Beachin’ It

It goes without saying, there’s nothing like the beach—especially right now! These local beaches are all within an hour of the city and are reachable by car or train:

Jacob Riis Park, Queens. Jones Beach but closer. This beach-park offers a mile-long stretch of surf kids can swim in, plus ball courts, miniature golf, a boardwalk, a playground, and public grills. 718-318-4300.

Midland Beach, Staten Island. This beach is great for swimming and boasts concession stands, a playground, and the Sea Turtle Fountain, which has sprinklers kids can run around in. It’s also close to South Beach, which is popular for its boardwalk. 718-987-0709.

Sandy Hook, NJ. Only a 40-minute ferry ride from Wall Street, this beautiful, well-kept beach-park includes seven miles of ocean beaches, salt marshes, and hiking trails. If your family enjoys historical sites, visit the oldest surviving lighthouse in the United States, Sandy Hook Lighthouse, which can be visited on weekends from noon to 5 p.m. Also, be sure to bring your bikes and take advantage of Sandy Hook’s amazing bike trails. 732-872-5970, sandy-hook.com. For ferry info: seastreak.com.

Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn. Going east, first comes Coney, then Brighton, then Manhattan Beach, which adjoins a community of private homes. There’s basketball courts, paddle ball, tennis, a great beach shaped like a half-moon, and a big public parking lot (get there early to claim your spot!).

Brighton Beach and Coney Island. They share the same beach and boardwalk. Brighton has the infusion of Russian culture and restaurants. Coney has, in case you haven’t heard, rides, circus, Nathan’s, minor league baseball, and the aquarium. Whichever one you land at, it’s easy to visit the other.

Water Taxi Beach at Long Island City, Queens. Across from Manhattan, there are concessions and volleyball during the day, and dance parties at night. A great view, a great place for a family picnic.

Orchard Beach, Bronx. Once heralded as New York’s “Riviera,” it’s still quite a gem, with playgrounds, picnic areas, and more than two dozen sports courts—and a nice big and long beach front.

Long Beach, Long Island. Not to be confused with Long Beach Island on the Jersey Shore, Long Beach on Long Island is a year-round home to some, a great summer day to others. It has a Jersey Shore town’s mix of commercial stores and restaurants and club, with a heavy infusion of city cool and artiness. And a great beach.

Jones Beach, Long Island. Hugely popular, lots of concessions, public swimming pools, a performance venue for night concerts, basketball, tennis, shuffle board, mini-golf, picnic areas, rustic hiking—but the crown jewel, of course, is the big beach and delicious ocean.

Young Actors at Strasberg

Young Actors at Strasberg&nbsp;offers a comprehensive array of acting programs for students in grades 2 &ndash;&nbsp;12. Classes provide kids and teens with a foundation in Lee Strasberg's Method Acting and the tools to succeed in the professional industry &ndash;&nbsp;all while maintaining a fun and playful environment. Programs are tailored to encompass students at all levels, from those just beginning their acting journey to Broadway veterans and professional child actors. Young Actors at Strasberg alumni include Lady Gaga, Sophia Lillis, Angelina Jolie, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Rosario Dawson! Young Actors&nbsp;Programs are available online and in-person at our New York Campus, located in Union Square. Saturday, After-School and Online classes are offered during the traditional school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) and Monday through Friday day camps and intensives are held in&nbsp;July and August. About The Lee Strasberg Theatre &amp; Film Institute: Founded in 1969 by Lee and Anna Strasberg, The Lee Strasberg Theatre &amp; Film Institute is the only school that teaches Lee Strasberg's work in its complete and authentic form. The Institute's goal is to provide students with a craft that will help them create a reality and respond truthfully in imaginary circumstances, regardless of the style or form of material being used. LSTFI is proud to have award-winning alumni from around the world working as writers, directors, and actors in all mediums.

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"

Play On! Studios

Play On! Studios offers theater day camps and after-school classes on the UWS that are guaranteed to give kids a summer full of acting, music, and fun they won't soon forget! Young actors will rehearse and perform in a full production, work with professional NYC actors/teaching artists, build up their skills in a nurturing, non-competitive environment and play lots of drama games! Creative Drama Camps are perfect for kids entering grades K-4. Campers will work each week to put on a brand-new show! Each session, they will receive a script, rehearse a production, make a set and costumes, and perform their play. Kids will also play drama games, play outside (weather permitting), and have tons of fun! Musical Theater Camps are aimed at kids entering grades 4-9. In Musical Theater Performance Camp, campers put on a complete musical production in a professional NYC theater! Campers will stretch their skills with drama exercises and games, vocal coaching, field trips, and building a professional set. Our incredible teaching artists and campers come together to put on a truly remarkable show! During the school year, classes are great for beginners or more experienced actors - sing, dance, and put on a play! Whether your child is just starting out, or ready for Broadway, we&rsquo;ve got the class for them. Classes are available for grades PreK-8, after school or on Saturdays! Come play with us. &nbsp;