Whoever has set foot in Baguio knows that it’s a perfect setting to just be a tourist, when you simply just want to walk, stop by a monument, and move on. No other place is as conducive to relaxation as Baguio, with its chilly air and perpetually foggy atmosphere where sunlight lovingly peaks through. Whether you’re up for a good jog or an aimless stroll, these Baguio City tourist spots should reinvigorate you and keep your spirits high:
Good Taste
Good Taste Cafe and Restaurant is one of the oldest and most popular family-style restaurants in Baguio that should be on your list of food destinations. The restaurant is hard to miss; just take a left turn from the main road circling Burnham Park. The restaurant is likely to be full during holidays and special events, especially during the Panagbenga festival.
Always teeming with tourists and locals, Good Taste restaurant serves beloved Pinoy and Chinese dishes such as pancit, goto and molo soup. Seafood choices are also popular, such as grilled grouper, buttered crab or shrimp, and sweet and sour Lapu-Lapu.
Burnham Park
The eponymous Burnham Park is home to a number of Baguio City’s hotels and sports and leisure facilities. Named after American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham, its city planner, Burnham Park has a tennis and basketball court, a skating rink, a football field, a lake, a playground and garden. Restaurants and eateries surround the area.
Philippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy has been responsible for producing the armed forces’ cream of the crop. It is currently headquartered at Fort Gregorio del Pilar in Loakan Road, where visitors can catch a glimpse of the cadets having their drills or explore the site’s display of old tanks and war machines.
Every noon, the cadets perform their drill, a treat for tourists who haven’t witnessed military marches. When you’ve seen everything, don’t forget to support the troops by taking home some locally made foodstuff and souvenirs.
Navigating the compound could be challenging for tourists with no map or guide in possession, with points of interests are scattered all throughout the area. It is best to hire a taxi to give you an hour’s worth of tour for a very affordable cost.
Bell Church
The Bell Church stands in the boundary to La Trinidad Benguet, which makes it an obligatory stopover for those heading to the Strawberry Farm. The church is known for its towering pagoda and manicured gardens. According to the City of Pines website, the Bell Church has Buddhism-related pieces and books on Chinese history on display.
Strawberry Farm
The Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet is a quick commute or drive away from Baguio City. The strawberry-picking experience costs around P300.00. Numerous stalls can be found at the entrance of the farm that sell steamed corn or strawberry flavored ice cream.
These are just some of the popular points of interests in Baguio, Philippines. If you’re heading up north from Manila, Baguio is the perfect take-off point for your adventure in the Mountain Province.
Featured Image by Sandy Miguel
