Long Island water activities to fit every price point
The best way to beat the summer heat is to head out on the water or simply get wet. From sailing to surfing to a spray park -- Long Island has it all.
Here’s a guide for some aqua activities that can fit any budget and offer at least two hours of fun:
UNDER $100
Sail for two hours on a Hobie Wave (13-foot, holds 1-3 people), Hobie Getaway (17-foot, holds 2-4 people) or Sonar (23-foot, holds 2-4 people) sailboat at The Waterfront Center in Oyster Bay. ($70-$80, 516-922-7245, thewaterfrontcenter.org, 1 West End Ave., first-time renters take a safety certification exam)
Snap some selfies aboard 100-foot Super Cruiser Atlantic Pearl for The Capt. Lou Fleet’s Long Island Whale Watching Cruise, which launches from 31 Woodcleft Ave. in Freeport. ($65-$75 adult, $60-$75 senior, $49-$60 child age 3-12, 516-544-6698, liwhaleandsealwatching.com)
Do something new and rent a two-person canoe for two hours from Long Island Canoe Kayak Rentals at Treasure Cove Resort Marina in Riverhead. ($60, 631-727-8386, longislandcanoekayakrentals.com, 469 E. Main St.)
Jump on the “Bug Light” Cruise to the Long Beach Bar Lighthouse in Orient, courtesy of the East End Seaport Museum, located on Third Street at the Ferry Dock in Greenport on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. ($59, $25 for children 4-12, 631-477-2100, eastendseaport.org)
Hit up New York’s largest water park, Splish Splash in Calverton, where you can get daring on Bootleggers Run and Bombs Away or take it easy at the Kahuna Bay Wave Pool and the Lazy River. There’s even attractions just for kids like the Yellow Submarine and the Octopus Pool. ($54.99, 631-727-3600, splishsplash.com, 2549 Splish Splash Drive)
UNDER $50
Take out your paddle and start moving when renting a kayak or paddleboard through Stony Brook Harbor via Stony Brook Harbor Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals. ($45 paddleboard or single kayak for two hours, 631-834-3130, sbharborrentals.com, 51 Shore Road, Stony Brook)
Be adventurous at Adventureland in Farmingdale by taking on the Rescue Boats, Adventure Falls and the Little Dipper Water Ride. ($41.99 ages 2-24, $31.99 age 25 or older, 631-694-6868, adventureland.us, 2245 Broadhollow Road)
Tackle the waves by going surfing with a rental of a seven- to eight-foot foam top soft board or a five- to nine-foot premium fiberglass surfboard from Unsound Surf in Long Beach. (Soft board $40 for four hours, fiberglass board $45 for four hours, 516-889-1112, unsoundsurf.com, 359 E. Park Ave., must 14 or older, show ID and sign a waiver)
Go out on Colonel “Wrong Way” Bay’s Bumper Boat Safaris or down Boomer Bay’s Adventure Water Slide or battle at Berkley Bay’s Wild Water Balloon Wars at Bayville Adventure Park. ($33.75 all inclusive day ticket, 516-624-7433, bayvilleadventurepark.com, 8 Bayville Ave.)
Book a two-hour Saturday Night Sunset Cruise of the South Shore with Freeport Water Taxi & Tours in Freeport. ($30 per person, 516-521-7744, freeportwatertaxi.com, must be 12 or older, 211 Woodcleft Ave.)
Rent a skimboard for the day (full 24 hours) from the SideSlip Skim School of Long Island and ride across the waves along the shore. ($30 per day with dropoff/pickup service, 631-532-7293, sideslipskimboarding.com)
UNDER $25
Take a two-hour ride on a rented pedal boat or row boat at Belmont Lake State Park, located off the Southern State Parkway (Exit 38) in West Babylon. ($20, , parks.ny.gov/parks/belmontlake, must 18 or older)
Spend the day getting wet at a spray park! Explore Shipwreck Cove, a pirate-themed water playground with a slide, netting to climb and multi-levels to play on, located at South Clinton Avenue in Bay Shore Marina, for a treasure of an afternoon. ($10 Town of Islip resident with ID, $12 non-residents, 631- 224-5404, theislips.com)
Hit up the Jones Beach Fishing Station, located at Field 10 off Ocean Parkway at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, to rent a rod and reel for some fishing. ($5.99 for three hours, $9.99 four-six hours, 631-559-5938, jonesbeachfishingstation.weebly.com)
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
