Things we loved in Ubud and Sanur
One of the best parts about living in China was the ease with which we could travel around Asia. Although we are now back living in the US, Bali is definitely one I would brave the long flights to return to. It has hillside jungles, beautiful wide beaches, great restaurants and fun outings to experience. The culture and art of Bali is deep and rich, with beautiful flower arrangements and intricate hand carvings on display throughout the towns. We loved the friendly laid-back feeling and is a unique and fun place to explore with kids.
Here were some of our favorites to visit during our Indonesian trip in the Fall of 2015.
Ubud
Ubud is a busier town in Bali known for its beautiful rice paddies, lush vegetation, and its yoga scene.
We stayed in a home rental nearby town, so we were within walking access to most of the restaurants and shops. Many hotels and rentals just outside of town are still walkable and give you that in-the-jungle feel you see so often in photos, so it’s hard to go wrong. Just be sure to bring lots of bug spray as the mosquitos are definitely out and about in the area.
Here’s where we had fun.
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary was one one of our favorite stops in Ubud. Located right next to town, it’s a fun place to walk through to see lots of Macaque monkeys freely walking and swinging about. After entering, there are pathways that take you through the sanctuary to spend as much time spotting the monkeys as you’d like.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
The Campuhan Ridge Walk begins just outside of town and is a beautiful, easy walk through the rice paddies and fields. At the top, there are a few cafes, restaurants and art galleries to take a break and enjoy the views. It is a bit sun exposed, so definitely bring hats and plenty of water.
Yoga Class
Take a Yoga Class! Yoga enthusiasts from all over the world come to Bali, and specifically Ubud, for teacher training, retreats and to practice in such a beautiful location. There are multiple options for yoga classes, with Yoga Barn being the biggest and busiest in Ubud. We visited Intuitive Flow Studio and had lunch at the Yellow Flower Cafe after, making the morning a peaceful time recharge alone or a great date with a yoga-enthused kid.
Traditional Dance Performance
Seeing a Traditional Dance Performance was a fun night out and very exciting to watch. There are a few to choose from and we saw the one at Ubud Palace. It was a late night and we all were enthralled with the seeing culture and traditions of Bali onstage, especially the fire tricks.
Mount Batur
Take a ride to Mount Batur, an active volcano about an hours drive to Bali. If you are traveling with older kids – if you are comfortable – consider renting a motorbike for this trip to experience the little towns you’ll drive through to get a sense of the culture and daily life, which adds something special to the trip.
Sanur
After our Ubud adventures we wanted to hang at the beach and Bali has many, many options to choose from, depending on activities and feel.
We chose Sanur because of its low-key, low-surf, kid friendly beaches and its main street that’s walkable from the beach with a ton of restaurants and cafes. For a busier vibe check out the areas around Seminyak. For surfing, we’re told the best beginner’s spots are in Nusa Dua, although there seems to be great surf spots all around.
Here’s what we loved.
The Beachside Path
Along the beach there is a paved path that is great for walking and biking. We rented bikes with child seats and biked daily to check out new areas, watch the boats and enjoy different areas of the beaches. The path is lined with small hotels and cafes, so you can grab a snack along the way too.
Wandering around town
Just up from the beach are the main streets of JaIan Danau Tambligan and Jalan Danau Poso. There are many shops with handcrafted items and great local and interesting restaurants to choose from. Try to stay in a hotel or rental that is within walking distance both to the beach and the main town so it’s an easy walk back and forth from the best spots in town.
Water Sports
Although not a great spot for surfing, paddle boarding is very fun here and great for kids because of the calm waters. There are a few rental shops and vendors along the beach for boards. Want more adventure? Try kitesurfing – the strong winds and low surf make it an ideal spot to test it out.
Turtle Conservation and Education Center
A short ride away, on Serangan Island, houses a small animal center with a focus on educating the local community on the importance of preserving the environment for sea turtles and ending the sea turtle trade, which is a significant problem in southeast Asia and China. Kids can see turtles up close and interact with baby turtles for a really fun experience. When we visited, there were other animals to see such as snakes and lizards. Although not fancy, this center is dedicated to animal support and preservation which we are always happy to support.
We would very happily visit Bali again (and again!) to experience the beautiful culture, landscape and beaches.
There are many towns to explore and it would be a fun one to road trip though a bit to get a fuller sense of the small towns on the island. Its laid-back vibe and space for hiking and swimming makes it a good one to bring the kids.
