Blooming gorgeous
What’s new: It’s about time! After five
years, Gardens of the Bay will open its Bay South Garden on June 29 with a
two-weekend-long series of events. Expect live concerts by Jazon Mraz and
Corrinne May, family carnivals, storytelling and kids’ programmes, and a movie
under the stars. At 54 hectares, it’s about the size of 90 football fields, so
don’t expect to cover everything in a few hours.
Gardens
of the Bay
We like the cooled conservatories, which
everyone’s been eyeing when driving along the East Coast Parkway. Flower Dome
houses plants that live in the cool-dry climate of the Mediterranean, like
olive trees, date palms and baobabs. The other is Cloud Forest, which will be
home to plants that are found 1,000m to 3,500m above sea level.
The 18 supertrees are also a must-see/
rising up to 50m, they are vertical gardens showcasing ferns and flowering
climbers in the day and an extravaganza of light and media at night. Up to sex
dining outlets are expected to be up by the opening date.
Flower
Dome houses plants that live in the cool-dry climate of the Mediterranean, like
olive trees, date palms and baobabs.
How much? Entry is free. Fees for the
conservatories start from $12 for adults and $8 for kids from three to 12 years
old. The aerial walkway costs $5 for adults and $3 for children. You can but an
annual family pass for $180. Bay South is open from 5am to 2am daily, while the
conservatories and aerial walkway are open from 9am to 9pm. Get there by
exiting Bayfront MRT station or taking SBS bus 400. Parking is available. Visit
www.gardenbythebay.org.sg.
Ahoythere
What’s new:
Set sail for Sentosa’s Palawan Beach, where the Port of Lost Wonder is docked.
The size of five Olympic swimming pools, this kid’s club is anchored by a water
play area in the shape of a jolly pirate ship.
Set
sail for Sentosa’s Palawan Beach, where the Port of Lost Wonder is docked.
There are programmes organized throughout
the day, from interactive bird shows to traditional games like zero point. At
Curiosity Garden, you can pick strawberries and plant flowers in the rain. On
weekends, public and school holidays, a foam pool ups the fun factor.
Fuel up at Port Belly, which serves pastas
and sandwiches, and has a kid’s menu. Tired? Flop down in a day bed under shady
trees and take a nap.
We like the chill-out vide when we visited
on a weekday. If you don’t like crowds, avoid weekends, bonus points for the
warm-water showers and half-doors (so you can keep an eye on your kid while
he’s pooping) in the toilets.
Fuel
up at Port Belly, which serves pastas and sandwiches, and has a kid’s menu.
How much? Tickets for kids below 12 cost $8
on weekdays and $15 on weekends. They will get 50 and 100 curios, respectively,
which they can spend on the programmes and activities there. Everyone above 10
or below three gets in free. You can buy annual membership for 490, which
includes unlimited admission and benefits. It also offers birthday party
packages form $799++ for 20 children. Take a Blue Line Bus to get there. If you
drive, park at the Palawan Beach car park, in the blue zone. Visit www.sentosa.com.sg/palawan.
What a rush
What’s new:
It’s only 10am on a Monday in May and there’s already a queue at the Rink,
Singapore’s first Olympic-size ice rink. Everyone from preschoolers to men in
their 40s is flocking to this cool hang-out at the new Jurong mall, JCube. If
you can do inline skating, you can skate here. Otherwise, just hand on to the
side railing and wobble around. The mall will bring in Penguin Skating Aids for
younger kids soon.
It’s
only 10am on a Monday in May and there’s already a queue at the Rink,
Singapore’s first Olympic-size ice rink.
We like that it feels like you’re on a
winter vacation! You can also sign up for the Learn to Skate programme, for
ages six and up. It costs $160 for five group lessons.
How much? Rates are $21.50 for adults and
$19.50 for kids aged 12 and below. This includes admission for two hours plus
and socks. If you have your own equipment, the rate is cheaper. You can enter
the level 4 seats for free, but pay $3.50 to go into the Viewing Gallery on the
same floor as the drink. Make sure everyone’s dressed warmly and note that the
rink operates in two-hour blocks. Visit www.therink.sg.
Cute and colorful
What’s new:
Singkids Play System’s fourth outlet at United Square is a wonderland of
whimsy: A slide has a “waterfall” flowing beneath it. A carousel has round
balls instead of animals for seats. The look is bright and cheerful; the
piped-in Japanese pop music adds to the kawaii feel. If you’re in Kuala Lumpur,
check out its new outlet at 1 Utama Shopping Canter.
Singkids
Play System’s fourth outlet at United Square
We like that the staff took our temperature
and sanitized our hands before we entered. If your temperature is above 37.5
deg C, you won't be allowed in. Visit at non-peak hours and have the super-fun
water bed all to yourselves.
How much? $18 for two hours, Mondays to
Thursdays, for a kid under 1.45m and a guardian 18 and up. On Fridays to
Sundays, school and public holidays, pay $18 an hour ($10 every subsequent
hour). Sign up as a member for $140 and get more benefits. Party packages are
from $500 (non-members). www.singkids.com.sg.
