Theme parks are built for both kids and adults, alike. So, what better way to start of the weekend than a trip to Hong Kong's very own, Ocean Park in Aberdeen. We arrived in the early morning to an entrance bustling with families and were greeted by the Ocean Park mascot, a waving sea lion named Whiskers. As you can tell by the name, this theme park is dedicated to all things "under the sea" but I soon realized there's much more to do in Ocean Park than just visit an aquarium.
To get to where all of the main rides are, we had to take a cable car over the mountain. It gave us a great view of Aberdeen! I am a big time lover of roller coasters and, having been a loyal patron of Disneyland, Six Flags, and Universal Studios in the United States, I could not wait to see how Ocean Park compared. First stop was Julian's favorite ride as a kid, the Mine Train. It does not go upside down at all, but there are some parts where your body dangles close to the edge of the mountain so do not underestimate this ride. Then, we went on the Raging River ride, which reminded me of Splash Mountain at Disneyland except you do not get nearly as wet on this one. Because we could not get enough of the beautiful views of the ocean we saw on the cable car, we decided to walk back around towards the Ocean Theatre to make it for the animal show. I recommend walking as much as possible so you don't miss out on these picture perfect moments!
The "Ocean Wonders" show at the Ocean Theatre reminded me of Sea World, except without the killer whales. The trainers perform with both dolphins and sea lions, and the show is comical and a nice break between waiting in lines for rides. I love watching dolphins flip and sea lions wave, and we were sure to stay out of the splash zone. The next ride was my least favorite, The Flash, because you go completely upside down. I don't mind roller coasters because they are fast, but on this ride you are suspended upside down for enough time to feel your heart rate rise! But by all means, try if you dare.
I wanted to try out the newest roller coaster at the park, appropriately called Hair Raiser, before we called it a day. How could I come all this way and not try it? Even from the entrance of the park, you can see it dangling on the edge of a cliff rising high above the rest of the park. It lived up to its name, and I stepped off the ride with a great adrenaline rush. Then, we decided we had enough of the rides. So, we walked through the Giant Panda Adventure to get a close-up look at red pandas. Even though they are smaller in size than the giant panda, their deep red color and small size was no less impressive. I'd never seen a red panda that close before!
One of the best and most underrated parts of Ocean Park is Old Hong Kong. With the hanging lanterns, old-fashioned store fronts, street food, and carnival games, Old Hong Kong transports you back in time to the days when rickshaws and trolley cars were the main means of transportation. For me as a tourist, I was mesmerized by the neon signs and the bright colored paper lanterns strewn across the street. It really gave me a sense of what makes Ocean Park so special- it is Hong Kong's very own.
After a long but fun day of waiting in lines, laughing, and relaxing at Ocean Park, I felt like I had done all I could do in one day. Would I go back? Definitely. If you come to Hong Kong and want a more local experience, this is not to be missed.