AFFORDABLE THINGS TO DO ON LONG ISLAND

ADMISSION FEES: $5 AND UNDER!

 

ALL LOCATIONS

 

Home Depot – Kids Workshop

Any Home Depot location

Hours: First Saturday of each month between 9:00am – 12:00 noon.

Fee: Free

http://corporate.homedepot.com/wps/portal/Kids_Workshops

Kids Workshop is an award winning program that has been offered at The Home Depot stores since 1997.  The workshops are free, how-to clinics designed for children ages 5-12, available on the first Saturday of each month between 9am and 12 noon at all The Home Depot stores.  Children accompanied by an adult, use their skills to create objects that can be used in and around their homes or communities.

 

Lowes Free Build and Grow Clinics

Free Build and Grow Clinics

https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/

Hours: Sign up for individual Build and Grow Clinics through the Lowes website.

Fee: Free

Build on your kid’s talent with regularly scheduled clinics designed just for children.  Build and Grow Clinics will teach your kids how to safely complete a variety of projects.

 

BROOKHAVEN

 

Brookhaven Amphitheater Arts Cultural Center at Bald Hill (Family Movie Nights)

1 Bicycle Path

Farmingville, NY 11738

631-732-4011

http://www.brookhavenamphitheater.com/movie_sched_.html

Hours: Each Wednesday during July & August at 7:00pm

Fee: $5 per carload

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and relax on the great lawn for a family movie on the huge screen.  Call or visit the website for movie details.

 

Long Island Live Steamers

3 Smith Court

Stony Brook, NY 11790

631-345-0499

www.trainweb.org/lils

Hours: 2nd and last Sunday’s of each month from the middle of May until the end of October from 10:30 – 3:00pm.

Fee: Small donation of your choice.

This railroad model club has made mini trains that you and your kids can ride on!  There is also a picnic area, as well as train items for sale.

 

COLD SPRING HARBOR

 

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium

1660 Route 25A

Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724

516-692-6768

www.cshfha.org

Hours: Open daily 10:00 – 5:00pm

Fee: $5 Adults / $3 Ages 3-17 & over 65 / Free under 3.

The Hatchery is proud of having the largest living collection of New York State freshwater reptiles, fish and amphibians. Visitors are given a self-guided tour sheet and can purchase food to feed the hungry trout. Check their calendar for special events and programs.

 

Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum

Main Street PO Box 25

Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724

631-367-3418

www.cshwhalingmuseum.org

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 11:00 – 5:00pm

Fee: $5 Adults / $4 Students ages 5-18 / $15 per family / Children under 5 & Military members are free.

Features 19th century whaleboat, whaling history exhibits, scrimshaw collection, whale conservation exhibits, Family Activity Center, films, special events and changing exhibits.

 

COMMACK

 

Verizon Telecom Pioneer Museum

445 Commack Road

Commack, NY 11725

631-543-1371

http://www.geocities.com/lipioneermuseum/

Hours: 1:00 – 4:00pm 1st Sunday of the month (except holidays)

Fee: Free, donations appreciated.

This volunteer-run museum has re-creation of Alexander Graham Bell’s workshop, wire used in first telephone transmission, models of early phones, photos, animated figures, and library.

 

EAST ISLIP

 

South Shore Nature Center

50 Irish Lane

East Islip, NY 11730

631-227-5436

http://www.estuary.cog.ny.us/access_guide/site49.html

Hours: The property is open 9 am to 5 pm every day from April through October. During the other months, it is closed on weekends.

Fee: $2 Residents; $4 Non-Residents

Includes 206 acres; 2.3-mile trail in salt marsh; oak and hickory forest; freshwater bottomland; indoor beehive, nature museum, saltwater fish tank, reptiles, butterfly garden; weekend family events.

 

HOLTSVILLE

 

Holtsville Ecology Center & Animal Preserve

249 Buckley Road

Holtsville, NY 11742

631-758-9664

http://www.brookhaven.org/ThingsToDoInYourTown/EcologyCenterAnimalPreserve/tabid/241/Default.aspx

Hours: Monday – Sunday 9:00 – 4:00pm

Fee: Free

Features an exercise-trail fitness course; zoo and ecology center, featuring buffalo, mountain lions, eagles, children’s petting zoo; ecology exhibits and tours; free compost; greenhouses; picnic area. Contact for special events/programs.

 

HUNTINGTON STATION

 

Walt Whitman Birthplace

246 Old Walt Whitman Road

Dix Hills, NY 11746

631-427-5240

www.waltwhitman.org

Hours: June 15th – Labor Day Monday – Friday 11:00 – 4:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 12:00 – 5:00 Closed major holidays.  Winter Hours: Wednesday – Friday 1:00 – 4:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 11:00 – 4:00pm.  Closed major holidays.

Fee: $5 Adults / $4 Students & Seniors / Children under 5 and members are free.

Visit the 19th century farmhouse with 19th century furnishings and unusual architecture. Interpretive Center exhibits: 130 Whitman portraits, original letters, manuscripts, artifacts, Whitman’s voice on tape, and schoolmaster’s desk. Guided tours, audio-visual show, library, museum shop/bookstore, and picnic area.

 

ISLANDIA

 

Lakeland County Park

Johnson Avenue

Islandia, NY 11760

631-853-2727

http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/departments/parks/Lakeland%20County%20Park.aspx

Hours: Office/Restrooms open Memorial Day – Labor Day.

Fee: Free

Includes a nature trail boardwalk over the headwaters of the Connetquot River, picnic area with gazebo, boardwalks, shuffleboard, basketball courts and fishing.

 

MIDDLE ISLAND

 

The Longwood Planetarium

35 Yaphank Middle Island Road

Middle Island, NY 11953

631-345-2741

http://www.longwood.k12.ny.us/showtime.html

Hours: Call for individual show times.

Fee: $4 Adults / $2 Students & Senior Citizens / $6 per Family.

Located in the Longwood Middle School in Middle Island, NY, the planetarium offers high quality presentations on a variety of scientific and non scientific topics.  Several programs are offered in non-English languages.

 

RIVERHEAD

 

Long Island Science Center

11 West Main Street

Riverhead, NY 11901

631-208-8000

www.lisciencecenter.org

Hours: Year Round Monday – Friday 10:00 – 2:00pm Sunday 11:00 – 4:00pm.  July 9th – August 24th Wednesday – Sunday 11:00 – 4:00pm.

Fee: $2 Adults / $5 Children

Hands-on science and technology museum with interactive exhibits of bubbles, magnets, structural engineering, archeology, bats; view mounted butterflies, Wireless Society exhibition about the history of wireless communication.

 

RONKONKOMA

 

Wrong Island Railroad

679 Hawkins Avenue

Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

631-467-1222

http://www.wrongislandrailroad.com/

Hours: Noon5:00pm Saturday & Sunday

Fee: $4; Younger than 12 is $3

Toy train museum featuring interactive toy train display with Lionel trains running through the city, mountains, farmland, and forests; buttons activate animated scenes along the route.

 

 

SAG HARBOR

 

Sag Harbor Fire Department Museum

46 Church Street

Sag Harbor, NY 11963

http://www.exploreli.com/entertainment/localguide/hamptons/48284,0,2083653.venue

Hours: Open daily 11 a.m.-4 p.m. July 4-Labor Day and during village's Harborfest Weekend in Sept. Tours by appointment.

Fee: $1; ages 10-14 is $0.50 cents.

On display: equipment dating to the 19th century, a Model T fire chief's truck and a mural depicting major fires in Sag Harbor. Collection of Code 3 fire trucks

 

 

SMITHTOWN

 

Sweetbriar Nature Center

62 Eckernkamp Drive

Smithtown, NY 11787

631-979-6344

http://www.sweetbriarnc.org/

Hours: Office: Open 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday through Friday; 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday.  Preserve: Open 8:30 am - 4:30 pm everyday. Vivarium: Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm daily (In Season).

Fee: Free, donations accepted; butterfly house $3, Seniors and Children $2.

Includes 54 acres, hiking with views of Nissequogue River; butterfly house.  Mock rain forest.  Long Island Greenbelt Trail runs through the preserve.  Wildlife rehabilitation with eagles, hawks, and owls.