Are you planning a family vacation anytime soon? Then why don’t you fly into Hong Kong, which is an ideal vacation spot for the whole family? As soon as your Cathay Pacific flight lands in the city, you’ll immediately be welcomed by an atmosphere of fun and excitement. Below are some of the places you shouldn’t miss while in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Disneyland
Even if you have been to other Disney theme parks in other parts of the world, Hong Kong Disneyland is still worth a visit. It might be smaller than other Disney theme parks, but it’s still one of the best places a family can go to in Hong Kong. The best thing about Disney is that they take the best aspect of a city or country and incorporate that in their theme parks. In the case of Hong Kong Disneyland, you can expect Chinese food and other staples of Chinese culture. You can even hear songs like “It’s a Small World” sung in Mandarin.
And if you’ve been to other Disney theme parks, you’ll be delighted to discover that the lines are shorter in Hong Kong. So that means more time to enjoy the ride and the shows. Don’t miss Hyperspace Mountain, Mystic Manor, and the Iron Man Experience. And if you want to complete your Disney experience then the best thing to do is to book a night or two at the Disneyland Hotel, which is a short shuttle bus ride away. But if you’re short on time, a half-day tour of the park is also available. To get to the park, you can take the Disneyland Resort Line of the MTR at Sunny Bay Station. Buses also travel to and from the park. A pricier but more convenient transportation option is to take a taxi.
Ocean Park Hong Kong
If a water theme park is more up your alley, then Ocean Park Hong Kong is the place for you. Because Ocean Park is relatively less crowded than Disneyland, some choose to go here and see dolphins and whales than Mickey and Minnie. And because it is not as crowded as other parks, that means you and your family can have more time playing with the sea animals. Sea animals are not the only attractions in this park. The park is a participant of the Honorary Panda Keeper program. This means that they have giant pandas in the park and you can play with them as well. The experience will surely be unforgettable, especially for children.
The moment you enter Ocean Park you’ll be amazed at how huge it is. It is actually composed of two parts that are connected by a sky tram. The sky tram ride is an attraction on its own as it provides one of the best views of Hong Kong Island. And if it happens to be a windy day, the tram ride can be quite exciting as it tries to dance with the wind. Another way to get to the island is via a submarine-themed train. To experience both rides, you can take the train going to the island and then take the cable car going down.
A half-day tour of Ocean Park is doable. To avoid the long lines, it’s advisable that you book your tickets in advance.
The Peak
It seems that nobody goes to Hong Kong without visiting The Peak. And it’s really a must because it offers the best view of Hong Kong. If you want a photo that proves you’ve been to Hong Kong, this is the place to have it taken. Be reminded though that it is almost always crowded up there. So having that photo without other people around will be a challenge. But if you do manage to take the perfect picture, it will surely be a memorable, something that can replace your current profile photo. People go to the Peak for the cool weather too. Don’t forget to bring a jacket because it can become quite chilly.
And if you do get hungry from all that picture-taking and sight-seeing, there are many dining options at The Peak Lookout. If it’s open and if you’re willing to pay, Madame Tussaud’s is another place where you can spend your time at The Peak. The admission fee is admittedly overpriced to view wax statues but is still an interesting place to go to. If hiking is more of your thing, you can go for a walk around Peak Circle Walk and be rewarded by more spectacular views of Hong Kong. If you have kids, then you can take them to the little kids’ playground.
Go shopping at the markets
Hong Kong is a shoppers’ paradise. And even if you don’t like to shop, you should still check out the different markets in the city, if only for sightseeing. If you have a kid though, it would be hard to resist the wares being sold at the toy street in Sham Shui Pop. Yes, in Hong Kong there’s one street devoted to toys. You can find every kind of plaything in there from dolls, balls, action figures, toy cars, etc. It’s a toy’s paradise and every kid who passes by the street goes crazy at the sight of stalls filled to bring with colourful plastic toys. Locals also go to toy street to shop for some party favours if they’re planning to have a birthday party at home.
If you are a collector who is looking for vintage toys, then you should go to Tai Yuen Street in Wan Chai. The place will take you back to your childhood with its stores filled with toys that date as far back to the 40s and 50s. If costumes are what you’re looking for, then the place to go to is Pottinger Street. There you can find costumes of all kinds as well as accessories and even holiday decor. If you still have energy after a day of shopping, then you can go to the Temple Street Night Market. It’s a good place to shop for souvenirs and trinkets. Food and drink stalls are also abundant in the place.
