Are your children dragging their feet to cultural attractions and nature reserves—or anything that isn’t a theme park? Spice up your trip with a treasure hunt or two if they should utter the dreaded ‘b’ word (“boring!”).

Have you heard of Geocaching? It is an international treasure hunting game, which originated almost two decades ago as light entertainment for techies who used GPS technology for outdoor activities.

The premise is simple: someone hides a “geocache” or “cache”—a little container with one or more surprise items—and notes its location for others to find. The thrill is in the hunt, so you don’t actually get to keep any treasure. Instead, you can sign your name in the log provided (typically a tiny roll of paper) for posterity. Participants should also place the container back in its original location for others to find.

Today’s incarnation of the game is as simple as downloading the free official Geocaching mobile app (App Store, Google Play) to view and locate caches near you. There are apparently 695 caches around Singapore! While some caches can only be accessed by premium users, there are plenty around for free users to find.

Caches are rated by difficulty, from 1 to 5. The more challenging hunts may require you to crack a code or find multiple treasures (known as “multi-cache challenges”) before you hit gold. It’s hard to imagine a kid who wouldn’t be intrigued by this, plus it’s a great way for families to bond while travelling.

As any parent is well aware, kids do occasionally need space to work off their excess energy. Turn all that adrenaline into a fun hunt for the perfect playground!

If you are making your way around Singapore by train, you can refer to the “Play Project” map (which is based on the train network) to locate a humble neighbourhood playground near you.

But if you’re looking for a sprawling park playground that provides adventure and variety, while catering to kids of varying ages, bookmark Little Steps Asia’s 2018 list of top outdoor playgrounds in Singapore. Notable mentions include the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden (part of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, best for kids 14 and under), the Children’s Garden at Gardens By The Bay (water play, and designated play zones for kids 1–5 and 6–12), Admiralty Park Playground (with 26 slides, including a 32m “high adventure roller slide,” and zones for different ages), and West Coast Park Playground (suitable for adventurous kids, and even teenagers). These playgrounds—and the parks in which they are located—are veritable attractions in themselves.

For a taste of history, visit some classic playgrounds in Singapore, which are nostalgic for many locals and have a trademark mosaic tile design. Not many of these playgrounds remain standing, but you can use this map to track down a few of them, or, to be safe, refer to this Straits Times playground feature from 2017. One cherished space that you should make time for is the famed Dragon playground in Toa Payoh.

Get directions to Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden (8–12 minutes’ drive)
Get directions to Gardens By The Bay, Children’s Garden (8–14 minutes' drive)
Get directions to Admiralty Park (26–30 minutes' drive)
Get directions to West Coast Park (27–30 minutes' drive) 

This could be one of the coolest things to do in Singapore as a family: searching for street art.

Despite its no-nonsense reputation, Singapore has relaxed its stance on graffiti, and the city today has a street art scene. Naturally, rules apply. Unsanctioned graffiti in the city-state is still considered “vandalism,” but street artists can let their imaginations run wild in state-sanctioned spaces. Little India, Bugis (Haji Lane, Waterloo), Tanjong Pagar, and Tiong Bahru are central tourist locations where you can get your culture, culinary, or caffeine fix while admiring some wall art.

In Little India, look out for Cattleland 2 by local visual artist Eunice Lim, which is located next to the Little India MRT station (Exit E, Kerbau Road). “People and stories are at the heart of why I create art,” she says. “[It] is the reason that propels my practice to reflect current cultures and narratives—to connect and inspire the community with stories that would rarely be found in textbooks.” For Cattleland 2, she spoke to the area’s former residents, who recalled their experiences of yesteryear, where buffaloes were a common sight on the streets.

Wander around the area and you’ll also spot horses, the iconic Tamil actor Rajinikanth, and a striking street art portrait by US street artist Elmac. Elmac was invited to create his piece in conjunction with the Singapore Night Festival in 2010, and you can recognise his work by his trademark use of repeating contour lines that resemble ripples. Apparently, his works are inspired by people whom he encounters in real life.

If you prefer to run into murals without much detective work, head to Haji Lane (and the larger Kampong Glam enclave). The neighbourhood’s colourful walls are the perfect backdrop for capturing memorable Singapore photos with your kids—see this post for inspiration and mural locations in and around Haji Lane. Within the Kampong Glam district, works to look out for include “Children in Shopping Trolleys” and “Girl and The Lion Cub” (Victoria Street) by Lithuanian street artist Ernest Zacharevic, who is known for creating works that interact with their immediate environment.

For more Singapore street art locations, bookmark this guide by lifestyle site Honeycombers.

Are mealtimes without gadgets a struggle? Try these cafes offering alternative ways to play at the dinner table.

To feed both mind and body, head to Settlers Cafe for over 600 board games that you can rent (for a small hourly fee). Play a familiar favourite (such as Monopoly), or try out a new game to test your wits. If you like what you play, you can enquire if there is a set available for sale. When hunger calls, take a break and savour a hearty meal of fish ‘n’ chips, baked salmon, or pasta.

Also in the city centre (with two outlets), Old School Delights is a place where you can order traditional local dishes while getting acquainted with the vintage games on display. Purchase a novelty game of “five stones” or a deck of “Snap” cards, and you would be experiencing childhood the Singaporean way.

Get directions to Settlers Cafe (8 minutes’ drive)
Get directions to Old School Delights, City Square Mall (7–8 minutes’ drive)
Get directions to Old School Delights (Esplanade Mall) (5–7 minutes’ drive)

With our Family Weekend Getaway Package, you're set for an awesome family holiday in Singapore! PARKROYAL on Beach Road gives you and your family easy access to Singapore’s most popular attractions - just a five minutes walk to kickstart your Singapore Wall Crawl in the Kampong Glam District! If your little ones should need a break, or simply some respite from the tropical heat, let them rest in comfort back at the hotel where we have an exciting line-up of kids activities for them to enjoy, or take them for a refreshing dip in our half Olympic-sized outdoor pool. Your kids will be over the moon to know that we've got a special tent and cute thematic bedding prepared for them in the room. Your stay will also include other complimentary perks such as complimentary Wi-Fi, breakfast at Ginger for two adults and two children below 12 years old, and many more - and that means more bang for your buck!

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