The world's ninth largest country is also one of the last great unknowns. 6-year old Arman shows us what we’re missing-and we like what we see.

Few people think of going to Kazakhstan when planning their family holidays. 
I’m not sure why this is, because really, Kazakhstan is one of the most family-friendly places to travel. My mom and I often go back to Almaty to visit our friends and family and I always have a fun time while I’m there. On the first day back, I always ask to go to Park Gorkogo, a big amusement park full of all sorts of popular and exciting rides like the spinning tea cups, a huge ferris wheel, a medieval castle and even a Wild West train ride that takes you on a tour around the park. On top of all that, there is always a ton of fun things see and do at the water park, sport stadium, cinema and zoo. While the kids are off playing, parents can also sit back and relax in one of the many restaurants by the two lakes or go for boat rides.

I also love going to the Mega-Center, an indoor amusement park that has its very own roller-skating rink, playground and caf-¦, making it the perfect place for kids to go crazy in. At another park called Metro, after a nice round of pizza and drinks, my cousins and I like to go go-karting while the uncles play pool and the moms have fun bowling.

If amusement parks are not your thing, don’t worry. There are still a lot of fun activities to do outdoors. My family and I often visit Park Panfilova. Bordered by two cannons at its entrance, the park is home to an old Orthodox church, a museum of Kazakh musical instruments and a war monument dedicated to the 28 heroes of the Panfilov Division who fought against the German army when they tried to take over Moscow during the Second World War. Nearby, a sacred flame remains lit all year-round. When the weather is nice and sunny, I like to play with the other children on the playground in the pine grove while the adults sing karaoke in the square in front of the church. There are also a lot of old men playing chess on park benches, just like here in Beijing!

In the summer, my uncle Timur and my dad take me to the trout farm for a fun boys’ day out. There, we can rent fishing gear and a BBQ set, perfect for cooking all the big trout that we catch! My dad also likes to go hiking with professional mountain guides to the Grand Almaty Lake as well as to the canyons, waterfalls and glaciers, which are very high up. Down in the valley, kids can escape the heat by swimming and splashing in the fountains or soaking their feet in the mountain streams that channel through the city.

On Sunday evenings, my family and I ride a cable car up toward the Kok-Tube hills where there is a playground that is open till late. Once I’ve had my fun (or until we are hungry), my family and I eat at one of the many open-air restaurants perched on top of the slope, perfect for getting a bird’s-eye view of the city. As the sun goes down, it’s always fun to sit and watch as all of Almaty slowly lights up and listen to bands play live music while wrapped in warm blankets that my mom brings just for the occasion. On the way back, my mom likes to glance at art galleries and buy handicrafts from the many stands.

One of the best times to go to Kazkhstan is in the spring when they celebrate the Nauriz New Year. During this time, “yurta,” traditional Kazak houses, and “alty-bakan,” swinging competitions between boys and girls, begin to pop up in all of the big squares of the city. We go to the Old Square where there are tables bursting with Kazak, Uzbek, Dunghan and Russian dishes. It can be really hard to choose! After we’ve eaten, my friends and I run to the park where we can fly kites, ride on camels and watch dance performances or horse parades. Last year, I even got to shake the hand of Almaty’s mayor!

Details:

Stay : Astana International Hotel, US$250 per night
Eat : Feeling brave? Try the Besbarmak. Made with horse meat, it’s a local favorite and means “Five Fingers” because you have to eat it with your hands.