Joanna James
Abu Dhabi will turn out to be surprisingly green; the place is home to a large number of parks and open spaces that do justice to the city's endeavours to turn the desert sanctuary into a green oasis.
This is one of the capitals oldest parks; built in 1976, Capital Garden is also called the Al Asema Park. You will recognise this beautiful sanctuary by the ornamental coffee pots positioned at the entrance. The park is located in the busy downtown section of the park, but despite this, the 5.6 hectare space will turn out to be quite a relaxing and serene ambience once you enter. The park is inlaid with lovely water fountains and a pond that takes centre stage. Capital Garden is for young families to enjoy; focusing on kids, the place is home to a mini climbing wall and lovely kiddies play area.
The Corniche brings to mind the 8km long sandy stretch of beach; in front of this stretch of beach is a collection of lovely little parks that promise to soothe mind, body and soul. Just 13 minutes by car from Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara, these sanctuaries comprise of the Recreational Park, home to a huge sundial, and the Formal Park, which contrary to its name is loads of fun. Formal Park is home to badminton courts, barbeque pits, a concrete maze for the kids and lots of open space. The last park of the lot, which can be easily reached by those staying at an airport hotel Abu Dhabi has on offer, is Lake Park, home to walkways, wooden bridges and a 15m high fountain. Take along the cameras for the parks offer plenty of beautiful vistas to capture.
This too is a lovely downtown green oasis. Get there by evening and you will come across joggers and walkers out for a bout of exercise. The paved walkway is ideal for catching up on your daily exercise routines while the mostly flat terrain is best for enjoying a lazy picnic while date palms provide plenty of shaded areas, under which you can lie down for an afternoon siesta. The park is equipped with a lovely water feature and a children's play area.
Khalifa is a huge park that spans a total of 500,000 sq. km. This is probably due to the fact that this space is shared by a park and museum. The museum is a fine log of the city's travels through time, and offers a journey back in time to when Abu Dhabi was first getting settled. In addition, the place is set up with a toy train that offers kids a ride around the park, the aquarium too, is pretty interesting. In case kids get bored or tired head over to the library for some quiet time while little tykes under the age of 12 can enjoy loads of splashing fun at the Murjan Splash Park.
This is one of the top parks in Abu Dhabi, despite being last on the list. At Umm Al Emarat there are many sectors such as the Wisdom Garden where one can sit and contemplate life's trials. The Animal Barn will prove fascinating, as it is, managed by the Emirates Park and Zoo and includes sights of camels, ponies and goats.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
