Summer holidays means your children must be rattling around the home with nothing to do. Here's help! Manisha Deshpande Kotian provides a list of top Mumbai spots.
Take your boys and girls, during their school vacation, to the cricket nets at legendary Shivaji Park, where so many cricket greats began their careers. School holidays sees many cricket coaching camps organised here.
A slightly spendy excursion, but your kids will love being on a big ship. Float across the water to Alibag on M2M Ferries, a roll-on/roll-off ferry service for passengers, pets, vehicles, bicycles from Bhaucha Dhakka, Mumbai and Mandwa Jetty (near Alibag). Operates daily, with multiple trips; check their weekly schedule. A 1-hour ride. Website: M2M Ferries
Mumbai's only zoo, also called Rani Baug, and one of India's oldest, it began in 1861 as Victoria Gardems. Has a variety of animals, including the recently-introduced penguins. Open daily, except Wed: 9.30 am-5 pm. Website: Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan
You don't need to go further afield to other national parks, when we have the wonderful SGNP in our midst that affords close-ups of greenery, nature, a range of animals. To do: Train ride, lion & tiger safari, caves, picnics, paddle boats, cycle rentals for older kids, adults. Open daily, except Mon: 7 am-6.30 pm. Website: Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Still an old favourite, it's another lung of Mumbai with extensive tree cover and gardens. The cute Boot House is nearby that children can go into. The Malabar Hill Nature Trail has begun (book slots online). Open daily: 5 am-9 pm.
Essel's amusement park shut down, but its the Water Kingdom with a vast aqua pool, wave pool, slides endures and there's two new attractions nearby -- a bird park with 500 avians and a 'experiential play area' for smaller children. Open daily: 10 am-6.30 pm. Right now during peak season the Kindgom is open till 8 pm. Website: Water Kingdom
A role-play theme park -- your children can pretend to work at being doctors, pilots, chefs, firefighters, and more, in mock setups where they earn KidZania currency. Ideal for ages 4 to 12. Open daily 10am-9pm, closes early Fri at 8 pm. Website: KidZania
The centre offers plenty to keep kids busy in welcome AC environs -- interactive science exhibits, 3D shows, hands-on experiments, learn-and-play opps. Bonus: Starry experience at nearby Nehru Planetarium. Open daily, even Sun & public holidays (except Holi & Diwali): 9.30 am-6 pm. Ticket counter closes at 5.30 pm. Website: Nehru Science Centre
Renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, set in gorgeous gardens, located near the Gateway of India, it has a ginormous and impressive collection of art, archaeology, and natural history. Open daily: 10.15 am-6 pm. Last entry: 5.45 pm. Closed on 4 public holdays. Website: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
Bachha water enthusiasts should head to this park near Khopoli, Mumbai-Pune Expressway, 90 minutes from Mumbai by car. On offer: Water slides, wave pools, lazy river, rides at theme park next door. Open daily: 10.30 am-6.30 pm (timings may vary on special days or in season). Website: Imagicaa Water Park