Holidays with the Family at Long Island, New York

If you are looking for a fun filled holiday for your family and friends, but have time constraints, don’t worry. For Long Island in New York is just where you need to head out to. Fantastic beaches, lush green surroundings, wonderful historical sites, numerous sanctuaries and amusement parks are only some of the attractions that greet you in this popular tourist spot.

Location: Long Island is conveniently connected to all the major highways and rail routes. There are three international airports in the island in addition to many smaller air strips for commercial airlines. The most popular of these airports is the Long Island MacArthur Airport where most flights land.

Cars, taxis and coaches can be found aplenty outside the airport and all over the island. You can also rent a car for the duration of your stay for a small fee. Bikers and cyclists are also seen regularly on the streets.

Sites to Visit: Long Island is known for its sun kissed beaches. Nothing beats the feeling of lazing by the beach and enjoying the waves caressing your feet. However, there are more than a few places to explore and you can start off by visiting some of the renowned museums in the area.

Some of the best museums found in Long Island include Long Island Children’s Museum which is situates in the Garden city and provides a wonderful experience for kids with interactive tours; the Nassau County Museum of Art which is located in Roslyn Harbor and contains numerous world renowned art pieces and sculptures in addition to gardens covered with trees and sculptures;  and the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum which is located in Cold Spring Harbor and specializes in showcasing the history of whales and their significance to the island;
You will also love the three separate museums that form the larger Long Island Museum of American Art, History and Carriages. Located in Stony Brook, the three museums of art, history and carriages showcase different works of art, historic events and legendary horse drawn carriages respectively.

Long Island is a wonderful place to spend time with the family and your kid will definitely loved the fair number of amusement parks that dot the island regularly. These include the Splish Splash Water Kingdom, which is one of the largest and the best parks in the USA and has numerous spine thrilling water rides in addition to lazy river bends and a kiddies pool area; the Lighthouse Safaris in Captree Island where you get to tour all the lighthouses in the island with a professional guide; and the Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead where you get to see the ancient ruins of Atlantis under water in addition to catching glimpses of seals, walruses and various kinds of fishes.

Don’t miss out on the Adventure Land in East Farmingdale while you are at it. In addition to a massive indoor center, the park has more than 30 rides and has played host to numerous birthday celebrations and corporate events. You can never have enough of the mini train that courses through the entire park in addition to the water rides and the haunted house attraction. If you just want to lie back and enjoy the sunshine while your kids have fun, visit the Fun for All park in Jefferson Station which is a indoor playground and park with slides, tunnels, basket ball courts, tree houses and ball pits.

The Belmont Racetrack is a place you should not miss out on if you like horses. Horse races are common here and you can enjoy a gala time with the family. In addition to enjoying the races from special windows and televisions, you can actually have picnics in certain areas of the track. You can also indulge in boating, fishing, horseback riding and hiking.

In addition to the Belmont Park, there are several other State Parks in Long Island which offer fun filled activities for the entire family. These include the Camp Hero State Park which is an ancient military base in Montauk and offers activities like horseback riding, hiking, cycling, fishing and cross country skiing; the Hither Hills State Park, which is also situated in Montauk and offers camping, nature trails, fishing, fields, and playgrounds and the Valley Stream State Park which is a fantastic area for picnics, hiking, and playing in the numerous playgrounds that dot the park.

Other prominent parks in the area include the Heckscher State Park in east Islip, the Wildwood State Park in Wading River, the Orient Beach State Park in Orient, the Shadmoor State Park in Montauk, the Hempstead lake State park in Wets Hampstead and the Nissequogue River State Park in Kings Park.

Holidays in Long Island can never be boring and your family is sure to enjoy the holiday to the maximum. Take some time off from the daily grind of everyday life and treat yourself to a wonderful fun filled holiday in this spectacularly scenic destination.