James Smith

Latest posts by James

7 Places Where Long Island Kids Can Be Marine Biologists for a Day

Submitted by James Smith on Mon, 06/20/2016 - 11:00am

If your children are aspiring marine biologists--or simply obsessed with marine aquaculture--then Long Island is the right place to live. Within a short drive of just about wherever you are, you’ll find a museum, nature center or aquatic facility dedicated to marine life. Kids can do everything from learn about ocean life and touch stingrays to swim with actual sharks. These five places are most appropriate for toddlers and older, but chances are these destinations will draw a learning smile from even the youngest in your family. And for more to do this season, be sure to check out our Summer Fun Guide.

9 Family-Friendly Places to Watch Football with Long Island Kids

Submitted by James Smith on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 10:00am

Sure as autumn leaves change color, baseball season quickly becomes football season on Long Island. Armchair quarterbacks eager to watch the big game with their kids have plenty of options across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, including play centers, family-friendly sports pubs and even the stadium itself. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites where you can watch all the action and still keep an eye on the kids.

And for more ways to have fun with the whole family, be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar.

Halloween Fun for LI Kids in the Hamptons & North Fork

Submitted by James Smith on Mon, 10/12/2015 - 10:00am

Ghouls, goblins and scary get-ups are all the rage this time of year. On the East End of Long Island, there are as many ways to celebrate Halloween as there are seeds in a pumpkin. From the North Fork to the South, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites just in time for the holiday. Here you’ll find haunted houses, spooky walks, parties and even trick-or-treating tips to keep your young ones in the spirit of the season.

And for more seasonal fun, check out our Long Island Halloween Guide.

Affordable Music Lessons In Suffolk County for Long Island Kids

Submitted by James Smith on Mon, 09/21/2015 - 6:00am

Few places celebrate their musical heritage quite like Long Island. From rock’s Lou Reed to pop’s Ashanti and hip hop’s LL Cool J, Long Island has cultivated its own unique sound and celebrities. But even the legendary Billy Joel had to start somewhere.

Parents in Suffolk County have a number of options should their child express a musical inclination. From group clinics to at-home instruction, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite places for your developing virtuoso. See websites for current programs and pricing. Parents who’d prefer to cross the county border can see our post on music classes in Nassau. And don’t forget our Long Island Classes Guide for other after-school options.

Fall Fun for LI Families in the Hamptons & North Fork

Submitted by James Smith on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 6:00am

On the East End of Long Island, the fun never really does end. Vacationers and those new to the area might be surprised to hear that family time does indeed continue here after the calendar turns past Labor Day. The North Fork, in particular, comes alive as farm stands and wineries celebrate the autumn harvest, and fall festivities continue almost uninterrupted until Thanksgiving weekend. After that, it’s time for holiday cheer and the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree.

So take a moment to reflect on another well-spent summer, but consider also what memorable moments await in the autumn. Our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide includes information you can use all year-round and our Long Island Classes Guide will help you plan a visit around the school year.

Labor Day Weekend Fun for LI Kids in the Hamptons & North Fork, September 4-7

Submitted by James Smith on Tue, 09/01/2015 - 9:00am

Labor Day weekend brings an unofficial end to the vacation season on the East End of Long Island. The calendar gave us an extra week to celebrate and Mother Nature blessed us with near-ideal weather all season long. Let’s hope she stays kind for one more final weekend because there’s just too much going on to be stuck inside.

From Friday to Monday, East Enders can enjoy arts festivals, community parties, fishing derbies and, of course, the Shinnecock Pow Wow, Southampton’s annual celebration of the East End's indigenous people.

So get out and enjoy yourself. Take one more look at our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide for the best in East End entertainment and check out our Long Island Classes Guide to help you get ready for the school year. And remember: Memorial Day 2016 is only nine months away!

12 Places Where LI Kids Can Learn and Have Fun in the Hamptons & North Fork

Submitted by James Smith on Mon, 08/31/2015 - 6:00am

Few places bring history to life better than the East End of Long Island. And that's not really surprising. Eastern Long Island is, after all, home of the first permanent English settlement in the state. Not to mention two of the nation’s oldest lighthouses, both commissioned by George Washington himself.

Parents eager to indulge their children’s intellectual curiosity will find no shortage of destinations out east. We’ve rounded up a dozen of our favorites that can be visited at limited cost and whose insights are bound to inspire your budding historian.

So check these out, and while you’re at it, enjoy our L ong Island Classes Guide for more education fun for the kids. Find more Hamptons and North Fork activities in our local guide to the area for families.

Weekend Fun for LI Families in the Hamptons & North Fork, August 27-August 30

Submitted by James Smith on Tue, 08/25/2015 - 6:00pm

With Labor Day on the horizon, you might assume things would slow down a bit on the East End of Long Island this weekend. That assumption would be wrong.

This weekend, parents and kids can experience the glamor of the Hampton Classic Horse show, take a railroad trip back in time, catch some fish together and even race a rubber duck or two at the East End’s most recognized landmark, the Big Duck.

So start to get your last licks of summer fun this weekend. Check out our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide for the best in local entertainment, and with back to school looming be sure to see our Long Island Classes Guide for the best in after-school programs Islandwide.