Make the most of the fast-approaching winter recess with entertainment for the whole family. As temperatures remain uncertain, explore the world of indoor fun. Whether your family is the active type, into crafts and creativity, museum lovers, or theatregoers, winter on Long Island has just as much to do as the summer months. That’s why we’ve gathered a diverse range of the best indoor family entertainment for winter recess, perfect for the whole family, and all accessible by the Long Island Rail Road.
INDOOR ACTION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
X-Golf (Commack)
Come to X-Golf Commack and experience the most innovative and accurate golf simulator in the world! Play famous courses from all over the world while experiencing the full food menu and luxurious surroundings. Sharpen your competitive edge or kick back and relax with your friends or family of all ages.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Radisson Hotel Hauppauge or the Hyatt Regency Long Island.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Kings Park. X-Golf is a 10-minute rideshare from Kings Park station.
LIRRUrban Air Adventure Park (Lake Grove)
Explore thrilling attractions, challenge your mind and body, and have a blast at Urban Air! Reserve your spot during the school break with attractions that cater to any level of adventurer at the ultimate indoor playground for the whole family. Practice your jumps and twists on the tumble track, ride on in the spin zone bumper cars, and get some extra hang time with gravity-defying obstacles on the ropes course.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Three Village Inn in Stony Brook or the Holiday Inn Express in Stony Brook.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to St. James. Urban Air is a 10-minute rideshare from St. James station.
GDC Skating Rink (Greenport)
Located in the heart of Greenport village, the 7,000-square foot indoor roller skate rink is newly refurbished with skate rentals and free instruction for beginners. And, of course, there’s a concession stand for snacks. Join the fun and roll into winter break with this family fun activity.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Shoals, American Beech, The Menhaden, or the Sound View.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Greenport. GDC is a five-minute walk from the Greenport station.
RPM Raceway (Farmingdale)
Guests will find a variety of indoor experiences at RPM Raceway in Farmingdale, ranging from European-style high-speed go-karting, a large arcade filled with machines and carnival-style games, and even a mini-bowling experience! With Italian-made go-karts, RPM challenges you to push your limits and fulfill your need for speed – each lap will have your adrenaline pumping and your heart racing.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Long Island - Melville, the Hilton Garden Inn Melville, or the Courtyard by Marriott Republic Airport Long Island / Farmingdale.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Farmingdale. RPM is a 7-minute rideshare from Farmingdale station.
TopGolf (Holtsville)
Enjoy climate-controlled hitting bays for comfort in the winter with HD TVs in every bay and throughout the sports bar and restaurant. TopGolf provides complimentary clubs with all bay reservations, or you can bring your own; take aim at the giant outfield targets and the high-tech balls will score themselves.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel or Bellport Inn.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma. Top Golf is an 8-minute rideshare from Ronkonkoma station.
Long Island Aquarium (Riverhead)
Where else can you take a selfie with a penguin, hang out with coatis (they look like a cross between a raccoon, a dog and a monkey) and see thousands of butterflies – all in the same place? The Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead offers stunning indoors exhibits, including a coral reef, a recreation of the Amazon Rainforest, and an indoor Lagoon. One of its biggest attractions is a 20,000-US-gallon coral reef display tank, which is one of the largest all-living coral displays in the Western Hemisphere! There’s even a winter break “funcation” camp.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at Hyatt PlaceEast End, or Hotel Indigo – East End.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Riverhead. Long Island Aquarium is a 4-minute rideshare from the Riverhead station.
Long Island Explorium (Port Jefferson)
Come exercise your mind at the Long Island Explorium this winter recess. Explore STEM through puzzles, play, games, and problem-solving challenges. Check out their winter break camp from February 20 to 24 with special STEM-focused fun and games.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at Danford’s Hotel & Marina in Port Jefferson or Three Village Inn in Stony Brook.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Port Jefferson. The Long Island Explorium is a 5-minute rideshare from Port Jefferson station.
Long Island Children’s Museum (Garden City)
The Long Island Children’s Museum is a learning space devoted to the busy work of play. The exhibits and programs spark creativity and collaboration to inspire millions of aha moments, including the bubble room, Sandy Island, and the indoor child-safe climbing exhibit. Stop by the iconic Nunley’s Carousel – ready to entertain riders, including a new generation ready to discover its magic. With fourteen highly interactive exhibits on display at any given time, including the new sensory garden, Pattern Studio, and more, a day at the LICM is fun for the whole family.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Garden City Hotel or Residence Inn Long Island in Garden City.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Garden City. The Children’s Museum is a 10-minute rideshare from the Garden City station.
HAVENS FOR HISTORY BUFFS (AND MORE!)
Long Island Maritime Museum (West Sayville)
The Long Island Maritime Museum is committed to the research, preservation and interpretation of the region’s rich nautical heritage and the role of Long Island in our national maritime story. Whether it’s boat building, shipwrecks, shellfish harvesting or recreational boating, it’s all showcased here.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Sayville. The Maritime Museum is a 5-minute rideshare from the Sayville station.
Museum of American Armor (Bethpage)
Once visitors walk through the museum’s camouflaged front doors—which have been heavily sandbagged, like the way important bunkers were protected some 70 years ago—they are greeted by a stunning display of some 30 vehicles. In coordination with Old Bethpage Village Restoration programming, these vehicles are presented in the field throughout the year, or on the village’s country roads, as historians offer skilled demonstrations of WWII battle tactics.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Inn at Fox Hollow or the Hilton Garden Inn in Melville.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Farmingdale. The Museum of Armor is an 8-minute rideshare from Farmingdale station.
Cradle of Aviation Museum (Garden City)
Did you know that six lunar modules from the Apollo Program still sit on the surface of the moon, each with a plate that says: “Made in Bethpage, NY”? Visit the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City to explore over 100 years of Long Island’s aerospace heritage with replicas, real-life models, and interactive exhibits.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Garden City Hotel or Residence Inn Long Island in Garden City.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Garden City. The Cradle of Aviation Museum is a 10-minute rideshare from the Garden City station.
Long Island Museum (Stony Brook)
Discover a national treasure in historic Stony Brook – the LIM reopens on February 17 with all new exhibits! The nine-acre park-life setting contains three exhibition buildings featuring changing exhibits in American art, history, and the finest collection of horse-drawn carriages in the United States. You can also enjoy the lovely gardens and a fountain framed by historic buildings.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Three Village Inn in Stony Brook or the Holiday Inn Express in Stony Brook.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Stony Brook. The Long Island Museum is a 5-minute rideshare from Stony Brook station.
Vanderbilt Museum (Centerport)
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum is a unique combination of mansion, marine and natural museum, planetarium, and park. Many of its exhibits and themes focus on Long Island’s Gold Coast Era. This winter break, stop by the museum for the children’s arts and science workshops, including a mixed media self-portrait workshop and bulb botany and winter blooms workshop.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Chalet Inn & Suites or Hampton Inn & Suites Huntington Downtown.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the Port Jefferson branch from Penn Station to Northport. The Vanderbilt Museum is a 12-minute rideshare from Northport station.
LIVE PERFORMANCES AND CONCERTS
Argyle Theatre (Babylon)
Broadway comes to Babylon at The Argyle Theatre, Long Island's newest and largest year-round equity theater. Located steps away from the Babylon LIRR station, The Argyle is situated in one of Long Island’s most active downtowns, where you can spend the day enjoying award-winning cuisine, visiting local ice cream shoppes, surf shops and more. The Argyle Theatre experience comes complete with an orchestra pit, balcony, state-of-the-art lighting, sound and a full service bar. Be sure to take advantage of the MTA Away Deal, which will save you $10 per ticket to some of your favorite Broadway shows, such as West Side Story!
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at The Ocean Bay House in Bay Shore.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Babylon. The Argyle Theatre is steps away from the Babylon station.
CM Performing Arts Center (Oakdale)
Avoid the winter chill at the CM Performing Arts Center – a quaint small theater with local performers, great acoustics, and stage presence. Catch their performance of 9 to 5 The Musical with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton running from February 25 to March 11.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Courtyard by Marriott in Islip or Hilton Garden Inn Islip/MacArthur Airport.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Oakdale. The CM Performing Arts Center is a 5-minute rideshare from Oakdale station.
John W. Engeman Theater (Northport)
The historic John W. Engeman Theater is a premier year-round professional theater, featuring state-of-the-art lighting and sound and a Lobby Bar and Lounge. Opening its doors in 2007, theater has produced over eighty Main Stage Productions of some of Broadway’s finest musicals and plays. The venue also produces various children’s theatrical productions, making it a perfect family spot. The theater is currently running the musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on the Main Stage until March 5.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Chalet Inn & Suites or Hampton Inn & Suites Huntington Downtown.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the Port Jefferson branch from Penn Station to Northport. The theater is a 6-minute rideshare from the Northport station.
Plaza’s Broadway (Elmont)
Broadway in Nassau County! In their new venue in a separate wing of the Elmont Public Library, Plaza’s Broadway Long Island features four fully staged Broadway musicals every season that run for three consecutive weeks, accompanied by a live orchestra. This winter recess, catch their Children’s Theatre production of Cinderella, running from February 20 to February 26.
OVERNIGHT STAY OPTION: Make it a weekend getaway by staying at the Garden City Hotel or Residence Inn Long Island in Garden City.
HOW TO GET HERE: Take the train from Penn Station to Floral Park. Elmont is an 8-minute rideshare from Floral Park station.
