Rebekah Yahoves

Latest posts by Rebekah Yahoves

15 Family-Friendly Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving on Long Island in 2025

Submitted by Rebekah Yahoves on Fri, 11/07/2025 - 10:00am

The Coral House in Baldwin hosts a festive buffet with all the classics. Photo courtesy of the restaurant

Long Island restaurants open on Thanksgiving provide a fun way to kick off the holiday season, enjoy a delicious meal, and have a memorable holiday experience for the whole family. You get to skip the prep, cooking, and cleanup and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with great food, conversation, and time well spent with the kids.

If your little ones are particular about their food choices or aren't fans of turkey, many of these restaurants offer regular menu items and kids' menus. Most restaurants post menu offerings on their websites, and some require Thanksgiving dinner reservations. Read ahead for our top LI family-friendly turkey day meal destinations open for the holiday.

For fabulous feasting with your little ones any day of the year, check out our Long Island Kid-Friendly Restaurant Guide.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving with your families! We're grateful for all of you.

Best Fourth of July Activities for Kids: Crafts, Games, and Desserts

Submitted by Rebekah Yahoves on Thu, 06/20/2024 - 11:02am

It's Fourth of July week, and while fireworks and parades may dominate the long weekend, kids can also have plenty of patriotic 4th of July fun at home, too. Keep everyone from preschoolers to teenagers entertained with these 4th of July desserts, Independence Day crafts, Fourth of July games, and more. Complement the bangs and whizzes of the holiday with these quieter, craftier Fourth of July activities that many children appreciate more than big booms.

Find more at-home activity ideas in our Boredom Busters for Kids guide, including 100 Awesome Crafts and the Ultimate Summer Bucket List.

Free and Cheap After-School Programs on Long Island for Kids

Submitted by Rebekah Yahoves on Sun, 08/20/2023 - 8:04am

Learning and fun are always in season at Long Island's Boys and Girls Club.

Even the most creative parents on Long Island know the value of quality after-school programs. Kids learn valuable skills, social tools, and critical thinking under the supervision of caring, qualified adults. Here are some of our favorite affordable after-school programs for kids on Long Island. You might be surprised to learn many of these classes and programs fall within a conservative budget.

While you're at it, check out our rundown of great STEM classes for Long Island kids and our Long Island Classes and Enrichment Guide.

Cooking Classes on Long Island for Kids

Submitted by Rebekah Yahoves on Sun, 08/13/2023 - 7:00am

Kids can create homemade bread or pasta at the Flour Shoppe Bakery in Rockville Centre.

Local cooking classes on Long Island may be just the ticket if you can’t fry up cutlets without a few mini-folks scrambling into the kitchen.

These are some of the best cooking schools for kids on Long Island, all of which help little cooks hone their skills under the direction of experts.

If you’re exploring various creative outlets for kids, check out these 10 drop-in art locations for Long Island kids and our LI Classes and Enrichment Guide.

The Best Hayrides and Haunted Hayrides on Long Island for Kids

Submitted by Rebekah Yahoves on Sun, 09/11/2022 - 7:23am

Kids will enjoy the White Post Farms hayride.

The best hayrides on Long Island for kids feature more than just straw and wagon wheels. Characters, pumpkin-picking, and scrumptious treats like warm apple cider and warm cinnamon doughnuts delight senses as guests roll through colorful autumn wonderlands with toddlers to teens. We've even found some haunted hayrides on Long Island.

For more fall festival fun, check out our picks for the best fall fairs and festivals and our Guide to Fall Fun on Long Island for Kids.

Inclusive Playground Opens in Greenlawn in Suffolk County

Submitted by Rebekah Yahoves on Tue, 05/07/2019 - 1:15pm

Kids of all abilities will delight in the Pickle Park swing area.

Parents with active tots know the value of outdoor play. It helps children gain self-confidence, develop muscle coordination, and burn calories. It also serves as a creative and stimulating outlet for their energy.

This would seem to be especially true for children with special needs. With that in mind, Greenlawn has welcomed a new, inclusive playground to Pickle Park. It makes running, playing, and generally having a good time easy and fun for children of all abilities.

Located in the Town of Huntington, it's a worthy addition to Long Island's top inclusive playgrounds and top playgrounds for toddlers.

Millions in Upgrades Planned for LI State Parks in 2019

Submitted by Rebekah Yahoves on Tue, 04/09/2019 - 12:30pm

The adventure park at Jones Beach will sit in the shadow of the boardwalk. Rendering courtesy of Wildplay Element Parks

If you have especially adventurous or nature-loving kiddos, it's time to grab your sunscreen and sturdy shoes because state parks on Long Island will be millions of dollars more exciting beginning this Memorial Day.

Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Sunken Meadow, Heckscher, and Wildwood state parks are welcoming upgrades this season that include cottages, marina access, an outdoor adventure area, and more sure to leave your family eager for outdoor excitement.

Sip a Coffee and Save a Kitten at LI Cat Cafes

Submitted by Rebekah Yahoves on Tue, 04/02/2019 - 12:00pm

Enjoy a cup at The Shabby Tabby and maybe come home with a furry friend.

If your family is in the market for a new kitty or just looking for the purr-fect way to spend an afternoon, you are in for a furry good time. The Shabby Tabby, Long Island's first cat cafe, is waiting for you to frolic and munch with some new feline friends.

Make an hourlong reservation at the cafe in Sayville and enjoy some cuddly time with your favorite fur-balls while enjoying a complimentary beverage and tasty pastries. All of the cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and ready for adoption.

What's more, a second cat cafe, A Kitten Kaboodle, plans to open in Selden in June, offering more fun for animal-lovin' tots. In the meantime, check out our list of the best animal farms and petting zoos on Long Island and our roundup of animal encounter birthday party destinations for Long Island kids.

Latest posts by Rebekah Yahoves

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