Long Islanders like to shop till they drop. But our malls and outlets can be more than just places to hunt for bargains. Here are five destinations where you can spend the day doing a host of activities in addition to hitting the stores.
ROOSEVELT FIELD
630 Old Country Rd., Garden City
Craft your own bracelet with beads and letters spelling out a word expressing self-love and kindness at the Little Words Project, located on the main level near Macy’s ($25). Head to the concourse level to check out ClawCADE, a new arcade featuring 80 claw machines that come in five sizes with more than 120 styles of prizes ($2-$3.50 per game).
“They are really easy to win, which is why we provide our guests with a shopping cart,” co-owner Ryan D’Amico, 39, of Floral Park.
Kausar Rahman, 24, of Valley Stream, uses a claw machine at ClawCADE. Credit: Howard Simmons
Create your own stuffed animal at Build-A-Bear Workshop, located across from Aeropostale on the first floor, where you can personalize your bear with its own sounds, scents and accessories ($14-$49). Those looking to get active can take their kids to PLAY Roosevelt, a new, free interactive space for children on the concourse level (by the escalator) with a tall tower to climb, a swirly slide, illuminated jump pads and a special toddler section containing smaller scaled components. Getting hungry? Grab a bite at Chef Tom Colicchio’s rustic American restaurant Small Batch or try the seasonal menu eats at True Food Kitchen, both are on the main level.
More info simon.com/mall/roosevelt-field
SAMANEA NEW YORK
1500 Old Country Rd., Westbury
Empire Adventure Park in Samanea New York offers plenty of fun for kids of all ages. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Join in the fun at Empire Adventure Park on the second floor, where trampolines, a Ninja Obstacle Course, augmented reality games, a three-story Adventure Maze and the New York-themed laser tag arena await ($30.99 for 60 minutes).
X-Golf Westbury at Samanea New York features an indoor golf and entertainment center with eight simulators. Credit: X-Golf America/X-Golf America
More of a golf fan? Try your hand at X-Golf Westbury, an indoor golf and entertainment center featuring eight simulators spread across 6,300 square feet on the first floor ($75 per hour). Get your aggression out at Smash-It Therapy where participants dress in cut-resistant suits with gloves and a helmet to smash a crate full of materials with sledgehammers or baseball bats inside a rage room on the second floor ($50 for 20 minutes).
Refuel on the first floor with some cheeseburger spring rolls ($13.50) or spicy rigatoni vodka ($23.95) at The Cheesecake Factory or dig into some Korean BBQ or Hot Pot at KPOT, which has an all-you-can-eat lunch ($20.99) or dinner ($31.99).
More info exploresamanea.com
TANGER DEER PARK
152 The Arches Circle, Deer Park
Liam Castillo, 9, and his sister, Khloe Padilla, 7 , both of Lindenhurst, with their mom, Stephanie, get candy at It’Sugar at Tanger Deer Park. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Pick up some lunch at Burger Village, located in section 5 on the right side of Regal Cinemas, where you can customize your own burger (bison, elk, beef, turkey, salmon, black bean or lamb — $14.40-$20.40). Get exotic at We Desi: Indian Bistro, situated in section 5 on the left side of Regal Cinemas, with dishes such as Chicken Biryani ($17.49), Paneer Tikka Roll ($12.99) and don’t miss out on the Garlic Naan ($5.49). Afterward, indulge in a plethora of sweets at It’Sugar, located in section 1 next to Coach, where they sell giant sugar swizzle sticks ($6.99), Wonka caramel fudge candy cans of soda ($3.99), customized Sour Patch Kids character tins ($14.99) and Frankford gummy Lunchables nachos ($4.48).
Monster Mini Golf in Deer Park is an indoor, glow in the dark, 18-hole miniature golf course. Credit: Uli Seit
Nearby activities include Monster Mini Golf, located at 410 Commack Rd. in Deer Park, featuring an 18-hole indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf course embedded with Frankenstein, Dracula and other creepy characters ($14, $12 kids).
“The most popular hole is the final one #18 featuring Glo-Zo the Clown,” says assistant general manager Kelsie Eden. “You have to get the ball up his tongue and into his mouth.”
Dodgeball aficionados play the game on trampolines at Sky Zone. Credit: Newsday/Aaron Zebrook
Another hot spot is Sky Zone, located at 111 Rodeo Dr. in Edgewood, where the fun ranges from a freestyle jump, ultimate dodgeball, foam zone, warped wall, sky slam, mega launch, ninja warrior course and more ($39.99 for 90 minutes, $59.99 unlimited).
More info tanger.com/deerpark
WALT WHITMAN SHOPS
160 Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station
Bounce the City arrives at Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station on Oct. 12, providing an inflatable theme park in the back parking lot.
The national inflatable theme park Bounce the City arrives in the back parking lot Oct. 12-27 providing four inflatable sections: The Giant — a 900-foot obstacle course, The City Xscape — brand new among skyscrapers, the Silent Disco Dome — a headphone dance party and a Skyscraper Slide — a 20-foot inflatable slide ($24 for 90-minute session for kids 15 and younger).
After a day of play, grab a slice at California Pizza Kitchen. Credit: California Pizza Kitchen/Scott Goldsmith
Fill your bellies at California Pizza Kitchen (pies: $20.70-$24.15), across from the Gap or eat clean with Sweetgreen, next to Bloomingdale’s, which offers six different type of bowls ($16.95-$19.95) and seven salads ($13.50-$17.95).
More info simon.com/mall/walt-whitman-shops
TANGER RIVERHEAD
1770 W. Main St., Riverhead
Helen Partlow, of Miller Place, watches her children, Jack, 9, and Hannah, 8, play at Kidsville Rides & Toys at Tanger Riverhead. Credit: John Roca
Children can have a ball at Kidzville Rides & Toys, next to Banana Republic, where a variety of toys are sold as well as rides inside the store of motorized plush animals ($10 for 10 minutes, $20 for 20 minutes, $25 for 30 minutes).
“We have 10 different animals like a giraffe, a zebra, a rabbit, a unicorn and a cow,” says owner Jai Vachani. “The kids love them. They don’t want to leave!”
Play some pickleball at Smash-It Pickleball, located next to the Columbia Factory Store, where two courts are available to rent ($50 per hour).
Mom Jenny Yu, with son , Justin, 10, and daughter, Adrianne, 13, enjoy a day at the Long Island Science Center in Riverhead. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Visit The Long Island Science Center, situated diagonally across from Polo Ralph Lauren, which offers the Science Saturdays program at 1 p.m. as well as a pixel light board, an augmented reality sandbox, a history of video games, a display magnet wall and more ($15 per person).
The Game On Retro Arcade at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove. Credit: Linda Rosier
Go back in time to the ‘80s and ‘90s at the Game On Retro Arcade, next to the Polo Ralph Lauren Children’s store, where $15 gets you an all-day pass on over 100 games.
Take a break for some snacks at Bobo Korean Fried Chicken, Mediterranean Kitchen & Grill, Charley’s Philly Steak and Tiesto’s Spanish Cuisine in the Food Court off Route 25/West Main Street.
More info tanger.com/riverhead
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday’s exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.