New places for kids, parents on Long Island

The Adventure Zone

A new indoor, elevated ropes course and eight rock climbing walls were added to Bounce! Trampoline Sports in Syosset. The Adventure Zone also has zip lines for older and younger children. And one rock wall is double-sided and clear, so kids on either side can race to the top. An Adventure Pass, for children 48 inches and taller, is $25 for 60 minutes of activity. A Junior Adventure Pass, for kids less than 48 inches tall, is $20. Adventure Passes can also be added to Bounce! Trampoline time, with an additional hour for The Adventure Zone costing $15 for taller than 48 inches and $10 for shorter than that. Information: 310 Michael Dr., Syosset; 516-762-1300; bouncesyosset.com. -- Beth Whitehouse

Casa de Spin Painting Parlor

Create instant art without having to be gifted with a paintbrush at Casa de Spin Painting Parlor (81 Grand Ave., Massapequa). Canvasses stand on easels — you grab one, bring it to one of 10 paint spinning machines and place it inside. The canvas turns quickly, and you pour your paint, which spreads as the machine cranks. Guests should make appointments, although there are walk-in days (check the website calendar for open paint sessions). Prices of participation generally run between $25 to $40. Casa de Spin also offers birthday parties for kids. Information: 516-654-7746; casadespin.com. -- Ian J. Stark

Goldfish Swim School

Goldfish Swim School opened its second location at 450 East Main St. in Farmingdale). The 10,000 square-foot facility features personal changing huts and tropical decor. The water is kept at 90 degrees and the pool is no more than 4½ feet deep. The school offers group swim instruction for children ages four months to 12 years, weekly family swims and birthday party packages. Group lessons start at $110 monthly for a lesson a week for a single child; “drop-in” lessons begin at $27.50. Information: 516-267-5120; goldfishswimschool.com/farmingdale. -- Jennifer Berger

CoolMess

CoolMess, a new ice cream shop with a do-it-yourself concept opened in Roslyn. Visitors will find art decor like 3D ice cream cones, a “sprinkle”-lined ceiling and a wall showcasing an assortment of candies. The staff guides its customers through the process. Start with a base — either chocolate or vanilla liquid ice cream, or strawberry sorbet (all bases are egg-, gluten- and nut-free, and the strawberry sorbet is also dairy-free). After letting it mix for about eight minutes in a child-safe mixer, add in toppings and continue to mix. Toppings include gummy bears, brownie bites, chocolate pretzels, bananas and strawberries, and sauces like Reese’s, chocolate and caramel. One batch, which includes one base and three toppings, feeds three people and costs $29.99. Pre-made ice cream is available, as well as burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads and other savory choices. Information: 1512 Old Northern Boulevard in Roslyn; 516-801-2665; Coolmess.com. -- Joann Vaglica

Splash pad at Jones Beach State Park

A free “splash pad” opened in the Central Mall area at Jones Beach State Park (1 Ocean Pkwy., Wantagh), offering sprays and spouts of fresh water the kids can frolic in. Sleek, towering gray pipes shaped like blades of sea grass shoot water onto visitors, and spray also bubbles up from the ground. The water bursts forth from alternating spots in six-minute cycles controlled by users pressing one of three buttons on the perimeter of the rectangular splash pad. The park refers to it as a splash pad because it doesn’t have all the elements of more elaborate spray parks. It’s lighted and is open in the evening as well. The spray park area offers tables with umbrellas and a shaded area as well. A short walk away is a new playground area. Parking Field 4 is the field closest to the splash pad. Information: 516-785-1600; parks.ny.gov/parks/jonesbeach. -- Beth Whitehouse

Greenport Skating Rink

The Greenport American Legion's George D. Costello Sr. Memorial Skating Rink opened with a refurbished 7,000-square-foot skate floor and 315 pairs of new quad rental skates. The rink also has new bathrooms and a new concession stand. In addition to all-ages skate sessions, there are also 21-and-older sessions and sessions on school holidays. The rink is also available to rent for private skate parties, and it has just started offering group skating lessons. Admission and skate rental is $5 for each. Customers may also bring their own skates. Information: 102 Third St., Greenport; 631-333-2644; greenportamericanlegion.org. -- Beth Whitehouse

Xplore Family Fun Center

Xplore family fun center (200 Wilson St., Port Jefferson Station) opened in the location that used to be home to Fun 4 All. The venue, geared to ages 1 to 12, features three large inflatables, a soft playground with multiple slides, zip line, swings and more, and a dedicated toddler area. There is also a pay-as-you-play arcade area and a cafe with organic and gluten-free options. Xplore offers open play from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. The price is $16.50 ages 3 to 12 and $11.50 ages 1 and 2. Information: xplorekids.com. -- Beth Whitehouse

The Coder School

The Coder School, a Silicon Valley-based coding franchise that caters to children ages 6 to 18, launched its second location in Roslyn. The first Coder School on Long Island opened October 2017 in Syosset. The school offers group classes as well as two-on-one tutoring for coding languages such as Scratch, Java, Python and more. It also offers Code Coaching Plus, which offers soft skills such as pitch development and presentation. Information: 17-21 Lumber Rd., Suite 3 in Roslyn; 516-399-2399; Roslyn.thecoderschool.com. -- Beth Whitehouse

Salt and Serenity Wellness

Kids can try out a salt room at Salt and Serenity Wellness (5372 Merrick Rd., Massapequa). During family sessions, children sit on the pink chunks of Himalayan salt and play. Adults are welcome to sit with their children in the salt box or relax on lounge chairs nearby. Pharmaceutical-grade salt is also blown into the room and can be absorbed through the skin. The salt is said to be anti-viral, anti-bacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Parents should check with their pediatrician if their child has respiratory issues. Family sessions will cost $15 per person. Information: 516-809-6760; saltandserenitywellness.com. -- Beth Whitehouse

JCPenney baby shops

JCPenney opened baby shops inside 500 JCPenney stores, including the stores in Bay Shore, Garden City, Lake Grove and Valley Stream. The baby shops expand JCPenney’s baby offerings with more items, including cribs, high chairs, strollers, car seats, bottles, pacifiers, diaper bags, bouncer seats and activity centers from brands such as Avent, Graco, Fisher Price, Dr. Brown’s, Tommee Tippee and Halo. It also includes bedding, swaddle blankets, hooded bath towels and more from JCPenney’s private Okie Dokie brand. Information: JCPenney.com. -- Beth Whitehouse

"Escape the Lost Temple" room at Puzzle Break

Puzzle Break Long Island (180 Michael Dr., Syosset) opened a new interactive room-exit game “Escape The Lost Temple." Like other escape challenge rooms at Puzzle Break LI, teams will get an hour to figure the way out. But as a new test of wits, it has twists all its own. The room is based on actual history, and its story, decor and clues stick to real lore. The basic premise involves locating and replacing a stolen artifact. The room can handle as many as 12 players at once. Admission is $32 per player. Information: 516-307-0888; puzzlebreakli.com. -- Ian J. Stark

World's Biggest Bounce House

The Big Bounce America — which bills itself as “The World’s Biggest Bounce House” — kicked off this summer at the Long Island Sports Center (149 Edwards Ave., Calverton). The inflatable, open-air castle is 10,000 square feet, more than three times the size of the average house. The inside includes basketball hoops, an inflatable obstacle race and a giant slide that takes riders outside the main structure and into a ball pit. Also inside is an inflatable forest, giant inflatable jungle animals and inflatable trucks and boats. At the center is a circular stage from which a DJ/MC hosts dance contests and conga lines. The main bounce house has an attached lounge with ball pit, as well as a tall slide. The general space also sports obstacle courses to and beach balls, which come in handy when the DJ calls for a dodge ball contest. The main bounce house is also surrounded by Bounce Village, which features additional bounce structures, including a slide, a separate bounce house for the little bouncers who want more peaceful, less lively jumping. Although the Big Bounce America is part of a nationwide tour, there's a chance it may be back on Long Island in 2019. Sign up for updates on the event's website. Information: 888-718-4253; thebigbounceamerica.com. -- Beth Whitehouse

Eisenhower Park spray park

A newly retrofitted spray park in Eisenhower Park (1899 Park Blvd.) opened in East Meadow this year. Located in Field 2, the sprinkler area now has a giant mushroom that the kids can stand under that’s like a waterfall and six sprayers that come out to keep children cool. Information: 516-572-0347. -- Beth Whitehouse

AR Workshop

Two new craft stores offering DIY projects for kids ages 8 and older opened in Port Washington (273 Main St.) and Smithtown (83 E. Main St.). AR Workshop has photo frames, plank-wood projects, pillow covers, canvas wall hangings and tote bags. Projects for kids at both locations cost $40 each and take about two and a half hours to complete. On the weekends, family classes allow a child to make a project and an adult to work on his or her separate project. Adult projects cost an average of $69.50. Both locations also offer birthday parties and adult workshops. Information: 516-247-6452 (Port Washington), 631-352-0221 (Smithtown); arworkshop.com. -- Beth Whitehouse

Elwood Park spray park

The new Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo Memorial Spray Park in Elwood Park (Cuba Hill Road, Elwood) is named for the New York Police Department sergeant and Greenlawn dad who was shot and killed responding to a 911 call in the Bronx in 2016. In addition to water hoops, the park features a water tower painted with the NYPD letters. The water is controlled by users pushing a button to start the flow. Information: 631-351-3000; huntingtonny.gov. -- Beth Whitehouse

Mystery Mansion ride

Adventureland (2245 Broadhollow Rd., Farmingdale) debuted a new, two-story Mystery Mansion ride, with werewolves, skeletons and a gargantuan tarantula. Riders 48 inches and taller will sit in floorless, ski-lift-style seats as they witness animatronics and special effects, and even get a glimpse of Adventureland’s midway action below. The 2-minute-long ride replaced the 10-year-old Ghost House. It will cost five tickets, or $7.50. It also is included in Adventureland’s pay-one-price admission. Information: 631-694-6868 or visit adventureland.us. -- Beth Whitehouse

Mama's Custom Cookies

Mama’s Custom Cookies (3335A Park Ave., Wantagh) offers edible “cookie painting” events for kids. Kids ages 3 to 6 hear a story and then use food coloring to “paint” a 6-inch cookie they can take home. They’ll also get a cookie to eat during the event, as will parents. Cost is $15 per child and space is limited. Mama’s Custom Cookies takes orders for all varieties of events. Information: 516-987-8296; mamascustomcookies.com. -- Beth Whitehouse

Splish Splash waterslides

Two new waterslides — Riptide Racer and Bombs Away — opened at Splish Splash (2549 Splish Splash Dr., Calverton). Both rides originate from the same tower more than 50 feet high and are painted in rainbow colors. For Riptide Racer, four guests line up across the top of the slide, preparing to race. They ride head-first on mats and are drenched as they charge down the enclosed flumes. Bombs Away offers two dueling 300-foot slides. Guests stand in the clear launch capsule, waiting for the floor to drop. When it does, riders will rush through a tidal flow as they fall at 26 feet per second. Information: 631-727-3600 or visit splishsplash.com. -- Beth Whitehouse

Dave & Buster's

Dave & Buster’s opened a new location at the Westfield Sunrise (1 Sunrise Mall) in Massapequa. The new arcade is located on the mall's second floor, and features 150-200 games for kids ages five and older. You'll find classic games, such as Pop-A-Shot, Pac-Man and Skee-Ball and newer games like Million Dollar Midway, Candy Crush Saga, Zombie Snatcher, Star Trek Arcade, Star Wars Battle Pod, Dance Dance Revolution and more. Information: 516-247-6337; daveandbusters.com. -- Ian J. Stark

Kids First Swim School

Kids First Swim Schools (6401 Jericho Tpke.) opened its first New York location in Commack. The school offers eight levels of classes based on its own curriculum and will also offer Mommy & Me, semi-private and private classes. Kids First Swim Schools was founded nearly 20 years ago and currently has 35 locations in seven states. Information: 631-600-3280; kidsfirstswimschools.com/locations/commack-long-island-new-york/. -- Beth Whitehouse

Indoor playground replicates Israel

The city of Jerusalem has been recreated in an indoor playground at Chabad of Port Washington (80 Shore Rd.) with a climb-on, seated camel, a replica of the Mahane Yehuda Market, also known as The Shuk, and a live feed in real time from a webcam at the famed Western Wall. The marketplace features a hands-on falafel and shawarma stand with felt pitas and a fake vertical spit. The candy store offers wooden halvah, a Middle Eastern treat made from ground sesame seeds. The fruit stand offers plastic pomegranates and olives. Israeli music plays throughout. American playtime favorites include Legos, princess and firefighter dress-up costumes, a climbing wall and play slides. The playground is used daily by the students at Chabad’s Florence Brownstein Preschool, and is open to the public for weekly Mommy and Me classes and birthday party rentals or groups serving young children. Other offerings at the playground include a music shop with drums and tambourines, a writing center with magnetic alphabet letters in English and Hebrew, and a puppet show stage with puppets including a chef, a clown, a king and a shepherd. Information: 516-767-8672; chabadpw.org. -- Beth Whitehouse

Saf-T-Swim

Saf-T-Swim (515 Broad Hollow Rd., Melville) opened its 13th swim school location on Long Island this year. Saf-T-Swim offers swim lessons to a young clientele, typically 2 months to 12 years old. Saf-T-Swim also offers an introductory swim team, birthday parties on weekends, and Mommy and Me sessions. Information: 866-SAFE-SWIM; saf-t-swim.com. -- Beth Whitehouse

Camp Ga'avah

A Long Island summer day camp for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender kids and their supporters or children of LGBTQ+ parents launched summer of 2018. Camp Ga’avah was a one-week program at the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds in Wheatley Heights serving children 12 to 18. Ga’avah is Hebrew for pride, but campers don’t have to be Jewish to attend. The camp is expanding to four weeks for the summer of 2019 and will cater to children ages 10 to 17. Camp Ga’avah offers the traditional activities of a day camp — drama, sports, arts, trips, gaga. Swim will be optional. There also will be programming on relevant LGBTQ+ issues. Information: 516-634-4164; friedbergjcc.org/camps. -- Beth Whitehouse