THE ACTIVITIES
ASK A LOCAL Jo England, founder, Tribe Dubai When I’m not working in our Al Quoz studio, I like to visit XVA Art Hotel. It's such a beautiful, calming and inspiring space by Dubai Creek. El Chiringuito on Palm Jumeirah (we helped create its signature relaxed style) is great for sundowners.
Active types can swing through the trees, Tarzan style, at Aventura Nature Adventure Park (aventuraparks. com), in Mushrif Park’s ghaf tree forest. No walk in the park, it features a series of elevated obstacles of varying levels of difficulty. From the low-lying Rangers circuit to the highaltitude zip-line, there’s something for adventurers of all abilities. During the summer, it operates extended hours (from 10am to 7:30pm on weekdays and from 9am to 10pm from Thurs to Sun) so you can beat the heat by navigating the illuminated park under the starry night sky. Open green spaces dot the city and Zabeel Park (+971 4 398 6888) is a local community favourite. Set around a picturesque lake, amenities include boat rides (from Dhs40 for two people), picnic areas, park tour train rides and edutainment options such as the Space Maze and Alternative
Energy Zone. Rent a bicycle and explore at your own pace but be sure to check out the park's latest attraction, The Dubai Frame (+971 800 900; dubaiframe.com), which houses a 150-metre-high observation deck offering stunning views of the city. It's a bit of a cheat, but you'll feel like you've stepped into a tropical jungle at The Green Planet (advance bookings +971 4 303 4992, arabianadventures.com). Located at City Walk, this awesome attraction is flooded with natural light so you'll barely notice you're indoors. The five-level glass bio-dome recreates the ecosystem of a tropical forest, with over 3,000 plants and animals and the world’s largest indoor manmade tree. As you descend from the top of the dome via a winding path, you’ll encounter exotic animals along the way, such as toucans, macaws, porcupines and even a sloth. Aventura Nature Adventure Park
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