EXPLORING BAGUIO CITY: THE SUMMER CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES

 

What comes to your mind when you think of Baguio City, also known as the City of Pines? It is considered by some tourists to be the best vacation destination in the Philippines due to its cold temperatures ranging from 14 ° C to 25 ° C. Baguio City, known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, has a plethora of tourist attractions to offer travelers. And, because of the wonderful tourist destinations in Baguio City, tourists tend to feel like they're in another country. The best part about traveling in the Philippines is that everyone, whether a tourist or a local, will always welcome you with great enthusiasm.

Last October, my lovely family and I traveled to Baguio. And the experience in Baguio is still fresh in my mind. It is quite convenient if you have a family car and would like to travel to another city. However, I can absolutely guarantee you that taking a bus or van is an unforgettable adventure and experience. Furthermore, the quality of buses traveling to Baguio has already improved. Our bus passed along Kennon Road, which is regarded as one of the most dangerous roads in the Philippines. I sat near the bus's windows so I could enjoy the stunning scenic views on the way up to Baguio. A scary feeling from the stiffness of the road vanished when I saw the beautiful sunrise along the mountains of Baguio City. Since it is the rainy season, I also have seen a huge and magnificent rainbow on our way up to Baguio.

 

WHERE TO STAY IN BAGUIO CITY

 

One thing I love in this city is how hospitable and pleasant the people are. As soon as we arrive at the bus station, some tourist guides offer us hotels and houses where we can stay as tourists and travelers. They also provide us with a family car that we can use to travel around the city. They first dropped us off at the house where we would be staying. We stayed in one of the houses in Camp Allen, Baguio City. Heading up to the house where we'd be staying is a bit exhausting, but once you see the picturesque landscape view of Baguio City, the sunset, and the morning fog, you'll feel a deep sense of awe and excitement in this city.

Since Baguio attracts a large number of tourists on a daily basis, there are numerous hotels and houses where you can stay and pay rent.   However, since some of the hotels in Baguio are expensive, you can find dorms, rooms, or homestays in some of the main streets that are less expensive than high-end hotels. Some of these hotels and inns are near Baguio City's tourist destinations, which is why some tourists choose the hotels listed below.

• · NYC Manhattan Suites - Free Wifi, Breakfast Included, and Free Parking

# 37 Sepic St. Campo Filipino, Baguio ,Benguet Philippines(02) 404 4784 - reservations @manhattansuitesbaguio.com

 

_{Photo by Nyc Manhattan Suites}

 

• · Grand Sierra Pines Hotel - Free Wifi, Breakfast Included, Good Accommodation

     # 43 North Outlook Drive, Benguet. Baguio Philippines         (+6374) 245 3923 - info@sierrapinesbaguio.com

 

_{Photo by Grand Sierra Pines Hotel}

 

• · Metro Pines Inn - Free Wifi, Free Parking, Family Room

     # 20 Otek St. Benguet, Baguio Philippines         (074) 424 7722

_{Photo by Metro Pines Inn}

 ·

 

WHERE TO GO IN BAGUIO CITY

Burnham Park is one of the most well-known parks in the city., it is located along Harrison Road. Burnham Park has no entrance and is open to everyone, open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. This is famous and one of the favorite places of both locals and tourists. Burnham Park has 12 designated clusters, including Burnham Lagoon, Children's Playground, Orchidarium, Picnic Grove, and many others where you can enjoy a lot of activities. You can enjoy many activities here, such as the most popular activity in this park, 'biking,' in which there are many bicycles available for rent at such a low and affordable price. My cousin and I went 'biking' in the park; we rented it for a fair price and used it for 10-20 minutes. We biked around Burnham Park, my cousin challenged me to race with him, but I couldn't keep up with him because he was so fast.

 

^{Photo by Eric Jaz Foodies}

Boating on Burnham Lake is also available. During the rainy season, you may encounter dense fog while boating. Renting a boat, as far as I recall, costs Php 60.00 per hour, and if you need a larger boat, I think it costs Php 100 per hour. You could even eat here in the park; a picnic would be perfect for your family. And there will always be food in every location throughout the park. If you just want to relax here in Burnham Park and enjoy the breeze of Baguio City, the orchids and different types of flowers can be seen everywhere, especially the wonderful huge pine trees here in the park.

If you're gonna visit Baguio City, you shouldn't forget Camp John Hay. It can be found in Loakan Road, Baguio. There are so many activities that you can do and enjoy here. One of these is Treetop Adventure, wherein you can experience an adventurous and enjoyable zipline of this place. You can see different kinds of trees, like pine trees, and the whole view of this place. If you're not into that extreme ride, then you can visit Bell House inside the Camp, it is a great place for you to relax and sit while enjoying the surroundings. Your entrance fee includes access to the Cemetery of Negativism

^{Photo by Camp John Hay}

Another tourist spot that you can't miss here in Baguio City, is the Strawberry farm in La Trinidad. Every tourist can't miss this tourist spot in their itinerary. The locals here said that the strawberry picking season here is from November to May. The place has no entrance, but you have to pay for the strawberry picking activity. It is the best experience that you can do here in Baguio. We didn't get a chance to go there, but maybe it's you who can go here the next time!

Ukay-ukay and thrift shops are popular in Baguio City; that night, we visited every ukay-ukay store along Session Road. It was still a fun experience because we got to see the rain and fog along Baguio City's Session Rod. I remember having trouble trying to decide what to buy because there were so many different types of windbreakers, jackets, ukay-ukay shirts, and even shoes. I didn't even get tired of walking around the night market because of what we were seeing from every side of the market. It's also hard to decide what to eat, such as street foods, rice meals, and seafood. We also consider taking in its stunning night view of Baguio City.

WHERE TO EAT IN BAGUIO CITY

Waking up in Baguio in the morning seems to be very relaxing and calming because of the cold weather, as well as the view of the beautiful sunset and houses here in Baguio City. We had lunch at Good Taste Cafe & Restaurant, which is located at Otek St. & Carino St. and is also near Burnham Park. It is a restaurant where you can eat in large groups or with your family at one table. They have a wide selection of menus, including rice meals, chicken, and kinds of seafood. Since Baguio City has so much to offer, each restaurant serves a different type of Filipino and also Chinese cuisine. Try their best selleing buttered chicken! And you will never, ever regret it.

Try and look for more restaurants and eateries when you get here in Baguio City, and I am very sure that there are more foods in the city that really are worth trying. I tried searching for other restaurants and food that you can try when you get here in Baguio City. If you want something new and fancy style of dining ins, you can try the Hill Station, which is located at Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road, Baguio City. Their dishes are inspired by European and American Flavors. It is best for your date nights, you can take or surprise your partner with this cozy dining restaurant. They are also offering catering services and access in their Function Halls. This is best for party celebrations, debuts, wedding preparation, and other special occasions.

^{Photo by Hill Station}

I also found this restaurant good for vegans and vegetarians. The Oh My Gulay is located in 5/F, La Azotea Building, Session Road, Baguio. And there's more! This is more than just a restaurant, it is an art space designed like an indoor garden with works of artist Victor Oteyza.

^{Photo By Oh My Gulay}

When traveling, it is essential to be aware of the local weather. Because of the heavy rain on our second day in Baguio, we ended up staying in a house where we are staying. Due to the weather, we have been unable to visit any other tourist destinations in the city. But we didn't end up wasting our time by staying at home by doing nothing. Even though it's raining, we go over to the nearby market to get some food and drinks. We decided to make and ate Samgyeopsal in our houses, and we also decided to have a family movie night together. Even if you are just into your hotels or inns, you can do a lot of things enjoying the cozy feeling and vibe of Baguio City. There are so many places to visit here that we didn't get a chance to see.

One day, or perhaps in the future, I will come back to Baguio to recreate our journey and make new memories in that city. But, for the time being, I will cherish and never forget that trip to Baguio. One to two days wouldn't be enough for you to visit all of the tourist attractions in Baguio City. I can absolutely guarantee you that you will not be disappointed if you visit this city.