Visit Hong Kong: Ocean Park

One of my kids wanted to see a panda since we were in a Special Administrative Region of China, after all, so we made a decision to go to Ocean Park.

Ocean Park is an aquarium / zoo / amusement park all wrapped into one (it reminded me of Sea World).

It is a huge property, full of steep hills, and to get from one side to the other, you can take the Ocean Express (a train ride which shows videos as if you were underwater) or ride the Cable Car.

There were all sorts of carnival type rides, thrill rides, and other types of experiences. 

The Rapids

The Rapids is similar to the white water rides at other parks, but it was much shorter in duration.  It was fun, however, and we did get wet.  The family rode this ride multiple times.

They do offer FasTrack to beat any standby lines for rides and attractions, but there was no need for them at all when we went.  The lines were pretty non existent for everything.  

We did see a panda!  When we arrived to the Giant Panda Adventure, Ying Ying and Le Le were nowhere in sight.  We waited for a while, and thought we may have to return to try our luck, but as soon as a bunch of kid groups came in, Le Le emerged (we think he was brought out because of the kids).

We saw all sorts of animals and sea creatures.

My favorite exhibits were the Sea Jelly Spectacular and Shark Mystique.

The Grand Aquarium was large, but they had a lot of Baby Shark props and decals over some of the tanks, which may be appealing to some kids, but IMO they shouldn't have been on some of the displays. The props were fun for photo ops, however.  

They had numerous eateries on site (including Michelin Guide recommend eateries), and we went to Ice Cream Delight for some much needed cool treats.  

We had lunch at Club Panda, since it was air conditioned.  

There were several gift shops, animal experiences (for extra), and even a water fountain show.  

Of note - I did get a lot of bites here (from both mosquitoes and midges), so make sure to bring insect repellent in addition to sunscreen.

There really was a lot to do at Ocean Park.  You can spend an entire day there!  

Ocean Park Hong Kong

180 Wong Chuk Hang Road

Aberdeen, Hong Kong

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Visit Chicago: Lincoln Park Zoo

We had no plans on going to the Lincoln Park Zoo, but when we lucked out with parking, and after one of my kids said he wanted to go, we decided to make a quick visit.  The best part - there is no admission fee!

The 49-acre zoo was founded in 1868, and has never charged an admission fee.

We didn't spend too much time at the zoo, but we did get to see some amazing animals, such as a polar bear, giraffe, gorilla, rhino, and lion.

We also saw reptiles, amphibians, birds, and more.  

I thought it was a really nice zoo, with engaging exhibits, food options, and activities for kids, such as a carousel and train ride.  

I know there are many arguments that can be made for and against zoos, and my kids and I discussed some of them after our visit (eg unable to roam free; protection from predators; education and research; circle of life).

I respect opinions about zoos, and for us, this was a nice experience to see some animals up close that we normally don't get to see, and learn a bit about them.  

Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark St

Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 742-2000

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