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Local travel destinations you can hit on a long weekend
Long weekends are a great opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
While some prefer snuggling up and binge-watching their favorite series, others would rather get out and tick some places off their travel bucket list. Are you looking to spend your upcoming rest days doing the latter?
Whether traveling with friends, family, or by yourself, you can explore plenty of awe-inspiring places. Here are some local travel spots you can visit for a quick adventure.
Minalungao National Park in Nueva Ecija
Want to spend some time with nature? Located in Gen. Tinio Nueva Ecija, Minalungao National Park is a protected area enacted in 1967 under Republic Act No. 5100. It’s known for its clean flowing river, towering rock formations, clean and peaceful environment as well as the high limestone walls on both sides leading to a cave.
Tinipak River in Daraitan, Tanay Rizal
Known as one of the top tourist destinations in Rizal Province, Daraitan features a trekking destination nestled within Sierra Madre—the longest mountain range in the Philippines. You can enjoy camping, river trekking, rock climbing, and swimming—all with the beauty of rivers, mountains, and rock formations serving as the perfect backdrop in your snaps.
La Jolla Luxury Beach Resort in Bagac, Bataan
The resort is a hidden gem in the western tip of Bataan that boasts a 60-hectare tropical estate. The place captures the hearts of its visitors as it only takes them a few steps before they reach a secluded beach offering a breathtaking view of the setting sun.
La Jolla Luxury Beach Resort has a welcoming mood, thanks to its friendly staff and natural sceneries. It also has lots of facilities that can give you a relaxing time, such as its infinity pool and massage area.
Cavite
Looking for a quick escape? Cavite houses fascinating historical sites such as Aguinaldo Shrine, Bonifacio Trial House, and the famous Corregidor Island. There are also hiking spots, including Mt. Pico de Loro, and swimming spots like Malibiclibic Falls and Balite Falls for the adventurous.
Even a few unspoiled beaches in Cavite are less busy than those in neighboring Batangas, such as Caynipa Cove, Paniman Beach, and Boracay de Cavite.
A river trip down the calm Maragondon River is also a must-try.
Tagaytay
Another vacation-worthy destination near the metro is Tagaytay. It’s been a popular go-to place for long weekend getaways for years, and we totally get why.
Tagaytay has so many activities you can do for some fun and excitement. You can visit the People's Park in the Sky to enjoy the chilly weather from the highest point in the city and simply be in awe of the beauty of Taal Volcano along with its other picturesque views.
For kids and kids at heart, Skyranch is for you. It’s a leisure area with a mini amusement park featuring the Sky Eye—one of the biggest Ferris wheels in the country.
You can explore the Mahogany Market, which has been a go-to place for locals and visitors when it comes to treats and pasalubong. You can also enjoy some bulalo in Tagaytay at affordable prices when you get hungry.
Subic, Zambales
Subic, Zambales offers visitors a lot—from beach resorts, recreational places, and theme parks.
One of them is the Inflatable Island. This 4,200-square-meter spot is the first floating playground in Southeast Asia and the biggest in the continent, with different inflatable attractions like a giant swing and slide as well as giant trampolines in the water.
Apart from Inflatable Island, there’s also Ocean Adventure, which offers tourists an extensive list of water activities, such as swimming, interacting with sea animals, and an extensive collection of marine life.
If you want to see some wild and exotic animals up close, Zoobic Safari is for you. The park has areas for different creatures, such as bearcats, camels, wild cats, birds, reptiles, and many more. A must-try experience in Zoobic Safari is feeding the tigers from a protected vehicle.
Pampanga
Pampanga, approximately two hours from Manila, is a fantastic weekend getaway destination for its historical attractions, theme parks, and regional food.
It is home to several historic churches, which are considered national treasures. These include Betis Church of Guagua, the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando, and San Guillermo Church of Bacolor.
Foodies will surely enjoy Pampanga, dubbed the "Culinary Capital of the Philippines," where most of the all-time crowd favorites—including sisig, tocino, and kare-kare—originated. If you want to try some mouthwatering Kapampangan dishes, you can visit some of the well-known “old kitchens of Pampanga,” such as Atching Lilian Borromeo’s Kitchen, Kabigting’s Halo-Halo, Susie’s Cuisine, and Everybody’s Café.
BONUS: Danasan Eco Adventure Park in Cebu
Not exactly a road trip if you're coming from Manila, but if you're up for some thrilling adventures, Danasan Eco Adventure Park in Danao City, Cebu is for you. This park offers a 2-kilometer ATV ride where you can try one of the bumpiest roads you can ever experience, a 700-meter curve trail with three laps of go-karts, a 440-meter-long zipline, and horseback riding. While doing these, you also witness Danasan’s beautiful, lush green mountain view.
Are you game for some extreme action? Try its Sky Bike and feel the cold breeze up in the sky. Want to have fun with water? The park also has kayaking and fish-feeding activities for a break from all the extreme rides.
Other activities in the park include wall climbing, wakeboarding, caving, tyrolean, and rappelling, among others.
Happy long weekend, everyone!
