IF YOU happen to have a trip to the National Capital Region, whether for business or for pleasure, and you have an extra day, there are certain areas outside the metropolis you can visit. It’s often advisable to escape the chaos of the urban jungle and see what the nearby destinations can offer.
Here are five places you can consider exploring for a day.
1. Tagaytay
One of the favorite destinations of residents of Metro Manila and vacationers. The cool weather and the scenic view of Taal Lake and Taal volcano are perfect for a brief getaway. Not only that, Tagaytay has many great restaurants and organic farms where diners can eat fresh farm to table dishes. For the religious, Tagaytay is also a place where one can do a pilgrimage, bask at the tranquility of the surroundings and reflect on life, in general.
2. Rizal
Antipolo is a wonderful destination for art lovers because of the many artists living in this city. There are also great restaurants overlooking the metropolis. If you are up for some history and nature, explore Hinulugang Taktak and the nearby caves. Another popular tourist spot in Rizal is the Masungi Georeserve. I missed joining my friends by a day (I arrived in Manila the day after they made a trip to Masungi), which I hope to visit next time I travel to the capital. You can also drive to Jala-Jala, where you’ll see Talim Island in Laguna de Bay.
3. Corregidor
Whenever I have visitors from abroad, I usually bring them to Corregidor Island. It’s a 45-minute ferry ride from Manila. A tour around the island is like going back to the time of WWII. Ruins of barracks and other facilities used by the soldiers still stand as a testament to that tumultuous era in our history. Take a walk through the Malinta Tunnel and be awed by the monuments that hail the heroism of our soldiers.
4. Laguna
It’s not only a fun-filled theme park that you can find in this province. You can also visit the hometown of our national hero, roam the forest in UP Los Baños, refresh yourself in Pagsanjan Falls, or marvel at the beautiful handicrafts and artworks in Paete and other towns in the province.
5. Pampanga
If you want to have a tasty food trip, Pampanga is the place where you can enjoy delectable Filipino food. Pampanga also has some of the beautiful churches in the country. The province even lights up during December with its giant Christmas lanterns while hot air balloons fill its skies in February. For the adventurous, Mt. Pinatubo is a height to scale.
All photos are by this author unless otherwise stated. Claire Marie Algarme blogs at http://firsttimetravels.com. Follow her as @firsttimetravel on Twitter and Instagram and like her Facebook page First-time Travels blog.