Trading Mickey for the City
After two non-stop days of Disney magic, it was time to transition from the “Happiest Place on Earth” to the bustling heart of the city. We hopped on the MTR around 2pm, making our way to Tsim Sha Tsui (TST).
By the time we checked into the Holiday Inn Golden Mile at 3:30pm, the adrenaline from the park had finally worn off, and the exhaustion set in. Knowing we had a massive day ahead of us, we made the best “parenting decision” possible: we ordered in, ate in the comfort of our room, and had an early night to recharge.
The World of LEGO®
The next morning, we fueled up at Maison Kayser. It was just around the corner from our hotel, and the breakfast was absolutely delicious—highly recommended if you’re staying in TST!
Then came the moment Jacob had been waiting for: the second big surprise for his birthday—LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre! We spent the morning immersed in bricks. Both Jacob and Riley had a blast in the play zones, and we all sat in for the 4D movie, which was a hit with the whole family. Jacob and I even took on Kingdom Quest, an interactive ride where we hopped into chariots to zap bats and spiders. It was the perfect way to kick off our city tour.
Crossing Victoria Harbour
After a quick snack, we walked down to the iconic TST Star Ferry Pier. There is no better way to see the Hong Kong skyline than from the water, and the short ferry ride over to Hong Kong Island is always a highlight.
Our original plan was to catch a bus to the Peak Tram, but as every traveling parent knows, plans can go sideways! I made a bit of a detour by taking the MTR and ending up on the wrong train. By the time we finally navigated our way to the Peak Tram station on foot, we were all pretty worn out—but the journey was about to get much more vertical.
Climbing High: The Peak Tram
The Peak Tram is a classic Hong Kong experience. This Victorian-era funicular climbs the steep mountainside to the highest point on the island. Jacob was mesmerized by the way the buildings seemed to “lean” as we ascended.
By the time we reached the top, we were starving. We found a seat at Rajasthan Rifles, an Anglo-Indian restaurant at the Peak. The food was incredible and exactly the fuel we needed. Afterward, we explored the Peak Tower and took in those world-famous views. To our surprise, there were even Disney-themed statues at the top, which felt like a nice “nod” to the first half of our trip!
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Sunset at the Wheel and Dino Discoveries
We wanted to catch the sunset from the water’s edge, so we headed back down the mountain and took a bus to the Hong Kong Observation Wheel.
The timing was perfect. Both kids loved the slow, high-altitude loop as the city lights began to flicker on. Once back on solid ground, we grabbed a snack while Jacob and Riley burned off their last bit of energy playing on the dinosaur statues nearby. One ferry ride later, we were back at the hotel and straight into bed.
Kowloon Park and Back Home
Since our flight back to Manila wasn’t until the evening, we had one last day to “kill” in Hong Kong. After another great breakfast at Maison Kayser, we headed toward the Space Museum. Unfortunately, we realized it didn’t open until 1pm—a little too late for our schedule.
Instead, we pivoted to Kowloon Park. We spent a peaceful morning strolling through the greenery and visiting the Heritage Discovery Centre (which is free entry!). It was a lovely, low-pressure way to end the trip. We finished with a final lunch at a local food hall near the hotel before grabbing our suitcases and boarding the bus to the airport.
Hong Kong, you were a whirlwind of surprises, sore feet, and incredible memories. Now, it’s time to head home!
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