Summer Fun

School’s out in just a matter of days—and the lack of plans and activities can be a cause for stress for so many families trying to fill the void of time for the next couple of months.  However, with a little searching and some creativity, Long Island  and the tri-state area offers some of the best stay-cation possibilities around.

 If you like the beach for starters, maybe  a trip to a lighthouse could help add a little interest to a normal beach day.  If the Fire Island Lighthouse has already been part of your summer’s plans, maybe take a nice long ride out to Montauk and spend the day on the beach out there and visit the Montauk Lighthouse.  If you head a little north up to Gosman’s Dock , you can watch the fishing boats come in, visit the many small shops or just have a nice seasonal meal.

 For those willing to brave the outdoors, camping with family and friends in Montauk has become a beloved summertime ritual. 

Perhaps instead of watching fishing boats come in, maybe a day on a fishing boat could add a little thrill to your day.   Nothing like the excitement of  catching your very first fish!  As kids get a little older, activities need to get a little more challenging to keep them amused. 

Many different parts of the island have places renting kayaks and canoes. And being an island, there are so many different bodies of water just waiting to be discovered—from the Great South Bay, to the Hamptons and Riverhead, and up on the north shore The Sound is just waiting to be explored.

Perhaps you’ve exhausted every nook and cranny on Long Island, but still need ideas to pass the time, maybe you need to venture just a little bit further.  Well… New York City might be where you need to head. 

There are always the zoos—if the Bronx Zoo is too overwhelming, then maybe the Central Park Zoo is for you. 

Depending on the age of those in your brood, there are always the many parks the city has, or visitor spots such as the Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial, or Chelsea Piers.  Chelsea Piers has something for everyone of every age.  There are drop-in activities ranging from basketball, soccer, gymnastics, batting cages, and even rock climbing.

 If your dependents are a little older, a walk on the High Line on  a nice day can be rewarding.  The High Line is a one mile linear park that is an old elevated freight rail which was transformed into a public park.

One of the newest and most creative ways to spend a nice day in the city, is by bicycle.  Bike and Roll is a company offering bike rentals.  You can rent a bike for you and your children—even bike seats are available, by the hour, half day or full day and do a self-guided or a guided tour on bike of many different parts of the city.

There is no reason to sit home wondering what everyone else is doing this summer.  No matter what your interests are, or the ages of those you are trying to entertain, there is most definitely something for everyone to complete their summer! So, what are your favorite things to do for the summer?