6 Ways To Beat The Heat On Long Island: Summer 2021

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Islanders are hunkering down at home and blasting the A/C under yet another hellish heatwave.

And while it's nice to kick back at home, there are only so many Netflix shows to watch or cold drinks to sip on before the kids get bored and you go a little stir crazy.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to stay cool on Long Island. Patch has rounded up a list below.

Go Ice Skating

Who says ice skating is just for the winter?

Seriously, nothing says "staying cool" like hanging out in an icebox in 90-something degree weather.

There are several indoor ice skating rinks on Long Island. They include, but are not limited to:

• Port Washington Skating Center (70 Seaview Blvd., Port Washington)
• Iceworks (175 Underhill Blvd., Syosset)
• Dix Hills Park Ice Rink (575 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills)
• The Rinx, (660 Terry Rd., Hauppauge)
• City of Long Beach Municipal Ice Arena (150 West Bay Drive,
  Long Beach

Make a Splash

When you think water parks, you think Splish Splash. The 96-acre facility boasts 20 water slides, rides, and attractions — including two wave pools, a lazy river, and a large Kiddie Area. Once you work up an appetite (anyone else get hungrier, faster, in the water?), grab a burger from Johnny Rockets or a frozen treat from Plaza Ice Cream.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Since we're on the topic of food...

Nothing beats the heat like ice cream in the summertime. There's no shortage of great locales on the Island. But if you need some inspiration, here are some fan favorites:

• Ralph's Famous Italian Ices & Ice Cream (multiple locations including Great Neck, Port Washington, Glen Head, Huntington, Island Park, Plainview Bay Shore, Commack, Dix Hills, Farmingville, Riverhead, and Greenport)
  • Author's favorite flavor: Vanilla Fudge Brownie
• Douglas & James (405 Main St., Port Washington)
• Five Pennies Creamery (11 N. Park Ave., Rockville Centre)
• Krisch's (11 Central Ave., Massapequa)
• Kilwins (multiple locations including Huntington, Babylon, Patchogue, and Port Jefferson)
• The Ice Cream Cottage (1590 Montauk Highway,
  Mastic)
• Magic Fountain (9825 Main Rd., Mattituck)
• The Frozen Anchor (478 W. Lake Drive, Montauk)
• Marvel Frozen Dairy (258 Lido Blvd., Lido Beach)

Take a Dip in the Pool

Going to the pool when it's hot is a no-brainer. Just don't forget to drink water and wear lots of sunscreen. Check your county, city, or town's pool directory for hours and rules.

Check Out a Brewery

Long Island is home to many awesome breweries. Beer expert or not, you should check them out. Some breweries to see include:

• Noble Savage Brewing Co. (27 Glen St., Glen Cove)
• Barrier Brewing Co. (3001 New St., Unit A2, Oceanside)
• BrewSA (180 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport)
• Blue Point Brewing (225 W. Main St., Patchogue)
• Long Ireland Beer Company & Brewery (817 Pulaski St., Riverhead)
• Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. (220 Roger's Way, Suite I, Westhampton Beach)

Learn Something New at a Museum

A trip to the museum can easily turn into an all-day affair. Due to COVID-19, timed tickets may still be in effect at some places.

Destinations include:

• Long Island Children's Museum (11 Davis Ave., Garden City)
• Garvies Point Museum & Preserve (50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove)
• Raynham Museum Hall (20 West Main St., Oyster Bay)
• Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery (Staller Center for the Arts, 1st floor
  Stony Brook University, Stony Brook)
• Long Island Maritime Museum (88 West Ave., West Sayville)
• Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum (246 Old Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station)
• Cradle of Aviation Museum (Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City)
• The Long Beach Historical Museum (226 West Penn St., Long Beach)
• Bridgehampton Museum (2368 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton)
• Vanderbilt Museum & Planetarium (180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport)