We are right now in Chennai and enjoying the 20 C weather Chennai calls winter. We have been regulars here and Kuttyma has her routines set. She has her favourites all figured out and is religiously making sure she visits all of them.

Top 5 favorite destinations in and around Velachary as decided by kuttyma are

Funcity, Phoenix Mall, Velachery

Buy tokens and play your heart out. The place tends to get crowded and loud on weekends. But heading to the air-conditioned indoor area is a treat for mommy as I get to shop while she forlics. And let us not forget the Pinkberry indulgence. On the flip side, this place gets crazy crowded on holidays and expensive.

We have also been to the Funcity in Express Mall and it is a favorite too

Kids Day Out, Velachery

While Funcity caters to people of all ages, Kids Day Out is meant for preschoolers. Themed indoor playareas designed to inspire imaginative roleplay. Lot of fun. Ideally suited for kids 2-6. It has slowly been falling out of favour mainly because she keeps going there frequently.

They also cater birthday parties and close the place for private parties. So call them ahead before you head out.

Snake Park/Zoological Park

These Government run Parks are little worn-out  and I get quite upset at the pathetic conditions the animals live in. But the zoo and snake park are great places to learn and enjoy the outdoors. The children’s playground seems to have had a recent facelift and looks good (but check for safety before you let your kids run around). Pack a simple picnic, slather yourself with mosquito repellant and enjoy the shaded gardens smack in the middle of the city. Share the extensive and clean gardens with kids running around, deer begging and demanding food and couples who seem to be glued to the benches.

The trees in the garden are totally worth taking a look at. I wonder what stories they can tell

Elliots Beach

Weekend mornings at the Elliots Beach are fun. We ignore the dirty sands littered with everything from plastics to yesterday’s dinner as much as we could and enjoy the water on our feet.

Book World Lending Library

This is a hole in the wall kind of place with shelves sagging under the weight of books. A major fire hazard waiting to happen. But kuttyma loves it here. She spends hours reading books with her grandma and borrows some for another day. The kids collection of books is quite extensive. You can find anything from Dr.Seuess to Disney. The adult collection is not shabby either.

All you need is the ability to dig through the layers. They have quite a few branches but we frequent the one on the 100 feet road.

So what are some other kid-friendly places in Chennai that I should try?