5 spots to check out on your next road trip, right in Singapore

The weekend is here, and once again, you might feel at a loss for things to do. It would be way too easy to just waste the weekend doing home chores, innumerable errands, and work-related activities. But that's not what the weekend is all about, is it? I spy with my little eye...a road trip! Just because Singapore is tiny (it's smaller than New York City!) doesn't mean you've seen all of it. And if the urge to roam tickles your fancy, there's no need to go to Malaysia or fly somewhere else, especially if the clock is ticking. If all you have to work with is the weekend, a fun road trip within Singapore might just be the thing to help you escape the weekday blues. We've looked around and found some really cool spots in Singapore for you to explore on your next road trip. You can check them all out in one day, or you can take your time and explore these little hidden-in-plain-sight gems whenever you feel like getting on the road and getting away.

1. Kranji Marshes 

[caption id="attachment_110310" align="aligncenter" width="703"] Kranji Marshes/Facebook[/caption]

If you long for some fresh air and a walk in a fantasy woodland, drive past the Choa Chu Kang cemeteries and head for Kranji Marshes, one of Singapore's newest nature parks and bird sanctuaries. With its rounded mounds and grassy knolls, doesn't it remind you a bit of the Shire in the Lord of the Rings, all green and peaceful (sans the hobbits)?

[caption id="attachment_110320" align="aligncenter" width="716"] Kranji Marshes/Facebook[/caption]

At Kranji Marshes, see if you can catch an elusive sunrise or watch a dramatic sunset. The views are golden and very worth the drive. If landscape viewing is not your thing, why don't you bring your camera, art supplies or a book and get creative?

[caption id="attachment_110318" align="aligncenter" width="716"] Kranji Marshes/Facebook[/caption] You can also go the active way and set off on a walk, a jog or a bike ride along the trail provided, or you can really be like a hobbit and feast to your heart's content, all while picnicking on the lush grass and wooden benches.

Address: 11 Neo Tiew Lane 2, Singapore 718814

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7AM-7PM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kranjimarshes/

 

2. South Buona Vista Road and Kent Ridge Park 

[caption id="attachment_110394" align="aligncenter" width="707"] South Buona Vista Road/Youtube screengrab[/caption]

Enjoy an exciting (but safe!) drive through Singapore’s most challenging “mountain” road,  South Buona Vista Road, which has a whopping 99 turns for the adventurous daredevil in you.

[caption id="attachment_110336" align="aligncenter" width="705"] South Buona Vista Road/Youtube screengrab[/caption]

From there, a small road will lead you to Kent Ridge Park, where beautiful hiking trails, a tree-lined canopy walk, an old military tank, lovely rivers and interesting views of the busy Pasir Panjang Port await.

[caption id="attachment_110337" align="aligncenter" width="681"] Kent Ridge Park/Facebook[/caption]

In Kent Ridge Park, which is a more peaceful alternative to Mount Faber, there is something for the adventurous, the peace-seekers, and everyone in between.

Address: Vigilante Dr, Singapore 118176 

Hours: Open 24 hours

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kent-Ridge-Park/138636012826890

3. Tuas and Raffles Marina Lighthouse

[caption id="attachment_110408" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Raffles Marina Lighthouse/Youtube screengrab[/caption]

Go on a leisurely drive to the westernmost tip of the island to Tuas. You might write it off as nothing but an area full of industrial parks, but there's more to it than meets the eye.

[caption id="attachment_110406" align="aligncenter" width="747"] Raffles Marina Lighthouse/Youtube screengrab[/caption]

Let's not forget that the picturesque Raffles Marina Lighthouse, also called Johore Straits Lighthouse, is there, too. Overlooking the Tuas Second Link - Singapore's second causeway to Malaysia, this 12-metres high lighthouse flashes every 10 seconds with a beam that reaches 15 metres long.

[caption id="attachment_110409" align="aligncenter" width="744"] Raffles Marina Lighthouse/Youtube screengrab[/caption]

Walk down the pier to the lighthouse to watch the sunset and see the lighthouse turned on as it grows dark. Take your camera, GoPro or mobile phone with you for some beautiful and memorable panoramic views of the lighthouse.

Address: 10 Tuas West Dr, Singapore 638404

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7AM-12AM

Website: https://www.rafflesmarina.com.sg/about/group-1/rm-lighthouse.html

 

4. Keppel Island

[caption id="attachment_110415" align="aligncenter" width="698"] Keppel Island/Youtube screengrab[/caption]

Drive to Keppel Island to see a different side of Singapore and make sure your mobile phone is charged and ready because you will want to use it to capture some ultra-cool, Instagram-worthy shots. The coastal area has stunning views of Singapore’s southern shore.

[caption id="attachment_110414" align="aligncenter" width="692"] Keppel Bay/Youtube screengrab[/caption]

Keppel Island has some amazing backdrops fit for any occasion. The serene Labrador Coastal Walk, with its three lookout decks, is one of the best places in Singapore to witness the sunset.

[caption id="attachment_110411" align="aligncenter" width="758"] Labrador Coastal Walk/Youtube screengrab[/caption] Another amazing spot on Keppel Island is the 330-metre long coastal boardwalk that offers three different viewpoints - Keppel Island and its gorgeous blue waters, Bukit Chermin hill's lush greenery, and the rocky cliffs of nearby Sentosa Island. [caption id="attachment_110412" align="aligncenter" width="710"] Bukit Chermin Boardwalk/Youtube screengrab[/caption]

Here's a free tip for you - on Fridays and Saturdays, you can steal over-the-harbour views of Universal Studios' fireworks show, free of charge.

 

Address: Keppel Island, Singapore

Hours: Open 24 hours

Website: http://www.marinakeppelbay.com/