No reservation needed
6 roads trips to take this Father's Day
By Inigo Roces
Published Jun 16, 2023 12:51 am
With Father’s Day just a few days away, don’t fret if you haven’t been able to make any plans or reservations yet. It’s not too late to take Dad out on a road trip to show him just how much he’s appreciated. We list down several destinations you can head out to and enjoy various activities. The best part of it all is that no reservations are needed. These locations accept walk-ins.
If you’re caught debating between destinations in the North or South, Tanay is a great tie-braking since it’s in the East. Just past Marikina, Tanay is easily accessed by taking Marcos Highway in Rizal and straight on into the Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon (MaRiLaQue) Highway. This road takes you up the eastern mountain range that grants scenic views that rival those of Baguio with the coast far in the distance. Already a favorite among motorcycle riders, this stretch of road is dotted with little cafes and restaurants that specialize in Bulalo but also serve a variety of dishes. Simply pick one and enjoy it over the cool mountain breeze.
A top destination in the South, Tagaytay is now even more accessible thanks to the new highways that bypass most of the traffic. To get there, take SLEX and turn off at the Binan exit in order to use the new CALAX expressway that bypasses the usual towns. Take CALAX to the end and you will find plenty of signs leading to Tagaytay. This town is nestled on a ridge that overlooks Taal Lake. Being a scenic and cool destination, the ridge is lined with a wide array of restaurants that serve excellent food and likely have a table with a view.
Situated in the North is the former American base, Clark. Over the years, Clark has managed to reinvent itself as a tourist destination with enviable facilities like golf courses, casinos, theme parks, and even waterparks. Simply take NLEX and then SCTEX to find yourself in Clark. Once there, unique attractions like Aqua Planet water park, Clark Safari and Adventure Park or Dinosaurs Island, an animatronic theme park and museum.
In the northwest is another former American Base, Subic Bay. Subic, by contrast, offers more mountainous and seaside terrain but just as many attractions. These include Ocean Adventure marine park and aquarium which features dolphin shows and aquariums packed with a wide array of marine life. There’s Zoobic Safari, animal park that offers safari rides to get up and close with tigers. Those that want some fun in the water need only to drive just a short distance outside of Subic to get to Inflatable Island. It’s a beachside water park that contains inflatable slides, and various fun obstacles floating on the water.
Many have likely heard of the surf capital of Siargao in Mindanao, but there’s a much more accessible spot just a couple hours’ drive away, San Juan, La Union. Now much easier to get to thanks to SCTEX and TPLEX, this surf town features side by side resorts eager to share the stoke that comes from surfing. San Juan is hard to miss as signs of surf resorts line the street. Each one offers boards for rent and plenty of instructors to teach the whole family how to catch a wave and hang loose.
Those looking for a more contemplative experience should head to Angono, Rizal, the artistic capital. This region boasts of the largest concentration of artists in the country and has a bumper harvest of museums only too happy to exhibit their unique artworks. The tour can start with a visit to the Angono street murals along Dona Aurora Street. Then head over to the Blanco museum that features the artwork of Jose ‘Pitok’ Blanco. It’s also worth paying a visit to Angono’s oldest art work, the Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs. These petroglyphs are images carved into the rock side and are believed to date back to 3,000 BC. That sums up some destinations you can drive to and enjoy with no reservation needed. So this Father’s Day, take you Dad out for a drive. There’s no better way to show your appreciation.
Tanay, Rizal
If you’re caught debating between destinations in the North or South, Tanay is a great tie-braking since it’s in the East. Just past Marikina, Tanay is easily accessed by taking Marcos Highway in Rizal and straight on into the Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon (MaRiLaQue) Highway. This road takes you up the eastern mountain range that grants scenic views that rival those of Baguio with the coast far in the distance. Already a favorite among motorcycle riders, this stretch of road is dotted with little cafes and restaurants that specialize in Bulalo but also serve a variety of dishes. Simply pick one and enjoy it over the cool mountain breeze.
Tagaytay, Cavite
A top destination in the South, Tagaytay is now even more accessible thanks to the new highways that bypass most of the traffic. To get there, take SLEX and turn off at the Binan exit in order to use the new CALAX expressway that bypasses the usual towns. Take CALAX to the end and you will find plenty of signs leading to Tagaytay. This town is nestled on a ridge that overlooks Taal Lake. Being a scenic and cool destination, the ridge is lined with a wide array of restaurants that serve excellent food and likely have a table with a view.
Clark, Pampanga
Situated in the North is the former American base, Clark. Over the years, Clark has managed to reinvent itself as a tourist destination with enviable facilities like golf courses, casinos, theme parks, and even waterparks. Simply take NLEX and then SCTEX to find yourself in Clark. Once there, unique attractions like Aqua Planet water park, Clark Safari and Adventure Park or Dinosaurs Island, an animatronic theme park and museum.
Subic Bay, Zambales
Photo from Inflatable Island
In the northwest is another former American Base, Subic Bay. Subic, by contrast, offers more mountainous and seaside terrain but just as many attractions. These include Ocean Adventure marine park and aquarium which features dolphin shows and aquariums packed with a wide array of marine life. There’s Zoobic Safari, animal park that offers safari rides to get up and close with tigers. Those that want some fun in the water need only to drive just a short distance outside of Subic to get to Inflatable Island. It’s a beachside water park that contains inflatable slides, and various fun obstacles floating on the water.
San Juan, La Union
Many have likely heard of the surf capital of Siargao in Mindanao, but there’s a much more accessible spot just a couple hours’ drive away, San Juan, La Union. Now much easier to get to thanks to SCTEX and TPLEX, this surf town features side by side resorts eager to share the stoke that comes from surfing. San Juan is hard to miss as signs of surf resorts line the street. Each one offers boards for rent and plenty of instructors to teach the whole family how to catch a wave and hang loose.
Angono, Rizal
Those looking for a more contemplative experience should head to Angono, Rizal, the artistic capital. This region boasts of the largest concentration of artists in the country and has a bumper harvest of museums only too happy to exhibit their unique artworks. The tour can start with a visit to the Angono street murals along Dona Aurora Street. Then head over to the Blanco museum that features the artwork of Jose ‘Pitok’ Blanco. It’s also worth paying a visit to Angono’s oldest art work, the Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs. These petroglyphs are images carved into the rock side and are believed to date back to 3,000 BC. That sums up some destinations you can drive to and enjoy with no reservation needed. So this Father’s Day, take you Dad out for a drive. There’s no better way to show your appreciation.