Long Island Children's Museum
Fourteen hands-on galleries at Museum Row in Garden City, covering everything from bubbles and communication to a climbing structure and a working sound studio. The Bricks and Sticks building zone and the Tot Spot for under-threes are the two rooms families end up parked in. A small theater runs live family performances on weekends. It sits next door to the Cradle of Aviation Museum so a single trip can cover both. Easy half day and the best rainy-day option on western Long Island for young kids.