Things To Do In Khobar In Summer

Isn't it funny how you forget just how hot it gets here? All of a sudden you are going about your day, as usual, you go to walk outside and bam, the heat just knocks you for 6! This was me recently, I was out on my usual 5k with a friend at 5 pm so it was cooling down by then. Bear in mind I walk everywhere here until it gets absolutely impossible, I do the walk to and from school every day to drop off my children, and I walk to the local park and to the supermarket. I love walking and it also means that I slowly acclimatize to the increasing heat. That is until, around this time of year when once again, I become shocked at how relentless and ruthless this heat can be. I went on my usual walk and before long I can feel my mouth drying out, I felt dizzy and I was just generally struggling. I managed to finish my walk and got through my door and my kids were just staring at me, like 'what happened to you!' I was almost purple. 'Yes, mummy is stupid.' So I am now announcing that it is officially getting HOT in here; the Eastern Province of Saudi. While we may have a few weeks left of being outside if we are in the water or for after-dark picnics, for most of us now, staying in is the new going out. The good news is that there are plenty of indoor things to do for those of us who live in or near Khobar and I have put together some of my favorites.

Get Cultured

Ithra is an amazing place and we are blessed to have it on our doorstep. Check out the website https://www.ithra.com/en/ for the latest events and exhibits. Ithra hosts excellent exhibitions, galleries, shows, events, and classes. They have a wonderful library and a fantastic Museum for adults and children. On top of all that they have a restaurant, cafe and even at times pop up food trucks, so you can easily make a day of it.

Feed Your Brain

SciTech is situated near Khobar Corniche. Open 9 - 12 and 4 - 10 pm to cater to both the early risers and night owl families. An interactive science and technology museum that children are sure to love; it features an observatory and IMAX theatre, coffee shop, and gift shop. You can find out more about it here: https://scitech.sa/en

Immerse Yourself In History

This Heritage village in Dammam is a great way to learn about Saudi culture and History without traveling too far. An impressive five-story building that houses artifacts and decor to immerse you in the history of the area. It also hosts a restaurant where you can order traditional Saudi dishes so it really is a holistic experience. You can find out more about it on the website: https://heritage-village.com.sa/

Treat Your Tastebuds

I have traveled to many places in the world, I even used to live in London and I have never experienced so many trendy, aesthetically pleasing, gimmicky food and beverage joints as I have here in Khobar. Almost every time I leave the house I pass a new place that I want to try. Sometimes it feels impossible, with so many restaurants and so little time (and money!) but Summer in Saudi is a great time to make a dent in your restaurant bucket list since eating out is one of the few ways to get a change of scenery in the Summer here. Try a new breakfast, go drink bubble tea, have traditional Saudi food on the floor, work your way through the sushi menu or watch your food cooked at your table. Dinner with live music, shisha lounges, sea views, and possibly some of the coolest coffee shops in the region. The options are endless, make the most of it.

Shop 'til You Drop

There are many malls in the area and most recently I visited Nakheel mall for the first time. I loved it. It was small enough to walk around easily but with so many shops that I love and some beautiful coffee places and restaurants. It also had enough to keep the kids happy such as bowling, cinema, and Go Karting. There are so many Malls in the area with no shortage of entertainment for the kids too. Which is your favorite?

Get Active

If the heat is making you lazy and you need to get moving again then you will find some fun indoor activities in the area:

Gravity trampoline center is not just for kids, it offers a ladies' night too! (https://www.gravity-ksa.com/en-sa/khobar).

Dyno offers an amazing climbing experience (https://www.instagram.com/dynoksa/).

Escape the room Khobar for awesome escape room experiences (https://escapetheroomsa.com/).

I hope you all have an amazing summer whether you are staying in Saudi, going on vacation, or back to your home countries. I'm going to be taking a break from my blog over the Summer to go back to the UK and to focus on editing my novel, a women's fiction about a woman who finds herself in Saudi Arabia. I will be back in August ready to start taking you with me on some new adventures. If you enjoy receiving inspiration to help you see more of Saudi then follow me on TikTok or Instagram where I make more regular posts about the places I discover and reflections on my experiences as an ex-pat here. You can also sign up for my mailing list to make sure you never miss an announcement. Stay in touch and see you in August.

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