Safari Golf & Batting
Although this Staten Island course offers only 16 holes, its jungle theme (think giraffes, hippos, tigers, etc.) helps entertain younger kids who need a bit more eye candy to stay focused on the game. The holes, despite occasional sand hazards, aren’t overly littered with frustrating barriers—even the animal statues are used merely as decoration around the course, not as obstacles—so mulligans should be kept to a minimum. Safari also offers bumper boats and cars, batting cages and go-karts for pre- and post-putt-putt entertainment.
Mon–Fri 10am–11pm; Sat, Sun 10am–midnight. 855 Arthur Kill Rd at Richmond Ave, Staten Island (718-984-4400, safariamusement.com). Travel: From the Staten Island Ferry, take the S59 bus to Arthur Kill Rd. $6.75.

Staten Island GoKarts
If your older kid is more into practicing her short game than ricocheting balls off a faux lighthouse, let her hone her skills on the greens here. The fake turf is a little threadbare, so the ball tends to scoot quickly, upping the difficulty level. Meanwhile, obstacles like sand traps, waterfalls and hills make the game seem more authentic. Try for a hole in one on the third hole (that’s where we scored ours!), and be careful on the 11th, which makes you carom the ball off an angled piece of wood—very tricky. As the name suggests, go-karts are available, along with batting cages and a roller hockey rink.
Mon–Fri 1–10pm; Sat, Sun 11am–10pm. 215 Schmidts Ln between La Guardia Ave and Manor Rd, Staten Island (718-982-5576, sigokarts.com). Travel: Take the X11 bus from Vesey St to Manor Rd. $6.