Kidulting at Funlab’s Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel

As a toddler mom, I am frequently reminded of the good ‘ol days of being a kid. It seems I am not alone: As more adults deal with day-to-day responsibilities and stress, the trend of “kidulting” grows in popularity. Beyond consumer products, kidulting is more than simply adults liking “childish” things — it’s about how experiences, nostalgia and emotional comfort reshaping what people value. A recent Pinterest Predicts trend report found consumers are “craving simpler times” with 52 percent of respondents rewatching classic TV or films and nearly four in 10 cooking or eating traditional comfort foods.

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To capitalize on the trend and nostalgia, Funlab, a premier creator of competitive socializing experiences, recently introduced two distinct concepts to the United States that showcase whimsy over worry and offer the opportunity to feel like a kid again.

Already a favorite in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Denver, San Francisco, Santa Monica and now the first and only location in Orange County, Holey Moley Golf Club goes beyond your typical mini golf experience. Irvine Spectrum Center features 27 outrageously themed holes surrounded by immersive, neon-lit spaces. Set-like surroundings pay homage to cultural icons from the eighties, nineties and beyond. Players putt through obstacles such as King Kong towering over the Empire State Building while sipping cocktails served in colorful unicorn heads and bubbly bathtubs.

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Adjacent to Holey Moley Golf Club and officially debuting in the United States, Hijinx Hotel — inspired by a hotel, yet, disclosure, not a functioning hotel itself — features 15 unique challenge rooms, each offering a scored interactive game within an immersive and interactive space. Notably not escape rooms, these challenge rooms involving teaming up together to solve puzzles, riddles and more to achieve a common goal.