KOLI - 1

I will now commence my summer series of "Kids On Long Island," highlighting places to take children while spending your summer on Long Island.

First place of note:

Long Beach Town Park. This beach is technically for Smithtown residents only, so don't ask how I got in. I just happened. :) It seemed like a regular beach at first - lifeguard, kids, pebbly, with the addition of a snack shack. A dream come true for little kiddos - if their nanny has cash on her. Whoops!

What sets this beach apart, however, is . . . The Sand Dune.

After about an hour of peaceful play, the kids discovered the looming dunes down the beach and had to climb them.

After a bit, the littlest and I had to join them.

I'm glad I did, the view from the top was gorgeous! The boys all appreciated the beauty with me, and I appreciated how worn out they were getting by running up and down the thing so many times.

They were pretty proud of their athletic abilities.

After exploring for another hour or so, it was time to head home. They loved talking about the dunes all day and retelling stories of how dangled dangerously from the edge, almost falling, unable to get up . . . It's fun to see life through the excited eyes of a child.