When visiting the island of Singapore, the leisure traveler immediately begins to think of shopping. While Singapore is a shopper's haven it isn't the only article on offer. Beyond the urban metropolitan feel of the city and the usual attractions of Sentosa Island, Singapore is also host to botanical rich venues as well.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens, for example offer a calm and soothing atmosphere in which to spend time with family and friends whilst learning about a variety of plant life. The lush green three hectare site is home to more than 1,000 species of orchids and 2,000 hybrids of orchids. The Gardens also feature numerous botanically related venues such as the Ginger Garden and the Evolution Garden in addition to three beautiful lakes.
Another excellent stop is the Singapore Zoo. The zoo offers a walk through the rich Singapore rainforests with chances to view its beauty and its inhabitants. The zoo is also home to acrobatic apes, white rhinos, zebras, giraffes, meerkats, lions, elephants, white tigers and even polar bears. In addition there are also several types of rides within the premises which include trams, horse carriage and other animal rides. With such a rich offering of life on display, visitors won't be disappointed.
Beyond the nature rich attractions you cannot afford to miss the world's largest observation wheel. Built with cutting edge technology, the wheel stands at a whopping 165m off the ground. Visitors can see sprawling views of Marina Bay, the City of Singapore and beyond. The view isn't the only thing on offer however. The Singapore Flyer has dining options in the form of several restaurants so that you can eat with family and friends whilst soaking in the magnificent view. The entire central atrium of the complex also features a rainforest which provides a serene environment to relax in.
Another venue you shouldn't miss is the Raffles Hotel Museum. The museum is situated in the Singapore luxury hotel of the same name and is based around the hotel and its beginnings during the Golden Age of Travel. In this time period Singapore was known as the 'Crossroads of the East'. Exhibits include memorabilia of Raffles Hotel, Singapore as well as the region during the period. In addition silver, china, postcards, letters and photographs from the hotel are also on display. Several 19th century photographs of Singapore and Southeast Asia are housed in the museum as well and represent an important historical documentation of early life in Singapore.
When in Singapore shopping will most likely have a role, however no matter what Singapore hotel you pick remember that there are variety of exciting venues out there to discover.
Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing company that offers PPC Management and SEO services and specializes in serving the online travel and hospitality industry.