They say, there are only two seasons here in the UAE -- hot and veerry hot! Right now in the middle of May, I would say we are in the "hot zone". there's still some breezy air spells at night, but during daytime, it already gets scorching hot. That type where you would feel like you are under a blowdryer.
A few weeks ago, we went on an interesting walk at the Al Mamoura area. When we got to the end of the road, already along Salam St., we saw a huge parking space and a walking and biking lane. It was also lined with different exercise equipment that joggers can use. Down that road, towards the Al Bahar Tower, we saw a patch of green, the Al Nahyan Park. So last week, I decided to check it out with the kids.
Google Map: https://g.co/kgs/SRYgdQY
Al Nahyan Park is pretty small. It is easily accessible through private cars and taxis. I don't think there are buses in this area. There are lots of parking spaces, which is great. Even if it is small, the park is packed with amenities that cater to different ages.
Without mentioning how clean and beautiful the park is, the first thing that caught my eyes are these hammocks hanging between the trees. When we went there, it was almost noontime and it must have been the break time of some workers. There were some who were conveniently resting on the hammocks.
The afternoon when we came back, this was also the first spot that my eldest went to. And yes, it was perfect for that power nap!
Apart from the hammocks, there are also these round wooden nooks that are available to anybody who would like to sit and relax.
Right at the middle of the park, the playground stands out. There really aren't much in it, but a few hills with climbing spots, a small slide, and a swing. There is also a sand pit that I saw is a go-to by toddlers. I personally wouldn't let my baby go inside that sand pit, but to each his own...
What I find attractive about the design of the playground is the cover overhead. Instead of the usual roof, the playground is covered by drapes that hang vertically. These make really wonderful striped shadows on the flooring.
There are also of bouncy pads around, which honestly are not too bouncy. Errm, how do I know? Because I also tried to jump on it. LOL!
There is also a basketball court that is empty when we first came since it was noon time. But when we came back in the afternoon, there were already lots of guys there playing.
My kids were mainly drawn towards this 3-story cube tower. It is literally made up of three huge cubes stacked on top of each other, with two spiral slides attached on the second and third floors.
Little Man was able to convince me to go up here with him. It was so hard for me, that I envy these kids' agility and strength to be able to go up and down here multiple times.
I was glad that I agreed to come up here and overcome the ropes obstacle. My biggest worry was how I would be able to go down, but obviously, I made it down in one piece! Yay!
It was mid-day when we were there, but it was so breezy at that time. The cool breeze felt good, however, the platform felt it swayed with the wind it made me dizzy, too! I can also imagine how this structure would feel wobbly when a lot of kids would play here together at a time.
The view as also spectacular. We could see most of the park from above and we also have a good vantage point of the Al Reem Island.
Around the park, one could go on a jog, bike, or skate. There are also humps and ramps that could level up the experience.
Little Man tried this oval on his rollerblades, but not for long. Still needs more practice!
I can imagine kids/teens having a great time on this ramp while riding their bikes or skateboards.
Finally, we have the water feature which provides a refreshing break for anybody who would like to get cooler. The splash pods are inviting to the kids who love to play on the water.
There are interactive installations like this "water wheel" that the kids tried. Well, it worked and they were able to scoop some water to wash their feet with.😅
The water system is designed in a way that the water flows continuously, or could be with held by a swinging valve.
It's such a shame that we found out about this park a bit late into the season. Now, we would have to wait until the harsh summer is over before we can truly enjoy it again.
Regardless, we had a great time during our first visit. We can't wait for the next.
📍Al Nahyan Park
Abu Dhabi, 🇦🇪
All photos are owned by the author unless stated otherwise.
