A sleepover at Laguna Waterpark
‘Camp under the Stars’ is the region’s first-ever overnight waterpark camping experience, where families of four can book a tent for Dhs1,200 and two-man tents cost Dhs700.
Taking place every Thursday and Friday, the overnight stay kicks off at 5.30pm, where campers can head straight to the slides, hit up the WaveOZ 180 FlowRider, or choose to tuck into a unlimited barbecue offering everything from burgers to flame-grilled chicken – until 10pm.
After that, you can get stuck into a family board game, take part in a campfire sing-a-long (with marshmallows, of course) or snuggle down into a bean bag to watch a film.
In the morning, The Camp team will deliver a basket to each tent, filled with fresh ingredients for campers to cook at live cooking stations. Check out is at 10am, but for families don’t have to leave as they’ll get full access to Laguna Waterpark for the day, including unlimited food and beverages.
Dhs700 (tent for two), Dhs1,200 (tent for four). Every Thu and Fri, 5.30pm (check-in); 10am (check-out). Laguna Waterpark, Central La Mer, www.lagunawaterpark.com/en/the-camp.
Brunch at The Green Planet
Dubai’s indoor rainforest has launched a new family-friendly brunch at The Green Planet Café that gives families the opportunity to picnic with their resident sloths.
Every Friday and Saturday from 10am you can brunch with the bio-domes slow-moving, furry inhabitants, Liam and Lola as well as have the chance to encounter the rainforest’s various snakes, lizards, and other tropical animals that will come over to the café for a visit during your brunch experience to say hi – don’t let the creepy crawlies put you off your food!
The picnic basket is filled with child-friendly bites including cheeses, croissants and a variety of fruit and the brunch also includes a selection of buffet-style hot items, including a live cooking station featuring made to order omelettes, pancakes, burgers, sausages, hotdogs as well as a quesadilla and taco station. After the encounters and the delicious grub, let your kids run free as there will be a range of exciting games, music, soft play area activities to do, and there will even be a magician.
Dhs175 (adults), Dhs49 (kids over five), free (kids under five). Fri and Sat 10am. The Green Planet, City Walk Dubai, www.thegreenplanetdubai.com (04 317 3999).
Learn life skills at Aventura Parks
Adventurous kiddos can take part in some brand-new bucket list activities or join the Life Skills Program, which offers kids the chance to throw themselves into loads of cool outdoor activities.
Mini thrill seekers will take part in physical education, strategic thinking and teamwork as they climb, zipline and orienteer across the park’s challenges. They will even learn how to use a compass, build a shelter and preserve water. The 30-minute bucket list activities are one off experiences priced from Dhs75 and include the vertiginous Leap of Faith, balancing blindfolded (eek) on the Cat Walk and the 12 metre Himalaya climbing wall.
Kids can also pair up to take on a ladder challenge for Dhs150 for two.
Families can pay Dhs95 for a 90-minute circuit challenge and mix and match the experiences they feel brave enough to try.
You’ll need a head for heights!
From Dhs75 (bucket list activities), Dhs699 for a week (Life Skills Programme). Mushrif Park, Gate 1, Dubai, www.aventuraparks.com (052 178 7616).
Rooftop racing at EKart Zabeel
EKart Zabeel has a new outdoor track in Downtown Dubai for the winter.
The electric track is on the rooftop of The Dubai Mall Zabeel, and if you’re looking for karting in the open air, this is for you.
Challenge your friends and family to see who has the superior driving skills, all with the stunning Dubai skyline in the background.
Ekart Zabeel launched at the end of last year as the UAE’s first high-end electric karting experience, providing super-fast fun.
It’s also environmentally friendly as there are no on-site emissions and there’s even a food truck for when you get peckish.
Eat your heart out Lewis Hamilton.
Dhs75. The Dubai Mall Zabeel, Downtown Dubai www.ekartzabeel.ae.
Scale a new route at CLYMB
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There are now new routes across four of CLYMB’s climbing walls offering serious Spiderman wannabes some cool new challenges at dizzying heights.
You can now scale The Boulder, The Intermediate, The Advanced and The SUMMYT – a 43m climbing that is the largest in the world – in a variety of different ways.
With some 200 new routes, there is something for everyone from beginner to experts. In addition, all of the existing routes have had an upgrade.
But that’s not all, because adrenaline-seekers will soon be able to join a state-of-the-art training program that will allow them to dial their climbing experience up a notch.
The new programme – which is launching soon so watch this space – will consist of multiple levels where climbers can improve their skills by taking part in skill development and coaching courses suitable for all abilities.
From Dhs95 (climbing), From Dhs 215 (skydiving). Sun-Thu noon-9pm, Fri and Sat noon-11pm. Yas Island www.clymbabudhabi.com.
