BESTOFLONGISLAND.com /// WINNERS GUIDE BETHPAGE BEST OF L.I. 2017 99
Best Boxing Gym
Bellmore Kickboxing MA
2551 Merrick Rd., Bellmore.
516-679-5997. bellmorekickboxing.com
If you’re serious about stepping into the ring,
then you should at least hone your skills at the
place Long Islanders consider the top boxing
gym on LI. Bellmore Kickboxing Academy is no
joke. These folks host rigorous training sessions
that will inspire you to be the best that you can
be. The gym offers private classes, along with
men’s, women’s and kid’s classes throughout the
year. This state-of-the-art facility includes its
own boxing ring and impressive workout areas
that enable boxing enthusiasts to work on weight
training, aerobics, and more, to ensure they’re
in tip-top shape for their next bout, whether a
training session or their pro debut.
Best Camp
Driftwood Day Camp
331 Mt. Misery Rd., Melville.
631-692-6990. driftwooddaycamp.com
Driftwood Day Camp, annually recognized as
one of the top in its category, was for the eighth
consecutive year chosen “Best Day Camp” by
Long Island voters. Driftwood Day Camp is truly
a sight to behold. With five swimming pools, a
half-dozen tennis courts, ATV track, recording
studio, and much, much more, it’s no surprise
that this 11-acre facility continues to outshine
the competition. The camp has something to
offer every child. Along with its fitness and
sports programs, the camp offers a fine arts
studio, cooking area, arts & crafts pavilion, and
an array of other activities that your children will
love. Driftwood’s mission is simple: to provide
children with a safe and exciting home for kids
during the summer months. By all accounts—
and as Long Islanders’ votes attest—the camp
has done all that, and much more.
Best Cheerleading
Gym
Gravity Cheer
1160 Lincoln Ave., Holbrook.
631-676-2041. gravitycheer.gymnite.com
Even before there was a cheerleading gym
operating in Holbrook, there was the Long
Island Panthers, a competitive group that
became the region’s first All-Star Cheer team.
It’s evolved, and is now known as Gravity
Cheer. Long Island Panthers founder Nicole
Koch-Gabrinowitz opened her gym in 2000.
Now, Gravity Cheer is considered one of the
most successful cheer gyms on the Island.
The whopping 10,000-square-foot facility
carries all the necessary cheer equipment an
upstart cheerleader needs. The gym boasts
12 competitive teams, and more than a dozen
experienced coaches. Gravity Cheer has
classes for kids as young as 3, and upper-level
instruction for cheerleaders ages 8 to 18 years
old. Most importantly, kids have a tremendous
amount of fun tumbling and flipping their way
to the top!
Best Children’s
Dance Sc hool
Ella Marie Dance
376 West Old Country Rd., Hicksville.
516-681-1484. ellamariedance.com
For more than half a century, Ella Marie School
of Dance has been teaching Long Island’s youth
how to express themselves through such a
beautiful and engrossing art form. The studio
offers a wide variety of classes for kids of all
ages, including a tiny stars program that allows
children to get their foot in the water. Among
its other offerings is tap, ballet, jazz and lyrical.
The studio also boasts performance teams,
beginning at the ages 7 to 15 and up. And for
parents unsure about how to keep their children
active during the summer months, the studio
also hosts a summer dance camp, which is a
great way for them to meet new friends and stay
engaged. Ella Marie School of Dance, take a
well-deserved bow, because Long Islanders have
crowned you the very best!
Best Children’s
Gymnastics Gym
Gym-Nest Gymnastics & Cheer
1145 Station Rd., Medford. 631-205-5437.
gym-nest.com
Long Islanders continue to go to the mat for
Gym-Nest. The gymnastics studio has for the
second consecutive year claimed the distinction
of “Best Children’s Gymnastics Gym” on the
Island, thanks to a dedicated staff of instructors
that take great pride in teaching enthusiastic
kids the finer points of gymnastics. Among
Gym-Nest’s most admirable traits is its ability
to mix fun with an educational experience
that is unmatched. The state-of-the-art facility
measures in at 18,000-square feet, with 33-foot
ceilings and a vast array of equipment. The gym
has programs designed for every age group and
houses one of the top premier team programs in
the nation. Gym-Nest truly knows how to soar
to new heights! The staff devotes itself to each
and every child that walks through its doors and
provides an experience that no child or parent
will soon forget.
Best Children’s
Party Place
Laura’s Dance & Fitness Studio
586 New York Ave., Huntington.
631-824-6259.
laurasdanceandfitnessstudio.com
What better way to get kids moving than at a
premier dance and fitness studio that cherishes
the unbridled joy in Long Island’s youth.
Equipped with a spacious dance and fitness
room and a comfortable lounge for parents,
Laura’s Dance & Fitness Studio is the perfect
place to celebrate your child with a birthday
bash. Just as impressive as the studio itself
are the inspired party themes that kids—and
parents—can’t seem to get enough of: the Frozen
Party, Zumba Party, or what about the Pajama-
Jam?! Or for that creative parent who is still a
child at heart, Laura’s Dance & Fitness Studio
challenges moms and dads to create their own
themes! Get your kids dressed up, put on their
dancing shoes, and let them wiggle and spin
until the music stops!
Best Dance
Sc hool for
Adults
LI Dance Fitness
658-2E Motor Pkwy., Hauppauge.
631-231-1308. lidancefitness.com
Gyrating to the melody isn’t just for kids—and
it’s never too late to learn how to shimmy with
the best of them! LI Dance Fitness, a perennial
competitor in this hotly contested category,
claimed the top spot this year thanks to its
fitness-oriented classes and its expressive
pole dance fitness program. The studio offers
monthly memberships and a variety of classes,
including Zumba, Zumba Toning, kickboxing,
and more. For adults looking for a way to stay
in shape and to summon your inner dancer, LI
Dance Fitness is a good place to start!
Best Driving
Range
Heartland Golf Pa rk
1 Executive Dr., Edgewood. 631-352-2595.
heartlandgolfpark.com
Every golfer knows the feeling of a crushing a
beautiful tee shot only to butcher the approach
and three-put their way to a brutal score. It
happens—a lot. Thankfully, there’s golf ranges
like Heartland Golf Park, which allow us to work
on our game without gawkers judging every
shot, or friends bugging us about using the
wrong club. Heartland is the crème de la crème
of driving ranges on the Island. For starters, it
has both ground-level and elevated tee boxes
that make teeing off enjoyable, no matter where
you’re swinging the club. Just as appetizing are
mechanical tees that are adjustable, so players
don’t need to bend every time they want to hit a
new ball. For golfers who want to work on their
irons, Heartland also offers a nine-hole course
that beginners and more experienced golfers
enjoy. Let’s face it, we could all use the practice.
Best Extreme
Sports Facility
Cross Fit Strong Island
26 Benson Lane, Merrick. 516-868-7767.
crossfitstrongisland.com
As us Long Islanders say throughout the year,
and especially during the unforgiving winter
months: “Beach season is upon us!” We all want
to look good once Long Island transforms into
a magical summer oasis, but that means we
have to put in the work! CrossFit Strong Island
is where Long Islanders of all ages go to get in
tip-top shape. The gym offers a wide range of
classes, including a “Competitor’s Class” for the
strong at heart. The training regimen includes
high-skill gymnastics, Olympic weightlifting,
and such skill movements as rope climbs and
handstand walking. Whew! For those who want
to take it slower, there are endurance classes and
specific programs catered to kids ages 6 to 14.
Long Islanders are so impressed with CrossFit
Strong Island that they’ve voted it Best Extreme
Sports Facility in the region. Indeed, a welldeserved
honor.
Best Family
Amusement Place
Adventureland
2245 Broad Hollow Rd., Farmingdale.
631-694-6868. adventureland.us
We’re running out of superlatives for
Adventureland—Long Island’s favorite
amusement park. Adventureland has secured
Best Family Amusement Park honors year after
year, clearly establishing itself as the premier
destination for families looking for some good,
old-fashioned, high-quality fun. Adventureland
has been the go-to spot for birthday bashes
and exciting family gatherings since 1962.
Indeed, throughout more than five decades,
Adventureland has hosted countless Long
Islanders with a need for speed who’ve sought
the occasional adrenaline fix, with such rides
as the Turbulence Coaster, Musik Express, the
famed Pirate Ship, or the rolling and whirling
Frisbee. Not a thrill-seeker? Don’t worry, there
are always kids and family rides to enjoy, water
rides to cool you down, or the arcade to test
your skills. At Adventureland, there’s always
something for everyone!
Best Fishing Boat
Laura Lee
3500 E. Ocean Pkwy., Babylon.
631-661-1867. captree.com
The aroma of fresh saltwater, the sea breeze
gently caressing your skin, and the sense of
freedom as you glide across the ocean—that’s
the feeling you get when you board the Laura
Lee. The Laura Lee fleet has been sailing from
Captree Island since 1975, and its ever-growing
popularity is a testament to its crew’s unique
ability to make its riders feel like honorary
shipmates. They’re always prepared to help
you haul in the catch of the day and make your
fishing voyage simply unforgettable. The Laura
Lee was created with the Great South Bay and
Fire Island in mind, often setting its sights on
fluke, stripe and bluefish. All aboard!
Best Fishing
Supply
Musketa Cove Bait and
Ta ckle Shop
17 Bridge St., Glen Cove. 516-200-9571.
If there’s one thing that can be said about
Long Islanders, it’s that they truly appreciate
the waters surrounding the region and the sea
creatures calling the bays and canals home. Long
Island boaters are a proud bunch, and that’s
why when they hit the open seas, they make a
habit of visiting Musketa Cove Bait and Tackle
Shop. This Glen Cove shop is stocked with all
the necessary tools and supplies to make a local
fisherman well equipped for their next big trip
out. What’s more, its knowledgeable staff is
dedicated to providing a shopping experience
that’ll make patrons proud to say, “I shop at
Musketa Cove!”
Best Golf Course
Bethpage State Pa rk
Golf Course
99 Quaker Meeting House Rd.,
Farmingdale. 516-249-0700.
bethpageproshop.com
Look out, Jack, Bethpage State Park Golf Course
is coming for your record. The famed public
golf course has dominated this category year
after year, securing its seventh consecutive
victory since 2010. It’s astounding when you
consider the plethora of desirable courses on
our pristine island, yet Bethpage is showing no
signs of slowing down. Bethpage Stark Park is
home to three worthy courses—blue, red, and
the incomparable black course. The latter is
particularly impressive and nearly impossible
to conquer. Bethpage Black will host the PGA
Tour’s The Barclays Tournament in 2021 and
2027, and hosted The Barclays this past summer,
drawing thousands of fans and featuring the top
golfers in the game. Bethpage State Park Golf
Course is open to the public, year-round. Our
advice: Head out there and play like a pro!