8 Family-Friendly Activities in the Hamptons

Trying to find things to do in the Hamptons that the whole family will enjoy? This guide has got you covered! These eight family-friendly activities in the Hamptons will provide your children with playful experiences while also fostering learning. Plus, each of these outings has a little something for adults too, and may even awaken the child within!

Mini-Golf

Play a round of putt-putt at one of several mini-golf courses in the Hamptons. Puff’n’Putt in Montauk is a lively course for kids of all ages. Score a hole-in-one on the 18th hole and win a free game on your next visit! Puff’n’Putt offers a variety of boat rentals for the family as well.

Hamptons Mini Golf is a new course that features famous landmarks from the Hamptons. This course in Southampton even hosts regular tournaments with cash prizes. Check out their driving ranges, batting cages, golf simulator, and Local Burger restaurant to make an entire day out of your family outing.

Photo: Hamptons Mini Golf

Finally, Whale’s Tale on Shelter Island is an ocean-themed course. At each hole, you will find lighthouses, dolphins, anchors, turtles, and mermaids. Kids and adults can also enjoy a sweet treat at Flavors Dessert Cafe, a local favorite.

Harbes Family Farm

Credit: Harbes Family Farm

Visit the 100-acre Harbes Family Farm for fun the whole family can enjoy! Head over to the farmstand to choose fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade honey and jams, and beautiful flowers and hanging baskets. Harbes serves delicious food made from their produce, too. Signature items include roasted sweet corn, apple cider donuts, and tomato mozzarella paninis.

The Barnyard Adventure is a staple of the farm, featuring eight acres of hands-on experiences for the kids. Daily attractions include farm animals, chick observatory, bee pollinator garden, tiny bunny village, gnome hedge maze, and flower field.

No farm would be complete without seasonal holiday events. Get in the fall spirit with apple picking, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, or a spooky night maze.

This family farm has got parents covered, too. Harbes Vineyard has a fine selection of fragrant and delectable wines. Wine tastings take place in the Wine Barn, a renovated 100-year-old potato barn. Whether a musical hayride tour, kid’s concert, or pig race, there is no shortage of entertainment at Harbes.

Long Island Aquarium

Get up close and personal with some sea creatures at the Long Island Aquarium. An array of marine life — like octopus, jellyfish, sharks, and seahorses — can be found at the Aquarium’s indoor and outdoor exhibits. Some indoor exhibits include Turtle Bay, Poseidon’s Treasure Room, a Coral Reef, a Critter Corner, and an Amazon Rainforest. Featured at the outdoor exhibits are Creatures of the Night, Ancient Reptile Ruins, Otter Falls, a Sea Lion Coliseum, and the Lost Temple of Atlantis.

Long Island Aquarium offers interactive activities as well. Most popular with the kids are the Swim with Mermaids, Penguin Encounter, Pirate Snorkel Adventure, and Bug Encounter. If you want to make your child’s birthday extra-special, have it at the Long Island Aquarium! Birthday parties include full-day admission, as well as decor and food based on the aquatic-themed package you choose.

Nature Exploration

Credit: Quogue Wildlife Refuge

Explore the nature of Long Island by learning about local ecosystems with your kids. The South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center (SOFO) features natural habitat exhibits that teach kids about the environment. There is even an indoor Marine Touch Tank, where visitors can put their hands in water and touch urchins, crabs, and sea stars.

Outside, SOFO has even more nature exhibits, including a Native Butterfly Garden, Educational Pond, and Native Wildflower Garden. There is also a six-mile wooded trail where hikers will find ponds and wetlands, as well as rare plants and animals.

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is a 300-acre nature preserve that is home to a diverse range of wildlife. The Outdoor Wildlife Complex shelters animals that have been injured and can no longer survive on their own, such as hawks, falcons, and owls. A butterfly garden and greenhouse is bordered by a brick walkway that visitors can engrave with their names. There are seven miles of trails that families can explore to get a glimpse of some rare Dwarf Pines.

Children’s Museum of the East End

Spark your child’s imagination at the Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) in Bridgehampton. Kids can participate in “Open Play” at the museum’s Long Island-themed indoor and outdoor playground. Or they can try “Messy Play,” where they take part in hands-on exploration in art or gardening activities.

The CMEE has its own miniature golf course, where kids can get active while learning math and physics. During the summer, the CMEE hosts various weekly events — the most popular ones include Musical Theatre, Baby & Me, Farm to Kid’s Table, and Fresh Air Mommy (or Daddy) and Me. Cultural immersion programs are also common, with an emphasis on teaching Chinese calligraphy and the Spanish language. Regardless of what your child’s interests are, there are plenty of educational programs, events, field trips and camps at the CMEE to stimulate their mind.

Check out some of the incredible and yet available properties in the Hamptons:

Long Island Game Farm

Take the family on a safari at Long Island Game Farm! This children’s zoo and wildlife park in Manorville is the largest in Long Island. During a visit to Long Island Game Farm, families can learn about all types of animals, like giraffes, goats, zebras, lemurs, and wallabies.

The farm also encourages guests to get up-close and personal with some of the animals through hands-on experiences. “Please Touch” is the motto at the petting zoo, so have fun as you cuddle, pet and feed the baby animals!

The Close Encounters attractions allow families to meet some of the animals, too. These attractions include the Camel Encounter, Giraffe Encounter, Wallaby Encounter, and Bambiland Deerpark. Long Island Game Farm even offers pony rides for kids who want to take a ride around the ring!

Splish Splash

Credit: Splish Splash

Dive into 96 acres of family fun at Splish Splash! Voted one of the Best Water Parks in America by the Travel Channel, Splish Splash has 20 different water slides, rides, and attractions. If your kid is a thrill-seeker, have them check out fast and furious slides like Alien Invasion, Bombs Away, Dragon’s Den, and Riptide Racer. There is also a designated Kiddie Area, where children can swing on tentacles at the Octopus Pool, slide down a yellow submarine, or shoot water cannons at Monsoon Lagoon.

Looking to chill out while your kids run around the park? Head over to Soak City or the Lazy River for a relaxing time in the water. Splish Splash offers an H2Go pass and wristband for visitors who want to beat the long lines. This is an online reservation system in which guests can virtually get in line for an attraction using their smartphone. Once it’s your turn, your wristband will reach zero, and you will receive an alert on your smartphone saying that you may enter your reserved attraction. The H2Go pass reduces waiting time by 50%, meaning less time standing in lines and more time on waterslides!

Cabanas are also available to rent so families can unwind in a personal shaded area all day. With slides for everyone, it’s no wonder that Splish Splash is Long Island’s best family water park.

Ride a Bike

Rent bikes for the whole family to take a spin around the Hamptons! Amagansett Beach & Bicycle has wonderful adult and youth bike selections and offers one-of-a-kind bike tours. The Back Yard Tour is a picturesque cruise that gives riders a peek at some of the most glamorous homes in East Hampton. If your kids are a little older and have experience biking, the Mountain Bike Tour is a thrilling adventure through the Fire Trails of Hither Hills. Rotations Bicycle Center is one of the leading bike shops in the Hamptons and caters to every type of cyclist. With some of the finest bikes in the world, this Southhampton shop offers road bikes, mountain bikes, urban bikes, electric bikes, gravel bikes, and kids’ bikes. Both bicycle companies also offer toddler seats that can be added to adult bikes. You’ve got countless trails to explore, so biking through the Hamptons provides miles of family fun!

Hamptons Luxury Real Estate

If you are interested in information regarding luxury homes for sale in the Hamptons, contact Matthew Breitenbach. Matthew comes from one of the most successful real estate families in the Hamptons. Known for providing first-class service and consultation, Matthew is considered the leader of a new generation in real estate. If you’re seeking a leading luxury real estate experience, collaborate with the Breitenbach Advisory Team.