Things to Do in Plainview

Bayville Adventure Park stretches across land rumored to have been passed down by the pirate patriarch of the Bay family. Here, visitors can capture the Bays’ adventurous spirit by immersing themselves in adrenaline-pumping explorations. Attractions include the Mystery Funhouse, the Bungee Bounce Dome, and the Lost Temple of the Forgotten Maze, which showcases ancient artifacts such as ceremonial daggers, painted skulls, and the widely unpopular square wheel. Visitors also can attempt to scale an indoor rock wall and earn redemption prizes at the arcade, whose $500,000 worth of games include skee-ball and air hockey. To reenergize between activities, guests can stop by one of three onsite restaurants for hot dogs, pasta, or, if they’re old enough, a glass of beer or wine.

Muses flit among Riebe's Artist Materials Inc's bouquets of brushes and kaleidoscopic sprays of pastels, whispering lore accumulated during the shop's 89 years in business. Managers Bob Riebe and Bryan Di Bartolomeo pilot artists of all levels through a sprawling prairie littered with gear including drawing tables, easels, and brushes. After spotting acrylic paints from brands such as Golden Artist Colors, Inc. and Liquitex, rainbows rush off to change outfits, stomping past an armory of clay-modeling tools and drafting templates.

All instructors at Cosmic Kites Kiteboarding boast certifications from either the International Kiteboarding Organization or Professional Air Sports Association, and instill others with the knowledge they've gained during land- and water-based kiteboarding lessons. During land classes, students launch trainer kites, while water-based lessons allow pupils to skip wakes and mow overgrown seaweed while learning fundamentals. For more advanced or specialized instruction, the staff also teaches participants how to perform special maneuvers, tricks, and jumps on water. Additionally, the staff can introduce clients to a range of complete kitesurfing packages, as well as new or used boards and kites, and boots and wetsuits.

Helming additional locations in North Carolina and the Dominican Republic, Cosmic Kites currently sponsors two Dominican riders in their global quest on the World Kitesurfing Tour. When not supervising adrenaline-soaked adventures, Cosmic Kites maintains existing kiteboarding locations, works to open new ones, supports youth sporting events, and develops new ideas for boarding safety that aren't as costly as installing inflatable beaches.

Katrina Wells was frustrated. The new mother loved spending time with her child but still longed for a place to relax and sip coffee. Family-friendly play centers had been widespread when she lived in South Florida, but they seemed entirely absent from her new home in Long Island. Undeterred, Wells took initiative and designed a business that would cater to children and their parents.

Across Le Play Cafe Indoor Play Area & Coffee Lounge's 2,000 square feet, imaginations spring to life at performance stages, dress-up areas, and pretend kitchens. A climbable play structure helps little ones to develop gross motor skills, and age-appropriate toys delight toddlers. On the other side of the play center, scents of fresh roasted coffee fill the café as parents relax, socialize, and share photos of their baby dolls. In addition to cheering children and adults, Wells' brainchild also puts a smile on Mother Nature's vine-covered face. Her eco-friendly facility boasts LED lighting and oversize windows that help to reduce energy costs.

When students kick into one of the heavy bags dangling over Alpha Omega MMA's 20,000-square-foot training facility, they're following the same path trod by the gym's crew of professional and amateur fighters. A quintet of instructors trains clients in everything from the graceful takedowns and joint locks of Brazilian jiujitsu to the devastating short-range knee and elbow strikes of muay thai. They divide class groups up by student expertise, providing a venue for the casual exerciser to seek some conditioning and for aspiring fighters to hone their skills.

In addition to nurturing martial artistry, the staff also bends bodies with yoga and Pilates, restores energy with a full-service juice bar, and immediately puts the calories to good use in spinning classes. Kids leap into the fray with self-defense classes that center around a bullying-prevention curriculum, teaching tykes to stand up for themselves without resorting to violence unless it's absolutely necessary or limited to drop-kicking an imaginary friend into the sun to prove a point.

There are two ways to improve your appearance and mood at Prism Wellness: sit down in a salon chair, or stand up in a yoga pose. The salon’s expertise ranges from cuts and coloring to Liscio thermal straightening and extensions. Over in the yoga studio, classes held seven days a week cultivate inner calm and balance, leaving patrons feeling as put together as a one-piece jigsaw puzzle.