Going places: Discover a city

Do you know where to go on your day off? Every week we focus on destinations within and outside the cities across the Emirates. We give you a choice of inner-city or off-road venues and trust that soon, you'll be going places

You walk in through Gate No.1 of the Dubai Creek Park and a colossal structure looms up. In shades of blue, red and yellow the building feels like a giant toy house.

A Spanish pink tile walkway leads to this Lego construction. Golf buggies cart people, rather scores of little people, to and from the gate.

It feels like something Peter Pan would drag you along to. I almost expected Tinker Bell to zoom out from among the numerous date palms urging me along to some strange wonderland. Only the Darling family was missing.

As you walk in, a massive copper carriage greets you. It is straight out of Cinderella and you have to stop yourself from looking around for the mice who will turn into footmen at any moment.

The Dh77 million Dubai Municipality-run Children's City is a great big playpen for children from the age of three to 15. It doesn't stop the adults from being sucked into the vortex of games, games and more games.

The entire facility covers 77,000 square metres of area and looks on to the Creek, providing it with sylvan surroundings, along with a healthy environment for children to play and learn through active interaction.

"Almost everything in the city is about hands-on experience for children," explained Ingrid Kryger Tadich, head of the Children's City.

"We have several galleries and around 240 exhibits. The galleries have been widely sectioned into science and culture."

The building has three levels. The ground level is mainly dedicated to classrooms, theatre, cafeteria and other functional facilities. The various exhibitions begin from the first level, which includes nature, water, physics, culture, geology and several others.

"The Children's City works towards developing young imaginations, promoting discovery through playing and exploration. It also aims to help children learn about science and technology, along with other education programmes and workshops throughout the entire year."

She said the Children's City design is based on building blocks used by kids to play. Various sections are designed on the basis of the related themes they represent. Special facilities have also been made for children with special needs, such as lifts, ramps and special toys.

"Children's City is a recreation and learning centre for children, which has four main play areas, planetarium and an amphitheatre," she said.

Learning areas in the facility are telecommunications, computers, aviation, space, international cultures and nature areas. It displays ancient and contemporary Arab culture as well.

So children can learn from species survival, fossils, wind movement for aircraft propellers to ancient Arab explorers and scientists. The City also has a special library equipped with books and computers that helps children pick up more information along the way.

Tadich said: "For example, we have the section that covers sound, which ranges from ancient communications on drums to study of sound waves.

"You have anatomy which allows children to walk inside a massive mouth and study the various parts, similarly a body that can be built up anatomically.

"You have an entire section that tells you about how aircraft work and children can also build their own rockets. There is also a flight simulator that is such a lot of fun. Through these processes, they learn, while they're playing... infotainment."

The City also has a 100-seat planetarium and tiny movie hall where children can learn about space and the environment. There is also another multi-purpose hall with a moving stage and seats for shadow play where children can watch films and listen to music.

There are halls which can be used for parties, plays and film shows. Children can hold their birthday parties at the facility, which will provide food, games and activities.

"We are currently offering single-day camps for children which includes lunch, snacks and around six hours of care," she said. "We also have summer camps running which are open for children. The City allows children a wide range of activities."

There are plenty of guides around who help children through their queries, along with keeping a watchful eye on them. People can avail themselves of the guides for tours at no extra costs.

Getting there

The City is located near one end of the Dubai Creek Park and is at a distance of about 20 minutes from the airport. The facility has a memorabilia store that souvenir hunters can shop in to their heart's content.

Entry tickets are Dh10 for children below 15 years of age. It's Dh15 for adults on an individual basis. There are family entry tickets for Dh40, which will permit two adults and two children. Children less than two years of age need no entrance fee.

During the Dubai Summer Surprises 2002, Children's City opens from 9.00am to 10.00pm, except on Fridays when it is open from 4.00pm to 10.00pm.

Children's City was opened in March this year and also offers membership programmes.