Nestled on the North Shore, this charming hamlet, perfect for a day trip, is home to Stony Brook University, a quaint, colonial-style village, and a bustling harbor. At the University, families will enjoy checking out the Not Just for Kids programs at the Staller Center for the Arts, featuring everything from magic shows to puppetry, kid-friendly musical performances, and fun theatrical productions. In the Village, take a tour of the Stony Brook Grist Mill, a completely functioning mill that is on the National Register of Historic Places. After a bit of shopping and lunch in town, be sure to stop by the Stony Brook Village Post Office, where a mechanical eagle affixed to the building flaps its wings on the hour.

For outdoor adventures, there is no shortage of options in and around the Village. If you’d like to get out on the water, from set sail on the pontoon boat “Discovery” for a 1.5-hour cruise through the wetlands off Stony Brook Harbor. An on-board naturalist will share information about the area’s ecology and wildlife throughout the cruise.

On land, Avalon Park and Preserve is an 8-acre haven with nature trails, wildflower fields, and a boardwalk along the shore.