Long Island Explorium

The Long Island Explorium is a small, community-scale children's museum in Port Jefferson — one of Long Island's most charming North Shore villages, known for its ferry connection to Bridgeport, Connecticut and its walkable main street and harbor.

The museum focuses on science exploration and natural science, with hands-on exhibits appropriate for the toddler-through-early-elementary crowd. As a small community museum, the experience is intimate rather than sprawling — you'll see everything in 1.5-2.5 hours, which is actually ideal for the 2-8 age range that tends to hit a wall after 2 hours in any children's museum.

The critical logistical fact: the Long Island Explorium is open only on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, 1-5PM. That's it. If you're planning a day trip to Port Jeff, build your visit around that 4-hour afternoon window.

What makes the Explorium work as a day-trip anchor is Port Jefferson itself. The village is genuinely beautiful — waterfront harbor, historical architecture, good restaurants on Main Street, and the visual spectacle of the Port Jefferson-Bridgeport ferry coming and going across Long Island Sound. Plan a full Port Jeff afternoon: lunch in the village, museum from 1-5PM, waterfront walk, ice cream.

That's a solid family outing.

For Long Island families in the Middle Country, Three Village, or Setauket areas, the Explorium is a convenient local option. For New York City families, it's part of a North Shore Long Island day trip.