Planning your vacation to the eastern region of KSA?

The eastern region is the hub of industrialisation. If you’re a home educating family like us, you would probably look into learning opportunities the place has to offer. Below is a collection of small list of places that provide learning opportunities and can also be used as excursion and for field trips for your homeschool insha Allah. I will also recommend a few places that I have not visited because of our age bracket of littles (ages 1-5 years) but you may consider

Children’s Museum, King Abdul Aziz Centre for World Culture or Ithra

Children’s museum at Ithra is a great learning and fun place for kids. It provides plenty of opportunities for sensory, artistic and hands on learning. Art workshops, freestyle painting, Arabic read alouds inside a faux reading cave, kids experience scientific explorations and there’s also a separate sensory and independent play area for toddlers aged 1-3 years. The place also gives a closer look into the Bedouin lifestyle of the Kingdom. The flora, fauna and how the electricity was made here is also shown.

In the image: Flower puzzle at the children’s museum Ithra

The small range of STEM play is also inviting for families to do on their own there.

In the image: Lo’s art hung at the children’s museum

Khobar & Dammam Corniche

Much like the Jeddah corniche, the site offers lots of free and sensory play options.

Science Centre , Al Khobar

This may serve well for a bit older kids. Therefore, we did not visit it. It offers natural history and a good view on the space study.

Library , King Abdul Aziz Centre for World Culture or Ithra

This place offers a ginormous library and is regarded as the 100 must places to visit in the world. It’s not your regular library. They have books of all genres, audio book options , working stations to work while reading , cosy reading nooks for children and adults alike.

Libraries have my heart and I would like to spend each day there, reading.

The centre organises lovely reading activities for adults and kids of different ages, rhyming sessions , read alouds in English and Arabic events are organised time to time at the library.

The centre organises lovely literary activities for kids of different ages, rhyming sessions , read alouds in English and Arabic at the library.

Duck Lake, Al Khobar

Lovely little spot at the Khobar corniche for kids, feed them , pedal a boat and enjoy the lake ducklings. Perhaps also sing a few ducky poems to them!

Where we stayed: For anyone who may look for staycation recommendation. I cannot recommend Tripper inn Dammam, enough. Really nice customer service and highly supportive staff.

They have a kids room with a few activities to keep kids engaged. There’s a swimming pool at the roof top. A large dining area where you may have your meal. All in all we love staying here, Alhamdulillah.

In the image: The cafeteria and dining area at Tripper inn hotel

Temperature: Days are very short in winters the city winds down at 4-5 pm in the afternoon. Yes, that’s quite early. The winters are very harsh here too. Come summers and the temperatures bring humidity and hotness much like Makkah. Subhanallah!

In the picture: Hot humid day (from Allah SWT) in Dammam city in September, Alhamdulillah

The Hijra exhibition, the material laboratory at the King Abdul Aziz centre for world culture should also be visited as they may serve educational for older kids.

What other places would you like to add more to this list ?