About Me
The Short Version
I'm Marcus, a 42-year-old British IT consultant who somehow ended up living in Riyadh with his wife Sara and our three children: Omar (10), Layla (8), and Amina (5). When I'm not debugging enterprise systems, I'm usually debugging family travel plans or mediating disputes over whose turn it is to sit by the window.
This website exists because when we moved to Saudi Arabia in 2021, I couldn't find the kind of honest, practical information about family activities that I actually needed. Most content was either sponsored marketing or written by people who clearly didn't have small children crawling on them while they were trying to enjoy "attractions."
How We Got Here
The move to Saudi Arabia wasn't originally my idea. Sara received a two-year contract offer that was too good to pass up, and I figured I could find remote work. Four years later, we're still here, and the "temporary assignment" has become something closer to home.
The early months were challenging. Three kids under 8 in a new country with a different climate, culture, and entertainment landscape. The first summer nearly broke us. Air conditioning became our religion, and I developed a concerning obsession with identifying shaded playgrounds.
But somewhere along the way, we started actually enjoying this. The entertainment options here have exploded since 2021. Riyadh Season didn't exist when we arrived; now it's a fixture of our family calendar. Jeddah has become our go-to escape. We've driven to Al-Ula, camped in the desert, and discovered corners of this country that most British families never see.
Why I Write These Stories
Every piece on this site comes from actual experience. No one pays me to write about these places (I wish). No tourism board is sponsoring our family trips (though I'm open to offers). What you read here is what actually happened when five humans of varying sizes and temperaments attempted to have fun in Saudi Arabia.
I write because I remember how frustrating it was to plan activities with limited information. I write because other parents have told me these stories helped them. And honestly, I write because documenting our adventures forces me to appreciate them more, even the disasters.
The Rest of the Family
Sara is the organized one. Without her spreadsheets and advance bookings, our family trips would be significantly more chaotic. She also has better taste in restaurants than I do, so trust her recommendations when I mention them.
Omar, our eldest, is at the age where he's simultaneously too cool for family activities and desperately wants to do them. He's our resident expert on anything involving screens, competition, or sugar.
Layla is our picky eater and unexpected adventurer. She'll refuse to try new foods but happily volunteers for any physical activity that looks even slightly risky.
Amina is five going on fifteen. She has opinions about everything and isn't shy about sharing them. She's also the reason we've spent more time at playgrounds than any other type of attraction.