Reader Questions: Hong Kong With Kids

A regular reader wrote to me last week to ask:

Have you ventured to Asia? I've hit up some Asian sites but none have the same quality of care put into presenting the information. I'm headed to Hong Kong and would love to read if any of your readers have any recommendations for things to do, eat, sleep there. I lived there a few years ago before baby and so my perspective was just so different from today. B will have turned a year old by the time we travel in November.

We haven't been to Asia since the kids were born, and I have never been to Hong Kong, so I don't have any first-hand advice to offer. I hope my readers will help with their advice. After some research, here are some of the things I would try if I were going to Hong Kong:

  • The Ocean Park marine theme park seems like a sure hit with a one year old. In addition to aquariums, you'll find a Giant Panda exhibit. There are amusement park rides for older kids
  • By one year old, D was wild about arial trams (both kids still are). Consider taking the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak (Hong Kong's highest hill). Once there, you'll have a view of the entire city, and this would be a lovely place to enjoy a picnic lunch or take put your baby in a stroller or sling and take one of the scenic walks. With any luck, B will drift off to sleep before you head back down.
  • I love markets, so I wouldn't want to miss Kolwoon's open air markets. With the kids, I'd focus my time in the Flower, Bird and Fish markets
  • And of course, I'd search out some great Dim Sum. I might also try the Yellow Door Kitchen. The restaurant is reputed to have some of the best food in the city, and it's casual enough to accommodate a child. At one year old, even if your baby isn't able to eat everything you eat, you can order steamed vegetables or simple noodle dishes while you feast on the "good stuff".
  • You can also find a playground close to your hotel using this website or ask locals for their advice on the Hong Kong Baby and Parenting Community Website
  • Finally, Hong Kong Disneyland seems a bit old for a one-year-old (unless you happen to be a Disney fan). I mention it because compared with other Disney theme parks, it is geared to very young kids and might be a good choice for older toddlers or preschoolers. Only one ride (space mountain) has a height restriction.

Readers, what suggestions and ideas do you have? Please tell us in comments!

4 comments | Posted on September 17, 2008 | Save to del.icio.us

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Comments

  1. Sheila Scarborough on September 18, 2008 at 1:02 p.m.

    Hi Debbie,

    You've already given some great advice; I would agree that just the public transportation will be a Hong Kong highlight for a little one. They love the double-decker trams and especially going back and forth on the Star Ferry between the Hong Kong side and the Kowloon side.

    Make sure you get an Airport Express pass that also covers transport in the city: http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/airport_exp...

    See the nightly laser light show at 8 p.m. from the Kowloon side. You can stand at the Sidewalk of the Stars or (my favorite) sit in the lobby bar of the Intercontinental Hong Kong Hotel, although when I did that my daughter was older.

    The Tourist Board's Cultural Kaleidoscope program (http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/h...) is wonderful, but doesn't work with a one year-old (maybe one of the parents could break away to enjoy one of the programs?)

    I would avoid lugging a stroller and use a kid backpack; not that many streets are stroller friendly, sidewalks are busy and crowded and it can get hilly. It's fun to ride the Mid-Levels escalators and you don't want stroller hassles on that.

    Here is an excellent GoNOMAD article on Hong Kong with kids: http://www.gonomad.com/family/0210/Go...

    Have fun - it's one of my very favorite cities in the world!

    Sheila at the Family Travel Logue on BootsnAll (http://www.familytravellogue.com)

  2. Caitlin on September 18, 2008 at 1:44 p.m.

    What about the new cable car out to the Giant Buddha?

  3. Cat on September 18, 2008 at 5:47 p.m.

    Don't know where you are staying, but I wanted to point out a recommendation in the link to the GoNOMAD article (above) for the Salisbury YMCA.

    I can't actually vouch for it firsthand because it was booked up for the week I was there with my husband and our daughter (his business trip), but I did see it and the inside and would compare it favorably to our much pricier hotel. They have very nice rooms and also family suites (with a separate bedroom in case you want to put the baby to bed while you are still awake). Very affordable for Hong Kong.

    I would also recommend Kowloon Park and/or the Zoological and Botanical Gardens for outings with kids.

  4. Meg on September 18, 2008 at 8:57 p.m.

    I have a post on Hong Kong with kids coming soon on my own blog, so I will try and move it up and let you know. We were there in April with a 16mo and it is one of the best cities with kids.

    Some places to start -

    Hotel - Salisbury YMCA with Harbor View: Full service hotel that is very kid friendly, has a great indoor pool, is super convenient to MTR (subway), Star Ferry and Airport transportation, and it is at least 1/3 the price of the Peninsula next door. (we paid around $200/night for full harbor view room)

    Eats - Dim sum at Maxims in city hall (actually good kid food as it is mild in taste and finger food) or there is one right across from the Salisbury with a view of HKI and it cost us less than $15 for 3 people. A couple of others are listed here http://www.backpacktobuggy.com/2008/0.... The owners of Cafe Deco also have a restaurant on the top level of JUMBO in Aberdeen Harbor. Don't miss Spring Deer in TST - excellent hand pulled noodles but make reservations. The bakeries in HK are wonderful so we often just snacked on sweet or savory buns.

    Stroller - we did OK, but had to carry it up and down some stairs here and there. The Peak tram aisles were narrow so it was awkward, but bus driver on the way down was fine sticking it in an empty seat. We used our Ergo on our visit to Mong Kok as the streets & markets are super crowded.

    Playgrounds: We planned out sightseeing with stops at parks. HK has wonderful parks all over the place. Kowloon park is less than 10 minute stroll from the Salisbury and it is probably another 5 to the children's playground on the north side. Hong Kong Park has the Aviary & a really cool playground. THe zoo is nearby & free. At the peak there are a couple of playgrounds - one in the Peak Galleria (one of the malls at the peak) and one a 5 minute hike up the peak. We met a lot of locals - chinese & expats at the playgrounds so it was really wonderful.

    With a younger child you can see adult things with lots of kid stops. There is Hong Kong Disney & Ocean Park, but I would hold off on these until the kids are at least 5 or if you have at least a week. A day trip to SaiKung would be more beautiful & relaxing and super tasty, fresh seafood eats for dinner.

    THere are great beaches all over HK - just be sure they have the shark nets up if you plan to go in the water.

    Oh, the babysitter at the Salisbury was $10/hour and was wonderful so I was able to take my husband out on the town.

    On the Airport Express pass for all city transport - it is only a value if you are in HK for a while or plan to use a lot of transport. We just got Octopus (stored value) cards and spent less than we would with the full Pass.

    I'll make a note when my HK traveloge is up. Let me know if there are questions. (I used to live there as well)