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!
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