Took the kids to the museum, and they had so much fun exploring all the exhibits! The bubble…read morestation is always a classic and a huge favorite. I loved that the staff was right there, constantly cleaning up the extra bubbles and adding more soap to keep the fun going. The giant blue blocks section was so cool, too--the kids built a ton of different things and had a blast destroying them afterward! The old-school phones are always a fun classic, and they absolutely loved the animal section upstairs. It was a perfect day out for the family! ¡Llevé a los niños al museo y se divirtieron muchísimo explorando todas las exhibiciones! La estación de las burbujas siempre es un clásico y una de sus favoritas. Me encantó que el personal estuviera ahí mismo, limpiando constantemente el exceso de burbujas y agregando más jabón para que no parara la diversión. La sección de los bloques azules gigantes también estuvo genial; ¡los niños construyeron muchísimas cosas y se divirtieron un mundo destruyéndolas después! Los teléfonos antiguos siempre son un clásico muy divertido, y les fascinó la sección de los animales en el piso de arriba. ¡Fue un día perfecto en familia!

I had went to the Long Island, Childrens museum twice and absolutely loved it. I want the first…read moretime around with just me and my son. I was there for an hour and a half. He had a really great time and talk about a 2 to 3 hour nap. He didn't fully understand everything, considering he is 16 months old, but he did have a fun time while he was there. There is an area for children his age so he can play around there, but I was able to have him run around and play everywhere else. He didn't care for the bubbles area, but absolutely loved the sand corner that they have. There is a little sandbox for the kids so that way toddlers can go and play it if they wanted to. He loved going up and down the stairs and playing in the block area as well. When I first went, I didn't use what the library offered. Which if you put in that you have a library card, you and a child can get in for free for the day. My husband did come with us when I made the day through the library, but considering he got the library card and showed them that he had it, he was able to pay half the price. Which was nine dollars for us. Otherwise it would have been $18. It was a great time for my son and we were there for almost 2 hours as he was running around the place. If you do want to go more often, I know they offer a family packages. I also know that you can get a two-year package and a one-year package. The basic one-year package is $200. Which if that is the only thing you can afford is totally worth it. Especially on days where it is too cold to stay outside or it is raining. I know the other packages offer more stuff, but they are a little bit more expensive. This place is great considering that they do have events each week. That is great for all different ages. This is a place. I will definitely be taking my son more and once I have more kids will be taking them there as well.

I've lived on Long Island for most of my life and this was my first visit. It was a very inspiring,…read moreeducational, and deeply moving. From the moment we stepped in, it felt like the stories weren't just displayed; they were brought to life. What made the visit stand out most was our tour guide Monet Green. She was knowledgeable and passionate. Monet didn't simply recite facts; she connected the exhibits to the broader history, explained the significance behind each artifacts and timelines, and helped you understand how the past shapes what we experience today. Even complex moments were presented clearly and thoughtfully, without making it feel like a lecture. I also appreciated the pacing and tone. The guide created space for reflection while keeping the tour engaging--asking questions, encouraging curiosity, and making sure everyone felt included. By the end, I didn't just "learn about" history; I felt like I had a deeper understanding of the voices, struggles, achievements, and cultural impact represented throughout the museum. 10/10 recommend!

This place is widely celebrated for its extensive African Atlantic Genealogical Society research…read morecenter, local historical archives, and captivating rotating exhibits detailing Black excellence and heritage. I praise the hospitable and knowledgeable staff. I noted it is a uniquely welcoming, family-friendly environment that proudly highlights overlooked local and global Black history. Guests highlight the eclectic art displays and permanent artifacts--such as the restored 1915 piano of ragtime legend Eubie Blake--as well as its striking collection of traditional African masks. Uniquely, it hosts the first museum-based genealogy department in the US, allowing visitors to deeply research their ancestral roots.

We got a Groupon for this place, which makes the price a lot more reasonable. They don't open until…read more1 pm on the weekends, and on Saturdays they don't even give guided tours. Instead, they give an "augmented reality" audio tour which is kind of hit or miss. The house was preserved for the historical significance of the Townsend family, one of which was a spy for George Washington. I didn't feel there was a ton of information on the family though. Pointing their phone at the different objects in a room turned on audio about them, but only a couple of rooms in the actual house were interactive. The rest didn't have signs, and one loan employee was around to answer questions at the end. The exhibit in the visitor center was nice though. I just don't think the AR experience was really up to replacing a person, both in amount of information and the uncanny valley, unnerving portraits. There is street parking and a nearby lot that are free on weekends. The gift shop is minimal. It was an okay spot to visit, but I would recommend coming on Sunday or whenever they offer actual tours to get a more thorough understanding of the house and the history of the people who lived here.

We went here on a winter weekend, and were fortunate to have the builsings to ourselves. The…read morehelpful staff took out modest admission fee and explained that they don't do tours on Saturdays but they do have tour devices using augmented reality. That means that when you walk through the buildings, you scan the cell phone device on important paintings and artifacts and they talk to you with further information about who or what they are. The small building that contains the entrance is packed with paintings, dioramas, documents and artifacts. Next you walk to the main house, built in the 1730's, and housing the Townsend family. At the time of the Revolutionary War, Samuel had to make room for a British colonel. In spite of the fact that he sympathised with the patriots, he maintained good relations with his "Guest." At the time of the war, the house had eight rooms. One of his sons was one of the leaders of the Culpepper Spy Ring, Placing the home on the National Registry of Historic Places. Each room was elegantly decorated, with the exception of the space for the enslaved housekeeper. In spite of the fact that we didn't get a formal tour, the staff member tagged along with us and kept up a spirited conversation - even giving us a bonus look at the Victorian wing which doubled the size of the structure. The house is said to be haunted, of course. Very highly recommended. The full set of photos can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/terryballard/albums/72177720323110655

The historic Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, Long Island is home to New York's Air and…read moreSpace where you can find many interactive exhibits. My favorite is the PAN AM Airways exhibit - famously known as the "The World's Most Experienced Airline" until its dissolution in 1991. Pan American epitomized luxury and glamour of intercontinental travel with it famous "clipper" jets. Founded in 1927 - flying as Airmail service, then peaking in the 1950-1970s as the major intercontinental airline travel for passengers, Pan Am was known for its advanced fleet with the most high standards, exquisitely trained staff and luxurious amenities. I flew my very first First Class flight to Rome, Italy, and back home to NYC (JFK) from Paris France in 1986. The team of "Stewardess" as they were called back in the day gave white glove service. Premier class passengers started with caviar and champagne, followed by rack of lamb that was carved from the trolly in the aisle, dinner was served on white pressed tablecloths with cloth napkins. A very impressive sight. The Museum grounds are perfect for a planned weekday excursion or weekend visit. The area is in proximity to convenient outdoor amenities, parks, eateries, and retail shops. Enjoy! Museum tickets range $16 (children 2-12) to $18 (adults) Thank you for reading.

It was a lot of informative displays of the era and extremely extremely well organized my…read morefive-year-old grandson kind breezed through it but my daughter and I really enjoyed it!

We had an amazing time at the Nassau County Firefighters Museum. There are a number of old and…read morerefurbished firefighter trucks and engines to see around the small museum from towns around Nassau County. There are currently five fire trucks that you are allowed to climb into explore. For the young kids they have four jackets and helmets for them to dress up in to pretend they are junior firefighters. In the education section there are more jackets and helmets for all ages to dress into. There is also a memorial in the first room dedicated to those who lost their lives from 9/11. The second room is the education center that teaches all about fire safety. There is also a small kids area sponsored by Capital One with toys on the wall. That room also is access to the museum's party room where the museum offers to host a child's birthday party. They have information about that by the cashier where you pay for tickets. Tickets are $7 for ages 3 and older. Kids 2 years old and younger are free. Most libraries in the area will have a museum pass available to rent for free for their patrons. You will need to check the terms with your library to see how many can be admitted with the pass. Last admission to the museum is 4:15pm. Our daughter enjoyed going to museum a lot. It's very educational, informative and fun. We would return again in the future. All the staff we interacted with was very nice. After we purchased our souvenirs at the gift shop, they also gave my daughter a free sticker that says "Junior Firefighter" and the name of the museum. There are bathrooms if needed. It is in the back by the connection with the Cradle of Aviation Museum next door. There is plenty of parking in the shared lot as well.

We had a really nice time at the Firefighters Museum. We were able to get a pass from our local…read morelibrary to go for free. It would not have gotten 5 stars if we had to pay to get in. We enjoyed checking out the old firetrucks and were able to snap some photos. I'm happy they gave recognition to the heroes that dies on 9/11. I enjoyed reading about them. There wasn't much hands on or interactive stuff and the entire museum is rather small, in my opinion. I'd check it out but would definitely look to go for free as libraries have passes. Also right next to some other museums that you might want to check out.

TEP deserves more than 5 stars for the amazing start to finish service we experienced on our 7 day…read moreadventure to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. From the time we signed up, to the time we boarded the plane to return home, TEP took care of every detail. We commented amongst ourselves that we felt like kids on vacation with our parents, as we didn't have to worry about any of the details - just show up and follow Neptali (our guide). From airport pickup in Cusco in luxury Mercedes vans where we were promptly served Coca tea to help with the altitude acclimation, to group dinners at amazing Peruvian restaurants, to historical tours and education on the history of the Inca - everything was covered and taken care of for us. And that was all before the amazing trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Of course the trek itself was the highlight of the trip, and although it was extremely challenging for us, TEP's unbelievable attention to detail did not fail us on the trail. With nearly a 2:1 porter to trekker ration, our every need was met on the trail. We dined like kings every meal, and were consistently amazed with the quality (and nutritional appropriateness) of the food our chef and sous chef were able to put out with minimal kitchen conveniences. The thing I felt was most special about TEP's approach to this trip was the focus on gaining a cultural and historical appreciation for what we were experiencing. Every step along the way, we learned about the native people of Peru, the Inca civilization, the many ruins we came across, the vegetation we saw and how it was and is used, and the history of modern Peru. It was the trip of a lifetime, and have the help of The Explorer's Passage made it so much more enjoyable, and so much more memorable. The value of what they provide is amazing for the cost....rather, for the investment. I highly recommend them!

What a fabulous tour! I did the "Washington in NYC" tour in June 2017 and it was such a wonderful…read moreexperience! So much fascinating historical information that I can't wait to share with all my friends now; such a great group of fellow explorers; and all so perfectly run - well planned, perfectly on time, with a great variety of sights and insights for all types of travelers. I recommend this tour highly - and will be on the lookout for future adventures from The Explorer's Passage! :)

So being a mom of twins I look for things to do to keep my kids entertained. That being said this…read moreis the place. I arrived at opening and it was so quiet. So much to see and explore. Buttons to push that kiddos would love. Planes to climb into and explore, videos to watch and friendly staff to chat with. Absolutely friendly staff that are willing to go above and beyond to explain things and make your kids say wow. If you have space lovers like I do there minds will be blown. I stayed 2 and a half hours and tired out my kids. There is also a playroom for the kids to explore space themed of course. A nice seating area to eat or order food. We brought a lunch and enjoyed it. There are tons of bathrooms so if you're with littles you don't have to worry rushing to find one. It's also in walking distance to a carousel, the LICM and fire museum. So if you want to do more plenty of spaces to explore. Not to mention how clean everything was.

"I feel the need, the need for speed."…read more Our family including the littles always enjoyed the annual Memorial Day Airshow featuring the Blue Angels at Jones Beach. Given the Cradle of Aviation Museum's proximity, I was surprised that none of my family's grown-ups had ever visited. Located in Garden City, the lesson here at this museum is that Long Island's aviation history is deep. Who knew that the majority of inventors and explorers of aviation began right here on the Island? If you're curious about this stuff, look it up, it's quite interesting. This museum is much larger than I thought, and houses original aircraft pieces as well as large replicas. There's also a ton of hands-on features and cockpits to sit in with instruments, knobs and buttons to fiddle with. We also attended one of the Planetarium's five hour-long shows in its giant, domed screen. Once the show started it garnered a few 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from the kids. It was quite tickling to hear their curiosities piqued. :-) A special note of thanks goes to all the docents, ready and eager to answer all our questions. And kudos to them for being exceptionally kind and patient with the littles. TIP: Free parking on premises

Having only a limited number of days in New York to check items off our bucket list, we needed an…read moreexcellent guide with a plethora of knowledge and enough spare energy to keep us going. I fortunately found New York Historical Tours under the ownership and direction of Kevin Draper, CEO (Chief Experience Officer). My wife and I had used a private tour guide while in Scotland, and had a wonderful one on one experience ~ away from groups and tailored to fit our style of tourism. Kevin was incredibly knowledgable, affable, professional and customized our bucket list to 1) see the Statue of Liberty with pedestal access and the new museum, 2) get a brief but comprehensive history of Ellis Island without disembarking, 3) work our way to Katz's Delicatessen (we are big "When Harry Met Sally" fans) all the while getting a feel and history of the local neighborhoods, as well as learning how to use the Metro system to develop a nice level of familiarity and comfort in the East Side of Manhattan where we were staying. A standout feature on a tour with Kevin is his attention to detail in planning our time together. I call him the Master of Timing and Positioning. For example he suggested catching the first ferry to the Statue of LIberty. When we met him, he had already purchased our tickets. While on the ferry, he kept us comfortably shaded, then took us to key positions to get the best views of Lady Liberty while giving us an incredibly interesting history of the Statue. By the time we left the island, it was getting swamped with tourists and school groups. Superb timing indeed. On the way to the Metro, he pointed out the very interesting history of Battery Park and surrounding buildings and branch of the Smithsonian museum. We wound our way through Little Italy, Chinatown, Nolita and Jewish neighborhoods on the way to Katz's. Amazingly the line was short, but a madhouse inside. Kevin knew how to maneuver to the right cutter, get a table and we had a delicious lunch. As we left, the line had grown to over a block long with over an hour wait. Again the Master's timing was impeccable. He gave us more fascinating history of different areas as we headed back to the Metropolitan Museum where we ended our incredible tour. Our 6 hour private tour went by so quickly, and we were comfortably exhausted. As a historian, Kevin is a walking talking wealth of knowledge about New York, and has tremendous pride in this amazing city. We can enthusiastically recommend him for those seeking the best in personal tours of the Big Apple. In fact, we look forward to using his services on a return trip to New York which can't come soon enough.

We went on their China Town & Little Italy tour of down town Manhattan. Dan was just terrific!…read more His enthusiasm was contagious that made our Birthday celebration weekend. We now want to go on all the tours that they offer.

Captain Steve is simply AMAZING!!! Was a great time sailing with him for my birthday, along with…read moremy best group of friends on-board. He takes just as good of care with his boat as he does with his clients, and is super accommodating. *The boat was very clean, spacious, and had everything we needed. Had a microwave and stove! Lots of space on the table and seating around it. *Location of the boat was VERY CONVENIENT!! Had a parking lot with lots of space and the marina also had ice (great when you have a cooler/in need of ice for drinks). TIP: Captain Steve was really kind in offering to help us with our cooler, and offered to bring a cart/wagon to put the cooler on to make it easier to bring on the walk to where the boat is docked. *Captain Steve: Not only was he informative about the areas, but he was also a pleasure to have a conversation with. My friends and I had a fantastic experience and enjoyed our time sailing and relaxing , and will definitely sail with captain Steve again this summer!

Thank you Captain Steve for a fantastic day on the water in your beautiful sailboat. We enjoyed…read moreourselves so much that we will be back soon!

Beautiful evening on the Bella Sophia with Captain Paul. What a relaxing cruise on a beautiful 43'…read moremotor yacht. I definitely will be doing this again.

We chartered Paul's boat for a friend's birthday and it was so much fun! Paul and Bella were great…read moreas hosts and provided snacks and sodas for the trip. They also had a speaker for us to hook up to our playlists. Overall great experience definitely recommend