controlled, AI-powered, deluxe massage chair? Get the downlow on the uLove 3 or head over to Roosevelt Field Mall to get a free stress analysis and try it out yourself!

We've scoured Long Island for things to do in Nassau and Suffolk that are sure to keep tweens and teens happily occupied–and so much easier to live with.

When your kids are young, it’s easy to keep them entertained. But what about the older kids, the ones who say “I’m bored” way too often? The next time they start to whine about having nothing to do, hand them this list and calmly walk away!

Find our rundown on the best pre-college summer programs for high school students and more in our Teens & Tweens Guide to Long Island. 

When it comes to at-home birthday parties on Long Island, bounce house rentals and gaming trucks have seemingly cornered the market for a while now. Over the last few years, entertainment companies have tailored their experiences to become mobile. From culinary concoctions to crafty creations, these Long Island companies bring the party to you. 

For more birthday party ideas, check out our Guide to Birthday Parties on Long Island, which includes a list of birthday party entertainers on Long Island that come to you. 

Looking for ways to beat the heat on Long Island? Here are 26 awesome things to do during a heat wave.

Deep summer usually brings high temps and plenty of humidity, leaving Long Island families scrambling to find ways to cool off. Whether you want to bask in the sunshine or chill in central AC, there are plenty of options in both Nassau and Suffolk counties to help you beat the heat—and all are guaranteed fun for every age. After all, you want to enjoy every bit of summer before school begins. 

Find more great outdoorsy things to do in our Ultimate Long Island Kids Summer Vacation Guide, and be sure to bookmark our frequently-updated Long Island Family Activity Calendar.