Fun Things to do with Kids in Penang

"What are we going to do today?" How many times have you heard that one from your children? Here's a collection of ideas for fun activities to entertain your kids. Some of these would be great for kids birthday parties in Penang, too.

I'm still working my way through doing everything on this list, but I wanted to get it out there so you don't have to wait on me to blog about each place. Penang really does have so much family fun to offer. Do you have anything to add? Let me know in the Comments.

* indicates birthday party package available

Adventure Zone

Free is Good

• 5 Fun and Free Things to Do: Visit the Youth Park, Hunt for Street Art, Visit a Temple, Hit the Beach, Trek the National Park

Swimming beats the Heat

• * Hard Rock Hotel: Yearly memberships, foam parties, birthday parties
• * ParkRoyal Resort Hotel: Day passes and birthday parties

Outdoor Adventures

• * ESCAPE Eco-Adventure Park: Ropes course, climbing, innertube slides, and birthday parties
• Ride bikes and scooters: Traffic Garden, Youth Park, Straits Quay, car-free George Town, Air Itam dam
• Penang Hill: Ride the funicular up and enjoy the activities or just hike around at the top; if you want to hike up from the bottom, trails are not marked so go with someone familiar with the hike
• National Park: hike, canopy walk, take a boat back from the beach, Turtle sanctuary, and camping
• Countryside Stables in Balik Pulau: Ride ponies and feed the horses and donkeys
• Wet World Wild Adventure Park: A Wipeout-style obstacle course floating in the waters of Moonlight Bah; recommended for teens and adults
• Kayaking at Straits Quay; Fridays after 3 p.m. and Weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; See Marina Office
• Playground at Straits Green with Water Sprayground activated from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Access road is at Quayside condos next door to Straits Quay; Note: No good shade
• * Soccer Experience: tot lessons, youth league, and birthday parties
• Jerejak Daytripper Package: This little island by the bridge has tons of outdoor activities for kids ages 10 years and older; contact fanjerejak@gmail.com for more information.
• Paintball: 6 paintball fields in Penang; recommended for teens and adults

Explore Nature

• Penang Butterfly Farm: Not just butterflies — insects, reptiles, and amphibians, too
• Penang Bird Park: On the mainland; daily shows and photo sessions
• Botanical Gardens: Popular with runners and joggers; stroller friendly; fun hill to roll down
• * Tropical Spice Garden: Snakes and Ladders playground, garden tour, kids events, birthday parties
• Toy Museum and Heritage Garden: Before it moved, it was a look-don't-touch museum; new location has added an outdoor garden
• Forest Recreation Park and Museum: forestry museum, playground, hiking trails, and wading pools
• Tropical Fruit Farm: Take the 45 minute tour, buy a fruit tasting plate and (book ahead) have BBQ
• Happy Goats Farm: Tour this dairy farm, feed the goats, and try your hand at milking them

Stay Cool Indoors

• * Top Picks for Indoor Fun: Adventure Zone (birthday parties), Mega Kiddie World, Cartoon World, KidLand, video game arcades and movies
• Made in Penang Interactive Museum: Bring your camera for some photo fun
• *Kidland Penang: Play at the pretend firehouse, hospital, music studio, greenhouse, cooking school, art gallery, airplane pilot training and more; Prangin Mall, Level 4.
• *Urban Playground inflatable jump houses, slides, obstacle courses and climbing walls in Times Square Mall
• JumpStreet: Huge room covered in trampolines. Dodge ball arena and foam pits, too. Atrium of D'Piazza Mall in Bandar Baru.
• Urban Playz climbing walls on Level 7 of Gurney Paragon Mall
• Archery: 1st floor of Komtar Walk; recommended for teens and adults
• Bowling: Penang Bowl near the E&O; Premium Lanes in Sunshine Square; Classic Bowl in Prangin Mall
• Break the Code: Solve the puzzles in time to escape the room or be trapped inside forever; for tweens and older

Arts and Crafts and Cooking, too

• Hammer Out a Pewter Bowl: Royal Selangor in Straits Quay
• *Batik Painting: Rozana's Batik or Craft Batik
• *Kids Cooking Class at Makers Shakers Bakers in Tanjung Bungah Hillside

Take a Day Trip

• Carnivall Water Park at Cinta Sayang: 1 hour from Penang; water slides, lazy river, and a spray playground for non-swimmers
• Bukit Merah Laketown Resort: 90-minutes from Penang; orangutan sanctuary, eco park, water park
• Taiping Zoo: 1 hour 45 minutes from Penang; becomes a night zoo in the evenings
• Lost World of Tambun Water Park: near Ipoh
• Gua Temperung Caves: near Ipoh; even preschoolers can walk Tours 1 & 2
• White Water Rafting: near Ipoh; must be at least 10 years old

Hire an Activity Organizer

• * Birthday Castle: I've been to a couple parties they've organized, and the kids have always had a blast.
• Spiral Synergy: During school holidays, they often hold special events for children. Email them for a schedule.

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