Jennifer Voit

Latest posts by Jennifer Voit

Most Decadent, Delicious Hot Chocolate on Long Island

Submitted by Jennifer Voit on Fri, 12/20/2024 - 10:09am

Cozy up to the Campfire Cocoa, one of the specialty hot chocolates at Café Portofino in Northport. Photo courtesy of Café Portofino

Enjoying a mouthwatering hot chocolate on Long Island with the kids is a perfect way to warm up this winter. Adults and kids love this tasty treat, especially when topped with marshmallows, whipped cream, or both. Some cafes, coffee shops, and restaurants offer unique hot chocolate concoctions with fun flavors, toppings, or even rich chocolate shavings to satisfy your sweet tooth.

We've rounded up some of the best spots across Long Island serving up delectable hot chocolates with incredible playgrounds nearby. Read ahead to start planning a day filled with wintry playground action topped off with an unforgettable hot chocolate experience.

For even more seasonal outings, check out our Winter Fun Guide and our list of Long Island's best family-friendly restaurants.

Hop Aboard the Polar Express in Port Jefferson this Holiday Season

Submitted by Jennifer Voit on Mon, 12/02/2024 - 5:58am

Your kids will use golden tickets to board the Polar Express Experience in Port Jefferson.

The Polar Express Experience in Port Jefferson Station on Long Island is an interactive holiday treat kids will love. The classic Christmas movie is brought to life for little ones on a charming, stationary antique train car. My kids have never been on a Polar Express movie adventure and enjoyed every merry moment of this one.

This movie screening filled our family with the Christmas spirit, from golden tickets to hot chocolate to a surprise visit from Santa Claus himself. Read ahead for all the details to plan your Polar Express viewing experience.

For more seasonal festivities, check out our Long Island Guide to Holiday Fun, including our list of 25 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities on Long Island.

Your Holly Jolly Guide to Visiting Santa's Christmas Tree Farm with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Voit on Fri, 11/22/2024 - 12:06pm

Find the perfect tree for your family at Santa's Christmas Tree Farm.

A visit to one of Long Island's local Christmas tree farms is a perfect holiday adventure to enjoy this season, and a day at Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm in Cutchogue on the North Fork is magical for the whole family. Enjoy festive entertainment at every turn and memorable experiences to share.

Our family visits this East End gem every year. My kids cannot get enough of the interactive, seasonal activities. From a visit with Santa to ice skating under twinkling lights to choosing our own Christmas tree, the destination-worthy farm has it all.

Read ahead for all the details to plan your own holly, jolly trip to Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm. For even more merry festivities, check out our Long Island Guide to Holiday Fun, which includes our gift to you: this bucket list of Christmas events and holiday activities on Long Island.

Best Horseback Riding Lessons on Long Island for Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Voit on Mon, 10/21/2024 - 6:14am

The Thomas School of Horsemanship has multiple outdoor rings. Photo courtesy of the school

Horseback riding lessons on Long Island offer kids a unique way to learn an exciting lifelong skill, gain confidence, and have a lot of fun. From pony rides for little ones to weekly lessons and trail rides for older kids, Long Island stables and equestrian centers have various options for beginners to advanced riders.

Animal-loving kids will have a chance to bond with a beautiful horse or pony and learn how to care for and communicate with their new friends. Kids should dress appropriately for riding lessons. Boots are preferred, and some stables provide helmets at the lessons, while others require you to bring your own.

Read on for our list of the best stables and equestrian centers across Long Island for horseback riding lessons kids will love. For more active adventures, check out our guide to Long Island Family Fun.

Dive Into the Whaling Museum's "Monsters & Mermaids" Exhibit in Cold Spring Harbor

Submitted by Jennifer Voit on Mon, 10/14/2024 - 7:40am

At Monsters & Mermaids explore how human interest in mermaids is timeless.

A visit to the Whaling Museum & Education Center in Cold Spring Harbor is nautical fun for the whole family. This Suffolk County gem is home to historical Long Island maritime exhibits and whaling industry artifacts dating back to the 19th century.

The museum's new exhibition, “Monsters & Mermaids,” transports kids and adults into a mythical world of mermaids, sirens, and legendary deep-sea creatures. Mermaid-loving kids and aspiring ocean explorers, like my little ones, were dazzled by the exhibit's hands-on crafts, interactive oceanic folklore fun, scavenger hunt, and more.

Read on for details that will help you plan your family’s Whaling Museum adventure, and check out our Guide to the Best Museums for Kids on Long Island for more tips on visiting LI's top cultural instituations.

Long Island Libraries with Great Play Spaces and Children's Rooms

Submitted by Jennifer Voit on Mon, 09/30/2024 - 7:26am

Westbury Memorial Public Library has a separate children's library building with play spaces. Photo by the author

Libraries across Long Island provide incredible opportunities for kids to learn, play, read, and explore. Parents can entertain kids for hours in any season and weather with a visit to one of the fantastic, hands-on, FREE play spaces and children's rooms many Long Island library branches offer.

From building blocks galore to exciting nature discovery zones to wooden trains to board, Long Island libraries offer kids a place to let their imaginations soar. We’ve rounded up a list of destination-worthy Long Island libraries with memorable play areas, both indoors and outdoors. For more family adventures as the weather cools off check out our Free Things to Do Indoors on Long Island and 15 Family Fun Centers on Long Island.

Best Arts and Crafts Birthday Party Places on Long Island for Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Voit on Fri, 09/06/2024 - 8:56am

Casa De Spin in Massapequa offers a unique take on canvas-painting parties. Photo courtesy of the studio

Craft-themed birthday party places across Long Island offer festive, art-filled interactive events for kids. Party packages accommodate different age groups, from young kids to tweens and teens. Art-loving kids can celebrate with a cool canvas paint party, doll fashion design bash, plaster craft fun, and more hands-on creations at these unique venues.

Read ahead for our picks of the best arts and crafts birthday party places to start planning a memorable celebration. And check out our Long Island Party Guide for even more great birthday party ideas.

15 Family Fun Centers on Long Island

Submitted by Jennifer Voit on Fri, 08/16/2024 - 7:28am

Bounce! in Syosset is a trampoline adventure destination that includes a toddler playground for younger kids. Photo by Jennifer Voit

Long Island's indoor family fun centers are a great way to spend an action-packed day with kids. Our round-up of LI's indoor amusement parks will have toddlers and kids using their boundless energy to bounce, climb, play, jump, and slide through rainy or cold weather days.

Waivers are required for kids to participate at most family fun centers, along with grip socks. Mega indoor playgrounds are popular for birthday parties and open play, so be sure to call or check websites before your visit. Many family fun centers also offer sensory calming spaces or times for kids with special needs.

Read on for all the details of the best family fun centers, arcades, and indoor go-kart tracks on Long Island. For more indoor fun ideas, check out our Free Things to do Indoors on Long Island and 25 Things to do Indoors on a Rainy Day.

Latest posts by Jennifer Voit

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