Kids Cafe in Hawaii (or close to it) - Hawaii Children;s Discovery Center

I'm back in Hawaii so now I will be blogging about things to do with kids in Hawaii.

Hawaii Children's Discovery Center
 Tuesday to Friday Open 9am-1pm
Saturday and Sunday Open 10am to 3pm
Closed on Mondays

Address:
111 Ohe St, Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 524-5437

Admission:

General Admission ...................................$10.00

Local Residents & Military (w/ I.D)...........$8.00

Senior Citizens (62+ w/ I.D.)......................$6.00

Children under 1 ........................................Free

HCDC Members ..........................................Free

If you do live in Hawaii, it's a good deal to pay $100 to be a member of Hawaii Children's Discovery Center.  Membership gives you free access to the facility for a year and discounts on workshops.

I took my two year old son there. He loved it!  It will definitely stimulate your child's brain.  

What I saw there:

*Jungle area was great for children 3 and under.  Kids can dress up as animals, play with the puppets, and animal toys in the area. There is also a little water play area near it too. 

*Toddle zone

*Area where kids can try out various occupation (mechanic, chef, mail clerk, judge, grocery clerk...)

*another area to see what is like for person in wheelchair

*learn more about the human anatomy (heart and stomach)

*big block area...

There is also a little cafe for kids to eat.

I had a blast and I hope to take my son there again.

Sea La La (Korea's inside pool) and HomePlus

I went here with  my friend Maggie and my son. It was 22,000 won to get in on a weekday. It's a different price on a weekend.  I had to pay additional fees when I got inside. We had to  pay 5,000 won for a swimming cap for each person (including the my toddler). I also had to pay 5,000 won for a life vest for my son and I had to return it before 6:45pm.  The great thing about Sea La La is that it has music and you can also enjoy the Spa.  There is a big water slide but you have to go on before 5pm I think.  There's little small Jacuzzi (apple, rose, and some other scent).   My friend decided to get the full body scrub down here for 20,000 won.  She said it was awesome and beats the prices in other parts of Seoul.

Also check out Home Plus and the restaurants around this area.  I found shoes for 33,000 won and 7,000 Pajama for my son at Home Plus. Home Plus is like Emart in Korea or Walmart in the states. You can find the Mom's Mom store here.  Mom's Mom has a lot of infant clothing and other items for your little one.

Daedunsan with my toddler and Kkotji beach

This weekend, we went to Daedunsan. This mountain is known for the suspension bridges. The pros about this mountain is that it has a cable car.  I used the cable car and then hiked up the rest of the mountain.  The Kelty carrier came in handy again.  I also recommend using a hiking stick on this trail.  I stayed over night at the hotel right next to the cable car. It was about 75,000 won for the night.  The room could fit a lot of people since it was a family room.  It's old traditional style where you sleep on the ground.  Than I headed to the beach closer back home the next day. For those who are Adventurous there is a hang glider place near Daedunsan.

Hotel Information website: http://www.dhotel.co.kr/

I called to make a reservation:  063) 263-1260-3

(You can take a picture with your family before you get on the cable car)

(꼬지 해수욕장in Korea ) KKotji Beach

339-272 Seungeon-ri, Anmyeon-eup

Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

South Korea

Seoul Zoo

(Dinosaur Playground at the zoo)

Admission for Adults package 8,500 won (little train/tram to the zoo, Lift, and zoo entrance fee).  The cost is less if you decide only to walk to the zoo (about 2 km) and walk around the zoo.  My son and I enjoyed the lift. We could see the animals and than walk around.

Children under 36 months is free

Station: Seoul Grand Park

Do they have food inside? Yes. They have small stores and food court.

Before going to the zoo, you will see bright colorful umbrellas with Korean grandmothers' selling kim bap (rice roll), and duk (rice cake), and donuts.  It was about 3,000 won for the rice roll and 2,000 for the rice cake.

(airplane toy my son got outside of the zoo)

Busan -Taejongdae

Taejongdae Boat ride
10,000 won (cost for an adult). It was free for my 23 month old son. Right when you are entering the Taejongdae park you'll find people selling the boat tour. You get into a van and it will take you to the shore where you pay for your ticket.

My little one and I enjoyed the boat ride.

Tip: Wear a jacket, it's very chilly and windy. Maybe bring a small blanket for you little one to keep him or her warm.

This is my second time going to Taejongdae. I recommend spending the day here.  You can walk around the park or you can also take the tram after the boat ride. The boat ride doesn't drop you off at the lighthouse anymore. It did before but it doesn't seem to do it anymore. I went on a different boat last time and it did but it could also be due to the weather or just the boat tour option. I went on a overcast day.

Tram / small train called Danubi ( Dah-knew-Bee)  다누비열차 

The tram line was very long and was quite a wait.  You can get off and get on again if you buy a tram ticket. With a little one, I would recommend the tram and getting off at the lighthouse.   You can also get discount family tickets. The price is reasonable.  If you want to avoid the wait, go for a walk with a stroller.

What's great about Taejongdae? The views and it's fun to see dinosaur fossils and 

prints.   

This was Taejongdae pictures from four years ago mid-june.

Going by Bus

From Busan Station you can take 88 or 101 to Taejongdae.  You still have to walk to get inside the park.

Here's a link for more info

Busan here we Come!

My little one is now 23 months old are we are on the way to Busan by train in couple of hours.  I'll update information when I get back. However, if you are planning to go to Busan, I recommend going to the Pyeongtaek station and buying your tickets ahead of time so you get the time you want and get seats. Standing with a little one is not ideal.

Train to Busan from Pyeongtaek

You can go on the regular train and than transfer to KTX train from Daejeon.  It's about 3 hours. This way it cuts the time about 1 hour from the Sae mah rool (the train that's a bit faster than the regular train) and with the regular train straight to Busan is 5 hours.

This weekend in Busan there is a sand festival from June 6th- June 9th.


*Update on transportation

My friends went there by car on the same weekend and ended taking about 8 hours getting down to Busan from Seoul.  It was due to heavy traffic because it was a korean holiday weekend.  It would normally take about 4-5 hours according to the GPS.

First Village (Shopping and Kids Cafe) in Sinhang-ri Dunpo, Korea

FIRST VILLAGE ( Outlet mall, restaurants, and a Kids Cafe)
Korean Address: 충청남도 아산시 둔포면 신항리 17-3

 ADDRESS : #17-3 Sinhang-ri, Dunpo-Myeon,

Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do * Not that far from Pyeongtaek or from Camp Humphrey

 OPEN : Hours of Operation: 10:30am-9:00pm
Phone Number: 04 1536 0500 

1st Village Shopping Mall link

AWESOME! I love the big parking space and it's not congested like the mall in AK in Pyeongtaek.  Great sales for clothes.

Paradise Kids Cafe  is on the 2nd floor at First Village. It was 6,000 won for my son to play for 2 hours. It should be 8,000 won for older kids.
I went shopping on the floor while he was playing.  I bought him T-shirts ranging from 5,000 Won to 7,000 Won.

5,900 Won

(5,000 Won)

(5,000 Won)

About 9,000 Won

15,000 Won

15,000 For set

Coex Aquarium (Seoul, Korea)

Address: 513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 513 (삼성동)

Hours of operation: 10am-8pm (Last entry is at 7pm) Cost: 22,000 won for Adult  19,000 Won for teenagers 16,000 for Children Children under 47 months are free Getting there by Bus from Pyeongtaek 1) Go to Pyeongtaek Bus terminal and take the bus to Nambu Bus terminal. Get out of the bus terminal and head to the subway. From Nambus subway station, transfer to Line 2 at Seoul National University ( 교대).  Than get off at Samseong Station and go to Exit 5 or 6. It's about four stops from Seoul National University.  The Aquarium is in the Coex Mall.  It's near the Intercontinental Hotel and Coffee & Bean shop.  Coex Aquarium discounts Coex Mall map

(The Korean Drama 'I Can Hear Your Voice' was shot here)

Everland Amusement Park

                                                 (Global Village ride)       

Everland is great for the whole family. I've been there two times with my son.

From Pyeongtaek it should be about 1 hour drive. You can GSP Everland ( 에버랜드
in Korean)

Admission: 37,000 Won for Adults  

                 29,000 Won for Children (36 months and over)

Open: 10am-10pm

• free for children under the age of 36 months

(1day ticket if you print the coupon on the link below)

ticket cost information and coupon 

• If you are military, it's better to buy on base.

Stroller rentals: 4,000 Won (You get 1,000 Won back after you return your stroller.  The good thing about the stroller is that is has a lock on it. You get lock it up when you go on rides.

Great rides: I really enjoyed the Zootopia with my little one. He had blast riding the Amazon Express and Lost Valley. You get to see the animals close up in the Lost valley. The vehicle goes on land and water. Safari World only goes on land but you still get see lions and bears close up. 

Tip: Reserve a time slot Kidscovery. Yeah..you need a break while your little one runs around. It's a giant safe space for you little one to move around for 45 minutes.  It's 5,000 Won for children less than 36 months.  There's also a cafe for parents inside.

(Second picture: My son decides to rest under the tree after playing and moving nonstop for 35 minutes at Kizcovery)

Tip: Check yellow dust level. You can check by city on this link. Click on Gyeonggi and then Pyeongtaek. It has hourly and monthly information. Yellow Dust shows up more often in March, April, and May. 

Magic land also has great rides for little ones. 

rides at Everland ( You can check out the link for information on the rides to see the height requirements ahead of time)

There is sometimes firework shows at night.

(rose garden)