It has become a habit for many Hongkongers to seize the opportunity to travel during festive periods. But for families who elect to enjoy the Christmas and New Year holidays at home, the city offers plenty of things to do and places to go. There is so much going on that some people, like author Cindy Miller Stephens and her family, say they never travel during this period.
'We believe this is one of the best times of the year to enjoy all that Hong Kong has to offer. There are so many wonderful things to do,' says Miller Stephens, who has three children aged six, 10 and 13.
The author of Hong Kong for Kids: A Parent's Guide, Miller Stephens relocated from the US with her husband in 1996. The couple love adventure and their eldest child is the same.
'She loved to be out and about, even as a baby,' she says. 'We spent many days with her in a baby carrier, discovering Hong Kong as a family. Because places were neither easy to find, nor well-advertised, I started taking notes so I could share these places with friends.'
Their explorations as a family eventually led to her 2004 guidebook, which has been updated and is being re-released this month.
There are added bonuses to staying in Hong Kong this time of the year, Miller Stephens says. The weather is generally mild and sunny, and with many people travelling, the crowds are often far smaller.