From beaches, parks, and preserves to arboretums, zoos, and gardens, below is a list of fun, safe, and kid-friendly outdoor destinations for you and your tot. Destinations are grouped by distance: “Local” — in Port Washington, “Pretty Close” — under a 30 minute drive from Port, and “Further Away, but Worth the Drive” — over a 30 minute drive from Port. A 
means it’s a Port Washington Mama fave. Remember to check the Seasonal Page for a list of seasonal activities. If you have a favorite outdoor space that you think other families would enjoy, you can Submit an Entry for Outdoor Fun.
Local
Harbor Links features a public golf course (both 18 and 9 holes), driving range, and a mini golf course that is great for the little ones.
No experience necessary and fun for all ages, Kostal Paddle offers private lessons, group lessons, eco tours, sunset tours, and stand up paddle yoga.
Boat rentals, captained boat rides, boating lessons, yacht charters and more!
Recently renovated, the Manorhaven Pool Complex boasts a 25,000 square foot main pool area with lap swim area, general swim sections, zero depth entry for children and beginners, as well as two giant water slides and separate kiddie pool with state of the art play features, like palm tree fountains. Manorhaven Beach Park also provides outdoor recreation activities, such as basketball, tennis courts, handball, horseshoe pits, and racquetball and bocce courts. Picnic areas, boat ramp, standup paddle-boarding, kayaking, skate park, and playground also available.
Kids love the two playgrounds and aqua park/spray ground, open during summer months at Blumenfeld Family Park. The Landmark building itself is a not-for-profit community center that hosts a number of cultural and educational events and houses the Parent Resource Center.
Perfect for a close beach trip. White sandy beach and recreational activities. Features include a fishing pier, boat ramp, bathhouse and concession area. The park also offers a playground, basketball court, volleyball court, shuffleboard, horseshoe pit, picnic area and 1-mile promenade for residents who want to walk or jog along the waterfront. Special events include summer concert series with live music on Sunday afternoons. See event calendar for details. Parking fees apply year-round.
This neighborhood park offers a fenced in shaded playground, basketball courts, and a baseball field.
Great fenced in playground perfect for toddlers. New basketball courts recently added, too.
Pretty Close
Art classes that expose students to drawing, painting, beading, and more.
Home to one of the highest-ranking golf courses in the world, the park offers several hiking/biking trails, picnic facilities, playing fields, tennis courts, bridle paths, trails and cross country skiing trails. Parking, $7
Small, kid-friendly amusement park complete with bumper cars, swinging chairs, roller coaster, and more. Fun for toddlers to tweens. Pay One Price Bracelet, $23.99 per person; Single Ticket Prices, $1.00 per ticket (3-5 tickets per ride). Group rates available.
Features a fun playground with climbing apparatus, a boat basin for model boats, outdoor ice skating in the winter, Olympic-sized swimming pool with diving boards for the summer, a dog run, nature trails, tennis courts, basketball courts, paddleball courts, baseball fields, volleyball courts, and picnic areas. Also home to special events and weekly summer farmers market.
Offers a variety of activities and facilities for families, including mini-golf, an 18-hole public golf course, bocce fields, lighted tennis courts, a batting cage, a greenhouse, an indoor Olympic size swimming pool, and a water spray area with benches. There are fitness and jogging trails throughout the park and three playgrounds. The main playground by Hempstead Turnpike has been completely renovated and incorporates a climbing apparatus, slides, swings, fitness equipment and other attractions. Special events and entertainment include their summer concert series.
For kids 8+ (and adults, too!). Under the watchful eye of experienced coaches, you can enjoy an afternoon of archery. Something different to do and especially fun for all of those Hunger Games fans.
The former estate of John S. Phipps (director of U.S. Steel and Grace Shipping Lines) offers 200 acres of gorgeous gardens, landscaped grounds, and woodlands. Enjoy a long, leisurely stroll through the gardens, take a tour of the mansion, have a picnic, or enjoy one of their many special events and family programs. See website or call for details.
The totally renovated 30,000 squarefoot, indoor, state-of-the-art facility features a figure-eight slide, three seperate zones including six lanes for lap swimming and a zero-depth entry area for wading. A pool-level exercise room with new spin cycles and a wide selection of exercise equipment is also available for adults.
While the small museum offers interesting exhibits for adults, the real draw is the grassy fields and outdoor sculpture garden. Great place to bring a picnic blanket, let kids run around and explore or walk the gardens with a stroller. Art classes are available and family Sundays at the museum offer supervised art activities for youngsters.
Just off the LIE and Northern State Parkway, this zoo offers children the opportunity to discover American wildlife with animals such as bears, sea lions, pumas, coyotes, elk, eagles, alligators and bobcats. Across from the wildlife preserve is a petting zoo. Adults, $5; Children 3-12, $1; Under 3, free
Features the home of Theodore Roosevelt from 1885 until his death in 1919. Tours of the home are offered five days a week. You can also enjoy 80 acres of beautiful grounds surrounding the house and the half-mile wooded loop trail that is perfect for a nature hike with toddlers. $5 Admission Fee
Located on a 17 acre preserve with ponds, streams, and enchanted woods, families can enjoy hikes, live animal exhibits, special events and more. A 1.5 hour Tiny Tots workshop is held Mondays throughout the school year for kids ages 18 months to 3 years with new themes each week. Science themed birthday parties available, too! Check website for details.
Great place to take a baby or toddler. Youngsters love the petting zoo, bouncers, pony rides, train rides, and playground that includes big, wooden pirate ships, buses, tractors, and other forms of transportation to climb on. Special events include Fall Farm Festival.
Further Away But Worth The Drive
A 6.5 acre zoo located in Central Park. Special exhibits include a 4D Theater, the Tisch Children?s Zoo, Central Garden and Sea Lion pool and so much more!
This 20-acre exhibition is home to 31 life-sized animatronic (but very realistic) dinosaurs. This dino-lover?s haven exhibits the most contemporary advancements in paleontology and is the only park of its kind in North America. Open May ? Nov.
Locations in Mattituck, Riverhead, and Jamesport. The Mattituck location offers wine tasting for the adults (always fun!) and corn mazes, hayrides, pig races, pedal cars, rubber duck races, and coordinated games for kids. Seasonally, they offer berry and pumpkin picking. See site for special events.
Family fun for kids (and adults) ages 7+, Long Island Adventure Park offers an aerial forest adventure that is fun, exciting and safe for all participants. They provide a harness and equipment and give you a safety briefing that demonstrates how to climb and zip line in the park. 8 separate trails of varying levels of difficulty are available.
This wildlife park and family amusement park has nature trails that lead to different collections of animals ranging from domestic to exotic including monkeys, giraffes, kangaroo, buffalo, parrots, alligators, ostriches, camels and more. An ?Old MacDond?s Farmyard? offers a petting zoo for children with ponies, ducks, rabbits, chickens, and pigs. Also availabile are rides including the Spinning Teacups, Rio Grande Mini Train, and Antique Carousel. Adults, $16.95+tax, Children 3-11, $14.95+tax
The world?s largest metropolitan zoo, with some 6,000 animals representing about 650 species from around the world, this is a great outdoor escape for kids (and adults) of all ages. Terrific special exhibits and attractions as well.
A 1.6 acre destination playground with water play, swings, slides, and other innovative play equipment. The majority of materials used in the playgrounds are sustainably harvested or recycled. Special features include ?Swing Valley? which includes traditional tot seats, twin swings, Tarzan ropes, and a 6-seated post swings, the ?Water Lab?, ?Sandbox Village?, ?Slide Mountain? and more. The park also features bicycle routes, a beautifully restored historic carousel, fishing, boating, and the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.
For train lovers, enjoy their twice-monthly Sunday Public Run Days where visitors can find rideable steam, diesel and electric trains operating on eight acres of scale tracks. Facilities include a souvenir shop, snack bar, and shaded picnic area.
Luna Park is the new theme park in Coney Island that features rides, roller coasters, games and the world-famous Cyclone.
Be prepared to walk (and bring a stroller). The mansion, marine museuem, and planetarium are sprawled out over several acres. Set low to the ground (convenient for toddler viewing!), are the colorful exotic birds on display in the mansion. The planetarium holds frequent sky shows. Summer workshops are available for the pre-K set (starting at age 3) and from K-grade 3. See site for details. Adults, $5; Children $2
