Tag Archives: Park

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Nature, Updated, at the Al Shaheed Park

Park in Kuwait City

Located on the edge of Kuwait City, the Al Shaheed Park is the largest urban park in Kuwait. For those looking to experience nature, history and culture, all in one place, make sure that you include a visit to the park while you are exploring Kuwait.

The History of the Park
The area that the Al Shaheed Park is in was originally created in 1964, with the aim of it being a formal Green Belt Park. As this grew into a garden, the area experienced quite a bit of renovation and development over the years, after which it was turned into the Al Shaheed Park, along with the aim of commemorating the country’s martyrs.

The Park’s Museums
The Al-Shaheed Park is home to two museums, both of which are worth touring if you are already going to be visiting the park anyway. The first is the Thekra Museum, which is a memorial museum that educates visitors on Kuwait’s history, including the battles that the country experienced, as well as the Gulf War. The second museum is the Habitat Museum, which is an environmental museum that aims to preserve and showcase the local environment and wildlife of Kuwait. This museum is quite a new one, as it was only inaugurated at the beginning of this year, but already has a wide array of geographical and environmental exhibits.

Historical Highlights of the Al Shaheed Park
There are a number of historical monuments dotted around Al Shaheed Park, which you will see as you make your way around the grounds. From the old city gates, which are in the exact same place that they were when they were first put up in the late 1800’s, to the Constitution Monument and the Martyrs Monument, you can learn so much about Kuwait’s history simply by taking a stroll around the Al Shaheed Park.

The Underground Tunnel
Lying beneath the Al Shaheed Park is a long underground tunnel, which was built in order to connect Kuwait’s green belt. This tunnel has now been completely renovated, and features a number of pieces of art, as well as three-dimensional Portuguese tiles that light up the passageway in vibrant shades of blue and green.

Other Facilities at the Park
In addition to the museums and historical monuments, there are plenty of other things to do at the Al Shaheed Park. The open-air amphitheater is where you can catch a number of live performances and special events, while the gift shop and book shop are always fun to explore, especially if you are looking for a unique souvenir to take home with you. Of course, be sure to stop off at one of the park’s restaurants or cafés if you are looking for a bite to eat, as they serve up tasty local food.

The Al Shaheed Park sprawls out for almost 20 hectares, and just about every area within it has been recently refurbished and updated. While the hustle and bustle of Kuwait City is always exciting, there will come a time when you need some tranquillity, making the Al Shaheed Park the perfect escape to head to.

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The Schloss Foundation and Benrath Park

Schloss Benrath in Dusseldorf, Germany

Elena Klippert / Shutterstock.com

Also known as Benrath Palace, Schloss Benrath is a baroque-style palace that was completed in 1770, and holds such historic significance for the city of Düsseldorf that it has been submitted for UNESCO World Heritage designation. From exploring the actual palace and the museum within to touring the baroque square hunting park that surrounds it, this is a part of the city that history buffs will not want to miss.

The Main Palace
The Main Palace is where most visitors to Benrath Park start off at, and is a fantastic introduction to all that you will be seeing. The main palace contains historic furniture, art work, porcelain and more, all of which have been curated to give visitors an accurate impression of what court life would have been like in the later half of the 18th century. There are many exhibits on display to take a look at here, and guided tours are available if you would like a more in-depth knowledge of everything around you.

Other Museums in the Palace
Benrath Palace is home to two museums, one in its east wing and one in its west wing. The museum in the east wing is the Museum of European Garden Art, and is quite a unique one for the way in which it focuses solely on garden art from different parts of Europe. In the west wing, you will find the Natural History Museum, which is considered to be one of the best museums in the city. As you would expect, this museum focuses on natural history, but does this with a local spin, making it quite unique. There are also several exhibits here based on Benrath Park itself, which you will then be able to explore for yourself.

The Palace Park
Benrath Park is an oasis when it comes to greenery, and you will immediately notice the wide range of plants that live here. The park is divided into three distinct gardens, each with its own unique theme. From the French Garden with its spectacular orangery to the romantic Flower Garden, which used to be known as the English Garden, there is plenty to see here. As you make your way around the park, you will notice all of the lime tree avenues that surround you, and these are actually over 250 years old, and were created over time by training the growth of the trees. End you visit at the wooded section of Benrath Park, as the lush tree canopies provide a one-of-a-kind ecosystem for flowering plants to grow, as well as a number of colorful wildflowers, canals and ponds.

Benrath Palace was originally built as a hunting lodge and summer residence for Elector Carl Theodor, with its location being chosen due to its proximity to the River Rhine. While there were numerous garden palaces created in the 18th century, all over the world, Benrath Palace and its park is considered to be one of the most beautiful, and this is something that you will no doubt agree with once you pay it a visit for yourself.

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Liliuokalani Gardens

Liliuokalani Gardens

Situated in Hilo on the island of Hawaii, the Liliuokalani Gardens is a 30-acre park that boasts exquisite Japanese gardens, pagodas, fish ponds and rock gardens. Named after Queen Liliuokalani, this beautifully landscaped park is a tribute to the first Japanese immigrants that worked on Hawaii island’s sugar cane fields. The garden was first created in the early 1900’s and is considered to be the largest Edo-style garden outside of Japan. With stunning views of surrounding areas and plenty to see and do, the park is an extremely popular attraction with visitors to the island.

Coconut Island
Known locally as Moku’ola, Coconut Island has played an important part in Hawaiian traditions over the years. This intriguing little island can be found just across the drive from the park, and is accessed by a narrow footbridge. Commonly referred to as the Healing Island, Coconut Island used to be the place that locals would visit in order to find natural cures for the illnesses and diseases that they encountered, and it used to also house an ancient healing temple. It is also from Coconut Island where visitors can enjoy breathtaking views across downtown Hilo and the Hilo bayfront.

Shoroan
Shoroan is a traditional Japanese tearoom that can be found on the grounds of Liliuokalani Gardens, and had to be rebuilt in 1994 after the original structure was destroyed by a fire. Shoroan’s actual tea room, known as its chashitsu, was donated to the garden by the Fifteenth Grand Tea Master of Urasenke, and is as traditional a tea room as you would find anywhere in Japan.

Japanese Garden, Hilo

The Japanese Gardens
The serene Waihonu Pond is at the center of the Japanese gardens, with the surrounding landscape being planned around this focal point. The pond is surrounded by charming footbridges, as well as gazebos, and there are also plenty of stunning plants all around, from weeping willow trees to azaleas to bamboo glades. The various paths and walkways around the park have recently been renovated, and a Japanese rock garden was also added, bringing about even more of a tranquil ambiance.

Banyan Tree Drive
Banyan Tree Drive, which flanks Liliuokalani Gardens with its canopy of Banyan trees, is definitely another of the park’s most impressive features. The majority of the trees were planted by the city in 1935, after which the remaining trees were planted by several famous individuals, who each have their name displayed next to the tree that they planted. From Richard Nixon to Babe Ruth, these trees boast some of the biggest names in American culture and history, and it is always exciting to take a stroll around and see who else’s name you discover.

The tourists that visit Liliuokalani Gardens usually stop by to take a look at all of the park’s stunning features, from the koi ponds to the colorful plants. The park is also extremely popular with the locals, who tend to prefer visiting in the early mornings for a peaceful workout session. Since the garden is not fenced off, it is open every day of the week, for 24 hours a day, making access convenient whenever you happen to decide that you want to check out this cultural and natural landmark on Big Island.