In the midst of working through the daily grind, there aren’t many of us who make full use of the tropical climate and the many parks around KL. But if you take a break from the hectic schedule and use that time to appreciate the little pleasures in life, you will find that there are actually many green landscapes that provide the perfect setting for a good picnic. From parks with picturesque views to family-favourite weekend spots, a picnic is an inexpensive and fuss-free activity that allows you to be close to nature, while enjoying a relaxing day with family and friends. When you need to decompress, head to one of these great spots for some much-needed R & R:

1. Kepong Metropolitan Park

While travelling on the MRR2, follow the tell-tale signs of kites in the skies and you will find a park filled with people jogging, fishing, and kite-flying. This park’s greenery also makes it the perfect spot to lay out a mat and have some good food. This park consists of a 57-hectare man-made lake where anglers can put their skills to test, jogging and cycling tracks, a children’s playground, a boat house, an observation tower, reflexology facilities, and an open space for kite enthusiasts and picnickers. If you don’t have a kite, worry not as there are vendors selling kites of various sizes and designs. Pick one that tickles your fancy and relive your childhood memories.

2. Central Park @ Desa Parkcity

You know you’ve hit the jackpot when the first sight that greets the eye as you walk into Central Park at Desa ParkCity is the shimmering lake surrounded by a paved jogging track. This park boasts well-kept lawns, a beautiful lake, and park benches that make it a great place to bring your family (and dogs, too) for a picnic, or to merely lie on the grass and wind down with a good book. With the idyllic Central Lake at its core, The Central Park truly represents an ideal getaway from the tribulations of the city life. Other noteworthy mentions are that Central Park is a canine-friendly park that provides dog waste disposal bags to encourage visitors to clean up after their four-legged companions, with a children’s playground complete with child-proof play equipment, park benches, rest areas, and a man-made stream to complete the whole relaxing experience. Along the Central Park are wide, tree-lined jogging paths beckoning residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors with its captivating vistas.

3. KLCC Park

Photo credit: StephenHinde / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

Inspired by the talented Brazilian master of garden, the late Roberto Burle Marx, KLCC Park is spread over 50 acres with a combination of trees, shrubs, structures of cement, stones, and wood, as well as various water features, and elements of shapes. The park, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, is a great spot to spend a lazy weekend people-watching and drinking in the sights of the Petronas Twin Towers and other landmarks surrounding the park, while soaking up the sunshine. The park is also a great place to educate the young ones on nature as about 1,900 indigenous trees and 66 species of palms have been planted at the park to encourage biodiversity. Part of the park is also designed as haven for birds and other local fauna. The main attractions here are a two-acre playground, a children’s wading pool, and a 1.3-km jogging track encircling the park. Other amenities include patterned footpaths, shelters, benches, rest areas, drinking fountains, sculptures, and murals.

4. Perdana Botanical Garden

While you can find plenty of simple Kuala Lumpur gardens throughout the neighbourhoods, the Perdana Botanical Gardens (previously known as the Lake Gardens, or locally as Taman Tasik Perdana) stands head and shoulders above the rest. This beautifully sculptured land is arguably the most popular of all the Kuala Lumpur gardens, boasting over 90 hectares of green space spaced out with clusters of trees, wildflowers, and shrubs to make for an enchanting landscape. The garden, centered around a large man-made lake, gives visitors the feeling of being in a rainforest, and you can expect to find more than just a serene place to have a picnic. The Orchid Garden and Hibiscus Garden are some of the best-looking ones anywhere in the world, and contain thousands of different orchid and hibiscus varieties from across the globe, while the bird park is the biggest of its kind in the whole of Southeast Asia.

Source: The Expat Magazine September 2014

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