Summer fun

Take a dip

Swimming classes

What: Marriott hotel swimming classes

Who: Women and children

When: 3pm to 6pm or 9am to 12pm

Where: Marriott Hotel  Abdullah Haroon Road

Contact: 021 3 568 0111

Fee: Rs20,000 for women, Rs15,000 for children, exclusive of tax, for 20 classes

Why: An outdoor pool for the kids, a more private secluded indoor pool for their mothers. Instructors are with their clients for 90 minutes and the remaining 90 minutes are for practice.

Why not: It’s closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, slightly pointless given the fee.

Guitar and keyboard lessons

Raga tracks Music Academy

What: Learn an instrument

Who: All ages, at least 10 years to start guitar lessons

Where: Al Fiza Glass Tower, Johar Morr, main Rashid Minhas Road, near Lasania Restaurant

When: 4pm to 8pm, Fridays off

Tel:  [phone]

Fee: Rs2,000 for a 12-week programme

Why: Experienced teachers. Imran Faisal can teach Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical and Spanish guitar while Ustad Rasees has 25 years of musical teaching experience. Lesson books for keyboard and harmonium are provided on payment, while instructive keyboard lesson videos are available online. This year the website won a Best Website Music Achievement Award.

Why not: Unusual emphasis on karaoke

Cool off

Swimming classes

What: Sheraton swimming classes

Who: All ages, starting from the age of 5 years

Where: Club Road

When: Monday to Friday 5pm to 7pm any 3 days of the week

Tel: [phone]

Fee: Rs5,000 for 12 classes

Why: The cheapest rate for swimming classes at five-star hotels. A coach is on hand to assess the swimmer and makes sure you cover at least two of the five levels.

On a high note

Beatles Music Academy

What: Guitar and keyboard classes

Who: All ages

When: Twice a week, Monday and Wednesday, 3 groups for 12 to 1pm, 4 to 5pm, 5 to 6pm. Classes are taught by Wahab Rasheed

Where: Shop No 2, Mezzanine Floor, 919 C-C Area, Jheel Park PECHS

Tel: [phone]

Fee: Rs300 admission fee, Rs2,500 for the first month, Rs2,000 for any extra months, Rs200 for the course books.

Why: Professional and well known

Why not: The fee

Challenge yoursefl

Indus Scuba

What: Diving lessons for children

Who: 10 to 18 years old

Where: Plot No. C-23, Bukhari Commercial Street No 5 Phase VI, DHA

When: Two-and-a half week programme starting Saturday, July 16

Tel: [phone]

Fee: Rs3,500 to Rs6,000 depending on what programme

Why: Children learn the basics of diving in the controlled atmosphere of a pool. They will a receive a certificate for completing the Junior Open-Water Diver course.

Why not: Slightly confusing staff who said that the price depends on the instructor and “how much the person really wants to learn”

Four-legged friends

Seaview Riding and Equestrian Club

What: Riding classes with 45 minutes of intensive riding

Who: Starting from age 4 years

When: Monday, Friday, Saturday 5pm to 7pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 5:30pm to 7pm

Where: Located next to KGS Junior School Campus

Tel: [phone]

Fee: Packages vary, information available on request

Why: Programmes are flexible according to need: beginners, advanced or polo. Half-monthly packages available. “We cater to everyone” says owner Sahr Pirzada. “We encourage families to join together because it’s something they can all participate in.” Children at the end of the 45 minute intensive session often say “it was too short!”

Why not: Chances of waiting list

For frazzled mums

KIDZ CLUB

What: A recreation centre to drop your kids off, let them play and let yourself unwind. Activities include pottery, Taekwondo, dance, art. Facilities include a climbing wall, ball pool, jungle gym, Owl room, media room and two bouncy castles (one indoors and one outdoors).

Who: Children up to ten years of age; parents and grandparents are also welcome to stay.

When: 10am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, Sundays are off except for birthday parties.

Where: D-92, Block 4, Clifton

Tel: [phone]

Fee: Rs5,000 for membership. Hourly rate is Rs250 for the first hour, Rs100 for extra half hours.

Why: For Farhana, the owner, it’s all about fostering independence in the child. “Some children are naturally shy and through our programmes they learn to integrate and socialise with other children; essentially weaning children off their parents.” Hours are flexible (drop in any time between 10am and 8pm). At any point there are at least 4 staff members. A surprise hit with working mothers. WiFi.

Why not: Not a school but not a daycare either.

Or haved fun with the whole family

Arena

What: Arena family entertainment centre not only has the Hit Zone, a 16-lane bowling alley but also Virtual Bowling for younger children. Children also opt for The Orange Octopus which consists of coin-operated rides in loud colours. Summer perks includes free ice-skating till July 31 from Monday to Friday, 11am to 5pm.

Who: All ages

When: Sunday and Thursday 12pm to 1am. Friday to Saturday 12pm to 2am

Where: FEC-01, Habib Ibrahim Rehmatullah Road, main Karsaz

Tel: [phone] to 4, 9924 5264

Fee: Rs350 per head

Why: Music is straight off the charts. (Our correspondent heard Arif Lohar’s and Meesha Saeed’s Coke Studio hit barely a week after it premiered). Other plus factors: Hygienic restaurants, international standard games and activities, and friendly customer service.

Why not: Rs 80 for mushy ice cream? A rip-off in terms of food, but better value for money than Area 51.

Late-night fun

Area 51

What: Bowling alley

Who: All ages

When: 3pm to 12am daily, 3pm to 3am on Saturday

Where: Area 51 Sports Complex, Zulfiqar Street 1, Phase VIII, DHA.

Tel: [phone]

Fee: Rs 300 per head

Why: If bowling alone is enough reason for you to trek to the outskirts of Karachi, sure!

Why not: Refer to above. Also, UV light is particularly revealing for anyone wearing white. Teeth look funny too.

Soak up some history

Mohatta Palace

What: Mohatta Palace Museum, purchased by the Government of Sindh, is devoted to documenting and displaying the fine arts of Pakistan. Current exhibitions include “Tale of the Tile: Ceramic Traditions of Pakistan” and “Birth of Pakistan: a Journey through Pakistan’s Early Years”

Who: All ages

When: Tuesday to Friday 11am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 7pm

Where: Old Clifton road, Karachi

Tel: [phone]

Fee: Rs10 per head

Why: If intricate art, tiles and interactive games and puzzles fail to impress you, then the detailed ceiling will. The Palace was constructed in the style of Rajastani palaces, using pink Jodhpur stone.

Why not: That said, lacking the scale or size of the Lahore Museum or even Lok Virsa means that its exhibitions are few and all temporary.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2010.