May is here and that means traveling to the shore to have some fun in the sun! Whether for a day trip, a weekend or more, we teamed up with Brea from The Seven Guide to give us her 10 best insider tips for family fun in Stone Harbor and Avalon. Make sure to stay in the loop with The Seven Guide all summer long on INSTAGRAM + FACEBOOK!
1. CUPCAKE DECORATING CLASS // MARYANNE’S PASTRY SHOPPE
What better way for your kids to enjoy a sweet treat than to get them involved in the making? Start with Maryanne’s signature Cupcake Decorating class, where your kids will learn tips and tricks for how to decorate the perfect cupcake!
Classes are themed (think: Campfire S’mores and Under the Sea) and include a tour of the bakery, all materials, and 2 cupcakes for each child to take home and enjoy later!
Classes will kick off at the end of June. Reserve your child’s spot ahead once the season begins – classes were quick to sell out last summer!
Ages 5-17 are welcome // 609-368-2253 // 9501 Third Avenue // $15 per child
2. KIDS YOGA CLASS // STONE HARBOR YOGA
Empower your kids to tune in to their bodies + release any lingering energy from the beach day with a fun yoga class at Stone Harbor Yoga! Classes include hands-on yoga pose instruction, yoga games and mindfulness activities…the perfect activity to top off a day in the sun!
Classes will begin in early July and run Tuesday, Wednesday + Thursday evenings from 4-5pm. Ages 3-13 are welcome + are separated by day.
9823 Third Avenue // $15 per class
P.S. Moms + Dads, if you are looking to fit in your own workout before everyone is awake, head to SHY for their 6:30AM signature vinyasa yoga classes, offered on Tuesdays + Thursdays!
3. PICNIC AT THE PARK // YVETTE’S CAFÉ
Enjoy a little respite from the sun with a picnic at our favorite park on the Island, Chelsea Place Park! Grab a spot in the shade and unwrap your mouthwatering sandwich on fresh French bread from Yvette’s Café (literally their bread is imported from France!). Our pick for the kids? Their classic peanut butter + banana sandwich – a total crowd-pleaser.
Chelsea Place Park: 105th + 106th Streets between Second and Third Avenue // Yvette’s Café: 221 96th Street
4. THE STRESS-FREE VACATION // STOCK THE HOUSE
This one is for you, Moms and Dads! Ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? This is where Stock The House comes in – the newest addition to the Seven Mile Island hospitality scene, STH is a luxury concierge service that will book your dinner reservations (and your babysitter), stock your refrigerator, and even set you up with a personal chef! Think: make memories, not to-do lists
Head to their website to connect instantly with your own concierge!
5. SUNRISE + STACKS // UNCLE BILLS
When it comes to mornings in Avalon or Stone Harbor, there is no shortage of eye candy to make waking up with the sun a little easier. (Although if you have newborns or toddlers, chances are you may already be awake!) Enjoy the early AM hours by catching the sunrise at one of our favorite spots – the pier on 32nd Street.
Too early for your older kids to join? Incentive them with a stack of Uncle Bill’s famous peanut butter chocolate chip pancakes, just a short block away!
Uncle Bills: 3189 Dune Drive // open 7am daily
6. A NEW KIND OF FAMILY PHOTOS // NANCY ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY
Document your family playing in the sun, sand and surf with the talented Nancy Elizabeth. Nancy will fade into the background + capture your family in your element, including those unplanned laughs, irresistible smiles, and all around blissful moments of summer!
Drop Nancy a note here to learn more about booking her photography services!
7. EAT DESSERT FIRST // SPRINGER’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM
(PLUS AN INSIDER TIP BECAUSE, THAT LINE THOUGH)
We all know summer vacation is not complete without one (or ten) visits to Springer’s Ice Cream! With over 50 flavors of homemade ice cream to choose from and a line that wraps around the block, Springer’s is the ultimate shore tradition.
But if your kids are not in the mood to wait in line, fear not: Springer’s also offers table service with much less wait-time! (This is one of the best-kept secrets on the Island!) Simply enter through the side door adjacent to Wawa, and sit back, relax, and enjoy your ice cream in the AC!
9420 Third Avenue // open 11am – 11pm daily
8. RAINY DAY FUN // THE WETLANDS INSTITUTE
A flawless combination of entertainment and education, The Wetlands Institute is one of the first activities that comes to mind for rainy days! Our indoor activity of choice is their Aquarium Feeding; if the sun is shining, opt for the Salt Marsh Safari instead! View a complete list of their summer happenings here.
1075 Stone Harbor Boulevard // open 7 days
9. FAMILY FUN // STONE HARBOR
Each week The Chamber of Commerce has plenty of activities lined up for all to enjoy! We love Family Fun Night at the Stone Harbor Firehouse, which features magic shows, story telling and more.
Every Monday from 7-7:45PM starting on June 25th // 175 96th Street
Tuesdays at the Tower is another classic that should not be missed! Bring your beach chairs to Water Tower Plaza on 95th Street + settle in for some live music (and perhaps a libation or two from the Beer and Wine Garden!).
Every Tuesday from 7-8:30PM starting on July 10th // 95th Street Water Tower Plaza
10. FAMILY FUN // AVALON
And for Avalon? We love their Movie Night Under the Stars! Bring your beach chair (and maybe some fudge from Nancy Lynne Candies to munch on!) and get ready for the ultimate summertime experience.
Every Tuesday at 6PM beginning on July 3rd // 30th Street and the beach
Lastly, Thursdays on Dune is a must if you are staying on the North end of the Island! This is a concert series that takes place in the heart of town at Veterans Plaza.
Every Thursday at 5:30PM starting on July 5th // Veterans Plaza: 21st and Dune
***SH + AV events listed above are FREE!***
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you will follow along for more ideas to inspire your summer plans!
XO, BREA
