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Spring Day Trip Destinations for Families on Long Island

1. Long Island's East End

From breweries and wineries to beach playgrounds and museums, the East End is ripe for exploring. Pack your bikes and head to Greenport, where you can enjoy the town's cherry blossom festival  and take a ride on the antique carousel in Mitchell Park.  

2. Destination Playgrounds on Long Island

Take a road trip to a new Long Island park or playground you haven't explored. Our list of Long Island's best playgrounds will keep the kids active and enjoying the spring weather. 

3. Visit a Nature Center 

Strap on a backpack and head to a nearby nature center. Caumsett State Historic Park and Preserve in Huntington is one of our favorites. Another nature-inspired outing: Visit one of Long Island's beautiful botanic gardens and arboretums.

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A trip to Fire Island Lighthouse is especially fun before the tourist season begins. Photo by Jaime Sumersille

4. Fire Island

Spring is a great time to visit Fire Island and its lighthouse ahead of the summer tourists. The tower is open from 10 AM to 4 PM with the last tour at 3:30 PM. Check ahead for holiday closures before you plan your visit. The whole family can also enjoy a walk on the boardwalk and fun collecting sea shells on the beach. 

5. Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Take a road trip to a Long Island historical site, like Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Families can enjoy a day stepping back in time and learning all about how things worked in a mid-19th-century village. 

6. Long Island's Farms

The spring season brings wine tastings, fresh flowers, strawberries, and blueberries ripe for the picking. Kids will love a visit to one of Long Island's farm animal adventures, like Harbes Family Farm filled with family-friendly activities, pig races, giant bouncers and more. 

7. Explore a New Town

Pick a charming community on Long Island to spend the day exploring. A few of our favorites include, Oyster Bay, Massapequa, Rockville Centre, Sag Harbor, and Patchogue.

8. Adventureland

There's no need to travel far for thrills! A day trip to Adventureland is filled with rides and fun for the whole family. The park reopens on Saturday, March 22, 2025, with new rides planned for the new season!

9. Long Island Aquarium

A day trip to the Long Island Aquarium is a treat for kids of all ages and adults too. After a few hours at the aquarium you can spend some time checking out the family-friendly fun in Riverhead. 

10. Montauk

Plan a day to visit Long Island's eastern tip, Montauk, before the summer rush. While some restaurants and shops may still be closed during the off-season, there is still plenty to do, with a visit to the Montauk Lighthouse and picture perfect time spent on the beautiful beaches. 

Spring Day Trip Destinations to Connecticut

11. Bridgeport

If you're looking to leave Long Island for a few hours, hop aboard the Port Jefferson ferry with your seafaring little ones for a scenic ride and visit to Bridgeport, Connecticut.

12. Mystic

The ferry ride from Orient Point to New London is half the fun in this day trip. Enjoy a getaway to nearby Mystic, Connecticut, where you can experience a quaint seaside town and the largest maritime museum in the country.

13. New Haven

Plan a fun food destination day trip with the kids to New Haven. The pie at Frank Pepe’s in New Haven is worth the drive (or ferry ride), but save time to stop for ice cream at Arethusa Farm Dairy.

14. Hiking Trails in Connecticut

Take a hike to see some amazing waterfalls in the Nutmeg State.

Day Trip Destinations in New York and New Jersey

15. Central Park

Explore Central Park with a visit to the Central Park Zoo, and then embark on a tour of the park's top playgrounds.

16. New York City Museums

Check out these famous cultural spots. See if your local library has free family passes to the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, and others. 

17. Queens

With playgrounds galore, a zoo, a botanical garden, museums, and much more, Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens offers more activities than you can do in a day.

18. Jersey Shore

Plan a trip to one of the Jersey Shore beach towns. Point Pleasant, New Jersey is a great springtime destination for families. Jenkinson’s Boardwalk has rides, games, and an aquarium.

RELATED: Nature Centers Sure to Delight Long Island Kids

Enjoy panoramic views of the Hudson Valley on the famous Walkway Over the Hudson. Photo by Fred Schaeffer for Walkway over the Hudson

19. Hudson Valley

Catch sweeping views of the Hudson Valley on the Walkway Over the Hudson. This 1.3-mile pedestrian bridge is open year-round, but spring is a wonderful time to experience this easy hike.

20. Legoland New York

Legoland Discovery Center in Westchester is the place to be with its Ninjago City Adventure exhibit, building stations, movies, rides, and impressive Lego structures. For even more fun, travel to the Hudson Valley to visit the Legoland New York theme park, set on150 acres, it's the biggest Lego park to date.

21. Storm King Art Center

Book your tickets in advance to experience art as a family at Storm King Art Center in upstate New Windsor. Pack a picnic and take in over 100 sculptures at this massive outdoor space.

22. Coney Island

Coney Island welcomes visitors as early as April. Although it might not be warm enough to swim at the beach, there are plenty of attractions, including Luna Park, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park—the park's season opening date is April 13, 2005 —and the New York Aquarium.

23. Randall's Island

A trip to Randall's Island is filled with a trip to the park, lots of kid-friendly activities and places to explore.

24. Governors Island

This car-free spot offers a unique adventure for the family. Exploring Governors Island includes seeing Castle Williams, Slide Hill, the Granite Scramble, an adventure playground, and more. 

25. The Bronx Zoo

The Bronx is perfect for animal and nature lovers. Check out the New York Botanical Garden and The Bronx Zoo offers a great Wednesday admission deal with a pay-what-you-wish donation, making a family zoo trip more affordable. Tickets for this discount Bronx Zoo day must be made online in advance and are released at 5pm the Monday before.

26. Six Flags Great Adventure

Thrill-seeking families should head to Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, reopens on March 29, 2025. From a drive-thru safari to an epic new safari resort opening this summer, Six Flags is quite the exciting destination for families. 

RELATED: The Best Long Island Playgrounds for Toddlers

Take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird

27. Statue of Liberty

Plan a trip to downtown NYC to hop the ferry to the Statue of Liberty Museum which as lots of interactive exhibits and touchable artifacts for kids.

28. Long Island City

Soar to new heights at iFly in Long Island City. Or visit Socrates Sculpture Park where kids and adults can enjoy the beautiful park, sculpture events, and activities, all of which are completely FREE.

29. Diggerland

Dig with an excavator, drive a dump truck, and more at the Diggerland USA amusement park in Southern New Jersey reopening March 15, 2025 for the season. The venue also has a water park. 

Originally published in April 2018, this post was updated in March 2024. Writer Jennifer Voit contributed to the 2025 update.