I’m proud to say that my first ever book is completed, and I’m very proud of the result. 27 Things to do in Adana is a 37 page book that can be purchased as an ebook or as a physical book and shipped anywhere in the world.
I believe that this is the best resource in the English Language for things to do in Adana, and I’m very proud of it. I would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word. If you know anyone who is new in Adana, or will be relocating here soon, would you please encourage them to visit www.adanaadventures.com/book ? This would also make a great gift for anyone new to the community.
I also want to mention that I offer a no-questions-asked money back promise. If you’re not 100% pleased with your purchase, I’ll return your money with no questions asked.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions about this product. jakedolson at gmail.com.
One of our favorite things to do in Adana is to get out on a Sunday morning for a nice lazy brunch. There are many places in Adana where you can have brunch. The general format involves multiple tables with a generous selection of cheeses, olives, jellies, jams and honey, bread, pastries, some type of meat like Sucuk (Turkish beef sausage), boiled eggs, omelet bar, fresh veggies, sigara böreği , orange juice, limitless tea and nescafe, some cereals, yogurt and some cold salads. Think the typical Turkish hotel breakfast on steroids.
If you’re new to Adana, you may think that this doesn’t sound very breakfastey. I encourage you to embrace it and enjoy the variety available in Turkish brunches and expand the borders of what you consider breakfast food. I’ve grown to love olives with my breakfast and even an occasional tomato and cucumber.
At a Turkish brunch, you can expect a relaxed atmosphere and no expectation that you’d clear out of your table in a certain time frame. This is meant to be a relaxed time to enjoy a newspaper, a book or company with friends while snacking, nibbling and drinking Tea.
You can expect brunch to run from about 9:30 – 1:00 at most places.
My favorite place for brunch is Ekotepe and my wife’s favorite place is Pastabahçe. You can’t go wrong with either place. Other places to check out would be The Hilton, Mado, Kaktus Park or Bosanlı Hotel.
This post is a part of my “Things to Do in Adana” series. You can purchase my book 27 Things to do in Adana and see a list of all the posts in this series at http://www.adanaadventures.com/book/.
This post is a part of my “Things to Do in Adana” series. You can purchase my book 27 Things to do in Adana and see a list of all the posts in this series at http://www.adanaadventures.com/book/.
Adana Optimum Outlet Mall is Adana’s newest shopping center, and is constantly improving its offering for things to do in Adana. They’ve recently opened a Lazer Tag park that really provides an exciting way to spend an evening with friends.
The playing area is 400 square meters on two floors with a mythological themed interior design. The sound and lighting effects provide a high adrenaline environment and the guns and vests they issue you for use is of a very high standard. The record keeping system for the teams to look at after playing are really fun as well.
I was invited to a birthday gathering where we played Lazer Tag and this was my response; “That was a lot more fun than when I last played laser tag 10 years ago!“ It seemed that everyone (men and women of wide ranging athletic abilities) all had a great time. The Laser Tag area can be found in the “Fun Gate” area on the third floor of Optimum Outlet Mall above the movie theatre, just behind the bowling alley.
The regular price is 10TL per person for 15 minutes, but if you go on Monday, the price is only 5TL for 10 minutes. The low price allowed us to play two games which was just enough action for everyone to get nice and sweaty and to get the competitive juices flowing. I should mention that our group was all young adults (and a few of us older ones), but this would be an appropriate activity for preteens, teens, or adults of all ages. If you’re looking for a great place to have a birthday party, or just a fun night out with friends, I highly recommend Laser Tag at Optimum Outlet Mall. Many of the staff speak English and reservations can be made by calling 0322-333-3407.
TRANSLATION: Across the world, 3 million people play this game every day. Lazer Tag has finally come to Adana
This post is a part of my “Things to Do in Adana” series. You can purchase my book 27 Things to do in Adana and see a list of all the posts in this series at http://www.adanaadventures.com/book/.
If you need to get out of the city without driving for an hour, than an afternoon picnic to Sarıçam picnic area might be just what you’re looking for. Sarıçam Picnic area is about a 20 minute drive from the city center or from Incirlik and we’ve charted out the route for you.
There are not many (or any) services there, but that’s not always necessary. Sometimes all you need is some picnic tables in the middle of a forest and a place to make a fire for hot dogs or hamburgers. If that’s what you’re looking for, I’d suggest a quick trip in the car to Sarıçam Park.
We most recently visited this park on a Saturday in late January, 2011 and this was the assessment: There is a little forest of pine trees right off of a main road with plenty of picnic tables and fire pits where one could make a fire and have a picnic. There are some swings and slides that are pretty beat up, but our kids loved them. On the back side of the picnic area is a wooded valley that seems to have some walking trails through it, although we were unable to explore much. I look forward to getting back there with one of the kids to explore more later in Feb.
Getting there is pretty easy. The key is that you have to get on the Imamoğlu/Kozan road. After that, it’s just a matter of looking out for the signs. Below are directions from Incirlik, but the same directions could be used from the city center, only you’d be traveling East on E5 to the freeway exit.
Directions from Incirlik:
Get on the main highway outside the alley (E5) and go west (toward Adana).
Drive half way to Adana until you get to the road that takes you to the freeway (autobahn). You’ll see green signs that say “Mersin”. Turn north (right).
There are two main exits off of that road before getting to the freeway. You want to take the second exit, which will be on your left. Follow the signs that say “Imamoğlu/Kozan”, which means you’ll go up a few blocks and take a right.
Once you get on that road, you’re home free. You just have to drive 10-15 minutes until you get to a restaurant called Hanım’ın Çiftliği. After that restaurant, you’ll see a little picnic area with a rustic little security shack at the entrance on the right. You’ve arrived.
When you see these signs on the right, you're about 1km away from the destination
Now, it’s possible that at high-season, a city official might be there to charge a small fee, but there was nobody there when we visited. I’d recommend going on Saturday rather than Sunday to avoid the crowds, but if you’re going in winter, even Sundays shouldn’t be too crowded.
If you’ve been out to this spot, please leave your feedback in the comments. I’d love to hear what you thought of it.
Here’s a little video that shows the park in all it’s glory. As I said, nothing super special, but a good place for a picnic
This post is a part of my “Things to Do in Adana” series. You can purchase my book 27 Things to do in Adana and see a list of all the posts in this series at http://www.adanaadventures.com/book/.
If you haven’t been to a Mado cafe in Adana, you’re really missing out. Mado is one of Adana’s best known sidewalk cafes and specializes in Ice Cream. The name “Mado” is a combination of the words “Maraş” and “Dondurma”(Turkish for ice cream. The significance of this is that the city of Karaman Maraş (Maraş for short) is known throughout Turkey for their excellence in Ice Cream making. Maraş ice cream is very different from the ice cream purchased in the stores. It’s much harder, chewier and richer than Ice Cream found in the stores in America, or in Turkey.
If you’ve ever seen one of those guys with a huge stick mixing ice cream in a cold tub, they’re making Maraş Ice Cream. The key ingredients that distinguish Maraş Dondurması from other ice cream are goat’s milk, Salep and Mastic (Sakız in Turkish). The flavors of these aren’t all that prevelant in Turkish Ice Cream, but they certainly influence the texture and make it less prone to melting, it’s thick enough that it’s often eaten with a fork and knife. Dondurma is a big part of Turkish culture; if the only ice cream you’ve eaten in Adana is on a stick from the red Algida coolers, than it’s time for a trip to Mado.
Check out some of the flavors available at Mado (click the picture to see all.)
Mado franchises can be found all over Turkey and even in Switzerland, Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Australia and South Korea. There are four locations in Adana. I’d recommend going to the location in Gazi Pasa. You can get directions by clicking the map below. If you know where the McDonalds by the big Mosque is, you can find Mado quite easily.
Mado also has a great English website, do check it out here. I should also mention that they have some of the best cakes, cheesecakes, and baklava in Adana. But it’s summer, go try the Ice Cream!
This post is a part of my “Things to Do in Adana” series. You can purchase my book 27 Things to do in Adana and see a list of all the posts in this series at http://www.adanaadventures.com/book/.
One might argue that “Adana Kebap” is the pinnacle of Turkish cuisine and that’s debatable, but there is no doubt that it is the most significant food in Adana.
When most Americans think Kebab, they picture meat and veggies grilled on skewers like this
There’s nothing wrong with the American style of Kebab, but when Turks hear Kebap, they think Adana. Adana Kebap. The Adana Kebap is an institution in Turkey. It’s Adana’s pride and joy. Adana Kebap is prepared by packing ground lamb meat and spices (especially ground red pepper) around a shish resembling a sword and cooking it over open coals. It’s served on top of flat bread and usually surrounded by some grilled veggies (see picture.) It’s also accompanied by thinly sliced onions and parsley with paprika. When finished, the Kebap is like a foot long belt of meat. The Kebap is cut into pieces and rolled in the bread with some onions. It’s a wonderful eating experience. I have compared it to meatloaf in the past, but I no longer think it’s a helpful analogy. It’s honestly unlike anything I have ever eaten in Minnesota.
There are many wonderful places to eat Kebap in Adana, and everyone has an opinion about which is best. The bottom line is that if you visit Adana, you have to eat Adana Kebap. If you visit Adana, find a Turkish friend and ask them to take you to their favorite place. If you can’t find anyone, leave me a comment. I’ll take you.
Here’s another good article about an American lady experiencing Adana Kebap for the first time on a first grade field trip.
/this article is a repost of an article I wrote back on Feb 12, 2007, if it looks familiar to you, you’ve been around for a long time./
This post is a part of my “Things to Do in Adana” series. You can purchase my book 27 Things to do in Adana and see a list of all the posts in this series at http://www.adanaadventures.com/book/.
I’m a lover of nature and a lover of Turkish food. I also relish any opportunity to expose my children to the outdoors, to nature and to animals. All of those loves come together beautifully at EkoTepe Organik Çıftliği .
Ekotepe (Ekotepe Ekolojik Yaşam Çıftliği) is an organic farm about 30 minutes north of Adana. On Saturday and Sunday, they put on a brunch from 9:30-1:00. The breakfast could be described as a typical Turkish breakfast with a few outstanding extras (quail eggs, sikma). There are a few choices of cheeses, jams and olives. Honey and Tahini along with fresh bread. Boiled village eggs, omelets with sucuk, dried fruits, yogurt and limitless tea and instant coffee. They also feature fresh sikma ( a rolled Turkish flat bread with cheese inside.) Most products are said to be organic, and if that’s important to you, that’s an added bonus.
The big thing that sets Ekotepe apart from the other brunch places in Adana however is not the food, but the setting. Ekotepe’s restaurant is on the top of a hill surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside scenery you could imagine in Adana. In addition to the scenery, there are a number of animals around to entertain the children… and adults. There are ducks, squirrels, horses, sheep, cows, chickens, quail, geese, peacocks and even a monkey. There’s also a small play area for children and a nice short hiking trail. We even got to pick mulberries off of the trees until our fingers turned purple and our kids tummies were full.
If you need an escape from the city, I recommend visiting EkoTepe before it gets too hot. They also feature a limited lunch menu, which I’m sure is very good. It’s recommended to get reservations, as the place fills up quickly when the weather is nice. Visit Ekotepe’s photo album here. I think you’ll be surprised that such a place exists in Adana.
In order to get there, you simply must get on the Karaisali road north of the Adana Convention Center. Follow that road for about 20 minutes until you get to Salbaş. Ekotepe is about 2 minutes after that little town on the right. You can get a map here.
I should mention that the brunch is a bit expensive. It’s 20 TL. I gladly pay that however, because I know of no other place where I can have such a relaxing experience in nature within a half hour of Adana.
This post is a part of my “Things to Do in Adana” series. You can purchase my book 27 Things to do in Adana and see a list of all the posts in this series at http://www.adanaadventures.com/book/.
Ataturk Park is a beautifully landscaped park in the center of Adana’s Gazipaşa district. This is a wonderful place to take a walk, find a bench and read a book, or even bring the kids for a simple picnic or takeout lunch. In a city like Adana, it’s rare to find a place where you can be in the shade of large trees, but this is one of the best spots. There are also a lot of great fountains and nice children’s park across the street.
Click the map to find Ataturk on Google Maps
I took the kids to Ataturk Parkı last week for a picnic, hear are a couple of my favorite pictures
Note to Parents: If you bring kids to Ataturk Park, I recommend starting out in the main park and walking around, experiencing the green and the fountains and then AFTER the kids get bored, cross Ziya Paşa Boulevard (on the west side of the park) to the big children’s play area (Çocuk Parkı).
According to Wikipedia: Atatürk Park is a 4.7-hectare city park built during the first years of Republic. It is centrally located at the commercial district. The park holds a statue of Atatürk and hosts Public Ceremonies.
This post is a part of my “Things to Do in Adana” series. You can purchase my book 27 Things to do in Adana and see a list of all the posts in this series at http://www.adanaadventures.com/book/.
If you ask foreigners living in Adana to describe their city, I think you’d hear some common words; crowded, polluted, lots of tall buildings and bad traffic would sadly be among the descriptors. Many of the 52 Things to do in Adana focus on little ways that one can get a break from these downsides of big city life. This week’s Adana outing is one of those.
Ducks on the lake at Adnan Menderes Bulvar Walking Trail
Adnan Menderes Boulevard is a nice road that travels along the lake north of the big dam by the university. It’s not only a good place to go for a drive; it’s also good place for a walk, especially in the spring when it’s not too hot and not too cold. Adnan Menderes Boulevard is one of the best spots in Adana to take a long brisk walk or run for exercise (there are over two miles or 5 km of paved trails), or to take a leisurely stroll with kids.
Key Attractions:
Picnic areas on side of the street opposite the lake
5km of paved trails
A nice peninsula that goes out into the middle of the lake with picnic areas, cafes and play areas for kids.
Great views of the lake and surrounding mountains when the air is clear
Countless cafes to sit by the lake and drink tea, smoke nargile or have bicibici
Nice pine forests along the roadside.
Escape from the city without leaving.
Lake breeze in the summer can make it cooler in the super hot summer weather.
Opportunity to see some wildlife (ducks)
Cautions:
Can be very crowded on Sundays
Avoid sketchy looking young people and street dogs
Close to a fairly busy boulevard. (traffic noise)
A bit littered and unkempt
Getting there: To get there, you just have to find access to the river or lake and travel north until you find a good place north of the dam by the university to park. Click on the map below to find your way there using Google Maps.
The Play Area was nothing special, but the kids like it all the same
This post is a part of my “Things to Do in Adana” series. You can purchase my book 27 Things to do in Adana and see a list of all the posts in this series at http://www.adanaadventures.com/book/. This week, I say, go to the Yüreğir Çarşısı. (Çarşı =central shopping area)
Yüreğir is the district of Adana west of the Seyhan River. The Hilton, the Optimum Outlet Mall, Çükarova University are notable landmarks in Yüreğir.
My Dad and I at the Yuregir Carsisi
The reason I want to suggest going to The Yüreğir Çarşısı this week is because spring has sprung, and from what I can tell, this is an area that specializes in Agricultural stuff. This is where I go if I want to look for stuff for my balcony garden and the garden I’ll be planting at our summer house.
I went there with some friends the other night and we experienced what we might call a yin and yang night in Adana. We spent about an hour walking through the Yüreğir Çarşısı, a very traditional part of the city, and then spent an hour in Adana Optimum Outlet; the most modern corner of Adana. Very different, but both very distinctly Adana.
So Why would you go there and what might you expect to find? Here are my top ten reasons to go to Yüreğir Çarşısı:
To experience the crowed Çarşı experience on a much smaller scale than downtown Adana
To buy vegetable, fruit trees or herb seedlings
To buy garden tools
To buy seeds or bulbs to direct so in pots or gardens
To practice your Turkish with the vendors
To go to the big fruit and veggie bazaar. It’s there every day, so if it’s not bazaar day in your neighborhood, you can go there to get fruits and veggies at bazaar prices.
To take a walk across the stone bridge without having to park in the super busy Downtown Adana.
To take pictures
To buy a kerosene lamp. (I’ve seen them there, and if I ever need one, I know where to get it)
To buy birdseed.
I bought a kilo of oninos and green onions to plant plus a bag of bird seed for 5TL. All of the seedlings above were purchased for 10TL. Can you guess identify them?
How to do it: The Hilton is one of the most prominent landmarks in the city. Go to the Hilton and find parking near there. If you want to make it super easy, just park in the Hilton’s paid parking lot. Imagine that you’re walking out the front door of the Hilton: the Yüreğir Çarşısı is across the road and to the right a bit (South.) Walk across the road and start exploring. Another way to think of it is basically right across from the Yüreğir side of the stone bridge.
You’ll see a crowded street with vendors on both sides of the road, and lined up along the side of the road are hundreds and hundreds of seedlings for vegetable, flower and herb plants, that are ready to sow in a pot on your balcony or in your yard. Walk down that road until you come to a big vegetable bazaar and that’s the end of it. There you have it, the real Çarşı experience without getting lost or walking around aimlessly for 4 hours. Pretty awesome. Now if you cross the road and go toward the stone bridge, you’ll see some green houses down by the river. It’s a great place to buy a fruit tree. I bought a fig tree there years ago that’s still growing on my balcony. Check out the stone bridge while you’re at it.
I believe that this is the best resource in the English Language for things to do in Adana, and I’m very proud of it. I would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word. If you know anyone who is new in Adana, or will be relocating here soon, would you please encourage them to visit www.adanaadventures.com/book ? This would also make a great gift for anyone new to the community.
If you’ve ever seen one of those guys with a huge stick mixing ice cream in a cold tub, they’re making Maraş Ice Cream. The key ingredients that distinguish Maraş Dondurması from other ice cream are goat’s milk, 
