School holidays are here again! Many of us would be looking for fun things to do to keep our kids occupied.
Here we give you our top 20 picks for the best outdoor play experiences you can enjoy as a family.
1. Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI) Park
TTDI Park is a public park located next to a quiet neighbourhood, about 10-15 minutes from 1 Utama Shopping Center.  It is clean and well maintained with lush greenery, lots of benches and gazebos. It’s walking paths are baby friendly as it is easily manoeuvrable with a stroller. The park is also equipped with exercise equipment and outdoor play areas for the kids.Â
Although most of the park patrons use the facilities to exercise, many also enjoy the park for picnics, or just for a casual stroll. The stream is very popular amongst the kids to play and splash around in. Sometimes you might see visitors feeding the fishes, turtles and even monkeys. All in all, it’s a very pretty, fun park for the whole family.
Address:Â Jalan Abang Haji Openg, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
2. Skytrex Adventure, Sg Congkak
Those looking for an adventure should head on over to Skytrex Adventure. This challenge circuit is located inside the Shah Alam National Botanical Park. There are three different circuits with different levels of difficulties. Each circuit comes with a list of challenges you need to complete. For those who would like to just enjoy nature, you can set up a picnic, relax and watch others rough it out to complete their challenges.
Contact: 013-276 9841
Address:Â Taman Pertanian Malaysia, Shah Alam
3. i-City Theme Park
This is a theme park not to be missed if you’re in Klang Valley. There’s a Water World, a Snowalk, an amusement park, a City of Digital Lights, a trick art museum, a wax museum, a Ferris wheel, a 5D cinema, and the list goes on! The different attractions open and close at varied times. Check out their website for more information
Contact: 03-5521 8866; 03-5521 8800
Address:Â Jalan Multimedia 7/AJ, I-city, Shah Alam
4. KL Tower Mini Zoo
You can find a wide range of exotic animals here, ranging from a massive python to cheeky squirrel monkeys and cuddly rabbits. The area is not very stroller friendly so be prepared to do some lifting if you are dependent on one. Suitable for families who’d like to see animals in a cosier environment, as compared to Farm in the City.
Contact: 03-2022 3943
Address:Â Ground Floor, Menara Kuala Lumpur
5. Free Tree Society
Want to do something different with your kids and family? The Free Tree Society opens it’s flagship beautiful garden in its Bangsar on Tuesdays and Saturdays to volunteers. They are always in need of volunteers to help them plant and pot trees that will be used for their giveaway projects. You and your kids will be taught the correct way to plant trees, and about sustainable practices. It’s a fun way to spend a morning with family and to make new friends while helping to green the earth.Â
Address: 91, Jalan Limau Purut, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur (Bangsar); Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, Kuala Lumpur, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, (Taman Tugu)
6. KLCC Park
This park is a nice place to wind down once you’re done shopping at the Suria KLCC mall. The park’s lush greenery spans across 50-acres. You can let your kids roam free at the children’s playground which takes up about 2-acres, or have a splash in the wading pool. Alternatively, you can go for a  jog along the 1.3km track or simply enjoy the views and do some bird watching.
Address:Â Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kuala Lumpur
7. FlowRider,1 Utama
Want to wave surf? Find your way to FlowRider where you can learn the basic skills and tricks in a safe environment. It’s the ultimate watersport experience!
Children need to have a minimum height of 107cm in order to be able to enjoy this facility. However, there is also a wading pool for the little ones who can’t surf yet. There are cafes around for parents to dine al fresco while watching the kids learn how to surf.
Contact: 03-7710 0833
Address:Â LG Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya
8. Putrajaya Lake Cruise
A nice way to sightsee Malaysia’s administrative capital, Putrajaya, is via the lake cruise. There are two types of boats available. The first is the air-conditioned, glass covered catamarans similar to Paris’s ‘Bateaux Mouches‘. The second option is the traditional hand-crafted Terengganu wooden perahu. These are the Malaysian equivalent of gondolas, and can hold up to six passengers per boat.
The latest cruise schedule can be found here, and lasts for 45 minutes. The route passes the iconic Putra Mosque, Seri Wawasan Bridge and Perdana Putra (Prime Minister’s office), ministry buildings and more.Â
Contact:Â 03-8881 0648
Address:Â Jeti Putra, Jambatan Putra, Presint 1, Putrajaya
9. Kepong Metropolitan Park
The Kepong Metropolitan Park is famous among the locals for kite flying activities. You can see people flying kites of all shapes and sizes on a daily basis. This park covers an area of 95-hectares and about 100m of it has been cleared of all trees and barriers for kites to take off. There is a lake, a remote control car track, a cycling track, a football field, a boathouse, a viewing tower, and a playground. It promises to be a fun day out for the family.
Address:Â Jalan Lingkaran Tengah 2, Kepong Metropolitan Lake-garden
10. Eats, Shoots and Roots
Want to start growing edible food in your backyards and balconies? You can check this community out as they’ll be able to design and build your edible garden. The best part is, there are educational programmes for kids and adults to help grow green fingers, thumbs and more! They also organise school holiday programs like Plant Play, An Insect Life and so on. Follow this link for information on their upcoming activities.
11. Kota Damansara Community Forest
The Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve (KDCFR), or Hutan Simpan Komuniti Kota Damansara, covers 320-hectares. There are 14 km of trails in the forest and most of the KDCF Trails are multiple-use trails suitable for mountain bikers as well as hikers. There are plenty of signage’s to help guide you through the trails and the forest is very well maintained.
Address:Â Jalan Merbah 10/1, Seksyen 10 Kota Damansara
12. The Central Park @ Desa Park City
This is a park for outdoor play not just for adults and kids, but for dogs too. It’s a sprawling park with beautiful scenery and a huge lake. Weekends are the busiest. There is a dog park area where you can see dogs roaming freely, playing fetch and just ‘socialising’. If that’s not your thing then you can always take your kids to the playground. If you enjoy biking, the park is very popular with cyclists too. There’s plenty of dining options right by the park at The Waterfront after everyone has worked up an appetite cycling, playing or just walking around the lake.
Address:Â Desa Park City, Kuala Lumpur
13. KL Botanical Garden
Known to some as the Lake Gardens, the KL Botanical Garden was originally created as part of a recreational park and planted with collections of tropical plants, and has now been rehabilitated and turned into a Botanical Garden. The plus point for this park is that it’s accessible via bus, KTM and light rail services. There’s actually so much to do and see around KL Botanical Garden itself. You can do a tour by foot or even hop onto the tram (for a small fee) to get around. If you’d like to just stay put; plan for a picnic, allow the kids to roam freely at the huge play area or bird watch and simply enjoy nature.Â
Address:Â Jalan Kebun Bunga, Taman Tasik Perdana, Kuala Lumpur
14. Taman Botani Negara Shah Alam (TBNSA)
As one of Malaysia’s first agriculture park, TBNSA was opened in 1986 to the public and is one of the largest in the world. It has an animal park, an ornamental garden, a four seasons temperate house, a spice and beverages garden, a cactus garden, a tropical food garden, a paddy field, and a herbs and medicinal garden.
Contact: 03-5510 7048
Address:Â Taman Botani Negara Shah Alam, Shah Alam
15. Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
Birds flying around, birds walking on the ground and even birds sitting on your head – what better way to experience the KL Bird Park! Located in the Lake Gardens, the Bird Park covers about 20.9-acres. The birds are categorised into 4 zones – Zone 1 and 2 make up the free-flight zone; Zone 3 is the Hornbill Park and Zone 4 is where the birds are placed in separate cages and mini aviaries. You can play with the free-roaming birds, feed them and pose with them. You can also dine at their famous Hornbill Restaurant.Â
Phone: 03-2272 1010
Address:Â 920, Jalan Cenderawasih, Perdana Botanical Gardens, Kuala Lumpur
16. Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park
The largest butterfly garden in the world is on our home soil! It spans over 80,000 square feet of landscaped garden and houses over 5,000 butterflies, plants, ferns and more. The park is also home to koi fishes, turtles and there’s also an indoor display of various insects.Â
Contact: 03 26934799; 03-2693 4907
Address:Â Taman Tasik Perdana, Jalan Cendarasari, Kuala Lumpur
17. Zoo Negara
Life will never be complete for a child without a trip to the zoo. Our national zoo, Zoo Negara is located in Ulu Klang, Gombak, and has been open since 1963. It has seen a lot of expansions and upgrades since. Today it has over 5,137 specimens from 476 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. At the zoo, you can also watch the multi-animal shows and enjoy the animal appearances.Â
Contact: 03- 4108 3422
Address:Â Jalan Ulu Kelang, Kemensah Heights, Ampang
18. Farm In The CityÂ
This animal farm is like a mini zoo, however, you get to be a lot closer to the animals. You can feed and touch the animals which include birds, reptiles, rabbits and guinea pigs.
After visiting the animals you can go for a jungle walk and even longkang fishing! Not only that, there is a vegetable farm and an orchard of fruit trees. Be sure to bring your sunblock, sunnies, umbrellas and a little fan if you’re not a fan of the heat.
Contact: 03-8941 3099
Address: Lot 40187-40788, Jalan Prima Tropika Barat, Bandar Putra Permai, Seri Kembangan
19. Taman Eco Rimba KL
Taman Eko Rimba KL (formerly known as Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve or Hutan Simpan Bukit Nanas) is one of the oldest permanent forest reserves in Malaysia. It is famous for its 200m canopy walk. Once you reach the top, you’ll be able to see the aerial view of our beautiful Kuala Lumpur. Enjoy the fresh air whilst walking through the trail, have a picnic or visit the Timber Product Gallery and Herbal Garden.
Contact: 03- 2020 1606
Address: Jalan Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur
20. Sunway Lagoon
Who hasn’t heard of Sunway Lagoon? If you haven’t, you better head on over as it has everything for everyone in the family. It is the ultimate place to take your kids! There’s an amusement park, a wet park, a petting zoo, extreme park, surf pool and a whole lot more. One day there is probably not enough.Â
Contact: 03-5639 0000
Address:Â 3, Jalan PJS 11/11, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya
