Singapore
North
Singapore Botanic Gardens -
Begin your visit at the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, an adventure zone with tree house, suspension bridge and water play area (bring swimsuits or a change of clothing. Older kids will enjoy imaginative displays on topics such as local spices used in everyday foods and how plants are used to make music. Check out the ancient tree struck by lightning, a powerful example of the forces of nature. The Children's Garden is closed on Mondays.
In the rest of the Botanic Gardens, don't miss the Cannonball tree (an unusual tree loaded with fruit that look and feel like cannonballs), explore a primary rain forest and Ginger Garden, even feed the fish (do bring bread, although the locals usually share). Do not feed the monkeys.
Kids can wander through the National Orchid Garden, over 60,000 different kinds of orchids, growing all over the hillsides in lush profusion.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve - This nature reserve, comprised of untouched rainforest, is less than 10 miles from the center of Singapore. Climb up Bukit Timah hill - there are well-marked trails through the dense vegetation with dripping vines. Look for butterflies, monkeys, giant forest ants and flying lemurs. (For hiking, kids should wear closed shoes, rather than sandals.)
Singapore Zoo - Plan to spend the day here.
Start out at Treetops Trail, a re-creation of the Southeast Asian rainforest, where you walk high above the trees, looking down to see red langur monkeys and siamangs, mouse deer and water birds below. Visit Orangutan Island and the Asian elephants enclosure, elephant rides are also available. Check the schedule for feeding times for elephants, white tiger, king cobra, and more.
As a special treat, have breakfast with an orangutan. You can feed the orangutan, (how are their table manners?) and have your picture taken.
Rainforest Kidzworld has a water play area, petting zoo, horse carriage rides, carousel, pony rides, and Animals Friends show.
At the entrance to the Zoo, lockers, strollers and wagons are available for rent. Within the zoo are picnic areas, cafes and snack bars.
Sungei Buloh Nature Park - This wetland nature reserve is the perfect spot for bird watching. The park has boardwalks through mangroves and freshwater ponds, and observation "hides" to look for birds such as herons, kingfishers, bee-eaters, and migratory birds. Keep your eyes peeled for big monitor lizards and tree-climbing crabs (the crabs climb the mangrove trees to avoid being eaten).
