Long Island has finally joined the Dallas-based Topgolf family with a location in Holtsville. Topgolf, a tech-driven place with 102 climate-controlled bays, boasts a seasonal chef-driven menu, drinks, live music, and year-round programming in a three-story outdoor space. Kids can tee off for a digitized round of golf, and while a hole-in-one isn't guaranteed a visit full of excitement is!

Long Island has plenty more sports-centric fun zones for your competitive crew. Or try a round of mini golf instead!

Exhibits at East Garden City's Cradle of Aviation Museum do more than merely teach visitors and dole out facts. While parents and teenagers can enjoy learning about America's aviation and space history, small children can enjoy a host of interactive features at this great Long Island museum. Aspiring pilots and astronauts: Get ready to blast-off to the Cradle of Aviation Museum. 

Whether your child is a natural ham or a kid with a great imagination who feels a little shy, a theater class on Long Island is a fun way for children to build confidence. Experience in the performing arts improves verbal skills, which are especially valuable when kids present oral reports in school. Those with theater backgrounds find themselves drawing on skills they developed in all kinds of ways. When it's time for college entrance and job interviews later in life, kids with performing arts experience can have an edge. 

We are lucky to have many theaters and programs that host acting classes for children here on Long Island. Read on for our picks for budding thespians.

For additional class suggestions, see our Classes and Activities Guide for Long Island Kids.

Since 2005, The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze has been a must-do Halloween attraction for our neighbors in Westchester County, its popularity multiplying annually along with its sizable, stunning installation. In 2020 the Blaze added a second location at Old Bethpage Village Restoration on Long Island.

Read on for the inside scoop on Long Island's own Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze, which opens on Wednesday, September 22, and learn why this visually striking, aesthetically inspiring walk-through exhibit belongs on your fall bucket list. Stay tuned to our Halloween Guide for more seasonal, spooky fun.

Gymnastics is a multidimensional sport that improves endurance, strength, and flexibility, as well as grace and poise. Few sports challenge participants in so many areas.

Gymnastics classes on Long Island can help a shy child learn to express him or herself in a whole new way. There are many class options available, from mommy-and-me programs for younger kids to beginner and advanced gymnastics instruction for older students.

For additional class suggestions, see our Classes and Enrichment Guide for Long Island Kids.

The Long Island Aquarium has opened a massive treehouse-like outdoor exhibit overlooking the bucolic Peconic River. The Eye Opener stands 60 feet tall and has five levels for visitors to explore. With a new seal pup and penguin chick, added animal encounters and more, Long Island's only aquarium is seeking to engage new and returning guests with innovative and engaging exhibits and activities.

Check our articles on petting zoos and nature centers for more local animal fun.

While East Hampton is known for its ideal summer weather, beautiful beaches, and outdoor activities, it's also home to LongHouse Reserve, one of my favorite outdoor sculpture parks.

LongHouse is an outdoor art museum surrounded by beautiful gardens and lush plants and trees. My kids and I love spending a few hours admiring the art while being surrounded by such natural beauty. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the East End or merely interested in outdoor roadside art.

Read on to learn more about LongHouse and what you need to know before you go. 

Coding, or the act of telling a computer what you want it to do, is exploding in popularity. While it may seem like a complicated endeavor, many local venues now offer coding classes for kids on Long Island.

Learning coding skills is a win-win for families. Kids can use their creativity and the latest tech to create their own video games. Parents can appreciate the STEM skills they're building, plus life skills like problem-solving that come from breaking down complex problems into smaller tasks. We've found eight local orgs that offer coding classes for kids, with a mix of virtual and in-person classes.

Find more enrichment activities in our guide to Classes and Activities for Long Island Kids.