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<?xml encoding="UTF-8"><html><body><p>No travel plans for the March holidays? Not to worry! We asked some KSP members to share their secret hangouts and activity recommendations right here in our own backyard.</p>
<p><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-72241" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/68466868_s.jpg" alt="March Holiday" width="848" height="565" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/68466868_s.jpg 848w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/68466868_s-320x213.jpg 320w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/68466868_s-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 848px) 100vw, 848px"></p>
<h2><b>It&rsquo;s All There At The Singapore Sports Hub</b></h2>
<p>The Singapore Sports Hub is a <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=99&amp;t=93002#p1898457" target="_blank" rel="noopener">favourite</a> haunt for KSP member Zac&rsquo;s Mum and her family. They particularly love cycling, scootering, rollerblading, and jogging around the 888m sports track that encircles the National Stadium at the <a href="https://www.justrunlah.com/running_route/100plus-promenade/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100Plus Promenade</a>, Singapore&rsquo;s largest fully sheltered civic space.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not only sheltered from the rain, it&rsquo;s also shaded from the sun. Pity it&rsquo;s so underutilized,&rdquo; says Zac&rsquo;s Mum, who adds that her kids also enjoy the free playgrounds in the area (including a rooftop water playground).</p>
<p>Here&rsquo;s another perk of spending time at the Singapore Sports Hub: it occasionally hosts free family-friendly carnivals, as well as gives away free tickets to some of its sporting events. Zac&rsquo;s Mum admits that she is &ldquo;reluctant&rdquo; to share her hidden gem hangout with the public, but in her opinion, it checks all her boxes for being a &ldquo;fantastic family venue.&rdquo;</p>
<p><b>Bonus Tip:</b> The Singapore Sports Hub is hosting a Multi-Activity Camp this March, to help children develop sports skills, build confidence, and make new friends. The camp is suitable for kids aged three to 12, and runs for five days. Click <a href="https://www.sportshub.com.sg/camp?fbclid=IwAR2Oix8ViLTjQ2VvBurClHrHbJkJjOHEDaMGGr9BrWHV3tMyf96iJxkw5go" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> for fees and other details.</p>
<h2><b>Embrace The </b><b><i>Kampong</i></b><b> Spirit At Our Tampines Hub</b></h2>
<p><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-72236" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/th.jpg" alt="tampines hub" width="960" height="720" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/th.jpg 960w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/th-320x240.jpg 320w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/th-800x600.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"></p>
<p>For families in the East who&rsquo;ve run out of ideas for what to do and where to go on weekends and holidays, Our Tampines Hub is a godsend. &ldquo;They screen free movies, have &lsquo;live&rsquo; entertainment, [and] hold countless activities and parties for people of all ages,&rdquo; raves a regular visitor. &ldquo;You can feel [that] the place is so vibrant and full of energy.&rdquo;</p>
<p>An initiative by the People&rsquo;s Association, Our Tampines Hub, or OTH, was inspired by the <i>kampong</i> centres of the past &mdash; these were places where people gathered to build community spirit. Visitors to OTH can expend their energies by bowling, rock climbing, or having fun at one of the indoor playgrounds. Food options are also aplenty with hawker fare, plus over 35 halal-certified eateries for the Muslim community.</p>
<p>Weekly family-friendly events range from telematches and mass workouts to arts performances and movie screenings. Follow OTH&rsquo;s Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OurTampinesHub/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">page</a> for the latest updates.</p>
<p><b>Bonus Tip:</b> Kids aged seven and above can head to OTH to try Tchoukball for the first time during the March holidays. Don&rsquo;t miss this free session, which takes place on March 18, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Details <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OurTampinesHub/photos/a.272453916134173/2321548187891392/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>
<h2><b>Rub Shoulders With Uni Students</b></h2>
<p>If you&rsquo;re in the mood for a change of scene &mdash; or want to jumpstart your kids&rsquo; college ambitions &mdash; you can take them to University Town. It&rsquo;s also known as UTown, and it&rsquo;s officially a hub serving students at the National University of Singapore, but members of the public are welcome to enjoy the space as well.</p>
<p>What can you do there? Apart from tucking into good food at the eateries, you can also picnic or play Frisbee at Town Green, UTown&rsquo;s informal recreational space. To find out if there&rsquo;s a concert or fun event happening at UTown, check their Events <a href="http://utown.nus.edu.sg/highlights/events/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">page</a>.</p>
<p><b>Bonus Tip:</b> Also in the vicinity is the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, which hosts public <a href="https://www.ystmusic.nus.edu.sg/events?view=calendar&amp;month=03-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">performances</a>. However, these recitals are usually not open to children under the age of six. Alternatively, you can visit the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum &mdash; their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lkcnhm/photos/a.241196085929681/2029536980428907/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marine Open House</a> will be held on March 16, featuring educational tours and talks by marine science experts.</p>
<h2><b>Seek Respite From The City Crowds</b></h2>
<p>If your little ones are becoming overstimulated at the malls in Orchard Road, you can take a breather at Dhoby Ghaut Green, a quiet &ldquo;<a href="https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/dhoby-ghaut-green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interim park</a>&rdquo; space next to the Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. It has a beautifully designed amphitheatre that also serves as a public resting space, and you can pop over to the <a href="http://visualartscentre.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visual Arts Centre</a> (also in the park vicinity) to view an exhibition or take a class.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Across from Dhoby Ghaut Green is another public space that I like to call our &lsquo;pebble beach,&rdquo; says a mother. &ldquo;My daughter used to amuse herself by playing with the pebbles there when she was younger. Now they&rsquo;ve added swings and benches in the area too. It&rsquo;s a calming oasis in the busy city centre.&rdquo;</p>
<p><b>Bonus Tip:</b> If you&rsquo;re visiting the nearby National Museum of Singapore, there&rsquo;s a set of escalators on the left of the museum that will lead you to a delightfully quiet section of Fort Canning Park. It&rsquo;s a green space that&rsquo;s great for a game of catch or Frisbee, and it&rsquo;s the perfect setting for a picturesque picnic too.</p>
<h2><b>Celebrate Our Roots At The Singapore Heritage Festival 2019</b></h2>
<p><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-72239" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/heritage.jpg" alt="heritage" width="750" height="500" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/heritage.jpg 750w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/heritage-320x213.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px"></p>
<p>There&rsquo;s no better time than the March school holidays to check out what the Singapore Heritage Festival has to offer. This annual festival is organised by the Singapore Heritage Board and features heritage trails, open houses, and &ldquo;live&rdquo; performances.</p>
<p>In line with the country&rsquo;s bicentennial celebrations, this year&rsquo;s line-up of events will focus on uncovering some lesser-known stories that shaped our history. Something new to look out for is the &ldquo;Ride and Discover&rdquo; event, where bus stops along the routes for buses 2, 30, 147, and 222 will be transformed into exhibition panels.</p>
<p>The festival takes place over four weekends &mdash; from March 15 to April 7 &mdash; with events and activities centred around precincts such as Kampong Gelam, Bedok, Telok Blangah, and Kranji. It&rsquo;s an opportunity for the entire family to embark on an adventure, without having to hop on a plane.</p>
<p><b>Bonus Tip:</b> Have you been to the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall? Did you know that this villa was used by Sun Yat Sen as a meeting space for planning his revolution &mdash; that of overthrowing the Qing Dynasty (China&rsquo;s last imperial dynasty) in 1911? Take the &ldquo;Bungalow and a Revolution&rdquo; <a href="https://www.heritagefestival.sg/programmes/a-bungalow-and-a-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tour</a> on March 23 to find out more. While there, you should also make time for the &ldquo;Between The Lines&rdquo; <a href="https://www.sysnmh.org.sg/en/whats-on/exhibitions/between-the-lines---the-chinese-cartoon-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibition</a>, which pays tribute to Chinese comics from the 1800s and early 1900s. It&rsquo;s a fun way for the family to learn about Chinese history!</p>
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Stuck In Singapore And Need March Holiday Ideas?

<p><i>Looking for new ways to entertain kids during the school holidays? Use these resources to plan daily adventures for the family—away from malls and enrichment centres.<br /></i></p>
<h3><b><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-55281" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/31046470_s.jpg" alt="School Holidays" width="450" height="300" /></p>
<p>1. Nature Walks</b></h3>
<p>Singapore’s National Parks Board has a collection of DIY walks for several of its parks and nature reserves, including the Botanic Gardens, the Macritchie Boardwalk, Coney Island, Dairy Farm, Fort Canning, and more. Click <a href="https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/walks-and-tours/going-on-a-diy-walk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to find out the highlights of each walking trail and the estimated walking or cycling time, as well as to download a detailed itinerary, complete with maps and safety tips.</p>
<h3><b>2. Heritage Trails</b></h3>
<h3><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-55282 alignnone" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/lily-lvnatikk-253648-unsplash.jpg" alt="School Holidays" width="350" height="467" /></h3>
<p><span style="color: #808080;"><em>Photo by Lily Lvnatikk on Unsplash</em></span></p>
<p>Set up by the National Heritage Board, Roots.sg has a <a href="https://roots.sg/visit/trails" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heritage trails</a> section featuring a variety of self-guided tours. You can search for tours by interest areas (e.g. architecture, art, or science/innovation) or location. Each tour outline contains a brief introduction of every stop and links to resources. To view itineraries on your phone, download the Singapore Heritage Trails mobile app. </p>
<h3><b>3. Quick Tours</b></h3>
<p>If you fancy a quick cultural tour, Visit Singapore has a selection of short walking tour <a href="http://www.visitsingapore.com/walking-tour/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">itineraries</a>, covering City Hall, the Singapore River, Joo Chiat/Katong, and Tiong Bahru—perfect for a free afternoon.</p>
<h3><b>4. Neighbourhood Guides</b></h3>
<p>To delve into the history and highlights of Singapore’s heartland neighbourhoods, use the comprehensive <a href="https://www.singaporenbeyond.com/category/re-discover-sg/neighborhood-guides/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guides</a> at Singapore N Beyond, where you can share fun facts about each neighbourhood with the family before exploring the area together. Each neighbourhood guide also includes a list of recommended eateries.</p>
<h3><b>5. Wet Market Highlights</b></h3>
<p>Looking to get experimental in the kitchen with the kids? Local wet markets are surprisingly well stocked in gourmet produce—you can read the local Michelin <a href="https://guide.michelin.sg/en/gourmet-vegetables-in-wet-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guide</a> to some of our wet market specialties, and pick a wet market to visit with the family.  </p>
<h3><b>6. Explore SG Like A Tourist</b></h3>
<p>To experience Singapore with the energy and fresh perspective of a tourist, try the <a href="http://www.the-inncrowd.com/walkingtoursindex.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">self-guided tours</a> created by backpacking hostel The Inn Crowd. Featured tours include city locations such as Little India and Chinatown, as well as greener places of interest such as Pulau Ubin/Changi Village and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Note that this was written for adults, and that some recommended stops may not be child-friendly.</p>
<h3><b>7. Offshore Islands</b></h3>
<p>Did you know that Singapore is not a city of one island, but of <a href="http://www.visitsingapore.com/editorials/10-amazing-things-you-never-knew-about-singapore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">63 islands</a>? Not all of these islands are accessible to the public, but you can find out how to reach some of the islands, such as Lazarus Island and Pulau Semakau, by referring to the helpful guides on <a href="http://thesmartlocal.com/read/singapore-islands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TheSmartLocal</a> and <a href="https://www.timeout.com/singapore/things-to-do/guide-to-singapores-offshore-islands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Time Out</a>. Or read this <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/travel/near-singapores-concrete-an-oasis-of-nature.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">personal account</a> of a day spent in Pulau Ubin to view Singapore’s most popular offshore island in a new light.  </p>
<h3><b>8. Treasure Hunts</b></h3>
<p>For an opportunity to discover something new while bonding with the family, read our <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/novdec-school-hols-5-treasure-hunts-for-the-family/">guide</a> to five treasure hunts that you can embark on, right here in Singapore.</p>
<h3><b>9. Mobile Apps</b></h3>
<p>To download a self-guided tour onto your phone, try mobile apps such as <a href="https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/singapore-417.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GPSMyCity</a> and <a href="http://www.locomole.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LocoMole</a>. These apps have city walk itineraries available for download, along with immersive and interactive experiences built into the apps.</p>
<h3><b>10. Pay-As-You-Wish Guided Tours</b></h3>
<h3><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-55284" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/khendi-lee-25583-unsplash.jpg" alt="School Holidays" width="350" height="263" /></h3>
<p><span style="color: #808080;"><em>Photo by Khendi Lee on Unsplash</em></span></p>
<p>To meet new people while unearthing insights and hidden gems in familiar places, join a guided walking tour. <a href="https://www.monsterdaytours.com/free-walking-tours" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monster Day Tours</a> and <a href="http://www.indiesingapore.com/our-tours.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indie Singapore</a> offer shorter walking tours (two to 3.5 hours) on a weekly basis, while <a href="http://www.sneakpeeksingapore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SneakPeek Singapore</a> runs a five-hour walking tour that “brings you on a comprehensive journey to understand the real Singapore beneath its glitzy facade.”</p>

