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Jones Beach is a great summer destination and is a great place to cool off. Photo Gina Massaro

Splash & Play: The Best Splash Pads and Water Activities on Long Island 

A summer heat wave is the perfect time for kids of all ages to cool down with some fun in the water. Whether it's a day at one of Long Island's kid-friendly beaches, a visit to one of Long Island's best sprinkler parks and splash pads, or an action-packed adventure at a water park, we have you covered. 

• Jones Beach
  Long Island is home to plenty of beautiful beaches — Jones Beach happens to be the most visited on the East Coast and a favorite of many Long Island families. 
  Why it's great: After your dip in the ocean and sand castle building, you can stop by the Jones Beach Nature Center for the kids to check out the very cool touch tank and exhibits.
  Tip: Jones Beach can get crowded, so plan to go early for the best parking and beach spots.

• Children's Park Splash Pad
  This popular splash pad in Rockville Centre's Children's Park has a user-activated splash pad with seven spouts blasting water into the play area. 
  Why it's great: Kids of all ages will have a blast cooling off at this spot, and it's free. 
  ​Tip: If you have little ones, mornings are the best time before it gets too packed with older kids. 

• Eisenhower Park Splash Pad 
  Another popular water playground for Long Island kids is Eisenhower Park's splash pad in East Meadow. Toddlers to grade school-aged kids will have fun beating the heat at this spot. 
  Why it's great: The splash pad is free to play and cool off in, but there is a minimal parking fee. 
  ​Tip: This incredible Long Island park offers everything from playgrounds, mini-golf, picnic spots, hoops, and more to explore after your splash pad fun. 

• Splish Splash 
  Families can take a trip to Splish Splash to spend the day on its variety of super-fun water rides. Kids of all ages will love the water park. There are also some smaller—but just as fun—water slides peppered throughout Long Island. 
  Why it's great: Check out the new water playground, Stingray Bay, featuring three water slides, a dump bucket, and a bunch of interactive sprinkler fun. 
  ​Tip: Check your local library to see if you can purchase discounted tickets for your visit.  

• Fishing Charters
  Hop aboard a family-friendly fishing charter or drop a line at a fishing destination with the kids this summer to cool off and have a new experience. 
  Why it's great: This is a great activity for a group or small family outing to spend time out on the water. 
  ​Tip: This activity is best for families with older kids and teens looking for a new adventure.

• Water Activities
  Older kids and teens can cool down on a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard rental with the family. If your kids love catching a wave, check out one of Long Island's top surf schools for some lessons on how to hang 10 this summer. 
  Why it's great: Kids love to be active, especially in the summer, and these water activities are fun and affordable.  
  ​Tip: Plan ahead for surf lessons and equipment rentals if possible, as places book up quickly in the summer. 

LICM's Our Backyard exhibit encourages the refinement of eye/hand coordination through pouring, squeezing, stirring, and squirting. Photo courtesy of the museum 

Long Island's Coolest Museums & Attractions for Hot Days

Sometimes the coolest experiences in the extreme summer heat are indoors, like one of Long Island's best museums for kids. We've highlighted a few of our favorites to check out and stay cool this summer. 

• Long Island Children's Museum
  LICM is fully air-conditioned and filled with activities for little ones. There are weekly drop-in programs, crafts, and more. Plus, the Our Backyard exhibit boasts water fun and sensory-friendly activities in an outdoor setting.
  Why it's great: The LICM is great for all ages with a special area for toddlers to play and interactive exhibits that older kids will love to explore. 
  ​Tip: Check with your local library for free or discounted passes.

• Nunley's Carousel
  Nunley's Carousel is nestled in between the LICM and the Cradle of Aviation on Museum Row. Riders can choose between ornately painted horses and lions or relax on a carriage bench for the ride. 
  Why it's great: This indoor carousel is a whimsical place to make summer memories with the kids.  
  ​Tip: The cost is very affordable, even if the kids talk you into a few rides.

• The Cradle of Aviation
  Garden City's Cradle of Aviation has attractions that will delight everyone from toddlers to teens. Anyone into gaming will want to check out the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo this August.
  Why it's great: This museum is also home to an incredible planetarium that kids will love. 
  ​Tip: Check with your local library to see if there are free passes for a family museum visit.

• Visit the Aquarium
  The Long Island Aquarium has indoor and outdoor exhibits to visit, and the kids will love every minute meeting penguins, sharks, and fish galore. 
  Why it's great: Kids of all ages will have a blast at the aquarium, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout the summer with special deals and activities. 
  ​Tip: Check with your local library to see if there are special discounted tickets for purchase.

• Nassau County Firefighters Museum
  Your little ones will delight in all things firefighting at the indoor Firefighters Museum located off of the Cradle of Aviation. In addition to breaking down vital emergency preparedness education for young guests, visitors can get a glimpse at how fires were fought in the past with historical apparatuses and memorabilia. 
  Why it's great:  Kids can climb aboard a life-size fire truck and either take the wheel or hang on the back.
  ​Tip: Check with your local library for free or discounted passes.

Stay Indoors – Free & Low-Cost Activities with A/C for Kids

Long Island is full of cool, low-cost indoor destinations for families to explore. From hitting the ice rink to bowling a strike, these spots will entertain when it is just too hot to be outdoors! 

• Catch a Flick
  Sit back and relax in an air-conditioned movie theater while you all enjoy a family-friendly film this summer, like Lilo & Stitch, Superman, or the new Smurfs movie. Some theaters like Regal offer summer promotions with tickets as cheap at $1 on certain days for family-friendly flicks.  
  Why it's great:  Kids will be entertained with a fun few hours out of the heat, and parents get to relax too! 
  ​Tip: You can also plan a movie night as the sun goes down at one of these FREE outdoor movies for kids.

• Bowl a Strike 
  Cool off and grab your bowling shoes for a day at The All Star in Riverhead on the East End this summer for some family bowling action. 
  Why it's great: This entertainment center also offers an action-filled arcade for the kids to explore and cool off. 
  ​Tip: The Kids Bowl Free program has locations throughout Long Island, including at The All Star, where kids can bowl all summer at no cost to you during certain times.

• Make a Masterpiece 
  Kids love to create their own special art, so drop in to Plaster Funcraft in Commack for some painting fun with a plaster craft or canvas in the AC! 
  Why it's great:  Kids get to be creative with the art and take home their own masterpiece as a memory.  
  ​Tip: Art can be messy, so dress the kids in old clothes you won't mind covered in paint!

• Visit a Local Library
  Pick up some books and enjoy the many activities and perks your local library offers. Both Nassau and Suffolk have libraries with a variety of kid-friendly programming. 
  Why it's great: Many Long Island libraries have great FREE play spaces for kids, and some even have outdoor spaces for kids to enjoy a little fresh air too. 
  ​Tip: Many of the locations have a "Library of Things" where patrons can check out various games, devices, and more to use in the comfort of their own homes with their library card.

• Cool Off at Iceland
  There's no better way to cool down than to hit the ice. Long Island's indoor ice skating rinks, like Iceland in New Hyde Park will quickly transport you to winter even on the hottest summer days.
  Why it's great: Ice skating rinks will usually be a bit emptier in the summer months and a perfect time for kids looking to learn without a crowd. 
  ​Tip: Check ahead of your visit for summer hours and summer deals.

• Plan a Theater Date
  The Argyle Theater has Sleeping Beauty this summer for families to enjoy, while the John W. Engemen Theatre is telling the story of another favorite Disney princess, Cinderella. 
  Why it's great: Kids will love a day out at the theater, making memories with the family. 
  ​Tip: Purchase tickets well in advance as shows do sell out.

RELATED: Top Beach Playgrounds on Long Island

Explore the many, many boardwalks on Long Island. Photo by the author

• Breeze Down the Boardwalks
  Get out of the house and feel the ocean air as you stroll some family-friendly boardwalks on Long Island with the family.  
  Why it's great: You can get the kids outside for some exercise on their scooters or bikes, along with an ocean breeze for this free activity. 
  ​Tip: This is a great activity for later in the day when the beach empties out a bit and there is less of a crowd.

• Head to the Mall
  What better way to beat the heat than at Roosevelt Field, the biggest mall on Long Island, which offers lots of window shopping fun, but also a small play area on the concourse level of the mall for little ones.
  Why it's great: You can stay out of the heat for a few hours while also keeping the kids active by walking around the mall. 
  ​Tip: There's a Lego Store where kids can practice their building skills.

• Visit Stew Leonard's
  A trip to Stew Leonard's is no regular food shopping experience. See characters, try some samples, and let the kids sing-along at this family-friendly food store adventure. 
  Why it's great: You can keep the kids entertained, cool in the AC, and get your food shopping done for the week. 
  ​Tip: Check ahead for free special events throughout the season and year.

Cool Treats - Kid-Friendly Spots for Delightful Frozen Desserts on Long Island 

Long Island is full of incredible old-fashioned ice cream parlors for a sweet treat to cool down on the hottest summer days. 

• Hildebrandt's Restaurant 
  Kids will love a cool treat at Hildebrandt's, a vintage-inspired, 1920s-style restaurant and ice cream shop in Williston Park serving up homemade ice cream flavors and sundaes that will hit the spot on a hot day! 
  Why it's great: Kids can snag a spot at the counter to eat their frozen dessert right in the action. 
  ​Tip: This location offers food and ice cream to go if you want to enjoy the treats at home.

• Krisch's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlour 
  Krisch's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlour is a neighborhood landmark in Massapequa has been a local favorite for years, scooping up homemade ice cream and serving up classic diner meals in a 1950s-style atmosphere. 
  Why it's great: Kids will love the special creations on the menu, like the unicorn and brownie shakes.
  ​Tip: This restaurant also offers takeout if you don't have time to sit and enjoy.

• Lics Ice Cream
  The Lics Ice Cream shop is a local favorite in Northport that has been serving up treats for more than 25 years to families in the area. 
  Why it's great: This dessert spot offers a variety of treats that include everything from homemade ice cream, gelato, vegan options, and frozen yogurts. 
  ​Tip: Check out all the frozen treat flavors before you decide, as they offer an awesome variety of unique options, like rainbow cookie gelato and blueberry cheesecake ice cream.

• Bridgehampton Candy Kitchen 
  Bridgehampton Candy Kitchen in the East End is a fun stop on any trip out to the Hamptons with the kids. The old-fashioned ice cream parlor has homemade ice cream treats, shakes and breakfast and lunch favorites. 
  Why it's great: This spot is right in the center of Bridgehampton, so you can enjoy a family stroll exploring the town before or after your treat. 
  ​Tip: If you happen to be passing through early, this spot serves breakfast as well.

Get out the water guns for hours of water fun in the backyard. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

Stay Cool at Home - More Ways to Beat the Heat

Sometimes it is too hot to even leave the house, so we have some fun suggestions for how to stay cool in your own backyard!  

• 25. Backyard Water Adventures
  No need to travel. This roundup of DIY water games will keep everyone happy all summer long. 
  Why it's great: Kids can play for hours in a backyard sprinkler or with water tables and stay cool!
  ​Tip: Try to plan your outdoor fun on hot days in the mornings or later in the afternoon.

• Backyard Family Car Wash
  What better way to spend some family time together on a hot day than grabbing the hose, some sponges, soap and giving the car a fun cleaning. 
  Why it's great: The kids will not only love getting wet and cooling off, but also feeling like they helped out with a big family chore and learning the importance of teamwork. 
  ​Tip: Be careful of little ones getting too close if the hose has a very strong spray.

• Camping and Glamping
  Sleep under the stars in your own backyard by setting up a tent, battery lanterns, and some air mattresses, or if you are up to venturing out, head to one of the nearby campgrounds on Long Island. You can even notch up your game with a glamping trip instead. 
  Why it's great: Kids will love a backyard adventure, and if you head out to camp, some spots are even on or near the water, offering cool nighttime breezes.  
  ​Tip: If you are hanging out in the backyard in the evenings, you may need to use bug spray for the kids to avoid bug bites.

Pro Parent Tips for Keeping Kids Safe in the Heat

• Avoid outdoor activity between the hours of 12-4pm.
• Hydration Tip: Always make sure you pack water bottles for the whole family when going out in the extreme heat. You can freeze water bottles halfway or add ice cubes to keep water colder longer in high temperatures. 
• Dress kids in light-colored, loose clothes and have kids wear caps or sun hats to shade their faces. 
• Make sure to use sunscreen on kids and don't forget to reapply after being in the ocean, spray pad, or pool. 
• Seek shady areas if you are out at a splash pad or bring a beach umbrella or pop-up tent for shade at the beach. 
• Try to cool the car off for a few minutes before loading the kids in and checking car seats, as buckles can get very hot.  

FAQ - Heat Wave Tips for Parents in Long Island 

Q. What's the best time of day to go out during a heat wave in Long Island?  
A. Before 10am or after 5pm, and many parks and splash pads open early. 

Q. Are there any free public indoor play spaces on Long Island? 
A. Yes, public libraries, some community centers, and select mall play areas are good places to cool off in AC for a few hours. 

Q. Can you get heat stroke indoors?  
A. Yes, in poorly ventilated homes. Use fans and keep curtains closed during peak sun hours. 

Originally published in 2018. Jaime Sumersille contributed additional reporting.