With so much to do out here, an East End kid has it made! Don’t miss these great family friendly activities this summer in the Hamptons and on the North Fork:
Dan’s Papers Kite Fly
What’s better than ending a Sunday beach day with the simple pleasure of flying a kite? Head to Sagg Main Beach in Sagaponack on Sunday, August 2, for the 43rd annual Dan’s Papers Kite Fly! Enjoy live music as you watch your kite soar over the beach in the summer breeze. Widely regarded as a favorite family summer event, this free Hamptons tradition promises to entertain both the young and the young-at-heart! Prizes will be awarded for the most outstanding kites, both homemade and store-bought. Check DansPapers.com for more details as the event gets closer!
Rampshot
Speaking of fun-for-all-ages activities on the beach—RampShot, an original party sport released by Long Island’s own Shore Creation this year—offers fun and exercise ideally suited to beach and BBQ gatherings. Four players compete to land a rubber ball in a net inside the custom-designed ramp. Can you stop the ball? Can you catch the ball? Can you do a victory dance? Yes, you can! Winner of the A&E Network’s Project StartUp, RampShot is available at rampshot.com and at Olympia Sports (631-537-1261) in the Bridgehampton Commons Shopping Center on Montauk Highway. Pick up a set for your next party—it’s the season’s hot hostess gift.
Children’s Museum of the East End
At the Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE), kids are given the opportunity to learn through play. The museum’s wide range of exhibits includes everything from a physics and math-based miniature golf course to a drop-in art studio. Between multiple interactive exhibits for the more adventurous little ones and sit-down entertainment like read-alongs, there is something for every child to enjoy at CMEE. Each day brings new play to CMEE, including baby & me, gardening, soccer, chess, cooking and art classes. Visit cmee.org or call 631-537-8250 for more information. CMEE is located at 376 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton.
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Miniature golf course at CMEE. Photo credit: Oliver Peterson[/caption]
Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre
The beloved Sag Harbor puppet theater introduces young kids and their families to theater and the arts. Everyone is sure to have a laugh during the puppet shows, which are performed at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on show days. Puppet shows in store for this summer include Little Red Ridinghood, Three Little Pigs and Wild West Mystery. Kids and their grown-ups will also love taking part in activities designed for the whole family like Puppet Play Groups and Yoga Nights. Visit goatonaboat.com or call 631-725-4193 for a complete calendar of events. Goat on a Boat is located at 4 East Union Street, Sag Harbor.
Montauk Whale Watching
Join professional marine biologists from the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI) for whale watching trips off the coast of Montauk. Whales of all kinds, including Humpback, Sperm, Fin, Minke, Right, Sei, and Pilot whales, can all be spotted. In addition to whales, expect to see dolphins (Common, Bottlenose, Atlantic White Sided and Risso’s Dolphins), turtles (Leatherback, Green and Loggerhead), sharks (Basking, Great White, and Blue) and other marine life. The 2015 Viking Fleet Whale Watching trips take place during July and August. Visit vikingfleet.com/bookwhalewatching for reservations or call 631-668-5700. 62 Westlake Drive, Montauk.
Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center
A world of adventure awaits the entire family at the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center in Riverhead. In addition to striking sea predators, you’ll see cuddly marmosets, sea otters and African penguins at the Aquarium’s vast array of marine exhibits. If the mysteries of the sea prove too frightening, an exhibition center boasts birds, butterflies, bugs and more. Daily events at the center include a sea lion show, shark feedings, and animal talks. For more information, visit longislandaquarium.com or call 631-208-9200. The aquarium is located at 431 East Main Street, Riverhead.
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Penguins at the Long Island Aquarium. Photo credit: Angel Li[/caption]
Splish Splash
Featured on the Travel Channel’s Xtreme Waterparks, Splish Splash may be close to the quiet East End, but the park is nothing short of extreme. Cool off from the summer heat on one of the many thrilling water rides. There’s Mutiny Bay, an interactive ride that takes you and your crew on a voyage battling against pirates and sea creatures, or the Barrier Reef Body Slide, an infamous giant twister that weaves through the treetops. And when you’re hungry, there’s plenty to choose from along the boardwalk or at one of the restaurants and snack bars. For directions and information, visit splishsplash.com or call 631-727-3600. Splish Splash is located at 2549 Splish Splash Drive, Calverton.
The Montauk Lighthouse
Take the family to The End to see a national historic landmark. The Montauk Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the state, and guests can climb to the top or explore the museum. August 15–16 is Lighthouse Weekend, where visitors can enjoy colonial activities, face painting, boat safety and knot tying exhibitions, among other presentations. Visit montauklighthouse.com for additional details.
[caption id="attachment_79227" align="aligncenter" width="501"] Montauk Lighthouse.
Photo credit: John Bourquin[/caption]
The All Star Bowling Alley
The All Star Bowling Alley will make the bowling experiences of your childhood seem like a different game. Perfect for a rainy day, The All Star has 22 glow-in-the-dark lanes beneath movies and sports projected over the big screen. After a round of bowling, challenge your kids to an air hockey game in the arcade. Summer brings a plethora of specials, including an all-you-can-bowl and food and drink promotions. For more information, visit theallstar.com or call 631-998-3565. The All Star is located at 96 Main Road, Riverhead.
The Greenport Carousel
The historic, restored Greenport Carousel, which has been entertaining families for almost a century, is a favorite North Fork summertime destination. Located in Mitchell Park in Greenport, the carousel is open daily in-season and boasts 36 horses, all jumpers, as well as two sleighs. The carousel was built in 1920 and was purchased by Grumman Peconic River Airport in Calverton, in the 1950s, for use during company picnics and community activities. When Northrup-Grumman closed in 1995, the carousel was donated to Greenport. For more information, visit villageofgreenport.org.
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