Jaime Sumersille

Latest posts by Jaime

Free in March: Best Things To Do on Long Island with Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 7:03am

The Flower Show returns to Hicks Nurseries this month. Photo courtesy of Hicks Nurseries

Looking for FREE things to do on Long Island in March? Read on for dozens of great options.

To keep your kids and your wallet happy, we’ve come up with a long list of FREE things to do with kids in March.

Long Island celebrates its Irish heritage with a month's worth of St. Patrick's Day parades: Enjoy the pipes, drums, and marchers, free of charge from Rockville Centre to Montauk.

There are plenty of other free activities this month, including storytimes and crafting opportunities.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

Free & Affordable Summer Camps on Long Island

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Mon, 02/27/2023 - 6:29am

At Long Island's Y camps, campers build friendships. Photo courtesy of the YMCA

Looking for the best summer camps on Long Island? Read on for our roundup of 10 great picks that won't break the bank.

For kids on Long Island, summer is 10 weeks that make the rest of the year worth enduring. For moms and dads, these two months stretch out like a lazy highway, waiting to be filled with activity before your home becomes a whining zone of boredom.

Summer camps can be a significant investment, but some Long Island summer camps are actually quite affordable, and others offer scholarships and financial aid.

Here is our list of the most affordable summer camp programs on Long Island. Find more summer camp resources in our Guide to Summer Camps.

19 Best Things To Do on Long Island March 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Sun, 02/26/2023 - 7:13am

The dinosaurs at Jurassic World Live Tour are larger than life. Photo courtesy Feld Entertainment

From Mardi Gras to St. Patrick's Day and the arrival of spring, March is a great time to get out and enjoy Long Island.

In fact, March has a lion's share of activities for kids, including a number of Long Island St. Patrick's Day parades and events. Even egg hunts start to pop up this month!

The Jurassic World Live Tour stomps into the UBS Arena in mid-March, packing a prehistoric punch of family entertainment. And Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience opens its run at Westbury's Samanea Mall on March 17.

Find tons more activity ideas in our Spring Guide.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

Presidents Day Weekend 2023: 14 Things To Do on Long Island with Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Wed, 02/15/2023 - 11:29am

The Nassau Coliseum hosts the larger-than-life animatronic dinosaurs when Jurassic Quest comes to town. Photo courtesy of Jurassic Quest

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Presidents Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

Go back to prehistoric times at the Nassau Coliseum to experience the over-the-top dinosaur attraction Jurassic Quest. Watch as the East End town of Southold is transformed into a winter wonderland at its annual, FREE WinterFest celebration. Or, step into an icy world as The Whaling Museum hosts its Narwhal Ball.

And, because the weekend is just the jumping-off point to another school break, make sure to bookmark our list of the top winter break fun for kid-friendly things to do all week long.

Find more ideas for seasonal fun in our Guide to Winter Fun on Long Island. And, as always, our Long Island Family Activity Calendar is a must-visit for picks any day of the week.

23 Things To Do for February's Winter Break on Long Island

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Sun, 02/12/2023 - 1:49pm

The Garvies Point Preserve is a lovely place to explore, boasting a natural shoreline, meadow, and woodland environment, plus a playground. Photo by Malena Hoefling

Winter break, February break, midwinter break, or Presidents week—no matter what you call it, your kids will be home from school for a whole week, and you need ideas to keep them busy.

We’ve got exactly what you need: A list of 23 family-friendly events happening across Long Island during February's winter break, which runs from Monday, February 20, through Friday, February 24. Of course, we think these events are timeless enough to be enjoyed whenever your children are home.

From one-day and week-long camps to outdoor ice skating, family-friendly museums, and aquarium events, our roundup of activities gets you up and out of the house.

For more ideas, check out our list of 28 fun things to do with Long Island kids this winter and our Winter Fun Guide.

Awesome Arcades on Long Island for Video-Game Loving Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Mon, 02/06/2023 - 6:49am

This roundup of awesome arcades on Long Island will get your little gamers off the couch and out of the house. As a bonus, most of these arcades are located at party places or sports complexes. Get the whole family together–and invite some friends–for bowling, laser tag, or mini-golf. Cap off your trip with ticket-winning arcade games that can be redeemed for valuable prizes.

Get more ideas on what to do inside with kids in our Indoor Play Spaces Guide or Kids' Sports Centers Guide. For even more kid-friendly activities, check out our Long Island Events Calendar.

Free in February: 19 Things To Do with Kids on Long Island

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 02/03/2023 - 7:09am

Join the Town of North Hempstead for a Lunar New Year celebration on the Mary Jane Davies Green. Photo courtesy of the town

Looking for FREE things to do on Long Island in February? Read on for dozens of great options.

To keep your kids and your wallet happy, we’ve come up with a long list of FREE things to do with kids in February.

From Groundhog Day predictions to Lunar New Year celebrations, this month is packed with nature and culture. Love is in the air with plenty of Valentine's Day activities as well.

For more things to do that won’t bust your budget, check out our roundup of free indoor play spaces on Long Island, our Winter Fun Guide, and our rundown of Long Island restaurants where kids eat free.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

Indoor Playground Xplore Commack Adds Glow-in-the-Dark Go-Karts to its Action-Packed Lineup

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Mon, 01/30/2023 - 11:26am

Xplore Commack offers mini go-karts to allow ages 4 and up to enjoy go karting.

Indoor playgrounds on Long Island often cater to little kids, but Xplore Family Fun Center in Commack is upping the ante for action-packed all-ages fun with the addition of glow-in-the-dark go-karts. Suffolk County speed demons can now rev their engines at this local indoor entertainment zone that opened a few years ago.

Xplore, which already offered laser tag, arcade games, inflatables, soft climbing indoor playgrounds, and a toddler zone, has now debuted its glow-in-the-dark go-karting attraction. On a recent visit, my group of tweens was delighted by the glo-karts and everything else Xplore's indoor playground had to offer.

For similar fun zones, check out our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces on Long Island, where we've rounded up FREE indoor play spaces, Long Island's best bowling alleys, and more.