I had a great time visiting here. There is some old train equipment out in the yard, including a…read morecaboose you can climb into. I enjoyed reading about the equipment and the history of the LIRR. There is a little train that kids can ride in that goes around the yard and they love hearing the horn! In the Visitor's Center, you can see the Lionel Layout, which was moved from Michigan to Riverhead back in 2011 and it is truly something to behold. It is very interactive and there are plenty of buttons for kids (or adults!) to push to make things move or light up. The highlight is the model circus that was handcrafted by a local man. Read more about the history of the display at the link below. The volunteers here are very passionate about trains. They might not make small talk about something else, but if you have train related questions, they are excellent resources. Admission is $10 for adults but I had no problem paying that because I'd like to support his endeavor. http://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2011/04/10650/famous-model-train-exhibit-set-to-deput-at-railroad-museum-of-li/

This place is great & lots of fun - even for adults! I was passing through Riverhead & decided to…read morecheck out the annual train festival on my way to the North Fork. Admission was ten dollars & included unlimited train rides. Also included was access to old train cars & a large tent containing train sets & some very cool vintage locomotives. I'd forgotten how cool some of the toy trains were. The festival is located adjacent to the LIRR train stop - also got to see a large "real" train pass by. Nice event. Nice staff. Good value. Great time.

Wonderful place. My 2 sons had a blast. Flying drones - real fun. The VR goggles were amazing…read more You know you sitting down safe in a chair with the headset on, but you really feel like you are walking on the ocean floor as fish and seals dart around you. I understand they have other programs too. Great fun. Located in the Tanger Outlet Mall in Riverhead. Make sure you call before you go, the hours vary.

Really cute place in the tanger outlets! I took my nephew and daughter on a Sunday and it was a…read moresteady crowd. The two associates at the front were super helpful and patient as well, you had to sign up for a waiting list for the virtual reality and they made sure everybody got a chance. My nephew is autistic and they were really patient with him which I appreciated. The reason for the 4 star review is the fact that it was expensive for three of us and not a lot of exhibits. It was hands one which I loved but the main reason we went there was for the drones and they were broken when we got there. I am hoping to go back when the drones are available but for the price, not sure yet. The kids had a really nice time though.

If you're from Long Island, you've heard of the Big Duck, you've seen it on postcards of Long…read moreIsland (yeah these exist, go to like, the Jones Beach gift shop). But find me a local who has actually been there, actually seen it. I'll wait. I've had my share of decades here on Long Island, and I'd never seen the Big Duck. My wife and I were headed out to Montauk, so of course we had to visit. I didn't realize how close it was to Riverhead, or I would have visited a long time ago. It's a big duck. Seems to be owned by the County or something. The duck itself is a gift shop (I think it used to sell eggs, natch) but the grounds are tastefully maintained, and there's a museum on site (bathrooms, too). Unfortunately, in late June, it was all still covid-shut, but that also meant that we were the only ones there (it was also a weekday). I had low expectations anyway, I just wanted to see the duck. It was more exciting than I thought it would be, but really, all I wanted was to see the Big Duck as a stop on our trip. It was not out of the way, and worth the detour. 5 out of 5 if you keep your expectations low. It's a duck.

As a transplant to New York and Long Island, I had heard about the Big Duck, so when I realized it…read morewas along our route to Montauk, we had to stop. It's exactly what it sounds like--a giant white duck on the side of the road. There are restrooms, a small parking lot, and a gift shop inside the duck with plenty of duck-themed souvenirs. The employee was knowledgeable about the history and shared interesting facts while we looked around. We snapped a few pictures and continued on our way. I wouldn't plan a trip just to see it, but if you're already headed that way, it's a fun stop for some silly photos and a chance to stretch your legs.

My kids really loved this aquarium that we came here 3 consecutive days. They have a butterfly…read moreexhibit that had abundant amount of butterflies. You aren't allowed to touch them but if they land on you, you just enjoy that blessing and time with the butterfly that landed on you. All of the staff there are well-trained, welcoming, and friendly with both my kids. You have the option to upgrade your regular admission to a one year membership after your visit. To save yourself from a 3.5% surcharge if you use credit, you'll want to pay in cash. Breakeven for my membership was about 3 visits and we did just that for the 4 days we were in Riverhead. My kids loved it so much that they are already asking to go back. The aquarium is well kept and the sharks are HUGE!! They are definitely well fed. The aquarium is Atlantis themed and you can tell a lot of time, money, and detail went into the making of this aquarium. The aquarium is privately owned and you do see sponsorship (advertisement) from private companies. I am comparing my experience with the NY aquarium in Brooklyn, which I have visited countless times. The Long Island Aquarium blows the NY aquarium away in every way possible. It's new, ventilation indoors is amazing, the sea lion show has shade, the penguins can be seen up close, there's an inexpensive option to snorkel, theres a big tree house, etc. I would totally recommend coming here with your family. If you come on weekdays, there might be a lot of school kids, and if you want to avoid that, you probably should should come around 1 or 2pm. Highly recommend this aquarium.

The Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead, NY is possibly the best aquarium I have ever visited. And…read moreI've been to a lot, especially when my Grandson was younger. The experience is phenomenal, whether you're young or older. There are interactive experiences, dives, tours, touch experiences and much, much more. My favorite is the penguin exhibition. The clear sides and floor is raised high enough for a child to go under. One comes to a rounded raised portion of the floor where the child can stand completely up and feels as if it's in the midst of the penguins. The penguins are very gregarious. When my Grandson looked at the side of the exhibit they all came over to greet him. As he moved, they moved to follow him. What fun! Don't miss the sea lion show, large living coral exhibit, shark tank and butterflies, bugs and bees garden. This year long attraction is a "must do" if you're in Long Island, especially if you have a child in tow.

Suffolk County Historical Society located in the heart of Riverhead village is an amazing treasure…read moretrove of historical items and amazing photos. They are taken care of, categorized, and preserved well. They receive general support from many sources for the management and sharing of our local history. They are digitized and the entire photo collection should be online for viewing in some fashion or another. Instead it was hard to access. A week in advance for a library appt.. and the 9 photos I wanted a copy of are restricted to use only on paper or digital for a fee of $20 each... so $180 I thought and ok'd. I agreed to the fee, willing to have them added to our super busy 20 year website on our islands historic homes...( A site that is free to all listed mansions and and takes no advertising.. all a gift to the thousands who enjoy the site for decades. We pay all fees and hosting for years)... Despite that... was told it would now be $1800 for the 9 photos of interest. Apparently the digital fee is to buy to look at again and not share online. They went on to be more restrictive.. stating that they did not want me putting the order in via email, or fax or even in person, Unless I came back again for another appointment.. and None were available until 2 weeks from my call... all to be sure they were correct. I think I took pretty good notes on the mansion names and photo IDs since that is what I do. Benefactors gave the SCHS an amazing collection of photos... and other items to take care of and promote our Long Island culture.. but sadly they sit in a place few go to and actually see. Trying to make them available was not easily done. So now.. I dub the Suffolk County Historical Society the Suffolk County Hoarder Society. Availably to only a few as the years run out and our locals miss out. Not cool SCHS.

This Historic Museum is definitely a gem! There is no wonder it has been around for so many years…read more The Director ( Victoria Berger) is such a knowledgeable woman,it was a pleasure meeting her,she is perfect for the job.I must also add everyone else I had dealings with in the Museum were wonderful and welcoming.I look forward to more visits.Go ,you will not be disappointed!

I wonderful event for the community of Riverhead. Take Main Street, shut down a portion, and give…read moreeveryone chalk! That's exactly what's going on here. People express themselves through art. It's great for everyone and is fun to watch. They also have vendors set up so you can also see what's to offer on the East End. I really enjoy the community coming together like this and making art. They do this every year so make a plan to visit if you can. I am happy I came to see how talented some people are.

East End Arts is VERY SPECIAL and has something for every one. What a wonderful group of loving…read morepeople helping and paying it forward ! My whole Family absolutely loves everything about East End Arts ! Thank you Diane and Stephanie !!!

We got a Groupon for this place, which makes the price a lot more reasonable. They don't open until…read more1 pm on the weekends, and on Saturdays they don't even give guided tours. Instead, they give an "augmented reality" audio tour which is kind of hit or miss. The house was preserved for the historical significance of the Townsend family, one of which was a spy for George Washington. I didn't feel there was a ton of information on the family though. Pointing their phone at the different objects in a room turned on audio about them, but only a couple of rooms in the actual house were interactive. The rest didn't have signs, and one loan employee was around to answer questions at the end. The exhibit in the visitor center was nice though. I just don't think the AR experience was really up to replacing a person, both in amount of information and the uncanny valley, unnerving portraits. There is street parking and a nearby lot that are free on weekends. The gift shop is minimal. It was an okay spot to visit, but I would recommend coming on Sunday or whenever they offer actual tours to get a more thorough understanding of the house and the history of the people who lived here.

We went here on a winter weekend, and were fortunate to have the builsings to ourselves. The…read morehelpful staff took out modest admission fee and explained that they don't do tours on Saturdays but they do have tour devices using augmented reality. That means that when you walk through the buildings, you scan the cell phone device on important paintings and artifacts and they talk to you with further information about who or what they are. The small building that contains the entrance is packed with paintings, dioramas, documents and artifacts. Next you walk to the main house, built in the 1730's, and housing the Townsend family. At the time of the Revolutionary War, Samuel had to make room for a British colonel. In spite of the fact that he sympathised with the patriots, he maintained good relations with his "Guest." At the time of the war, the house had eight rooms. One of his sons was one of the leaders of the Culpepper Spy Ring, Placing the home on the National Registry of Historic Places. Each room was elegantly decorated, with the exception of the space for the enslaved housekeeper. In spite of the fact that we didn't get a formal tour, the staff member tagged along with us and kept up a spirited conversation - even giving us a bonus look at the Victorian wing which doubled the size of the structure. The house is said to be haunted, of course. Very highly recommended. The full set of photos can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/terryballard/albums/72177720323110655

David was a joy to work with! I booked him for a virtual corporate event and the team loved him…read more His performance was engaging and fun and the team's whole energy and mood post event was wonderful. I really appreciate how prompt and thorough David's communication was from the moment I reached out. It's rare to get to work with someone who can put on a great show and also be so organized. Highly recommended!!

We had David host a virtual event for a bachelorette party. This was first of its kind experience…read morefor a lot of us in the group. Everyone loved the event and enjoyed it a lot. He engaged almost everyone in a group of 15. A lot of us are still wondering how he pulled off the tricks. Would highly recommend it! Thank you David for a wonderful time.

I have trusted Sunflower Fine Art Galleries with my framing needs for several years now, and they…read morecontinues to exceed every expectation. Their professionalism and attention to detail are unmatched. Most recently, they framed my 30" x 40" artwork and took special care throughout the entire process. They even hand-delivered the finished piece to the building where my exhibition was located in Manhattan, ensuring it arrived safely and in perfect condition. Sunflower Fine Art Galleries consistently demonstrates true craftsmanship and genuine care for their clients. I highly recommend them for any framing needs, large or small. Working with Sunflower Fine Art Galleries is a worthwhile investment, and I fully trust them to do right by me every single time. I highly recommend the Sunflower Fine Art in West Hempstead for all of your framing needs, or to purchase a beautiful work of art as a gift for someone you love or your home. Shulie

The proprietor of Sunflower Fine Art Gallery was an absolute pleasure to work with. They did…read morebeautiful work framing a painting on a tight deadline. The work was done professionally and handled safely. I will definitely be returning to Sunflower for all my framing needs in the future

Pre-purchasing tickets with a designated time slot is a game changer. No more waiting hours for a…read morespooky walk. A fabulous walk, indoor and out, with strobe lights and all the jump scares you could dream up. This place changes every year. A small food truck outside with treats, also takes Venmo bonus factor. They also had someone available outside to take pictures for you for free. *NO cameras inside for obvious reasons. They also timed it beautifully that people weren't gaining up on each other.

This is my ice breaker of the season, and wow did I love it. We dont get scared easily but thia did…read moreit for us. Love the spacing and timing they give each group.. everybody gets their own scare time. No over lapping with other groups in front. Family owned business. The owner his daughter they are all great. The actor and props WOW they are something else.. fun games as well and they have a food stand. I so recommend this Haunted house experience. Thank you for a scary time.