100 things every kid should do on Long Island

Play for the day at Once Upon a Treetop Once Upon a Treetop in Plainview features a tree house area that has nets, mats and a slide. You can also explore a mini-village, train station, grocery store, schoolhouse and more. (Open play: $12 walker, $6 crawler; 516-349-1140; Once Upon a Tree Top.

Jump around at Bounce Trampoline Sports in Syosset. This indoor play space features interconnected trampolines, featuring trampoline dodgeball, volleyball, slam dunk basketball, open bounce time, gymnastics training, rope swings and fitness classes.

Riding the historic Nunley's Carousel. Children and adults alike will enjoy the colorful wooden horses — or even a lion — on this 100-year-old carousel in Garden City. Riders can catch a brass ring for a free ride. ($2 per rider; 516-572-4066; Nunley's Carousel)

Explore the Long Island Children's Museum. Visit the many exhibits that encourage hands-on play and learning while having fun. Each room has a theme, from bubbles to building, plus theater and themed workshops. During the warmer months, don't miss the outdoor classroom, a garden exhibit that includes a water and sand play area and more. ($12, $10 seniors, free for children under 1; 516-224-5800; www.licm.org).

Visit the ice skating rink at The Rinx at Harborfront The Rinx at Harborfront in Port Jefferson offers both public sessions and lessons at an outside rink; call for fees 631-403-4357. If you're looking to skate inside, Cantiague Park in Hicksville offers both an indoor and outdoor skating rink which offers public sessions, group and private lessons as well as teen sessions; 516-571-7058.

Play and build with Legos

Kids can unleash their creativity by building unique creations, playing games and more at The Brick Center (481 Johnson Ave.) in Bohemia simply by playing with Lego bricks. Programs are tailored to specific age groups and areas on interest. Choose one of their hour-long classes that explore architecture with themes such as space, famous buildings, natural disasters and more. Or, head there for open build on Monday and Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., when kids can use and play with more than one million bricks at the center. They'll even store your project so you can work on it during multiple sessions. Price: $18 for a 90-minute session; unlimited monthly pass $99. For more information, call 631-572-8801 or visit thebrickcenter.com.

Check out a puppet show at the Long Island Puppet Theater & Museum Catch a daily show featuring your favorite TV and movie characters, as well as princess, pirates and more. Or, stroll through the museum and check out some of the puppets. Parents can even set up their own day and show time for a play group for $8.50 per person. ($11; 516-932-5469; Long Island Puppet Theater).

Get up close and personal with sea lions and more at the Long Island Aquarium You'll find a large living coral reef, a shark tank, year-round sea lion shows and more than 100 exhibits at the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center in Riverhead. There are multiple touch pools, including stingrays, that you can pet and feed, as well as a Butterflies & Birds exhibit. (631-208-9200; Long Island Aquarium).

Check out old planes at the Cradle of Aviation Museum Visit more than 73 air planes and spacecraft from Charles Lindbergh's historic flight to space exploration at the Cradle of Aviation Mueum in Garden City. There's also a giant screen dome theater, playing daily shows. ($14, $12 children and seniors; 516-572-4111; www.cradleofaviation.org).

Ride go-karts at Pole Position Raceway in Farmingdale. Ten drivers at a time compete in side-by-side racing on two separate, quarter-mile tracks. The go-karts can reach speeds of 45 miles per hour as the drivers negotiate straightaways and hairpin turns.

Visit the Big Duck Don't miss a photo-op at the Big Duck, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Pose for a picture in front of the Big Duck in Flanders and peek inside the souvenir shop that sells rubber ducks, stuffed animals, T-shirts and more. The gift shop is open year-round but call for hours. (631-852-8292; www.bigduck.org).

Enjoy a nature walk at the Science Museum of Long Island The Science Museum of Long Island in Manhasset is a science activity center that features educational programs, animals, off-site fossil digs, nature walks and more; fees vary by program; 516-627-9400.

Take a Play Hooray class with your kids Join in on the fun of Play Hooray with hobby horses, hula hoops, maracas, drums, balls, instruments and more with Play Hooray classes at various libraries across Long Island. They'll also come to you for parties or play groups. (516-768-4701; Play Hooray.

Try a game of paintball at High Velocity Outdoor Paintball. If you're adventurous, head to High Velocity Outdoor Paintball in Coram, which features seven outdoor fields with scenarios including World War II, castle, Air Force, Western town, "Attack and Defend," trench warfare and woods. ($25 a person, $10 groups of 20 or more, plus $20 for gun, face mask, air tank and unlimited compressed air fills. $30 for 500 paint balls, $10 for jump suit; 631-242-2096; High Velocity Outdoor Paintball.

Learn about the humpback whale at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum At the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, you'll find a 30-foot whaleboat, harpoons, scrimshaw and more. Kids will enjoy the hands-on activity center and special events throughout the year. ($6, $5 ages 5-18, seniors, $19 families; 631-367-3418; Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum).

Explore the Children's Museum of the East End Perfect for kids 12 and younger, the family-friendly Children's Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton features hands-on activities, exhibits and classes. ($9; 631-537-8250; cmee.org).

Climb up the mini-rock wall at The Children's Safari Rainy day or not, kids will love this interactive indoor playground at The Children's Safari in Valley Stream. They can try the mini-rock climbing wall, along with a sand pit, arcade games and a multilevel climbing unit of slides and tunnels. In the stuffing area, they can make a safari friend to take home. ($11 for kids from 1 to 12, $15 for events; 516-872-2600; The Children's Safari).

Go roller skating at United Skates of America Lace up your roller skates and head to United Skates of America in Seaford for a fun night out with your family. ($11 adults, $10 children, $4 rentals; 516-795-5474; www.unitedskates.com/seaford).

Play in a large, indoor playground at Wood Kingdom Kids can test ride all the Wood Kingdom play sets in the showroom of the Farmingdale, Coram and Medford locations on week days from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; kids can snack on free juice and cookies. ($8 for ages 18 months to 7; 631-845-3804; woodkingdom.com).

Star gaze at the Vanderbilt Museum The former home of William K. Vanderbilt II, the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium in Centerport features exhibits of marine science specimens, natural history dioramas, an Egyptian mummy, dinosaur replicas and more. Living history tours take place weekends from end of May through September. ($7, $6 per student or senior, $3 per child 13 and younger, additional fee for Planetarium; 631-854-5579; Vanderbilt Museum).

Walk through Wrong Island Railroad Visit this toy train museum which features displays and trains running through forests, cities and more at the Wrong Island Railroad Museum in Lake Ronkonkoma. They also carry a complete line of Thomas The Tank Engine cars and rails. ($5, children under 12, $4; 631-467-1222; Wrong Island Railroad).

Play dress-up at Le Play Cafe Half of Le Play Cafe in Bellmore is a coffee cafe, the other half is a play area for kids. For the little ones, there are stations where they can climb, dress up, play instruments and pretend to bake or shop in a market. ($10.95 children under 6, siblings $7.45; 516-308-7053; Le Play Cafe).

Become a sailor for the day at the Maritime Explorium Enjoy hands-on exhibits and learn about Long Island's maritime history at the Maritime Explorium in Port Jefferson. ($5; 631-331-3277; Maritime Explorium).

Play with butterflies at Sweetbriar Nature Center The butterfly house at the Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown features 20 to 30 species of butterflies. There's also an interpretive rain forest exhibit that includes iguana, a red-tail boa constrictor and parrots, tree frogs, newts and more along with hiking trails and picnic areas. (Free; butterfly house $3 adults, $2 children and seniors; 631-979-6344; Sweetbriar Nature Center)

Walk through the maze-like gardens at Old Westbury Gardens Old Westbury Gardens is home to a perennial and rose gardens, trails, lakes, picnic areas and more. There are also many kids' events, plus mini log cabins to play in. ($10, $8 older than 62, $5 ages 7-17; free 6 and younger; 516-333-0048; Old Westbury Gardens.

Climb to the top of the Montauk Lighthouse. Visitors can walk and play on the grounds at Montauk Point Lighthous, the first lighthouse in New York State, commissioned by President George Washington. Don't forget to check out the spectacular views from the top. ($9, $8 seniors, $4 for 41 inches to age 12, free under 41 inches; minimum height requirement is 41 inches for tower climb; 631-668-2544; www.montauklighthouse.com)

Slide down a 20-foot-high inflatable slide at Pump It Up Enjoy 10 inflatables, including a boxing and jousting ring with oversize, cartoon-like boxing gloves at Pump It Up in Bohemia. ($14.95 per child; 631-563-3100; Pump It Up).

Venture on a seal walk in Westhampton. At Cupsogue Beach County Park in Westhampton Beach you can take about a 1 1/2-mile guided walk to see seals with CRESLI (Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island) between May and November. ($5 contribution for adults, $3 children; 631-244-3352; cresli.org/cresli/seals/sealwalk.html)

Learn about African-American history and enjoy arts and crafts at the African-American Museum of Nassau County Long Island's only African-American museum is located in Hempstead, and it offers rotating historical exhibits as well as special arts and crafts workshops all year; $2 donation for adults, $1 donation for children under 12; 516-572-0730.

See llamas and kangaroos at The Animal Farm Petting Zoo. You can get up close and personal with exotic animals such as parrots, monkeys, llamas, camels, ostrich, kangaroos, reptiles and more at The Animal Farm Petting Zoo in Manorville. You can bottle-feed baby pigs and even get into a pen with baby goats. You'll also find playgrounds, picnic areas, pony rides, turtle train ride and a puppet show. ($13.50, $11.50 seniors and children ages 2-16, free under age 2; 631-878-1785; www.afpz.org)

Feed the animals and more at White Post Farms. During the warmer months at White Post Farms in Melville, kids will enjoy the animal petting zoo, as seen here in 2009, bird aviary, playgrounds, train rides and family entertainment. Pick pumpkins, eat roasted corn and more during the Fall Festival and visit Santa during the winter wonderland around the holidays. ($12.89 plus tax; 631-351-9373; www.whitepostfarms.com)

Spend a day at Adventureland

With more than 20 rides, including roller coasters, a haunted house, Ferris wheel, bumper cars and more, there's plenty for kids and adults to do at Adventureland in Farmingdale. Call or check website for fees and hours: 631-694-6868; www.adventureland.us.

Visit with butterflies at the Butterfly Zoo. Check out more than 100 butterflies including black-and-white Zebra Longwings, tiny, pastel-colored Julias and Buckeyes at The Butterfly Zoo at the Main Street Nursery and Florist in Huntington. The small enclosure has at least six species and is designed to show Long Island plants that attract butterflies; Free; 631-549-4515, mainstreetnursery.com.

Visit the Nassau County Art Museum Spend an afternoon at the Nassau County Art Museum in Roslyn with the kids and take in some art. Each Sunday, the museum offers supervised art activities for children -- family gallery talks on the exhibitions plus a craft to follow. Family Sundays at the Museum start at 1 p.m.; free with museum admission. ($10, $8 seniors, $4 students and children, free children under 4, $2 parking on weekends; 516-484-9337; nassaumuseum.org).

Check out a historic 1890 LIRR freight station at the Railroad Museum of Long Island Learn about historic trains through exhibits that include photos, displays, uniforms and more at the Railroad Museum of Long Island in Greenport. ($7 adults, $4 children 5-12 years old, and children younger than 5 free; 631-477-0439; Railroad Museum of Long Island).

Feed a giraffe at the Long Island Game Farm. At the Long Island Game Farm in Manorville, kids can bottle-feed baby animals, hand-feed a giraffe and see kangaroos, buffalos, ostriches and zebras. ($17.45; $15.45 ages 3-11; 631-878-6644; Long Island Game Farm).

Ride the rails at Southaven County Park The five-minute loop on the railroad tracks at Southaven County Park in Brookhaven mesmerizes the little ones who are enamored with trains. The Long Island Live Steamers club runs the miniature engines and sit-on-top cars on the second and last Sundays of each month from May through October; $1-$2 donation, 631-854-1414, longislandlivesteamers.org.

Plan an afternoon picnic at Planting Fields Arboretum. Pack up your family and head to the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay for a picnic lunch. Then, check out the nature trails, rose garden and head to Coe Hall Mansion for a self-guided tour. ($8 per car; 516-922-9200; www.plantingfields.org)

Take in a show at John W. Engeman Theater The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport often features children's performances such as "Cinderella," "Dr. Seuss, the Musical," and around the holidays "Rudolph." Call for tickets; 631-261-2900; John W. Engeman Theater.

Hit the Dino Trail at Sands Point Preserve This beautiful quarter-mile nature trail features a purple dinosaur, a springy, climbing station and more; $10 parking fee; 516-571-7900; Sands Point Preserve.

Go see freshwater turtles at the Fish Hatchery and Aquarium. The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium in Cold Spring Harbor features the state's largest collection of freshwater turtles. You'll also see freshwater fish and amphibians; 516-692-6768; www.cshfha.org.

Learn about farm animals at the Hallockville Museum Farm. The Hallockville Museum Farm in Riverhead shows what farm life was like on the North Fork from 1760 to 1930. There are many festivals throughout the year, such as the annual Fleece and Fiber Festival and Fall Festival with a petting zoo, hayrides and more. (Call for fees; 631-298-5292)

Hike the Greenbelt Trail. At Caleb Smith State Park in Smithtown, you can hike three and a half miles on the Greenbelt Trail, visit the nature museum and more. ($8 per car Memorial Day through Labor Day; 631-360-0753; Caleb Smith Park)

Take a leisurely stroll through Tackapausha Museum and Preserve. There are five miles of nature trails at Tackapausha Museum and Preserve in Seaford, along with educational programs and exhibits on Long Island wildlife, plants and more; $3 adults, $2 children 5 and over and senior; 516-572-0200.

Explore American Indian artifacts at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve Visit exhibits about Long Island's glacial history and a diorama how Indians adapted the seasons, along with nature trails with beautiful views at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve in Glen Cove. ($3, $2 ages 5-12; 516-571-8010; Garvies Point Museum and Preserve.

Play with model boats at Christopher Morley Park. There's so much to do at Christopher Morley Park in North Hills. There's a boat basin for model sailboats, tennis courts, a 9-hole golf course, playgrounds, jogging course, shuffleboard, baseball fields and more. During the summer, take a swim in the pool and in the winter, grab your skates and head to the outdoor ice rink. (Call for fees $4-$20; 516-571-8113; Christopher Morley Park)

Fire Island's Sunken Forest

Explore the Sunken Forest. Kids will love riding the ferry from Sayville over to Sailor's Haven to explore Fire Island's Sunken Forest. The beach has lifeguards, a snack bar and public restrooms ($13 round-trip adults, $7.50 ages 2-10; 631-589-0810 for Sayville ferry; nps.gov/fiis/planyourvisit/sunken-forest.htm)

Check out the outdoor classroom at the Nature Explorium – Middle Country Library. Outside this traditional library is an outdoor classroom, an all-natural environment for kids to play and learn. The Nature Explorium at the Middle Country Library in Centereach. This hands-on environment features areas for digging and playing with dirt, climbing and crawling with wooden logs, building with wooden blocks, art and music using natural materials, planting, and a water section. (631-585-9393)

Take a paddle boat out at Belmont Lake State Park. Kids will love paddling with their feet on these colorful paddleboats at Belmont Lake State Park in North Babylon, which you can rent from May through October. A family of four can fit, two paddling and two who can sit back. (631-667-5055; Belmont Lake State Park).

Indulge in unique ice cream flavors at Snowflake Treat yourself to homemade ice cream at Snowflake in Riverhead, which features traditional cones, sundaes and floats with flavors such as pumpkin, "Birthday Cake" and cotton candy. They also offer a "Muttwich," vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two Milkbone dog biscuits for your four-legged friends.

Catch a fish at Captree State Park There are two fishing piers and a marina where you can set sail on fishing excursions, plus there's a snack bar, playground and picnic area. ($8 per car; 631-669-0449; Captree State Park)

Rent a rowboat at Blydenburgh County Park

Spend the day at Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown and rent a rowboat, try freshwater fishing or take your bike down one of the many paths. (631-854-3713; Blydenburgh County Park)

Find more parks for kids on Long Island.

Pictured: Herman Shanian, of Mount Sinai, paddles his son, Ryan, 3, into position to catch fish (or anything that moves) in Mill Pond at Blydenburgh Park in Smithtown on July 19, 2005.

Tee off at Tiki Action Park Enjoy mini-golf, go-carts, a 40-game arcade and more at Tiki Action Park in Centereach. (Mini-golf: $8.50, $6 for younger than 6 and older than 60; go-karts: $7 single rider, $8 double rider; 631-471-1267; tikiactionpark.com/)

Ride the bumper boats at Boomers Family Fun Center. Plan an adventurous day at Boomers Family Fun Center in Medford and ride the bumper boats, carousel, roller coaster, go-karts and more. Or, climb up the 20-foot rock-climbing wall, play miniature golf or head to the batting cages for a fun day. ($23.95 for unlimited rides; 631-475-1771; www.boomersparks.com/site/medford/)

Go to a Long Island Ducks game. Take your kids out to a ball game and route for your home team at Bethpage Ballpark (3 Court House Dr., Central Islip). During the baseball season, ticket prices start at $11.

Choose your own fruits and veggies at Lewin Farms Go berry picking in the spring, choose tomatoes in the summer, find apples and pumpkins in the fall and pick your own Christmas tree in the winter at Lewin Farms. There's also a farm stand, which is closed on Tuesdays, and a corn maze that's guaranteed fun for kids of all ages. ($6 adults, $5 ages 3-12; 631-929-4327; www.lewinfarm.com/)

Explore the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center Visitors are encouraged to pet the livestock: llamas, sheep, pigs, rabbits, cows and more at the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center in Yaphank. Then, head over to the outdoor classroom which features an interactive nature art area, an herb garden, gourd maracas plus a slide and climbing hill. Parents take note: This is a working farm, so expect to walk through mud.

Have a ghost of a time at Hicks Nurseries Around Halloween at Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, stop in and say hello to Casper, the friendly ghost and around the holidays meet Santa Claus, reindeer and more. During the warm-weather months, Hicks features events and workshops for kids that teach them to plant, grow a garden and more. (516-334-0066; hicksnurseries.com)

Go camping at Hither Hills State Park Pack your sleeping bag and a tent and head over to Hither Hills State Park Campground in Montauk, which features swimming, horseshoes, a general store for staples and snacks, craft activities, outdoor movies and more. Kids can bring their bikes, too; call for pricing: 631-668-2554.

Stroll down the Nautical Mile Indulge in an Italian ice at Ralph's Famous Italian Ices, try a scoop of ice cream at Hershey's and play a round of mini-golf on the Nautical Mile in Freeport. (www.thenauticalmile.us)

Enjoy fresh baked goods and seasonal fruits at Harbes Family Farm and Vineyard Fruit and veggie farm stand in the summer, festival, corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin-picking and more during the fall, plus Barnyard Adventures where you can learn about baby animals at Harbes Family Farm and Vineyard in Mattituck.

Pick pumpkins and take a gander through a corn maze at F&W Schmitt Family Farm. In the warmer months, F&W Schmitt Family Farm in Melville offers a farm stand with fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a large selection of perennials and annuals. During the fall months, pick pumpkins, run through the corn maze and get spooked at the haunted mansion; 631-271-3276.

Take a riverboat tour Learn about the North Shore's wetlands ecosystem aboard the "Discovery" in Stony Brook. The 90-minute sightseeing tours aboard a 35-passenger pontoon boat are led by a naturalist. Trips leave morning, midday and at sunset and cost $22-$25, $15 younger than 6; 631-751-2244; www.wmho.org/wmhodiscoverycruise.asp.

Watch the surfers at Long Beach Head to Ocean Beach in Long Beach and watch the surfers while you stroll the boardwalk. Bikes and rollerblades are permitted and there's a new playground along the boardwalk, as well.

Visit with a potbellied pig and more animals at Martha Clara Vineyards. Mom and Dad can enjoy a glass of wine and then head over to the petting zoo to feed the animals at Martha Clara Vineyards in Riverhead. You'll see a potbellied pig, donkeys, Highland cattle, llamas and horses. From June-October, you can take horse-and-carriage rides around the property. ($1 to feed the animals; 631-298-0075; Martha Clara Vineyards)

Ride the waves at Splish Splash There are plenty of thrills to be had at Splish Splash in Calverton. You'll find multiple enclosed slides, raft rides, a lazy river, wave pool and plenty of kiddie rides. Plus, families can rent a cabana for the day. ($38.99, $29.99 shorter than 48 inches and 60 and older; 631-727-3600; Calverton; 631-727-3600; Splish Splash)

Pick your own berries at Patty's Berries & Bunches Plan a family outing to pick your own berries in the summer at Patty's Berries & Bunches in Mattituck: strawberries in June; blueberries, July-August; raspberries, July-September; and blackberries, August. Open daily June-October, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; 631-298-4679; pattysberriesandbunches.com.

Head to Bayville Adventure Park

Visit Bayville Adventure Park and enjoy a pirate-themed fun park with bumper boats, indoor rock climbing, miniature golf, ropes course, bungee bounce, train ride, 3-D Fun House, maze, video arcade and ice cream parlor. In the fall, it becomes Bayville Scream Park and during the holidays, it becomes a winter wonderland. ($29.75 for a one-day unlimited pass; 516-624-4678; bayvilleadventurepark.com)

Plan a family picnic at Eisenhower Park. There's so much to do at Eisenhower Park: mini-golf, batting range, tennis, playgrounds, jogging trails, bike paths, model boating and more. Pack a family picnic and spend the day. (516-572-0348; Eisenhower Park)

Try horseback riding at Hempstead Lake State Park. Spend an hour trotting along the bridle paths at Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead. The stables are privately owned by Lakewood Stables. ($40 for one-hour trail ride with a guide; 516-486-9673; Lakewood Stables; park information: 516-766-1029.

Watch goat's milk cheese being made at Catapano Dairy Farm. Catapano Dairy Farm has a cheesemaking area where you can watch organic goat's milk cheese being made. You can walk through the pens and see the goats being milked as well. ($10, tours are by appointment; 631-765-8042)

Camp out under the stars at Wildwood State Park. The camp grounds at Wildwood State Park in Wading River features rest rooms, showers, grills, store (summer), fishing a hiking trail, sand volleyball court, basketball hoops and a ball field. In the winter months, you can go cross-country skiing. ($15-$22 for tent sites, $27-$31 for trailers, $9 non-refundable reservation fee; 631-929-4314)

Spend the day at Cow Harbor Park. Pack a picnic and head to Cow Harbor Park in Northport, set on the water, which features a large playground. (631-261-7502; www.villageofnorthport.com/home/index.php/cow-harbor-day)

Watch the ducks at Lake Ronkonkoma County Park

Watch the ducks at Lake Ronkonkoma County Park. There's also a handicapped accessible playground and a smaller playground for younger children, tennis courts, dirt paths, a basketball court and a baseball field; 631-854-9699.

Enjoy a free outdoor concert at the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park. Starting in June, you can enjoy free outdoor performances at the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park in Huntington. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket. In the winter, it's an ideal sledding location as well. (631-351-3000)

Stroll along the Connetquot River at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum The Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River is a botanical garden that runs along the Connetquot River, with five nature walks: pinetum, wildflower, rhododendron, bird-watching, swamp cypress, assorted trees; $8 per car; 631-581-1002.

Go fishing and enjoy a leisurely walk around Caumsett State Historic Park Caumsett State Historic Park in Huntington has 27 miles of trails, areas to fish in the Long Island Sound, cross-country skiing in the winter, bridle trails and nature walks; parking fees $8 per car; 631-423-1770.

Bike around Bethpage State Park Spend a leisurely afternoon bike riding around Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale with your family. There are relatively few hills and kids of all ages routinely handle the paved path that meanders through the trees. ($8 parking; 516-249-0701; Bethpage State Park)

Bake something special with your kids at Kitchen Time. Kitchen Time in Massapequa.offers a variety of cooking classes for parents and kids. The two hour classes are hands-on and parents can partner with their little ones to learn about the kitchen and prepare the recipes (and eat them) throughout the session; call for pricing; 516-795-4980.

Visit with reptiles at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning Not only will you see fish, reptiles and amphibians, but you'll also see baby alligators and other rescued animals at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning at Tanglewood Preserve in Rockville Centre. (516-764-0045; cstl.org/).

Take a spin on the Greenport Carousel Check out the restored vintage 1920s carousel in the Glass Carousel Pavilion at Mitchell Park in Greenport. ($2, $20 for 15 tickets; 631-477-0248 ext. 211; Greenport Carousel).

Play a round of Wild West Paintball Check out the unique Wild West Paintball attraction at 5 Towns Mini-Golf & Batting Range in Lawrence. Shoot the "bad guys" in the western-themed paintball target range, and then check out the arcade, play a round of mini-golf or hit a few balls at the batting range. For more information, check out 5townsminigolfbatting.com.

Step back in time at Old Bethpage Village Restoration Head back to the 1800s at Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Old Bethpage to find a Long Island community with 51 historic buildings. Check out the Layton General Store, District #6 Schoolhouse and Powell Farm with animals, carriage shed, smokehouse and more. Costumed staff members demonstrate crafts such as hat making, weaving and open hearth and wood stove cooking, plus military re-enactments. ($10, $7 5-12 and older than 60, under 5 free; 516-572-8400; Old Bethpage Village Restoration).

Take a ferry to Fire Island Catch a ferry in Bay Shore and spend the day exploring Fire Islandfireislandferries.com)

Take a plunge down the water slide at Cantiague Park Hit the pool at Cantiague Park in Hicksville and take a ride down one of the two water slides. You can also find a playground, mini-golf, indoor ice rink and more. (516-571-7056; Cantiague Park)

Collect seashells at Orient Beach and Shell Beach There are many places on Long Island that you can collect seashells including Orient Beach in Orient and Shell Beach on Shelter Island. During low tide, you'll find a variety of tiny shells in pink, cream and even shades of lavender, along with plenty of fan-shaped scallops and razor and other clam shells, at Orient Beach State Park in Orient. Don't miss the view from the wood deck overlooking Gardiners Bay; $10 parking through Columbus Day; 631-323-2440.

Rent a kayak for the day Kayak around the North Fork for the day. Check out the Peconic Paddler in Riverhead where you can rent single and tandem kayaks, canoes and paddle boats; 631-727-9895; Peconic Paddler.

Learn about history at the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum Walk into this historic museum through the jawbones of a whale and explore paintings, scrimshaw, harpoons and more at the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum; 631-725-0770; www.sagharborwhalingmuseum.org.

Visit the Walt Whitman Birthplace. The Walt Whitman Birthplace in Huntington takes visitors back to 1819, when Walt Whitman was born. The interpretive center features 130 Whitman portraits, letters, manuscripts, artifacts, Whitman's voice on tape and schoolmaster's desk. Guided tours, an audiovisual show and a bookstore are also available; $6, $5 seniors, $4 students, children under 5 free; 631-427-5240.

Take a step back in history at Sagamore Hill. The 23-room Victorian summer home of Theodore Roosevelt, Sagamore Hill in Cove Neck features furniture and decorations from the time he lived there, mementos of the president's life and more; free; 516-922-4788.

Enjoy quality time with baby animals at Benner's Farm Benner's Farm in Setauket offers many workshops, festivals and special events during the year, including time to play, feed and care for the baby animals on the farm; 631-689-8172.

Visit the Shinnecock Nation Museum Explore 10,000 years of Shinnecock history at the Shinnecock Nation Museum in Southampton by checking out murals, sculpted totems, a wigwam, jewelry, beadwork, photos and more; 631-287-4923; www.shinnecockmuseum.org.

Head to the playground and then the petting zoo at Holtsville Park, Ecological Site and Wildlife Center There's so much to do at the Holtsville Park, Ecology Site and Wildlife Center in Holtsville, from a large playground and biking paths to an outdoor pool and petting zoo; free; 631-758-9664.

Play shuffleboard and bocce at North Hempstead Beach Park. Hit the beach and spend a leisurely afternoon at North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington. You can play basketball, volleyball, shuffleboard and bocce. There's also plenty of barbecues, shaded picnic areas and playgrounds; 516-869-6311.

Take a whale-watching cruise on the Viking Fleet out of Montauk. Every Wednesday and Sunday, the Viking Fleet out of Montauk sets sail in search of whales, dolphins and other sea life; 631-668-5700; www.vikingfleet.com.

See about 300 buffalo at the North Quarter Buffalo Farm. You can check out the 300 buffalo from the road at the North Quarter Buffalo Farm in Riverhead. Call Tweed's Restaurant & Buffalo Bar (17 E. Main St. in Riverhead, 631-208-3151) and they'll arrange a free tour.

Play at the skateboard park at Eugene Nickerson Beach. Eugene Nickerson Beach in Lido Beach features a playground at the south end, in the middle, a basketball court and at the north end, a skate park with seven ramps and two rails; 516-571-7700.

Hit the playground and play in the spray pool at Bay Park. Cool off on a warm day at the spray pool area at Bay Park in East Rockaway. There's also a large playground, picnic areas, tennis courts, fishing docks, an outdoor roller rink and a dog run; Call for fees; 516-571-7245.

Dive into one of the six pools at Wantagh Park. You'll find a swimming complex featuring Olympic-sized, diving, kiddie, training, slide and interactive pools plus a fishing pier, tennis courts, a game area with chess and checkers and a playground. Call for fees; 516-571-7460, nassaucountyny.gov .

Catch the Air Show at Jones Beach. A classic Memorial Day weekend event on Long Island, the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, is something you won't want to miss, as the U.S Navy's Blue Angels, along with other military and civilian performers take to the skies above the beach. Jones Beach also offers a boardwalk to stroll, mini-golf, playgrounds, outdoor concerts and more; 516-785-1600; http://bethpageairshow.com.

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