Tween GoList: Amusement Parks, Water Parks, and More Things To Do With LI Kids
Bounce house boredom setting in? A tween eager for new interests and engagement offers parents exciting possibilities for family fun on Long Island. Here are some of our favorite destinations and activities for that hard-to-define age between young childhood and these teenage years.
Added bonus: These activities are guaranteed to get your tween off the couch and away from the electronics.
OUR LATEST VIDEOS
You can find even more fun for your tween in our rundowns of Long Island arcades, mini golf courses, ninja courses, theme parks, and water parks. Of course, sign up for our FREE newsletters to get posts like this delivered to your inbox.
RELATED: Sports Centers and Fun Zones for Kids on LI
An adventure park perfect for tweens in the heart of Bayville? Who knew? Photo courtesy of the park
Things to Do in Nassau County With Long Island Tweens
Bayville Adventure Park — Bayville
Who ever would imagine the tiny North Shore community of Bayville would host one of the Island's most popular amusement attractions? Bayville Adventure Park is across the street from the Long Island Sound. In addition to its pirate-themed, rock climbing walls, arcade, and funhouse perfect for tweens, the park features a bumper-boat safari course, and a spirited water balloon attraction. In the autumn, the park transitions into Bayville Scream Park.
Glowgolf — East Garden City
At Roosevelt Field mall, you can take a break from shopping and visit Glowgolf, a glow-in-the-dark miniature golf facility. Located on the concourse level near the kids play area, you can grab a club and ball and embark on a glowing adventure through 27 holes. Set amid twisting hallways and rooms, Glowgolf is played completely under black lights. Each hole offers a unique experience, with windmills, motorized components, inclines, blocks, and even a gravity-defying loop-the-loop.
WildPlay Element Park — Wantagh
An adventure course at Jones Beach State Park opened at the beachfront attraction in July. WildPlay Element Parks installed the gravity-defying East Mall Adventure Course, facing the Atlantic Ocean. The outdoor adventure course challenges tweens and other visitors to conquer their fear of heights and their physical limitations, all while offering sweeping ocean views. So get ready to muster up some courage and see what you can do!
RELATED: Obstacle Courses, Rock Climbing, and Ninja Training for LI Kids
It's coasters and plenty more for tweens at Adventureland. Photo courtesy of Adventureland
Things to Do in Suffolk County With Long Island Tweens
Adventureland — Farmingdale
Along with its thrilling roller coaster and Ferris wheel, this established Long Island amusement park boasts three exciting water rides. Adventure Falls is a popular flume ride for bigger kids with twists, curves and a high-speed drop. Mystery Mansion is a two-story, dark ride that opened in 2018.
Adventure Park at Long Island — Wheatley Heights
Tweens can climb or sail among the trees at this outdoor park with 10 separate trails and bridges and more than 140 unique challenges. NOTE: Kids must be at least 7 to visit. It also offers nighttime glow-in-the-dark courses throughout the season.
Boomer's Family Fun Center — Medford
The bumper boats might not be the primary attraction at this multithemed family center in the center of the Island. But after a few runs on the go-kart course and roller coaster, and some swings in the batting cage, who can resist cooling off on the bumper car-like water track?
RPM Raceway — Farmingdale
At this indoor go-kart racing park, up to 10 child and adult drivers at a time compete in side-by-side racing on two separate, quarter-mile tracks. Races last about 10 minutes. The facility also features an arcade, pool tables and a race simulator. Annual memberships are available. Five party rooms are available for rent. NOTE: Kids must be at least 6 years old and 4-feet, 10-inches tall to race junior go-karts.
RELATED: Enjoy These Awesome Long Island Amusement Parks
Thrill to old and new attractions at Splish Splash in Riverhead. Photo courtesy of the park
Things to Do on the East End With Long Island Tweens
Long Island Sports Park — Calverton
This outdoor oasis offers a variety of sporting and recreational events, including innovative disc golf (using flying discs to complete each hole in the least amount of throws), foot golf (which uses the scoring of real golf, but completing the holes using your feet and a soccer ball). Here, tweens will also find mini-golf, paintball, Bubble Palooza parties, an obstacle course and more.
Splish Splash — Calverton
This 95-acre park has enough water-themed rides, slides, and attractions to keep an entire family happily saturated. Thrill-seekers should seek out Riptide Racer, a high-speed water race, and Bombs Away, which features dueling 300-foot slides.