Summer Activities: 5 Places We’re Taking The Kids This Month

How to keep the kids entertained in August

Mums and dads, we’re almost there. We’re in the home straight. That’s right, we’re into the last leg of the summer holidays. Perhaps you’ve already exhausted all the activities you planned to keep the little ones occupied these past few months. So we thought we’d give you a little inspiration as we share the top kid-friendly spots we’re hitting up this August. We’re talking indoor play, historical sites and an aqua park adventure, amongst other fab family outings to keep the kids busy.

Read more: Free Things To Do: Where To Take The Kids In August 2018

Lantau families – this one’s for you! If you’re looking to really tire the tykes out, especially on days when it’s either too hot or too wet to venture outside, head to EpicLand.

Formerly known as DiscoveryLand, EpicLand is, as you might expect, pretty epic. It boasts 14,000 square feet of fun as the largest indoor play area in Hong Kong and features the largest indoor slides in Asia! Offering everything from an AirTrek obstacle course, VR zones, climbing walls, trampolines and laser tag and even mini golf. It’s suitable for all ages, too, with a toddler’s zone and even a specially designed climbing wall for little tots. Plus, its facilities are compliant with the highest international safety standards, so you can rest (or should we say, play?) easy while your kids indulge in hours of fun.

How Much: Day passes are offered at $148 for kids under the age of 12 (includes one guardian) and $168 for kids 13 and over Monday to Friday, $188 for kids under age 12 (includes one guardian) and $200 for kids aged 13 and over Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; monthly and annual passes also available, more information here.

EpicLand, G/F 31 North Plaza, Family Recreation Centre, 96 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay North, Lantau, Hong Kong, 2441 0098, www.epiclandhk.com

Huge slides, trampolines and awesome slip ‘n’ slides, this floating inflatable water park is set to be a huge hit this summer. For children aged 6 and older, this is a guaranteed hit but perhaps one more suitable for older kids. This aqua park features 43 different obstacles to climb up, tumble over and slide down (and fall off of). There are lifeguards and safety briefings to keep everyone safe and sound, but, obviously, it goes without saying that basic swimming skills are required as a minimum. A parent or guardian must accompany any child under the age of 12 but one adult can supervise up to three kids into the aqua fun zone at a time. Just try not to wipe out in front of the kids – they tend to remember that kind of thing. Prices start at $158 per hour. Sessions must be booked in advance here.

Core Water Park, 2 Hung Lam Dr. Tai Po Kau, Hong Kong, 2465 3468, [email protected], www.corehk.net

If you’re a Pixar fan and still haven’t witnessed the second instalment of everyone’s favourite family of superheroes then hurry to it! The Incredibles 2 won’t be in cinemas much longer (released in HK cinemas on 19 July) but it’s definitely worth seeing on the big screen if your little ones are fans of the first film. The other two family-friendly big hitters this month are Christopher Robin, staring Ewan McGregor in an adorable re-telling of everybody’s favourite honey-loving bear, Winnie The Pooh (released 2 August). And on 16 August, Dracula and his family return in the third addition of the Hotel Transylvania series in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Holiday. This time the clan of monster misfits decides to take a summer vacation where Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) deals with his depressing love life and attempted assassinations. Y’know, just your average family getaway.

HK Island
AMC, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong, 2265 8933. Get tickets here.
Emperor Cinemas, The Entertainment Building,30 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong. 2522 2996. Get tickets here.
IFC, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2388 6268. Get tickets here.
Grand Kornhill Cinema, Kornhill Plaza 4 / F, Kornhill Square, 2 Kornhill Road, Kornhill, Hong Kong, 2513 8028. Get tickets here.
Grand Windsor Cinema, 4/F, Windsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island, 2129 0148. Get tickets here.
TIMES SQUARE HONG KONG, House 3 & House 5, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 3918 5888. Get tickets here.

Kowloon
Broadway Cinematheque, 3 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2388 0002. Get tickets here.
Festival Grand Cinema, Kowloon Tong Road 80, Festival Walk UG layer, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2237 1992. Get tickets here.
The Grand Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2196 8170. Get tickets here.

If you need to get some serious shopping done but you’ve got the kids in tow – head to Megabox. There’s currently a Jurassic World themed exhibition featured giant models of the dinos featured in the movies. The exhibition is in partnerships with LEGO, so you can take part in mini archeological digs to discover prehistoric LEGO pieces. There’s also a pop-up Toys ”R” Us store so you can pick up a memento for the day. You’ll definitely be able to snap some great pictures with the kids here for the family group chat. It’s not a whole-day-out affair but it will certainly keep them entertained for a short while. Combine it with a cinema trip and your day is sorted!

The exhibition runs until 2 September and is free to enter.

MegaBox, Enterprise Square V Tower 2, 38 Wang Chiu Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, www.megabox.com.hk

Perhaps not a parent’s normal go-to for museums and kid-friendly exhibitions, but we think a visit to The Hong Kong Coastal Defence Museum is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. From the Ming Dynasty to the Battle of Hong Kong to the modern day, learn about HK’s military history at this impressive facility. There’s a small cafeteria and children’s corner, too, so you can take some time out from all the history. Admissions to the permanent and current special exhibition, “The Great War at its Centenary”, are free, but note the guided tours are conducted in Cantonese. While you’re there, take a stroll around the site’s historical trail around the old Lei Yue Mun fort – some of the trail is across rugged headland so it’s definitely not an option if you’re pushing a stroller.

The Hong Kong Coastal Defence Museum, 175 Tung Hei Road. Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong, 2569 1500, www.lcsd.gov.hk 

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