MacArthur Airport destinations for a Columbus Day weekend getaway

If you’re looking for some family fun for the Columbus Day weekend (Oct. 10-13), consider taking a quick trip from Islip’s MacArthur Airport.

Here are a few perfect getaways for the whole family offering amusement parks, animal encounters and kid-friendly museums:

Orlando, Florida

Flight duration: Frontier Airlines has nonstop 2-hour, 54-minute roundtrip flights for $330

No trip to the theme park capital of the world would be complete without visiting at least one of Orlando’s celebrated amusement parks. There’s the world famous Walt Disney World Resort, which includes the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While you’re there, cool off at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park.

Other theme parks in Orlando are Sea World (Seaworld Orlando Theme Park, Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove), Universal Orlando Resort (Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay and Universal Epic Universe) and Legoland (Legoland Florida Theme Park and Peppa Pig Theme Park).

For some non-theme park activities, consider the Orlando Starflyer, the "world’s tallest standalone swing ride," miniature golf at Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf, strolling and playgrounds at Lake Eola and Lake Lorna Doone parks, the lush walking trails and butterfly gardens of Mead Botanical Garden, and a tropical rainforest at Harry P. Leu Gardens.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Flight duration: Frontier Airlines has nonstop  1-hour, 53-minute roundtrip flights for $367

With 60 miles of shoreline, Myrtle Beach is a great vacation spot for the family. Start the day with rainbow pancakes at Johnny D’s Waffles and Bakery, then check out the oceanfront promenade at Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. A visit to Brookgreen Gardens should include a walk along its Lowcountry Trail to visit the zoo’s native animals.

There’s an underwater tunnel, as well as stingrays, sharks and sloths at Ripley’s Aquarium, all sorts of wonders at Ripley's Believe It or Not!, optical illusions at Ripley’s Illusion Lab and indoor golf surrounded by neon lights at Ripley’s Crazy Golf.

Play miniature golf along the Mini Golf Trail, with a choice of themes, from Jurassic Golf with dinosaurs to Red Dragon Cove’s immersive Asian fantasy theme.

The first observation wheel of its kind in the United States, SkyWheel Myrtle Beach is an187-foot-tall, glass-enclosed gondola ride offering panoramic views of the coastline and city skyline.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Flight duration: Breeze Airways has non-stop 1-hour, 39-minute flights on Breeze Airways starting at roundtrip $459;Southwest Airlines has one-stop, 3-hour, 25-minute flights starting at roundtrip $383.

Designed for play with purpose, Marbles Kids Museum features dozens of hands-on exhibits and educational programs, plus an IMAX theater. Learn about everything from dinosaurs to space exploration at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science.

Kids can climb, splash and explore at Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park and enjoy the playgrounds, pedal boats, miniature train rides and carousel at Pullen Park.

In nearby New Hill, you can ride an old locomotive at the North Carolina Railway Museum & New Hope Valley Railway.

Adventurers can climb boulders and walls at Triangle Rock Club or fly through the sky at TreeRunner Adventure Park, an aerial park with obstacle courses and zip lines.

Adventure Landing has miniature golf, go-karts, batting cages, laser tag and an arcade, and Big Air Trampoline Park lets kids literally bounce off the walls.

Baltimore, Maryland

Flight duration: Southwest Airlines has nonstop, 75-minute roundtrip flights for $390

Become captain of a replica cargo ship at the Port Discovery Museum and see sharks, crocodiles and two-toed sloths at the National Aquarium.

Beyond the waterfront, Maryland Zoo, B & O Railroad Museum, Baltimore Museum of Art (with the world’s largest collection of Henri Matisse) and The Walters Art Museum, offer free admission and drop-in art activities for kids.

You can explore everything from outer space to the human body at the Maryland Science Center.

Richmond, Virginia

Flight duration: Southwest Airlines has one-stop, 4-hour, 50-minute roundtrip flights for $489

The site of Patrick Henry declaring, "Give me liberty or give me death!," Virginia’s capital has history galore that can thrill even junior history enthusiasts.

Captivating exhibits for all ages explore the vital history of the state at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and learning is fun with the Children’s Museum of Richmond’s hands-on exhibits.

Kayak right through the middle of the city on the James River and visit Belle Isle, a preserved park island in downtown Richmond, with trails, historical sites and rock climbing.

Kings Dominion in nearby Doswell, boasts more than 60 rides and the East Coast’s largest collection of roller coasters.

There are zip lines and rope courses at Canopy Adventure Park and, in addition to capybaras, kangaroos and other exotic animals, the Metro Richmond Zoo has zip lines and an obstacle course at its Treetop Zoofari.