Looking for a way to arouse your inner competitive side and relax in some delightful bites? Look no further than Hong Kong’s top board game cafes.

Sweet &Fun Café

Cafe-style board game spot, Sweet &Fun Cafe, is perfect for getting competitive and comfortable in their booth-style seating. With no cover charge (服务费), you can support this awesome place by ordering from their food and drinks menu.Every month they add about 3 — 4 new board games to their wide collection, so you can keep coming back to try something new. They also provide free Wi-Fi.

Jolly Thinkers

Jolly Thinkers gives you access to both English and Chinese games. If you find a new favorite,you can always purchase the game from the retail store so that you can bring the fun home! Reservation is recommended to make sure that your fun won’t be spoiled due to lack of enough seats.

808 Board Game

Learn the rules and the strategies for all the games you’ve ever wanted to play at 808 Board Game.With thousands of games to choose from plus dedicated staff available to teach you, no game is off limits. Recently their games have taken on a focus on more Chinese cultural games. Although they don’t provide food, you are welcome to order your own takeaway to bring into their space.

Capstone Boardgame Café

Conveniently located in Causeway Bay, Capstone Board game Cafe allows you to play games at their venue, and offers you a chance to bring all your new favorites home. A large range of games make it suitable for kids, teens, and grownups. Become a member and make new friends while you compete to win!

Without reducing fun, anyone can host a birthday party on a tight budget. San Francisco, the East Bay, and South Bay in particular, are full of only-found-here locations that can make the day special. A day at Great America, tour of SBC Park and a baseball game or a private party at the Oakland Chabot Space and Science Center are experiences unique to Bay Area families.

These parties are the most fun because a budget forces you to be creative with what you’ve got. The key here is to find a spot that is free or cheap.

A few places to consider are public parks--find ones with age-appropriate play structures that are relatively safe. In the summer, locate a local pool with plenty of lifeguards and have those handy parents come along as guests. And as you plan, consider your guests’abilities and comfort levels. If your child loves to ice-skate but her friends hate it. maybe she can choose a different activity or mainly choose to do this as a family birthday outing.

Zoos are relatively inexpensive as well. The San Francisco Zoo charges $11 per adult and $5 for each child, ages 3-11, and $8 for 12-17. The Oakland Zoo admits adults for S9 and kids $5. 50 for ages 2-14.

Museums and aquariums (水族馆) often have a free admission day. You can take kids to the Steinhart Aquarium for free the first Wednesday of each month. The same goes for the Exploratorium, also in San Francisco. The deYoung Museum is also free for all visitors the first Tuesday of every month. It also charges all kids nothing, who are 12 and under daily. Organize your free museum days during school breaks or holidays, and you’ll save a lot.

Sunshine on your face, the scent of blossom in the air, the dreamy song of a blackbird.What better way to while away a spring day than in a country garden filled with flowers like magnolia, rhododendron, primula, iris, daffodils or bluebells? Here are a four of the best.