The year end school holidays are here again! It is time to take our kids to the great outdoors for them to unwind after a year of studying, tests, exams and etc. It’s time for them to let their hair down and enjoy some fresh air, enjoy themselves.

My family, together with another friend’s family did just that, on Deepavali this year, to be exact. We organised a picnic and a day of fun at the West Coast Park.

My family was introduced to West Coast Park at an event about 5 years ago and since then, my boys and I have fallen in love with that place and I have been taking them there once in a while after exams for them to enjoy some great outdoor moments. This year, I decided to invite my friend’s family along.

Quote from National Parks Board’s website …..

With the theme "Play Centre in the West", the western portion of West Coast Park has been transformed into a haven for park visitors who enjoy challenging and adventurous activities. Standing at the centre core of Area 3 is the Adventure Play Area that caters to people of different age groups, from toddlers to young adults. This is the heart and most active zone of West Coast Park.

Yes, it’s Area 3 at West Coast Park that I am talking about. For those of you who drive, it’s Car Park 3, where MacDonald’s is, but for those of you who do not drive like my family, West Coast Park is easily accessible by public transport, only takes a bit of effort to get there. In fact, there are a few ways to get there via public transport.

Getting there by public transport

• By SMRT 176. Board SMRT 176 along Telok Blangah or Pasir Panjang Road. Alight at the bus-stop outside West Coast MacDonald’s.
• By SBS 175. Board from Clementi Interchange. Alight along West Coast Highway, after Kent Ridge Secondary School, after the bus turns left from West Coast Link. Cross the Highway and West Coast Park is just opposite.
• By SBS 30 from Bedok or anywhere along the route of Service 30. Alight at West Bay Resort Condo. Walk with the traffic, turn left into West Coast Link, cross West Coast Highway at the traffic lights and you are there.

What can you do there? 

• Kite Flying – there is a big open space overlooking the sea, great place to fly a kite. 
• Adventure Play Area – there are enough stations to keep the young and not so young occupied. See photos.
• Pedal Go Kart – understand that there is a Pedal Go Kart rental kiosk at Car Park 2, though we have not tried the Pedal Go-Kart. Heard from the two pretty girls who were my models in my photos (not related to us, but obliged when I asked if I could take their pictures) that the rental of the Pedal Go Kart is at $10 per half an hour. Read this link for more details.  
• Camping – yes , camping is allowed, though you need a camping permit. 
• Swimming – I won’t encourage that and I doubt it’s allowed though I spotted a man swimming in the rather dirty water! Yucks!
• BBQ is only allowed at designated areas, but definitely not allowed at Area 3 where we were.

What’s available at the Park?

• There is a 24-hour MacDonald’s there to satisfy hunger pangs. It is also a drive-thru Branch.
• Plenty of benches though shelters are quite limited.
• Toilet is nearby, reasonably clean and well-maintained, somewhere behind MacDonald’s.