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Fascinating Malaysia beckons all - especially those who are
traveling with their families and young children. Malaysia
has a string of thrilling theme parks and fun resorts that
will transport one into a world of fantasy, excitement and
adventure. In theme parks, heroes and villains come alive
in thrilling games.
Roller-coasters loop and twirl at terrifying speed as thrill-seekers
find themselves free from the daily routine of life and transported
into a world of make-believe.
Malaysia's range of theme parks generally combine a mixture
of water activities, adventure, futuristic experiences, games
and rides, while resorts are just the place for relaxation
and sightseeing.
See some suggestions for great family holiday locations below.
Colmar Tropicale 
Families will enjoy exotic resorts such as Colmar Tropicale
- a French-themed resort located in Bukit Tinggi, Pahang,
approximately 40 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur via the
Karak Highway.
Situated on 80-acres of forest land and 2,600 ft above
sea level, Colmar Tropicale has a host activities and facilities
just perfect for the family to enjoy in the beautiful outdoors
of the panoramic Pahang mountain range.
Genting Theme Park
First
on the scene in the world of Malaysia theme park entertainment
was Genting, a highland resort about 51 km northeast of
Kuala Lumpur. Carved out of the Ulu Kali mountain range
at 2000 metres above sea level the hill resort soon acquired
the tag 'City of Entertainment' because of the range of
entertainment activities. Cool mountain air further added
to its lure as a place to get away from it all and be transported
into a world of excitement.
The Genting Theme Park is divided into indoor and outdoor
sections. Indoors, the theme park contains skill games,
computerised as well as coin-operated, and an opportunity
to go into mysterious landscapes, or experience double action.
Space Odyssey 20 zaps you through the darkness of
space on a terrifying rollercoaster ride.
If you want to get a quick glimpse of the attractions of
the world, take the Around the World Train Ride where animated
figures dressed in their national costumes will greet you
as you pass each country's landmarks.
Outdoors,
the Corkscrew Roller-coaster thunders through wildly convoluted
tracks while the Runaway Train takes off for an exciting
run through the theme park's 'Gold Mine'. Technology
sets to work at the 3-D Fun House when a 3-D camera projects
the illusion of objects flying towards the viewers.
For a more leisurely mode, take the giant mechanical caterpillar
and tour the outdoor theme park on its elevated track. Or
take a bubble car and get a bird's eye view of the sights
below.
A showcase of illusions and magnificent animals await at
Magic Xscape, a multi-million ringgit production of
the resort. The international show takes audiences on an
incredible journey far beyond the realms of reality with
its high technology and special effects.
Genting is also well-known for its casino which offers
Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, Keno, French Bull and Tai
Sai among its range of games.
There is a wide choice of hotels in the Genting Highlands
- at the summit lie the Highlands Hotel, Genting Hotel,
Resort Hotel and Theme Park Hotel, as well as the Ria
and Kayangan apartment complexes. Other hotels such
as Awana Genting and Seri Malaysia are located further
down the hill.
Sunway Lagoon Theme Park
Located
in Bandar Sunway, just minutes away from the Sultan Abdul
Aziz Shah International Airport in Subang, Sunway Lagoon
is a recreation of a sunken mining wasteland. Spanning some
80 acres, the theme park's emphasis is largely water-based
with wild adventure rides and amusement games.
At Sunway Lagoon, you can hurtle down a waterslide, drift
by on the Lazy River Ride or Tube Ride, listen to the thundering
roar of the man-made waterfall or thrill to the surf of
the Surf Pool.
Mid-western frontier fun comes alive at Fort Lagoon Wild,
Wild West. You can take a ride on a Grand Canyon
River Rapids, go on a Buffalo Bill Coaster ride or go speeding
down the Colorado Splash.
Sunway Lagoon's Adventure Park takes you on more adventure
where you can ride in Apache Pots, test your nerves on the
Flying Carpet or ride the skies on a Galleon. Other
attractions include the runaway train, pedestrian suspension
bridge and sky flyer.
Accommodation: To be near the theme park, one can
opt to stay at Sunway
Lagoon Resort. Alternatively, there is the Subang
Holiday Villa.
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The Mines Wonderland
This
theme park is located in Mines Resort City, at 101/2 miles
Jalan Sungai Besi, south of Kuala Lumpur. There are no roller
coaster rides and the nearest to it is a Fun Ride which
moves gingerly on its undulating tracks at a respectable
pace and height. However, The Mines Wonderland has the right
blend of experiences for visitors of all ages.
A major attraction at The Mines Wonderland is the Snow
House. Warm coats are thoughtfully provided for visitors
to enable them, especially children, to indulge in a bit
of snowball throwing or to slide down a snow slide.
Within the setting of a snow wonderland complete with coloured
bulbs and falling snow, there are carvings of penguins,
snow goose, reindeer and the Arc de Triomphe of Paris. Pathways
lead the visitor from one setting to another, delighting
and mesmerising those who are seeing snow for the first
time!
The park also offers another snow entertainment with its
recently opened Ice Skating Rink. Here you can hire a pair
of skates and pretend to be Tara Lipinski while gliding
through the icy surface, chilly air, pine trees and all!
Kiddy rides are plentiful but there are also several leisure
rides for the older groups. Among them are tram rides, vintage
car rides, and the Spin Boat Ride which takes one through
a waterway flanked by colourful blooms, verdant foliage
and majestic trees in a dreamy kind of manner.
There
are also water taxis which ply between the theme park and
the Mines shopping complex. The Mines Wonderland is at its
best in the evening when creative lighting transforms the
park into something of a magical land. Light Fantasy on
Water is a lakeside display of brightly-lit motorized creatures
that glide on water in a spectacular procession.
The theme park is equipped with good visitor facilities
including restaurants, shopping complexes and good transportation
from Kuala Lumpur city centre while for overnight visitors
there is the Mines
Resort Beach Hotel and the Palace
of the Golden Horses Hotel.
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Wet World
Located in Shah Alam, Wet World was established as a neighbourhood
waterpark. It is targeted for families who just want to
have a splashing good time without the stunts. There are,
however, recreational rides like the Monsoon Buster - the
world's longest uphill watercoaster that rises and dips
for 222 metres. Facilities include a fast food centre, gift
shops and changing areas.
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A'Famosa Water World
This
is the southern region's playground for water lovers. Designed
for families it offers water-based attractions with safe
bathing and water activities for children. Among its novelty
rides are high speed slides, body slides and jet skis which
enable older children to enjoy action-based thrills on water.
For the younger ones, there is the 'Arabian Village', a
brightly-coloured playground structure inspired by Moorish
architecture. Topped by onion-shaped domes and minarets,
the Arabian Village offers unlimited fun for younger children
as they climb the steps, go through water tunnels or slide
down water tubes and slides.
The Lazy River, 504m long and 3 - 9m wide is the longest
and widest theme park river in the country and here families
can enjoy a leisure ride together aboard a family raft.
If you think there is no fun without waves, just head towards
the Wave Pool where swelling waves are simulated artificially
and recreate the 'seaside atmosphere'. You can experience
getting splashed about by waves - but without fear of getting
into the 'deep end'.
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Bukit Merah Laketown Resort
This
is the premier waterfront resort for the northern region
of Peninsular Malaysia. It is located at the Bukit Merah
Laketown, at the Bukit Merah Interchange along the North-South
Highway. All that you need for a refreshing stay can be
found at the resort - the Bukit Merah Laketown Inn, Bukit
Merah Laketown Marina Village, and Bukit Merah Laketown
Waterpark. Surrounded by lush tropical greenery and natural
lake, the resort makes a suitable getaway for the whole
family.
The Bukit Merah Laketown Inn is a 3-star affordable hotel
with 174 spacious family rooms that can accommodate up to
5 people. There is a full range of facilities and services.
Encompassing the Bukit Merah Lake are activities you can
indulge in such as golf, fishing, lakeside cruises and boat
rides.
The
Bukit Merah Laketown Marina Village is a tourist festival
shopping village where you can find a wide variety of shops
offering items such as crafts, swimwear and suntan lotions.
Its restaurant Cafe Le Lac offers local and international
cuisine's while its bakery offers a variety of pastries
and cakes. Its four function rooms are available for seminars,
exhibitions and events such as wedding dinners or annual
get-togethers. For family entertainment, visitors can head
towards kids amusement rides and also interactive fountain.
The Bukit Merah Laketown Waterpark comprises 8 water attractions,
among them a Giant Wave Pool with simulated waves, Slow
River Ride, and Raft Tube Slides. The Giant Wave Pool creates
waves up to a metre high. For kids there is a Kiddie Bay.
A 300m long Slow River cruise on floating tubes is available
for adults as well as a specially-designed one for children.
The Kid's Water Playground is a unique 'obstacle' playground
with big buckets of pouring water and waterjet-guns to spray.
The Giant Bubble, a first in Southeast Asia, is a Swedish-made
inflated bubble for visitors to climb, bounce, slip and
slide. Three Giant Water Flume Slides are provided where
you can ride through a 'Midstation' pool or race down the
100m slide directly to the bottom pool. Facilities here
include the Bubbles Restaurant, a fast food themed restaurant
that serves western and local delights.
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