Jeddah has so much to offer – anyone who has lived in the city can testify to that. But with the weather continuing to stay on the hotter side, it makes our choices a little limited. However, we still managed to compile a list of fun things that you can do this weekend apart from the regular visits to malls and restaurants.
Take A Boat Ride
Enjoy the entire day (or night) on a boat; diving, tanning and dolphin spotting. The boat ride takes you deep into the Red Sea; so much so that you won’t be able to see the shoreline in the horizon. You can rent the boat from Kanz Obhur or Al Andalus Marina.
Rent A Villa By The Beach
There are copious resorts near Obhur. You can spend the entire day away from home, in a seaside villa. An ideal weekend getaway for families. Plus some resorts have decent restaurants as well, so you won’t have to worry about food.
Enjoy The Amazing Weather At Taif
Travel up in the mountains to this city that has for long been a favorite weekend getaway for Jeddawis. This is perhaps the most ideal time to visit Taif – the nights are not freezing cold and the days are nice and warm, allowing you to experience it at its fullest. You can even expect some nice fruit harvest at this time of the year, so don’t forget to visit the fruit market at Hada.
Host A Game Night
Call your friends over the weekend, put the phones away and bring out the good old board games; let’s try to stay away from the PlayStation over this game night. All you have to do is prepare some amazing dishes (you can order them from outside as well) and ready the games that you plan on paying with your friends beforehand. You can try some Saudi games on your game night such as Saudi Deal or Sheesh.
Go On A Fishing Trip
If you have never been on a fishing trip in Jeddah then you are missing out on a lot. The Red sea is known for its bounteous underwater life. You can rent a boat from Dream Marina, which has a variety of boats that come fully equipped with fishing gears and assistants to help beginners. Expect some big catches on this one.
Get In Touch With The City’s Rich History
Tayibbat city, Abdul Raoof Khalil museum, Bait Al Naseef – Jeddah has no shortage of museums. Most of them hold artifacts from a time that witnesses the transition of a city totally dependent on trade to a modern metropolis. You can also tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Historic Balad, dedicate at least 2 hours to fully appreciate the rich architecture of the place. While in Balad don’t miss out on the Al Shafei Mosque, which is the oldest in the city and has recently been restored.
Checkout Jeddah’s Vibrant Art Scene
The art scene in the city is booming and has become one of the most promising hubs for artists in the Middle East. You can check the various art galleries in Jeddah; some of the most noteworthy ones amongst them are Athr, Naila Art, Darat Safeya Binzagr and Atelier Gallery.
Go Scuba Diving
Jeddah is blessed with many fabulous diving spots that have abundance of rich coral life and mesmeric shipwreck sites. You can take a short diving course and start exploring the marvels under the Red Sea. Get in touch with Desert Sea Drivers if you’re interested.
Web: http://www.desertseadivers.com
Camp At Moon Valley
Sitting at around 50 kms from the city, Moon Valley is an idyllic camping site. Bring your grill along and enjoy a BBQ in this enigmatic valley. At night, look out for constellations in the star-studded sky.
Let Your Adrenaline Rush On A Thrilling Ride
With a myriad of amusement parks mostly located near the corniche, one can simply not complain about there being limited choices for entertainment in Jeddah. Atallah , Shalal, Jungle Land, Qalzam, Dhaban Marine Park – the list just goes on. However, bear in mind that most of these parks are for families only.