Outdoor Activities in Long Island

For those who love the outdoors, there are many activities in Long Island during the off-tax season. We've put together some fun local suggestions! Get outside before summer is all gone!

-Bronx Zoo

If you have kids or are an animal lover, this is the perfect activity for you. The Bronx Zoo is the largest urban one in the U.S. It has approximately 265 acres and over 5,000 animals. The general admission is free. However, if you want to participate in the activities, such as the Bug Carousel, it’s about $14.95 for the Total Experiences package.

-Rockaway Beach

If the beach scene is your thing, Rockaway Beach is the perfect option for you. It can be easily reached via subway as it’s located in the Queen’s borough. It is said to be very clean, have a lot of seashells to collect and police constantly patrolling it. Their boardwalk is also friendly for bike riding and jogging.

-Rockaway Jet Ski

If water sports are your thing, the Rockaway Jet Ski is the activity for you. It is said to be a good experience for novice jet skiers. The staff is said to be very friendly and have extensive knowledge of the Jamaica Bay. Even more, the owner is good about addressing complaints in a very quick manner.

-Van Cortlandt Park

If parks and history are your thing, the Van Cortlandt is lush and beautiful. It is the third largest park in New York City with over 1,000 acres. Much of it is still forested and its borough has a freshwater lake. It is also rich with historical landmarks. It has its own golf course, which was founded in 1895. It has its own House, which was built around the late 1740’s. The Old Croton Aqueduct connects to the city’s original channel.

-Animal Farm Petting Zoo

Located in Suffolk County, this non-profit org is funded by the visits to the park and donations. This park is open to the public. It includes a petting zoo and free pony rides. A lot of the animals that stay at this location are rescue animals. Visit a place filled with green grass, open spaces, and colorful gardens.

Take a trip with the family and let us know how it goes! We look forward to seeing you all next season. It'll get here sooner than you think. Get outside and enjoy the summer. 

please check back in September 2018

Best State Parks in Long Island

After tax season has ended at P.T.R.C. it is time to take a break and enjoy the nice weather in Long Island. You may not realize this, but Long Island has some great outdoor activities. These are some of the best state parks in Long Island.

Belmont Lake State Park

This state park has several activities for you and your family. You can rent a boat and take it out on the lake. You can also go hiking on one of the many trails. There are open fields for play sports and this is a great place to get out and enjoy nature.

Sunken Meadows State Park

This park has several great geographical features. There are bluffs, tidal flats, salt marshes, and even a brackish creek. There are several hills where you can see wildlife and trails to go hiking on. There is also an area for swimming and during the summer months, there are lifeguards on duty for safety. If you like to picnic there is a large area dedicated to this. If you have a special event coming up such as a wedding or other part of the park can be used to host this event.

Hoyt Farm Park Preserve

This park is one of the largest in Long Island and is over 133 acres. There are fields for different sports including baseball, a playground, and an area for a picnic. If you like to go bird watching this park is home to many different species of birds including the red-bellied woodpecker and the American Goldfinch. This park is open all 365 days of the year and is a great place for you to plan a family outing.

These are some of the best state parks in all of Long Island. When taking a break from P.T.R.C. these state parks will allow you to enjoy the outdoors. 

Long Island Tours to Go On

Things to Do About Long Island

From shorebirds, cormorants, cardinals and majestic ospreys to hawks and falcons, Long Island has close to 500 species of birds and is a favorite for birdwatchers. Various sanctuaries dot the landscape on this beautiful island interspaced with wildlife refuges and a few floral parks.

If walking around does not agree with you, cruise through the scenic environment of Stony Brook. 27-passenger pontoon boat cruises through the organization’s 88-acre wetlands preserve for a 90-minute tour. An onboard naturalist describes the wildlife and flora you’ll see.

For the physical fitness fans, available are various bike tours to take you through beautiful routes and get you working out too. From the Mattituck Guided Farm and Wine Country Bike Tour offered by East End Bike Tours to the endurance Montauk and Shelter Island Overnight Bike Tour which comes as part of a package by Gotham Bicycle Tours.

For those who are more adventurous, their tours of the iconic island that can be carried out on foot, car, boats or even helicopters. The tours are not just picturesque; they come loaded with different aspects. History, architecture, nature, and culture come together on Long Island to create the perfect holiday getaway whether you are a local or from out of town.

For the children, the island is home to Adventure Land Amusement Park, or you can tour Deep Hollow Ranch where you get to visit on horseback the serene beaches or go on fun wagon tours.

Ranked among the world's Top 10 Wine regions, Long Island plays host to various wineries, and there packages that will let you see up close how good wine is made. The hotels in Long Island are highly rated, and for the avid traveler, the allure of Long Island is more than just its fame.

For the more refined, Heckscher Museum of Art and the Parrish Art Museum are a must visit, these carry not only history but the pieces on display are breathtaking. You can visit the Montauk Lighthouse, one of the most famous, where you get magnificent views of the ocean. Even the golfer can polish his game while on holiday at the Bethpage State Park which is home to a championship golf course.

Let us know if any of these outside / indoor tours and fun spark any interest! We want to know if you go on any. 

Fun Summer Kid Crafts

In the summertime, it can often be difficult to come up with things to do outside. These crafts you can do in the shade outside or in the home with the cool AC. Have fun with it!

With a few basic ingredients, you can make a homemade puffy paint for your kids to play with all day long. 

Puffy Paints

• All you need is one cup of flour, three teaspoons of baking powder, one teaspoon of salt and enough water to make it liquid like pancake batter. 
• Mix this solution and place the puffy liquid in four separate bags and put a rubber band on each one. 
• Use food coloring in each bag and mix them up. 
• Then, cut off a tiny hole in the other side of the bag and paint away. 

Flubber / Slime

Have you ever wanted to make your own flubber? All you'll need is:

• 3/4 of a cup of cold water

• One cup of Elmer's glue

• Some liquid food coloring

• Half a cup of hot water

• Teaspoon of borax

Once you have all the ingredients, you mix the cold water, glue, and food coloring together before, set it aside in a bowl. Then, you mix together the hot water and borax in its own bowl. Once the borax has dissolved, slowly add the glue mixture to the first bowl and mix it well. Afterward, pour off any excess water that may have found its way into the mixture. Once that's done, you'll be ready to play with your new flubber/slime.

Puppets

If neither of those options seems appealing to your kids, you can always try making your own paper bag puppets!

For this, all you need is a paper bag, construction paper, a glue stick, and scissors. With paper bad puppets, there is an endless range fo what your kids can do with the backs. Use the construction paper as teeth, eyes, arms, wings, legs, however they want, this is all about using your imagination.

We hope you pick one of these as a fun to do option with the kiddos during this summer. Let us know if you have any other fun crafting topics you'd like to see us cover.