T OURI S T T RA I L / DIS COVE R
Inner-city escape Ride a train, cool off in the splash park or just relax under a tree at Khalifa Park
Q Words by Amanda Tomlinson
Photography: Adham Sneeh
In a quiet location, fringed by the city, is a park that’s popular with families of all nationalities. It has museums, gardens, an aquarium, a small night carnival, coffee shop and even a splash park for children. Khalifa Park in Al Matar, near Sheikh Khalifa Bridge and the Park Rotana hotel, is a peaceful escape from the city. It is ideal for families or those who just want to stretch their legs. A popular feature within it is Murjan Splash Park, which has small waterslides, tipping buckets, tunnels, a water wheel, water showers and a water umbrella. There is also a 257-metre-long lazy river, which is only 60cm deep, that winds around the park and a station for water balloon battles. The Lily Pad Hop, meanwhile, has four trampolines with harnesses for guests to perfect their jumps and flips.
M u r j a n S p l a s h Pa r k Where: Falcon Entrance, Khalifa Park / When: Weekdays 3 to 7pm, weekends 10am to 7pm, Tuesday is ladies’ day / Price: AED40 for visitors over 75cm, free for visitors under 75cm / Contact: 050 8781009
For those who’d rather stay dry, there is a ‘Time Tunnel’ journey through the museum that documents the history of Abu Dhabi from pearl diving and fishing times to present day, and an aquarium with a number of exotic marine creatures. There is a separate entry fee for the museum and aquarium. There are a few ways to explore Khalifa Park. Take a stroll through the different gardens and explore the hidden corners, or hire a buggy for one, two or four people. The buggies can be hired from as little as AED20 an hour and are a fun way to spend time with family and friends while burning a few calories. There is a kiosk at the entrance where the buggies can be hired. Khalifa Park is home to possibly Abu Dhabi’s only train, which visitors can ride for AED2. The locomotive takes passengers from one end of the park to the other, pointing out areas of interest along the way. The park can be quiet on a weekday, but comes to life in the evenings, especially at weekends, when a small carnival operates with rides, food stalls and markets.
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22/02/2012 11:36