Gina Massaro

Latest posts by Gina Massaro

Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays on Long Island

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Mon, 04/24/2023 - 6:58am

Light up lemonades at Burgerology are great for birthday celebrations.

The party is planned, the presents are wrapped, and there's only one thing left to figure out: What are the best restaurants for a birthday dinner on Long Island?

We've got you covered: Whether it's super milkshakes, a cool theme, or a live band, the restaurants below will make kids feel extra special on their bday.

Find great birthday cake ideas for a kids' birthday party and much more in our Birthday Party Guide for Long Island Kids.

Best Roller Skating on Long Island for Families

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Fri, 04/14/2023 - 7:15am

Skate year-round on Long Island at United Skates of America.

Roller skating is an activity accessible to most ages, even toddlers, and Long Island has some great rinks for the whole family to enjoy.

We've divided up our list below of top roller skating rinks into indoor and outdoor options. Indoor options tend to be particularly good for first-timers, and most rent skates. Some rinks even offer free lessons for beginners. For families who already have skates and want to get some fresh air, check out one of the outdoor roller skating rinks on Long Island.

For more outdoor fun, check out our Guide to Playgrounds and Parks on Long Island or if it's rainy, take a peek at our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces on Long Island.

Swim with Sharks, Meet Penguins, and Other Animal Experiences at the Long Island Aquarium

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Tue, 04/04/2023 - 4:30pm

Animal encounters are easily one of the most fun and memorable parts of visiting the Long Island Aquarium.

Home to one of the largest all-living coral reef displays in this hemisphere, a 120,000-gallon shark habitat, and 100+ engaging aquatic exhibits, the Long Island Aquarium is also overflowing with opportunities to get up close and personal with the animals!

From selfies with penguins to the chance to wade through a critter-filled salt marsh, animal encounters are easily one of the most fun and memorable parts of visiting the Long Island Aquarium. To make sure you don’t miss a thing on your next trip, take a look at some of our favorite interactive experiences, broken down by those that are free with the cost of admission and those that require an additional free–plus, oftentimes, a reservation.

Indoor Playground La La Land Opens in Babylon

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Mon, 03/06/2023 - 6:44am

The indoor playground has plenty of play space. Photo courtesy of the venue

La La Land is Long Island's newest indoor playground for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. La La Land is warm and inviting, and little ones can explore, pretend, climb, slide and so much more in a safe environment built just for them.

Check out our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces for Long Island Kids for other activity ideas, and find more great things to do with little ones in our Long Island Baby Guide and Preschooler Guide.

Best Zoo and Museum Summer Camps on Long Island

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Sun, 03/05/2023 - 8:03am

Budding marine biologists will learn about local ecology at the Long Island Maritime Museum's summer camps. Photo courtesy of the museum

There's no shortage of summer camps on Long Island for families. There are art summer camps, sports summer camps, and yes, even museum and zoo summer camps. Many of Long Island's science and nature museums offer summer camps and workshops, while a few farms also offer summer camps that allow children to get hands-on with animals. We've rounded up the best museum, zoo, and animal summer camps. These cool summer camp experiences cater to kids from ages 3 years to high school.

Looking for more on Long Island summer camps? Check out our Long Island Summer Camp Guide and Camp Directory, where you'll find our list of the best day summer camps in Nassau and Suffolk County, and can search by town or interest to find the right summer camp for your kid.

Fun Indoor Birthday Party Places with Mega Playgrounds on Long Island for Kids

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Fri, 02/17/2023 - 5:07pm

Pump It Up is a perfect spot for an indoor birthday party on Long Island.

Indoor playgrounds make perfect birthday party places for one simple reason: it takes all the hard work out of party planning! That's why we're so lucky to have all these options on Long Island that aren't just basic indoor play spaces, but are mega indoor playgrounds. These massive spaces offer loads of different activities to entertain kids of all ages on ninja courses, trampolines, ropes courses, and more.

These birthday party places make for one-stop party planning—taking care of not only the feeding, entertaining, hosting, and cleanup, but also offering activities for every age—from safe toddler zones to VR for teens. With favorite indoor playgrounds in Nassau County and Suffolk County, there's bound to be one near your home. Bonus: You never have to worry about the weather when hosting a party at one of these mega indoor play spaces.

For more birthday party ideas, see our birthday party guide for Long Island kids, with recommendations on birthday party places for everyone from toddlers to tweens.

Best Baby Stores on Long Island

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Sun, 01/22/2023 - 8:06am

Beautiful, high-quality clothing can be affordable at Hope & Henry.

Looking for the best baby stores on Long Island? Read on for 10 of our top picks.

There are few things more exciting than anticipating a baby bundle of joy, and shopping for that baby is also pretty fun. Whether you're a newly expecting parent, already a pro, or a friend or family member searching for the perfect baby gift, we've got you covered with the top baby stores on Long Island. You can find everything from an outfit to bring the baby home in, to his or her first lovey, and can even plan ahead for the big first birthday.

For more great baby tips, check out our Long Island Baby Guide.

Visiting the Long Island Children's Museum with Kids

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Mon, 01/02/2023 - 1:15pm

A collaborative effort takes place in LICM's TotSpot. Photo courtesy of the museum

Visiting the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City is a must-do activity for Long Island kids. The museum is home to more than 10 regular exhibits and also has rotating, seasonal shows throughout the year.

The museum's facilities range from a play space geared toward toddlers to climbing structures for older kids. The institution also hosts regular classes and is a popular spot for birthday parties. Read on for a rundown of all its features.

Find out more about Long Island's many cultural institutions in our Museums and Art Guide for Long Island Kids.