Best Boxing Gym UFC Gym 2020 Jericho Tpke., New Hyde Park. 516-784-4072. ufcgym.com/longisland In recent years, Long Island has seen an explosion in interest about mixed marital arts, which can be attributed to the success inside the Octagon by some of our hometown heroes. Everyone wants to be the next Chris Weidman or Matt Serra, but it takes a tremendous amount of dedication to reach the pinnacle of this ever-growing sport. The UFC gym has claimed the No. 1 spot because of its many offerings, which include general fitness, mixed martial arts classes, personal training and youth classes. Its challenging MMA courses train budding fighters in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu, Judo, kickboxing, and more. If you want to join the wave of talented fighters coming out of LI, the UFC Gym is the right place to start! Best Camp Driftwood Day Camp 331 Mt. Misery Rd., Melville. 631-692-6990. driftwooddaycamp.com Sending your child to Driftwood Day Camp may end up being one of the best choices you’ll ever make as a parent. The camp successfully defended its muchdeserved title from 2015, and is primed for another promising year. No matter what your child enjoys, Driftwood Day Camp has something to offer. To get a sense of just how vast Driftwood is, it’s probably helpful to take an inventory of its facilities: five swimming pools, a football arena, two basketball courts, multiple soccer fields and so much more. The 11-acre camp also boasts a ceramics studio, arts & crafts pavilion, cooking area, fine arts studio, bumper cars, an obstacle course and—wait for it—a flying trapeze! Talk about fun! Sending your child to a sleep-away camp can sometimes prompt some anxious feelings, but know that Driftwood’s staff does its all to make every child feel at home! Best Cheerleading Gym Gym-Nest Gymnastics & Cheer 1145 Station Rd., Medford. 631-205-5437. gym-nest.com Ask anyone who’s ever cheered, and they’ll tell you cheerleading is indeed a sport. Mastering concentration and the physical demands of cheerleading may come natural to some, but even so, it takes proper training and dedication for anyone, even those with natural talent, to realize their full potential. The proficient instructors at Gym Nest enjoy a level of dedication that is unmatched—striving endlessly to give their students the best experience they can provide. Gym Nest has been offering classes for more than 25 years, and is one of the most accomplished gyms in the nation—utilizing its extraordinary 20,000-square-foot facility to teach tumbling, dance, chanting, cheering, and so much more! Best Children’s Gymnastics Gym Gym-Nest Gymnastics & Cheer 1145 Station Rd., Medford. 631-205-5437. gym-nest.com With the summer Olympic Games in Rio quickly approaching, it’s a good guess that your child may be hounding you about being enrolled in a gymnastics class so they too can one day represent their country. At Gym-Nest, students are taught teamwork, how to be confident, friendship, and other important qualities while building self-esteem and taking their talents to new heights. Children will train at Gym-Nest’s state-of-the-art facility, where they can take part in various programs designed for their age group and experience. The gymnastics gym also plays home to a team of gymnasts considered to be in one of the top premier team programs in the country. Whether it’s for fun, to learn valuable skills and qualities, or to one day soar in national or international events, Gym-Nest is devoted to giving each student an experience that will last a lifetime! Best Children’s Party Place Tiki Action Park 1878 Middle Country Rd., Centereach. 631-471-1267. tikiactionpark.com It comes as no surprise that voters chose Tiki Action Park as The Best place for a child’s party on the Island! The amusement park has been recognized before for its adrenaline-fueled rides and interactive arcade games aplenty, so it’s only fitting that its party packages gets the recognition it deserves. Tiki has several enticing party packages to choose from—some of which include all of its unbelievable attractions, including miniature golf, Go-Kart racing, arcade games and entry into its popular laser maze. To make sure the party goes down as planned, Tiki provides a dedicated party host that will oversee the entire bash, from beginning to end. We’d do just about anything to get those adolescent years back just to get a crack at that laser maze! Wowzer! Best Driving Range Heartland Golf Park 1 Executive Dr., Edgewood. 631-352-2595. heartlandgolfpark.com Golf is not a forgiving sport. There’s not many things more frustrating in life than hitting a beautiful approach to the green and failing miserably to repeat your swing the next time you whip out that five-iron. Practice may not make perfect, but it may make you a heck of a lot more consistent on the links. Heartland is a modern driving range with the amenities that even the pros would enjoy. It boasts ground-level and elevated tee boxes—the former of which includes a mechanical system that automatically produces the next ball for you to hit. You can also press a button to adjust the height of the ball. Located adjacent to the Deer Park Long Island Rail Road station, the range is perfect for city commuters to get a few swings in before heading home, or the golf fan who works in the nearby business district. Best Extreme Sports Facility Gym-Nest Gymnastics & Cheer 1145 Station Rd., Medford. 631-205-5437. gym-nest.com What a year for Gym-Nest! The facility is a favorite for parents looking to enroll their students in classes that emphasize physical fitness, acrobatics, mind over matter, and hard work and dedication. The gym scored multiple first place awards thanks to its continued excellence. Gym-Nest is not only a renowned cheerleading studio, but it’s also a place where young people with an eye toward athletics can train for competitive tournaments, such as gymnastics. Gym-Nest truly supports healthy living, making it the perfect place for your kids to stay active and a great place for a child’s party! Best Family Amusement Place Adventureland 2245 Broadhollow Rd., Farmingdale. 631-694-6868. adventureland.us For the third year in a row, Adventureland has taken home this top prize—an accomplishment that’ll no doubt make its longtime customers extremely proud! Since 1962, Adventureland has been the site of exuberant birthday parties, adrenaline-fueled weekends, and eventful family gatherings. The park has something for everyone. Thrill junkies can get their fix on the popular Turbulence Coaster, or test their bravery on the Frisbee. The park boasts more than 30 rides and attractions, including an arcade that people of all ages can enjoy. Long Islanders resoundingly declare yet again: “Adventureland is the place to be!” Best Fishing Boat Captain Lou’s 28A Woodcleft Ave., Freeport. 516-623-5823. captloufleet.com One of Long Island’s main attractions is the vast ocean that surrounds our beloved Island, and there’s nothing like setting sail on a summer day to enjoy the breathtaking vista and all its glorious splendor. If you’re yearning for such pleasantries, make sure you do it right. Captain Lou’s flotilla of fishing boats, as well as its impressive fleet of party and corporate or wedding cruise ships, are something to behold, indeed! Captain Lou’s offers half-day, full-day, and evening trips during its fishing season, which set sail in the Atlantic or the local bay. The fishing boats are family friendly and boast snacks and well-stocked beverages. Bait and tackle are also provided for mini voyages. Ahoy, mates! Best Fishing Supply Star Island Yacht Club & Marina 59 Star Island Rd., Montauk. 631-668-5052. starislandnyc.com Professional boaters know where to go when it’s time to replenish supplies for the next big adventure off Long Island’s shores. Star Island Yacht Club & Marina is a venerable institution on the East End—a place where avid boaters catch up for small talk or grab a bite to eat. But it’s also the premier fishing supply store on the Island, selling everything from custombuilt rods, bait, hooks, fillet knives, and so much more. Star Island’s staff is so proficient in boating and fishing that they’ll be able to answer any question you pose. The next time you set sail you’ll feel comfortable knowing that Star Island gave you the knowledge you need for your next big trip out on the open sea! Best Golf Course Bethpage State Park Golf Course 99 Quaker Meeting House Rd., Farmingdale. 516-249-0700. bethpageproshop.com Even Tiger Woods hasn’t seen success like this. Bethpage State Park Golf Course successfully defended its long-held title as The Best golf course on Long Island. Bethpage State Park is home to three renowned courses—blue, red, and black, the latter of which is considered one of the top public courses in the entire country. Black is also the most challenging of the three courses. It will play host to the PGA Tour’s The Barclays Tournament in 2021 and 2027. Of course, no one expects you to play like PGA phenom Jordan Spieth when you hit the Black! The courses are open to the public year-round. Hopefully you’re on top of your game when you play Bethpage, because the courses can be unforgiving! This top honor is yet another holein one for Bethpage! Best Golf Store Unique Golf Shop 105 W. Main St., Babylon. 631-422-6431. uniquegolfshop.com Unique Golf Shop, a favorite of golfers for more than two decades, carries some of the top brands in golf, including Callaway, TaylorMade, PING, and more. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the shop has claimed its third straight victory in this category! Golfers know it’s important to find a club that fits your abilities. Sure, you have to develop skills in order to be successful on the course, but the right clubs are crucial in your development. Unique Golf’s 2,200-square-foot store has everything LI’s golf fans need, from tees and gloves to top-notch irons, wedges and drivers. And if anything goes wrong, the store has its own repair shop with a full-time repair specialist. Of course, the specialist may not be able to fix all the flaws in your swing, but they may be able to give you a tip or two to set you on the right path! Mark your calendars for the 30th Annual Star Island Yacht Club Shark Tournament. The Captains meeting will be held on Thursday with fi shing Friday and Saturday. Thursday, June 16, 2016 at 7:30pm Captain’s Meeting Friday and Saturday, June 17-18, 2016 Fishing THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST FISHING SUPPLY BEST MARINA BEST BOAT STORE Montauk Point, NY 11954 (631) 668-5052 www.starislandyc.com 30TH ANNUAL SHARK TOURNAMENT Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overlooking Montauk Harbor 106 BETHPAGE BEST OF L.I. 2016 WINNERS GUIDE /// BESTOF.LONGISLANDPRESS.com
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