66 The Queens Courier • buzz • july 7, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com buzz 7 awesome things to do with your kids in Queens this summer By Elissa Garay editorial@qns.com/@QNS Families that play together, stay together! Luckily, there’s no shortage of great opportunities to get outdoors with your clan this summer for some family-friendly activities right here in Queens. So grab your kiddies and make way for these seven fun- (and sun-!) filled things to do that the whole family will enjoy. 1. Row, row, row your boat in LIC and Astoria Courtesy of LIC Boathouse The volunteer-run LIC Boathouse brings the opportunity for free recreational kayaking and canoeing to the waterways around Long Island City (at Anable Basin) and Astoria (at Hallets Cove, near Socrates Sculpture Park). Learn about estuary ecology and the art of the paddle while setting out on guided tours designed to reconnect locals with their waterways. Check out their calendar for scheduled outings, which mostly unfold on select weekend afternoons; rides are free and kids are welcome on all scheduled “walk-up” paddles, so long as they’re accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. 2. Make a splash in Astoria Pool The oldest and largest pool in NYC, Astoria Pool – set in the midst of the East Riverfacing Astoria Park, tucked right underneath the Triborough Bridge – is open for the season (as of June 29, through Sept. 11, 2016). Swing by daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (note there’s an hourlong break at 3 p.m. for cleaning) to dip into the watery oasis of this Olympic-sized pool; there’s also a wading pool for the wee ones. Kids (and adults) can participate in swimming lessons; and swim diapers are permitted for the littlest ones looking to splash about. 3. Whale-watch in the Rockaways Whales?! In NYC?! In this city of ours that welcomes all, cetaceans are no exception. Hop aboard one of the family-friendly, four-hour whale- and dolphin-watching cruises out of the Rockaways, helmed by Gotham Whale, in partnership with American Princess Cruises. The outings, aboard the 150-passenger The American Princess, were designed by a former curator for the New York and New England aquariums; he or another onboard naturalist/commentator is on hand each sailing to help guests pick out humpbacks, bottlenose or common dolphins, sea turtles, rays and seabirds in their Atlantic Ocean home. Bonus: Kids under 5 are free. 4. Feed animals at Queens County Farm Museum Dating back to the 17th century, this historic 47-acre farm in Floral Park marks New York State’s longest continuously farmed site. Visitors to this unexpected agrarian center right in the midst of NYC can check out old farm buildings, visit a greenhouse complex, and learn about farm vehicles and tools. Plus, there’s an orchard and herb garden, and everybody’s favorite: the livestock, including a petting zoo, where (for a small fee) kids can feed goats and sheep. They also offer pony rides and hayrides all summer long (also for a small fee). Best of all, the Queens County Farm Museum is open daily and general admission is free (except during a select few special events). 5. Catch a ballgame at Citi Field For fun for the whole fam, set out to root for the home team at Citi Field. Swing by to see the Mets on select “Family Sundays,” which kick off at kid-friendly 1:10 p.m. start times. Among the bonuses for attending one of these games are family-themed giveaways (for the first 15,000 fans), a chance for kids 12 and under to come down on the field and run the bases (and meet Mr. Met!) post-game, and other kid-primed activities like face-painting, sign-making and more. Scheduled family dates for the 2016 season are as follows: July 3, 10 and 31; Aug. 14 and 28; Sept. 4, 18 and 28. 6. Hit the adventure course at Alley Pond Park It’s no walk in the park, but that’s the fun of it! The Alley Pond Park Adventure Course offers up fun for the whole family via both its low- and high-ropes course activities. Work together with the clan – under the supervision of a certified course guide – to surmount challenges en route, for a thrilling experience that factors in elements like a mini zip line, a rock climbing wall, swings, nets, balance platforms and a trust fall station, all in the midst of the 655-acre Alley Pond Park. The free course, run by the New York City Parks Department, is open to individuals ages 8 and up, and is open on Sundays through November (weather permitting); note that advance online registration is required in July and August. 7. Swing a club at Rocket Park Mini Golf As if mini golf wasn’t inherently fun enough, leave it to the New York Hall of Science to up its wow-factor to out-of-this-world proportions. The cosmic-themed course unfolds in the shadow of two real NASA rockets, and features design elements meant to recall the ’60s space age, with a nine-hole course that encourages players to embrace science concepts like gravity, propulsion, thrust and more. The Rocket Park Mini Golf course is open daily through November (weather permitting); note the fee to play is in addition to the required entrance fee at the adjacent Hall of Science (it costs $6/adults, $5/ kids). While there, be sure to pop into the nearby Science Playground, too (admission $5/person) – it’s the largest science-themed playground in the nation, with a mission of fostering “science learning though personal discovery and participation.”
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