Northern Sardinia on an Agritusimo – a different type of family holiday

Bridget in the vineyard at Agriturismo I Vignetti

THE ACCOMMODATION

In August we enjoyed a fantastic family holiday to Olbia in Sardinia to celebrate my brother Dan, turning 30 and for Glen and I, it really opened our eyes to a different style of family holiday.

Dan and his partner had stayed on an ‘agriturismo’ - a working farm with accommodation - the previous year in Sicily and they absolutely raved about it. Dan booked this holiday as a treat for us all, and we were originally staying in a villa in Olbia, the other side of Northern Sardinia, which annoyingly got cancelled by the owner just a few weeks before we were due to go. After some frantic research we found the Agriturismo I Vignetti in Olmedo, just a fifteen minute drive from Alghero and what a beautiful base it proved to be.

Agriturismo I Vignetti is set in stunningly well-kept grounds in the countryside, and the accommodation amounted to comfortable and spotlessly clean stone apartments. Our room, a family room, had a separate bedroom, en suite and a living area with an extra bed, as well as a travel cot for Beatrice. The living area had a bed that doubled as a sofa for Bridget, a coffee table and a kitchen area, with a fridge, and tea and coffee making facilities. Everything was well presented, fresh and clean. 

Accommodation at Agriturismo I Vignetti

With beautiful flowers and greenery dotted around, and being in the countryside and a little off the beaten track, it was a very peaceful base, which made for a welcome change from our usual style of holiday. 

Restaurant area at Agriturismo I Vignetti

The working farm had an array of chickens, goats and a few horses; and the children loved visiting them each day and offering food. The huge area for growing vegetables was fantastic and the owners were happy for you to wander through taking an interest and we certainly did. It was great to show the girls where all of the vegetables we eat of an evening were coming from – Bridget was fascinated by how many different types of tomatoes they were growing – I was quite enthralled myself. Opposite the sprawling vegetable patch was a vineyard growing both red and white grapes, which was beautiful. We enjoyed some fantastic nature walks daily - it felt like we had got back to nature, but in very comfortable lodgings.

Feeding the chickens at Agriturismo I Vignetti

The vegetable gardens at Agritusimo I Vignetti

Agriturismo I Vignetti had a lovely swimming pool area with plenty of sun loungers, and it being August and stiflingly hot, we all took full advantage of it. There were a number of other guests of varying ages and a couple of families we overlapped with, but the pool was generally quite quiet during the day, until we arrived with Bridget and Beatrice of course. 

Pool area at Agriturismo I Vignette

Beatrice enjoying the pool at Agriturismo I Vignetti

The dining area was stunningly rustic; open air, with flowers and greenery dangling down, it was very pretty. Breakfast which was included was a very-much continental affair, with pastries, cured meats and cheeses, breads and yoghurts and a few cereals as well as boiled eggs. It was fairly basic, but plentiful and we enjoyed a lighter start to the day – it made room for the many delicious things we would encounter daily in Sardinia. Their version of a type or Grana Padana which they made on the farm was really delicious, much creamier and nuttier than those I’ve had before and their cured meats, which I would never normally have around breakfast time were lovely too, especially the saucisson.

Over breakfast, the charming host, Gianfranca, would inform of us of that evening’s dinner menu; with everything prepared coming from the land of the agriturismo. We enjoyed two excellent meals here during our week long stay. One, a lasagne – an absolute triumph, and one a ‘meat in the oven’ dish – which turned out to be roast suckling pig with village potatoes and roasted vegetables – absolutely divine. So fresh, so simple but so, so good.

Also each meal came with some small plates of appetisers – a fragrant little open tart of dressed tomatoes with basil leaves running through. Everyone knows how good tomatoes taste in the Med and these were no exception! We had the most delightful little stuffed aubergines topped with cheese; as well as more plates of cheese and cured meats. Desserts included a lemon ricotta concoction – which was like a sweet stuffed and fried pasta dish, and my favourite – tiramisu. Really great food. There was also pasta courses which was always gnocchetti – tiny little shells with a grooved edge in a simple but stunning tomato sauce and topped with lashings of cheese. Gnocchetti is the pasta of choice for children it seemed in Sardinia as the girls enjoyed it all over the place. 

Tomato Tart at Agriturismo I Vignetti

Roast suckling pig at Agriturismo I Vignetti

Incredible lasagne at Agriturismo I Vignetti

Gnocchetti at Agriturismo I Vignetti

Enjoying a meal at Agriturismo I Vignetti

The rest of the gang

Whilst we had a couple of days of just relaxing around the agriturismo and then heading into Alghero, we found that we’d go out most days, and then return late afternoon to Agriturismo I Vignetti and enjoy the last hour or so of sunshine around the pool.

Our apartments each had a little table outside to enjoy a morning coffee or an evening beverage and were our meeting spot each night before heading out into Alghero or over to our own restaurant.

Happy 30th memories Dan!

Having a car is a necessity here, as you really are off of the beaten track and it gives you the access to discover some of the delightful wonders of north Sardinia.

BEACHES

There are absolutely tons of beaches and coves in this area of Sardinia, and we visited a fair few. Each have their own individual character and charm; and are ensconced by the crystal clear, bluey green waters which are hugely welcoming in the summer heat.

Most are incredibly busy in August but of the bunch we managed to visit, our favourites were Mugoni – slightly more commercialised, with a huge stretch of sandy beach, completely covered by revellers, families, couples, and solo sun worshippers and Porto Palmas which was much smaller, but perfectly formed.

The locals have the right idea, bringing with them everything you could want at the beach; their own umbrellas, pop up sun-loungers or chairs, blankets and towels, plus a cool bag filled with delicious looking picnic fodder and beverages. Much as we would do in the UK, but if I’m honest, slightly better.

Mugoni stretches for nearly 2km and has a pine forest behind – offering a welcome retreat from the sun. We visited in Italian holiday time in August, so it was particularly busy, in fact every beach was packed solid, so it’s actually worth arriving early or booking ahead if you want sun loungers – which incidentally are priced between 20-30 Euros for a pair with an umbrella so be sure to bring cash, or be prepared to bed down on your towel in the sand. Mugoni has a selection of cafes, restaurants and bars along the whole stretch so is great for a full day. 

Mugoni Beach, Sardinia

Beatrice enjoying the beach at Mugoni, Sardinia

We absolutely loved the Porto Palmas beach; it’s an absolute gem, a small sandy cove surrounded by rocks and caves and completely uncommercialized, with just a tiny drinks shack. As you walked into the crystal blue waters, it become quite deep, quite quickly and I had a delightful time cooling down with my two girls here, as well as a swim over to the caves. It was idyllic here – still busy, but less so than others. My type of picturesque beach and less crowded. 

Me, Bridget and Beatrice enjoying the cooling water at Porto Palmas Beach, Sardinia

We also visited the likes of Lido, Porto Ferro and La Bombarde on the Algero side and had a peek at the Pittulongo beach on the Olbia side on our way to the airport..

FOOD

Italian food is an all round favourite for our family – pizza and pasta feature in my children’s top five foods for sure, and Glen and I are very partial to them too, but Sardinia has so much more to offer than this.

I didn’t mark down the names of every restaurants particularly as we didn’t really have a bad bite to eat anywhere – food is just done so well across Italy and Sardinia is no exception.

We enjoyed melt-in-the-mouth tagliata (beautiful steak cooked in a dressing of lemon and garlic and topped with grated Grana Padana and sea salt), roast suckling pig that was to die for, a seafood stew so exquisite in flavour I wanted to bottle it up forever, and of course a whole load of different pastas and pizzas which were all exceptional.

A particular highlight for me was a Linguine Vongole at Al Refettorio in Alghero and the pizzas and pastas at Restaurante Il Pagura in the little town of Fertilia; the only place we couldn’t resist returning to. 

Linguine Vongole at El Refettoria, Alghero, Sardinia

That sumptuous seafood stew, Alghero, Sardinia

Beautiful pizza at Il Pagura, Fertilia, Sardinia

Also the food at the Agriturismo I Vignetti needs special mention here too as was also excellent and felt very traditional – for a family with two small children too, the hosts were very accommodating, and it’s great to holiday knowing you can have an informal and relaxed evening with the kids, not going further than a couple of hundred yards from your door, but still enjoying exceptional food. 

Also wine is particularly good in Sardinia and it's fairly cheap too - we enjoyed plenty, and were always pretty happy with the house dry white.

Enjoying some Sardinian wine in the sunshine at Porto Torres

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Butterfly House

We visited the Butterfly House which was only a fifteen minute drive away from Agriturismo I Vignetti. As well as playing host to an abundance of unusual butterflies, Butterfly House is also home to a number of tropical birds, insects and other wildlife and for 10 Euros per person, it was well worth the trip. Under 3’s are free of charge too – so it’s well worth it if you have small children.

What’s more, and what we didn’t know until we arrived, the Butterfly House also has a lovely swimming pool and jacuzzi area, a spa and a fantastic wooden play area for children. It’s a great choice for a full day’s outing and as we were nearing lunchtime but the adults weren’t quite ready to eat, we picked up a homemade margherita pizza for the girls to share which was freshly made, utterly delicious (as we couldn’t resist trying) and cost €5! 

Beatrice having a play at Butterfly House, Sardinia

Bridget looking rightfully smug at her delicious 5 euro pizza

The Alghero Funfair

Each time we ventured into Alghero by night, we let the girls enjoy an hour on the fun fair at the port. Bustling full of families with young children up to teenagers, and in typically Mediterranean fashion this was jam packed way into the night in August. Each ride was priced between 2-3 Euros and the kindly staff were happy for the parents to join the little ones free of charge – the Sardinians are very sweet towards the bambinos.

One evening we had a nightmare parking (over two hours to find a spot – the less said about it the better) and had promised the girls a go on the fun fair, but were more concerned about getting some dinner into them, so said we’d take them afterwards – expecting it to be shut, but no, even at midnight it was absolutely packed.

Horse and Cart Ride Around Alghero

A little tourist activity to take you round the bigger tourist spots of the city – from the Cathedral, to the port. Priced at 10 euros per person and free for the baby. 

Bridget with Uncle Dan, enjoying the trip around Alghero by horse and cart

The Beach

Honestly for my children – enjoying a day on the beach is such an adventure – whether it’s building sand castles or creations, paddling in the sea, digging a big hole or seeing what ‘treasure’ they can find from a crab, a pretty shell, or even seaweed. This continues to be an important factor in almost all of our summer holidays.

The Pool

Equally a day at the pool at Agriturismo I Vignetti with a lunchtime picnic was as enjoyable for Bridget and Beatrice as it was for us. We ventured to the supermarket in nearby Sassari where we were able to pick up lovely salad items and some freshly cooked porchetta – unlike anything you could pick up in a UK supermarket, as well as fresh cream cakes. Bliss.


ALGHERO

By day, Alghero is an interesting city - we found an amazing fresh fish market, plenty of cafe culture, and an amazing restaurant scene not to mention some incredible architecture and some cute shops. In August though, it was a little unbearable to walk the hills and cobbled streets, in the heat if I’m honest, especially with the children.

By night, Alghero is an electric place to be. Row upon row of shops adorn the streets, which are lit by pretty lanterns, and around every corner is a little trattoria, bar or restaurant with the welcome sight of tons of guests sipping their Aperol Spritz or other trendy beverage, watching the world go by.

We are not great planners when on holiday, preferring to be spontaneous, but unfortunately in Sardinia, or at least Alghero, in August, not booking a table when there are eight guests including two small children, can prove problematic. We learnt from our mistake the first night and booked ahead in advance.

We didn’t indulge in the nightlife in Alghero – having the children with us and it being a much more laid back holiday, but were told it was there for the taking for sure. 

Alghero by day

The Port of Alghero, Sardinia

This really was a completely different type of holiday to what we’re used to with the children and we thoroughly enjoyed and would be open to another stay on an agriturismo elsewhere in the future. The cost per night differs in the different rooms, but for ours in August 2019 it is priced from £141.00 including breakfast for the four of us.

We loved Sardinia – it was a great family holiday full of fabulous memories and is well worth considering as a summer holiday destination with children.

Padstow, Cornwall: A UK Family Travel Destination

A few weeks back we returned from a family trip to Padstow, Cornwall with all of Glen's immediate family for a week's stay at a beautiful, large and luxurious house 200 yards from Constantine Bay. I'd been longing to visit Cornwall for a very long time, (my last visit was in 1986, aged 2) and everything I hoped for was true, barring maybe the weather, but this is the UK so we were prepared for that.

The county is utterly captivating, and we did manage to take in a few of the interest points and different towns all with their own individual charms and nuances but I have to say, that Padstow itself was my favourite by far, and I was only sorry we didn't spend a day or two more there.

PENRICH – PERFECT STAYS

Penrich, Perfect Stays, Constantine Bay

The beautiful house we stayed in was nestled just a couple of hundred metres from the beach at Constantine Bay. Penrich; a stunning four bedroom house that we booked through Perfect Stays, was a really modern, luxurious base for the week, and with Bridget only just two and our little nephew George just a few months old, it was ideal. Evenings were spent together over a meal, a cream tea, playing some of the provided board games or watching one of the TV's in either the living room area or the designated film and TV room.

Everything at Penrich was finished to the highest specification, and everything you could wish for was here - the kitchen had its own wine fridge, dishwashers and every modern convenience you might require. On arrival the fridge was stocked with locally sourced eggs, bacon, clotted cream, jam and a selection of scones too – a really nice touch.

A balcony looking out to the Bay, plus a back garden area with rattan furniture and barbecue provided - we didn't have the weather to make the most of this, this time around but we wouldn't hesitate to return.

Penrich, Perfect Stays, Constantine Bay

Penrich, Padstow, Cornwall

The master bedroom had a huge en suite with walk in shower and free-standing bath, and another of the double rooms also had an en suite. A shared bathroom sat nestled between the other two rooms; one a double, and one a family room with a double bed and two sets of bunk-beds.

PADSTOW

The small town of Padstow is inhabited by less than 4,000 residents, but has become a real foodie destination, thanks to the variety of Rick Stein outposts, the man with the midas touch for the town, plus a number of other high-profile chefs in the area such as Paul Ainsworth and just across the bay, Nathan Outlaw’s The Mariner’s Rock.

Reviews for meals taken in the likes of Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant, The Custom House, Rafferty's Wine Bar and The Cornish Arms (another Rick Stein venue) can all be found here.

Rafferty's Wine Bar, St Merryn, Cornwall

We also enjoyed takeaway in the form of Rafferty's Pizza - a delicious stone-baked pizzeria a few minutes’ drive from our house, which provided a delicious meal on two nights after two days out doing lots of sightseeing and driving. Our first night too, saw us enjoy fish and chips in from Rick Steins which was excellent quality too. And on arrival on the Monday, we had a couple of hours wait and so took refuge in The Farmer's Arms in St Merryn, very much what I would call an 'old man's pub'. We chose 'safe' options as wasn't sure of the quality of the food for a quick lunch, but needn't have worried. I had a ham baguette, and the ham was thick cut, home cooked and utterly delicious.

We made use of Stein's Fisheries excellent seafood counter in the town too, Glen's stepdad Bill bought a few fresh crabs from here for sandwiches, and one afternoon we bought some fresh prawns, scallops and squid from here and had a delicious seafood linguine back at Penrich. Before the long drive back to Essex we popped in again and collected a couple of crabs, some lemons and parsley which the shop happily boxed up for us with plenty of ice so it stayed fresh for the five and a half hours of our journey.

Stein's Fisheries

Cooking at Penrich with Stein's Fisheries produce

FAMILY FRIENDLY SPOTS IN THE PADSTOW AREA

Constantine Bay - we took Bridget for daily walks here from Penrich, and when her cousins, Lola and Pearl, arrived at the weekend, they enjoyed it as much as she did. A beautiful sandy bay with hundreds of sea shells scattered and ready for collecting and exploring, it was a paradise for children. We saw plenty of surfers and dog walkers here too, and it looked different every day, just gorgeous.

Constantine Bay, Cornwall

Bridget taking a stroll on Constantine Bay

Treyarnon Bay - just a five minute walk over a cliff path from Constantine Bay was this over sandy cove, more of the same and on the Sunday we walked here after a lovely meal at Rafferty's Wine Bar and there were tons of people here enjoying what nature offered up. One family had brought a pop-up gazebo and were enjoying a BBQ and birthday cake which was lovely to see.

Treyarnon Bay, Cornwall

Padstow Beach - we only admired it from afar as we had our own beach at Penrich which we enjoyed so much, but had we had the weather, it would have made a great change for a day spent on the beach.

Old MacDonald's Farm - a lovely farm on the outskirts of Padstow that had the likes of goats, chickens, horses, owls and other animals to enjoy as well as plenty more to keep the children entertained from pony rides, a train ride, go karts, trampolines and crazy golf; all included in the price of entry.

Old MacDonald's Farm, Padstow

OUTSIDE OF PADSTOW
Mevagissey 

Mevagissey

A pretty little fishing village with a small harbour and a bustling tourism, Mevagissey has plenty of shops selling nautical nick naks as well as some more boutique style outlets. Tina, Glen's Mum, was able to trace the houses of some of her ancestors too, which made the visit here all the more special. We enjoyed a lovely, informal meal at No 5, no bells or whistles, it was a laid-back place but the food did the talking, I enjoyed a delicious seafood salad that made the moat of local Cornish crab, prawns, mackerel and smoked salmon - lovely.

No 5, Mevagissey, C

St Michael's Mount

A National Trust protected island 500 metres off of Marazion, inhabited by just 30 people, and reachable only by sea path, that disappears as the tide rolls in. Unfortunately we chose the worst day for this bit of sightseeing, fog, wind and rain! We managed a quick walk over to the Mount, but visibility was poor and we had to hot step it back to avoid getting rather wet.

St Michael's Mount, Cornwall

There was a lovely adventure playground at Marazion which was ideal after Bridget had been cooped up in the car for a couple of hours.

Newlyn

Newlyn was an even tinier little fishing hamlet with just a scattering of shops but an excellent array of fresh fish shops, some of which offered mail order fish boxes, in the Riverford kind of way.

We enjoyed a traditional Cornish Pasty in Warren's Bakery (who claim to be the oldest makers of Cornish Pasty's) here though, which we were all excited to try. It was tasty, hearty and cheap, but didn't set our world on fire.

Jamaica Inn

High on the Bodmin Moor, Jamaica Inn, famous from Daphne Du Maurier’s famous tale of the same name, is a great tourist spot off of the A30, the main road into Cornwall. Full of gothic history, the Smuggler’s Museum dedicated to smugglers, pirates and of course Daphne Du Maurier, is in an annexe to the main building, which is still an operating guesthouse, restaurant and bar. Jamaica Inn was a must-visit for me, being a huge Du Maurier fan, and made a good meeting spot, it was where we met the rest of the family as Glen, Bridget and I had stayed in Exeter the night before, whereas the rest of the family travelled in from Essex on the Monday. It was a cosy bolthole, full of wood-burning fires and armchairs and a welcoming warming drink too.

The Smuggler's Museum, Daphne Du Marier's Office, Jamaica Inn

Land's End

Land’s End is the very end of the country; with its’ own little built up tourist spot around it. With usual views right out into the sea, which I'm assured are beautiful, unfortunately due to the poor weather, visibility was at an all-time low and so we could barely see five feet in front of us, but at least we can say we’ve been – John O’Groats next!

Land's End, Cornwall

There are plenty of places we didn’t manage to visit during our stay in Cornwall – such as St Ives, which I’ve been told is beautiful, Bude, Falmouth and Penzance to name just a few – there are also plenty of family attractions we didn’t make it to, which we would make a conscious effort to plan for if it was just our little family. 

Cornwall certainly has plenty to offer. The county truly captured our hearts in late September, when the weather was up and down and far from inviting. We will 100% return to Cornwall for a family holiday, especially now we have another little one on the way, and trips abroad will be that bit harder – until next time Cornwall, the ideal UK family holiday destination.

Hong Kong: A Family Travel Destination

In November, I journeyed to Hong Kong for a fortnight with my (at the time) 14-month-old daughter, Bridget, and my parents for a fortnight's holiday.

My partner was unable to join due to work commitments and I worried about Bridget coping with the journey, the crowds and what she might eat - I needn't have worried, she had an absolute ball and nothing phased her.

I have a few posts to cover off some of the wonderful places we visited and ate during our stay, but this post is to share some of the fantastically family-friendly places we enjoyed during our stay.

Firstly Hong Kong, like the rest of the world was geared up for Christmas, and so the entire place was decked out with the most lavish decorations and trees I’ve encountered anywhere in the world and these festivities meant some of the shopping centres, especially the 1881 Heritage had a hundred photo opportunities and excited even the most Scrooge-minded person – Bridget absolutely loved it. 

Bridget enjoying Christmas display at Tsing Yi

Equally everywhere we went in terms of tourist attractions and restaurants, people made a real fuss of Bridget too, which was lovely. Highchairs were easily accumulated and she enjoyed a fantastic array of new foods with her favourites being char sui bao, steamed dim sum cake, steamed rice, noodles in all their wonderful guises and weirdly enough, octopus tentacles! 

Beach

We stayed on Ma Wan Island, or the modern day name; Park Island so the first place I should mention is Tung Wan Beach. Hong Kong might not strike you as a beach resort, but the beach here is cleaned daily and immaculate and aside from the weekend when the beach becomes busy with residents of the island, during the week it is often completely empty which is idyllic for spending time with your little ones – unusually temperatures were over 80 degrees for our entire stay so this was a happy escape from the heat. This was Bridget's first time on a beach since she began walking, and she was a little nervous of the sand to begin with, but by the second time on the beach she was running around happy as can be. 

Tung Wan Beach, Ma Wan

Bridget at Tung Wan Beach

Enjoying Milk Cake at Tung Wan Beach

If spending the day at Tung Wan Beach you could bring a picnic and the Fusion supermarket is a great place to collect supplies - their fresh baos and baked goods as well as the fruit produce is splendid. If you'd rather leave the catering to the professionals you're spoilt with a parade of beach-front restaurants that are open all week.

We were regulars at Cafe Roma where our favourite dishes were the Wagyu Beef and the Four Cheese Pizzas plus the breakfast smoothies which Bridget loved. We also loved the chocolate fondant too.

Pizza, Cafe Roma, Ma Wan

Smoothie at Cafe Roma, Ma Wan

We also tried the Pattaya Thai Island and the Chinese restaurants along the front of Tung Wan Beach - both offering good, well priced food.

Pattaya Thai Island restaurant, Ma Wan

Hong Kong also has some other great beaches such as Repulse Bay and Cheung Chau. Travelling to Hong Kong, there is literally so much to see and do, so the days spent on Ma Wan were usually when we were completely shattered from walking endlessly for a few days!

Disneyland

A place where dreams are made is a true description of Hong Kong's Disneyland. The magic begins on arrival where everything is Mickey or Minnie themed – Bridget absolutely adores Minnie Mouse so was in her absolute element. Excited children and adults ran around in an excited mode throughout the day at Disneyland and there are tons of rides and attractions throughout the park; but the true wonder was in watching the parade late in the afternoon. I was completely mesmerised by the scenes and my parents just loved seeing Bridget so excited by everything. Children under three enter for free and the price per adult is approximately £50 - worth every penny/dollar. 

Getting into the Disney spirit

At the entrance enjoying the Disney themed gardens

Disney parade

Ocean Park

This theme park, located in Wong Chuk Hang Valley, in the south, is more animal-based – with the most amazing 3-storey aquarium displaying an impressive array of sea life. The park is also home to likes of penguins, seals, dolphins and excitingly a pair of pandas who we got a really close glimpse of. There are tons of rides there too; including a selection suitable for toddlers like Bridget, as well as some more hair-rising thrill-seeking types. Prices per adult at Ocean Park are priced at the equivalent of just under £40 and again, Bridget went free. This is an entire-day out experience – there are fast-food outlets and sit down restaurants throughout the park, a cable car ride takes you from one level up to a more mountainous section which offers fantastic views over Hong Kong and the park is set in a huge space so wear your most comfortable shoes here as you will cover a lot of ground. 

Bridget on a ride with Nan & Grandad at Ocean Park

Panda at Ocean Park

Noah’s Ark

Situated on Ma Wan, this was a great morning spot for our group. Based on the story of the Biblical Ark, there is a giant wooden ark, within which, are tons of educational rooms teaching visitors all about animals, evolution, the story of the ark and the outside grounds contain an impressive array of lifelike, and similarly sized, wooden animals. Bridget really loved running wild in this area and pointing out the different animals. She also enjoyed the play area and role play sections inside – including mocked up kitchens. Noah’s Ark is aimed more at primary school aged children and there is a ton more activity they could get involved in but it’s still worth a visit if your little one is toddler age. Noah’s Ark is priced at around £16 per adult and free for under 3’s and as I mentioned is on Ma Wan, so if you’re travelling in from elsewhere on Hong Kong, plan your day to spend the afternoon on Tung Wan Beach. 

Bridget at Noah's Ark

Animals at Noah's Ark

Kowloon Park

Based in Tsing Tsa Tsui, Kowloon Park is a great, free national park and, is absolutely huge and runs parallel to Nathan Road but has entrances all around – including Haiphong Road, Austin road and Canton Road so you can enter from a number of directions. The gardens are some of the most picturesque and well kept, with impressive topiary and floral displays all around – and the serenity played a great backdrop for the Tai Chi displays taking place when we visited . A large adventure park had Bridget incredibly excited and was filled with excitable children when we were there. The aviary and bird lake were where Bridget really enjoyed herself – especially her first glimpse of the pink flamingos. Kowloon Park is a great place to spend some quiet time and let the children run off some energy.

Bridget at Bird Lake, Kowloon Park

Hong Kong is a fantastic place to visit for all ages but there really are an absolute wealth of activities to do with little ones here so it should definitely be on your wish list for a fun-filled, adventure-packed family holiday.