Summer Guide 2015: Must-Visit Amusement Parks

Want to take a day trip full of fun, adventure and games with your family this summer? We’ve rounded up six must-visit amusement parks this summer, all within two hours of New York City!

Coney Island's Luna Park — Coney Island’s Luna Park

Dorney Park
Allentown, PA
With a brand new family ride and barbecue dining experience, get ready to pack your bags and head down to Dorney Park for a guaranteed day of fun. Step into a time machine at the Dinosaurs Alive park, featuring more than 30 life-sized dinosaurs, or cool off at one of the many waterslides at Wildwater Kingdom. Dorney also boasts its very own kids park, Planet Snoopy, catered to family friendly fun with over 15 rides and the opportunity to take pictures with your favorite Peanut! 4000 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, PA, dorneypark.com

Land of Make Believe
Hope, NJ
Travel to the Land of Make Believe for an array of rides, games and water parks so incredible you still might not believe it! The pirate-themed park prides itself on its family friendly rides and encourages parents to jump in on the fun at the Pirates Plunge waterslide or Blackbeard’s Action River Ride. This season, new features include the Rockin’ Tug family ride, Free Fallin’ ride for thrill seekers and many more at the top-rated New Jersey amusement park. 354 Great Meadows Road – Rt. 611, Hope, NJ, lomb.com

Luna Park
Brooklyn, NY
Luna Park, located in Brooklyn’s own Coney Island, offers an enormous assortment of rides and games for children of all ages to dive into this summer. Just a quick train ride away, the beachside amusement park comes equipped with everything from the epochal Coney Island Cyclone to the brand new Thunderbolt rollercoaster. After winning a prize at one of Luna Park’s 15 lively games, take a quick break to indulge in the best hotdog New York City has to offer at Nathan’s Famous on the boardwalk. 1000 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, lunaparknyc.com

Rye Playland
Rye, NY
Rye Playland is the ideal setting for kids and parents of all ages to enjoy a summer day in the sun with a large range of kiddyland, family and thrill rides next to the beachy Long Island Sound. Just an hour outside of New York City, enter a new world of outrageous entertainment at the House of Mirrors or try to dodge dancing skeletons in the spookily fun Zombie Castle. In addition to its regular features, Rye Playland offers a jam-packed schedule of daily entertainment like Erik’s Reptile Edventures or New York Days! Broadway Nights! 1 Playland Parkway, Rye, NY ryeplayland.org

Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson, NJ
For a classic amusement park experience, head out to Six Flags Great Adventure and buckle up for a full day of electrifying rollercoasters, games and entertainment. Rollercoaster lovers will be in for a treat with the brand new, spiraling El Diablo ride and the limited time backward Batman coaster beginning July 4. Those looking for a more laidback scene can take in the view from the Big Wheel Ferris wheel or ride the Bugaboo bug mobiles on a gentler tour. 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, NJ 08527 sixflags.com/greatadventure

Victorian Gardens
New York, NY
For some summer fun in the heart of New York City, Victorian Gardens is a must-visit seasonal amusement park in Central Park. In a stunning transformation, Wollman Rink is barely recognizable with colorful games and rides taking the place of the iconic skating rink. The thrilling Aeromax ride treats passengers to a 360 degree view of the entire park, including its bumper boats and Whac-A-Mole, and other spectacular city views. 830 5th Avenue, victoriangardensnyc.com

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.

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!"

The Little Gym of Bay Ridge- Bensonhurst

At The Little Gym of Bay Ridge-Bensonhurt, we specialize in unique, educational classes that revolve around active play. We give children a safe and inspiring space to direct their energy, build confidence, and develop key skills. Explore the range of classes we offer at The Little Gym of Bay Ridge-Bensonhurst to find the one that&rsquo;s just right for your child.&nbsp;