Long Island

50 Free Things to Do With Long Island Kids This Summer

Jaime Sumersille's picture Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on

Does the thought of a full summer vacation make you think of empty pockets?

In between camps, parties, sitters, and trips, the next two months can get costly. And for a family with more than one child, even a trip to the water park can add up. But summer doesn’t have to drain your wallet.

We've compiled a list of 50 FREE things families can do together. From outdoor concerts and movies, to museums, classes, and festivals, Long Island has something going on all summer long.

Check a few more things off your bucket list with our Summer Fun Guide. Feeling really ambitious? Here are 100 things to do with Long Island kids before they grow up. See our guide to FREE family activities on Long Island for even more inspiration.  

50 Things to Do in Baltimore with Kids: Where to Eat, Play, and Stay in Charm City

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Baltimore is an incredibly kid-friendly city. The walkable Baltimore Inner Harbor offers the impressive National Aquarium, family-friendly restaurants, museums and science centers, and more fun things to do.

Sports fans will find the pro-leagues Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles to cheer on, and if you have a transportation lover, the city is heaven with train museums and boats galore. It’s proximity to Washington, DC, doesn’t hurt either. It’s easy to visit both cities in one trip, taking advantage of all the free admission opportunities in the nation’s capital.

Here's our list of 50 fun things to do with kids in Baltimore, Maryland, from attractions to festivals, restaurants and even a few hotel suggestions for when you're ready to crash. Check out our other City Guides for more family travel ideas.

The Best Pools on Long Island That Are Open to Everyone

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Long Island families look to beaches and public pools to cool off in summertime. But when parents are tired of sand being dragged into the house and the kids are bored with the municipal pool down the street, maybe it's time to check out a family-friendly public pool in another community.

We’ve done the research and put together a list of pools that anyone can visit, even if you’re not a resident of that municipality. Fees to enter the pools are often higher for nonresidents, but it might be worth it as a once-in-a-while boredom buster.

While you’re in a different area of Long Island, use our guides to Nassau, Suffolk, and the East End to find more fun things to do and make an adventure of it all. And don't forget our guide to summer fun for all the best things to do on Long Island during the school break.

11 Crazy Awesome Pool Floats for Kids and Babies on Amazon and Target

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Long gone are the days of the boring rectangular pool float that popped almost as soon as you finally filled it with air. Today's kids can hit the pool with a fabulous float in almost any design they can imagine, from the Millennium Falcon to a giant slice of pizza to on-trend unicorn floats. The best part? Parents can order these pool toys all online at either Target.com or Amazon. Check out our list of 11 crazy awesome pool floats for babies, kids, and teens in summer 2019.

Find more ways to cool down this summer in our Beaches, Lakes, and Pools Guides.

Father's Day Weekend Events: Strawberry Fests, Summer Fairs

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On Father's Day weekend, the peak of the strawberry harvest, the Mattituck Lions Club brings its annual Strawberry Festival to the North Fork, while the Historical Society of the Massapequas brings one to Nassau County. Dads get FREE admission to the Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck this weekend, too.

Celebrate Flag Day by exploring the meaning behind signal flags that ships used to communicate to each other at The Whaling Museum in Cold Spring Harbor.

Build-A-Bear Has a New Pay-Your-Age Contest, without the Lines

Submitted by Li Starr on

Making a puffy, fuzzy DIY toy at Build-A-Bear is a great experience, especially for a birthday gift, but those bears are far from free. So it was no surprise last year that the company's big Pay-Your-Age Day (5 years old, get any toy for $5) resulted in lines not only out of the stores but out of the buildings—and lots of angry parents when lines were shut down. The good news? Build-A-Bear is doing the popular event again, but doing it differently this year.

New Private School for Pre-K Through 5th Grade Opening in E. Northport

Submitted by Lisa Mancuso on

Like most parents, Mimosa Jones Tunney and John Tunney, who own and operate popular Huntington restaurants Besito and The Shed, are passionate about their children’s education. When they couldn’t find a school they thought would best prepare their young boys, they decided to build their own.

The School House, located at 106 Vernon Valley Road in East Northport, is the result of the entrepreneurial couple’s dream to bring a new way of teaching to Long Island. Enrollment is currently under way for pre-K through fifth grade. The building, the former home of a local preschool, has been undergoing a renovation in recent months. Walls were knocked down, new windows added, and the result is a bright, open, sun-filled space where children can thrive.

Summer Day Trips for Long Island Families

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While there are plenty of things to do on Long Island during the summer months, sometimes it's nice to change your routine and explore a different area. And how lucky are we, that there are so many kid-friendly destinations just a ferry, train, or car ride away? Families can spend the day exploring these locations and all they have to offer.

Here are a few of our favorite easy getaways from Long Island, including nearby Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York City, and upstate New York destinations.

And for what's happening back on Long Island, be sure to check out our Summer Fun Guide.

Asheville with Kids: 40 Best Things to Do in Asheville, NC

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Asheville, NC, is a popular destination for visitors, including families, with so many fun things to do like the Biltmore Estate, a thriving food and arts scene, a Vanderbilt mansion with extensive grounds, and its kid-friendly local breweries. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the plentiful hiking trails, waterfalls, and swimming holes. I frequently visit my sister’s family in Asheville and get to explore this charming Southern city with my young nephew, so I wanted to share the inside skinny on the best family-friendly attractions, restaurants, and what to do in Asheville with kids.

Find more family fun destinations in our Family Travel City Guides, and be sure to check our picks for North Carolina's best beaches for families.

Free Outdoor Movies for Long Island Kids This Summer

Jaime Sumersille's picture Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on

With the price of movie tickets for the family these days, there’s nothing better than FREE entertainment for the kids. Do you know several Long Island municipalities host outdoor summer movie series, where you can spread a blanket or prop up some lawn chairs and have a picnic while enjoying a family-friendly film?

At these outdoor community events you can enjoy a beloved film for a second time or catch up on a recent blockbuster without having to spend a dime on a movie ticket. Seating is first-come, first-served, so arrive early. Also, be sure to double-check the venue or organization's website or social media feeds for any potential weather-related cancellations.

Outdoor movies are just part of the summer experience on Long Island. You'll find more fun things to do with kids in our Summer Fun Guide, including FREE outdoor summer concerts. It's also a great time to hit a Long Island amusement park, water park, or one of our great family-friendly beaches. 

Until then, lights, camera, action! 

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