Take a day or more and visit my Long Island. Travel to Riverhead, NY, located at the end of the Long Island Expressway (LIE or I-495) right at the fork of the Twin Forks. From Manhattan, take the Queens Midtown Tunnel towards LIE to the end, last exit #73.
The first thing to do is drop the kids off at the “Splish Splash” water park. Named one of the best water parks in the country by the Travel Channel.
If the kids don’t like swimming, let them learn with the fish at Atlantis Marine World Aquarium on Main Street.
After the kids are gone, it’s time to go shopping. In Riverhead you’ll find a variety of stores including BJ’s Wholesale Club, Walmart, Target, Kmart, Toys R Us, Sports Authority and more. But if you can’t find what you’re looking for there, check out Tanger Outlets. Tanger Outlets with two main buildings and some branches have more than 100 stores and two food courts. The Outlets is so big that there is a shuttle bus to get you there.
For lunch travel along route #58. You’ll find just about any fast food you could want there, except White Castles and Arbry’s. Full-service restaurants in town include Friendly’s, Ground Round, Boulder Creek, Applebees, TGI Fridays, and Dinner.
If you’re going to be around Saturday night, visit the only Nascar-approved race track on My Long Island. Gates open early with the first race at 6 p.m.
If you’re staying the night, there are two new hotels in town, the Hilton Garden Inn and the Holiday Inn Express. Weekends for the summer are already booked, but if you travel 1/2 hour west, you can find a larger selection of excellent hotels from exits 56-63 on the LIE.
In the morning, visit some farm stalls with fresh vegetables and fruits. If you wish, you can choose your own. Take Route 58 through the roundabout to Roanoke Avenue. On Roanoke Ave you will pass a Bison Ranch visible from the road. Turn left on Sound Ave and visit Lewin Farms. A At the end of Sound Ave, turn left onto Route 25A and right onto Route 25. Grumman Park should be right in front of you. On Display to Long Island made Navy jets, including the F14 that appeared in the movie “Top Gun” with Tom Cruise.
Take a right out of the park to go back to Riverhead, Splish Splash and the Long Island Expressway.