Paying full price every time Laurie Serrano wants to take her daughter, Alejandra, 3, to the Long Island Aquarium just wouldn't make sense — that's why Serrano, 33, a dental hygienist from Shirley, and her husband, Christopher, 33, a police officer, purchased an aquarium membership.

“It's interactive for the kids and they learn new things,” she says. And, once the family goes twice, visits are free, she says.

Purchasing a membership or a season pass to various Long Island venues is just one way that families can stretch their entertainment dollars this summer. Here are other ways to save at big-ticket attractions. Prices listed are for admission; some venues may also have parking fees.

Adventureland

• “We're launching a new program with Suffolk County libraries,” says park manager Jeanine Gentile. Library cardholders can purchase daily admission tickets from their branch for $27.50 per ticket that covers all ages. For a family of four, that comes to $110 plus tax, a savings of more than $68 (regular pricing is $39.50 per adult and $49.50 for age 2 to 24, for total of $178 plus tax for a family of four). Tickets can be used any day in June, July, August and September. Nassau County is not available.
• The park is bringing back its Mother's Day and Father's Day promotions. On Mother's Day, moms bringing a child to the park enter for free, a savings of $39.50. Bring Grandma along and she's free too. The same deal goes for fathers on Father's Day.
• New this year is the addition of a Grandparents' Day promotion. Grandma and Grandpa both are free on Sept. 8. Have them bring the kids and they'll pay only for the children, a savings of $79.

Parent saving hack

“We do the local street fairs and carnivals. My husband loves to take them there,” says Liliana Peters, of Lindenhurst, who has three children, Liam, 8, Lennox, 6, and Kyla, 3. The family saves money because they can pay for rides a la carte depending on what interests each child. “There’s not like one fee to get in. If they don’t like a ride, you don’t have to buy a ticket,” she says.

• If you plan to visit more than three or four times this season, consider a season pass. Buy it online and you'll save more than if you purchase it at the park — online it's $120 plus tax for adults and $185 plus tax for age 2 to 24. (At the park it's $135 and $205 respectively plus tax.) New this year is the ability for season pass holders to redeem two discounted guest passes during June, July or August for any age for $30 each.
• Alfie the Adventureland mascot offers Alfie's Last Call every day the park is open. Come two hours before closing and pay $27 plus tax. Those tickets are only available in person at the ticket booth. A family of four pays $108 plus tax, a savings of about $70. 

Long Island Aquarium

• If someone in the family has a birthday near the time of your visit, you're in luck. The birthday celebrant gets in free for seven days before, on the actual day, and seven days after their birthday. Just show your ID to save $33.99 for a child age 3 to 12, $47.99 for an adult age 13 to 61, and $34.99 for a senior age 62 and older, says Darlene Puntillo, aquarium marketing and advertising director. Even children need an ID, she emphasizes, and it must be a document such as a birth certificate, pediatric medical record or school record. “It's crucial that they bring something with birth date documentation on it,” she says.
• Organize your family, friends or your mothers' group and score a group rate — 15 people coming at the same time between July 1 and Labor Day will pay $29 plus tax for each person, regardless of age. A family of four normally costs $163.96 plus tax; with the group rate it's $116 plus tax, a savings of about $48. 

Parent saving hack

Laurie Serrano, 33, a dental hygienist from Shirley, and her husband, Christopher, 33, a police officer, opted for a membership at the Long Island Aquarium so they could take their daughter, Alejandra, 3, there as often as they like. She especially likes to go to the aquarium on rainy days, and says the venue is interactive and her daughter learns new things each visit. Grandfather Derlis Chavarria, 59, a carpenter from Hampton Bays, likes to join on aquarium trips.

• If an hour is enough time for your family to spend at the venue, then get half price on all tickets by coming for the last hour of a day, saving $82.
• If you're a frequent visitor, consider an annual membership, which pays for itself after two visits, Puntillo says. Membership for a family of four is $265 plus tax. Membership also provides 10% off food, merchandise, add ons and public events and is good for 365 days from the date of purchase.

The Adventure Park at Long Island 

• Just launched this season is a monthly membership. “It's kind of like a gym membership,” says Candie Fisher, president of The Adventure Parks brand. Pay about 1½ times the price of a regular ticket and come as often as you like during that month. “I think it's going to be big for the summer when you have kids off school and they can come as much as they want,” Fisher says. There's no commitment, just a recurring payment each month the pass is active; cancel at any time. The cost for age 14 and older is $104 a month plus tax and for age 7 to 13 it's $89 a month plus tax.
• Another way to save is to buy tickets online in advance of a visit. Regular admission is $69 in advance for age 14 and older and $59 in advance for age 7 to 13; it's an additional $10 per ticket at the door, Fisher says.

Parent savings hack

“We do more earthy things,” says Stan Klos, 40, an electrician from Smithtown. He and his wife, Melissa, 35, have two children, Lex, 9, and Ty, 3. “Any of the state parks or nature preserves, if they have any events, we tend to gravitate toward those,” agrees Melissa.

• The Adventure Park offers a Last Call ticket 2½ hours before the end of the day for $57 plus tax, a savings of $12 per ticket. It includes a 30-minute safety briefing and two hours of climbing; the trade-off is that certain courses begin to close at one hour and then again at 30 minutes before closing, Fisher says.
• On Mother's Day, moms climb free with a child or adult — a savings of $69. Same goes for Dad on Father's Day.
• Senior citizens, first responders, members of the military, teachers and college students all save 15% off the regular price, either in advance or at the door, Fisher says. 

Long Island Game Farm

• Regular admission to the Game Farm is $26.95 per adult and $19.95 per child age 3 to 12, plus tax. Through mid-May, while there's no discount on tickets, each person gets a free cup of food to feed the animals, which would otherwise cost $7 each.
• Animal lovers may want to invest in a family pass, which costs $279 plus tax for two named adults and two named children (passes cannot be shared with others). “If you visit three times, then it's free,” says Melinda Novak, game farm president. The pass is good for one year, Novak says.
• There's also the option of a punch card that allows for 12 visits and costs $210 plus tax, which works out to be $17.50 per visit plus tax. For a family of four, the cost would be $70 plus tax for a visit, a savings of about $24. Punch cards can also be shared with anyone, Novak says. 

Splish Splash Water Park

• Regular prices are $74.99 per adult and $64.99 for children under 48 inches (younger than 2 is free) at the gate, plus tax. Visit Splish Splash during May or June for the best ticket promotions; check the website for more information. May promotions should be released by May 9, says Danielle Trombetta, director of marketing.
• Guests can also contact their local Suffolk or Nassau county library throughout the summer to buy a discounted ticket at $44.99 plus tax. Buying tickets for a family of four at the library would save $100.
• Online prices are often less and vary by date; check the website for more information. For instance, an online ticket during peak season might save more than $20 per adult, Trombetta says. Weekday prices are also always less expensive than going on a weekend, Trombetta says.
• For multiple visits, a season pass is $99.99 and if a guest visits the park three times in a season, it would come out to $33.33 a visit, Trombetta says.
• The park offers military pricing, which is good for the military person and up to three guests for $44.99 per person, a savings of $100. The park also offers Teacher Appreciation Week in June and Hero Appreciation Week in August, when qualifying visitors and their guests receive a discount. Check the website for those prices. 

MORE INFO

Adventureland, 2245 Broadhollow Rd., Farmingdale, 631-694-6868, adventureland.us

Long Island Aquarium, 431 E. Main St., Riverhead, 631-208-9200, longislandaquarium.com

The Adventure Park at Long Island, 75 Colonial Springs Rd., Wheatley Heights, 631-983-3844, myadventurepark.com

The Long Island Game Farm, 489 Chapman Blvd., Manorville, 631-878-6644, longislandgamefarm.com

Splish Splash Water Park, 2549 Splish Splash Dr., Calverton, 631-727-3600, splishsplash.com

By Beth Whitehouse

beth.whitehouse@newsday.comBethWhitehouse1

Beth Whitehouse writes about families, parenting and great things to do with the kids on Long Island. She’s been a Newsday editor and shared a 1997 Newsday staff Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the crash of TWA Flight 800.