Vigan with kids

Sightseeing Vigan with kids is so great because you hire a kalesa and take it everywhere you go. So the sights are broken up with kalesa ride (= shade, breeze, rest and a ride!) and kids don't even realize they are sightseeing. Kalesa rental is 150 php/hour from Called Crisologo (the main old, Spanish street). We did 4 hours. Things we enjoyed seeing with kids:

1) Bantay Belfry and St. Augustine Church. Climb up belfry and see views of the hills surrounding Vigan - beautiful. There's even a cemetery perched on the hill faraway. I loved the grounds of St. Augustine Church, particularly the quiet, Chapel by the Ruins garden. Along the exterior walls of it, you can light a candle here with a prayer for peace.

2) Ilocos Sur National Museum (now in the provincial jail where Pres. Quirino was born). This was a good break for kids because indoors and air-conditioned. Shows important parts of Ilocos Sur livelihood like agricultural tools and pottery. I loved this tapestry of embroidery showing local life on a woven blanket. Large paintings showing Ilocos Sur's history. There is also a series of paintings showing Ilocos Sur's history. 

 3) Jar factory (Type of pottery is called Burnay). I think there are a lot around but the one we went to was RG jar factory. They had tons of very big, decorative jars on display. Kids got to try throwing their own jars on a big wheel (for a tip) and see the huge kiln the pottery is fired in  (I want to say 30 metres long). Look at these miniature cooking jars that would be fun for a kids play kitchen if they weren't so breakable.

4) Abel weaving
Ask Kalesa driver to take you to see the weavers. The ones we saw were Cristy's and Rowilda's (in the same countryside neighborhood outside of Vigan). Both were great and had people working at the looms when we visited so kids could see and watch. Both had cool products to buy. (But if you can only do one, I would choose Rowilda's only bc products were a bit cooler and seemed more unique to Vigan. Christy's products I felt you could find in Manila).

 Rowilda's

 Cristy's 

Cristy's

5) Crisologo Street
The earlier in the day to walk here the better. We walked there at dusk and it was much more crowded than in the morning. Look at these fun wooden products for kids' dollhouses. And we tried Vigan empanadas at Irene's on Calle Crisologo (one of the famous empanada places).

6) Lights and music fountain show on Plaza Salcedo in the evening. You watch from bleachers (or standing) around the fountain. But there is also a section of fountains coming out of the ground where kids can run around. On the ground, there is also a map of the Philippines projected with lights that is fun for the kids to run on.

Sagada with Kids

Stayed at a private rental cabin. Had 1 and 1/2 full days there, would have loved at least 2 full days. 

Places to Eat:

Lemon Pie House: Nice to do after Sumaguing Cave bc it is close to there. Fun place to eat, all wooden. Filipino dishes like chicken curry and spicey red chicken and rice. Kids loved the fried chicken, and the breakfast dishes which we had for lunch - hot dogs (red) and eggs. Known for it's lemon pie. Oh and I almost forgot the kiddie tables inside and outside on the porch- wood carved tables and chairs in kid-size- the kids loved. 

Strawberry Café: Kids liked it here because they have pancakes that have strawberry and blueberry jam. Strawberry plants growing outside. Rest of food was Filipino (like Adobo and Rice), they did have a good garden salad.

Loghouse Cabin: Cozy cabin atmosphere. Menu of Western food like potatoes and meat. Delicious breakfasts of omelettes/pancakes with local jam/bacon. Gets very busy and  has limited seats, closes when it wants to- reserve ahead (by pre-ordering). They sell local jams made by a lady from Baguio who comes to Sagada to make and sell Jam made from locally grown strawberries, mulberries and blueberries (Filipino blueberries)- depending on the season. Which reminds me, there’s a market every Saturday in Sagada where you can buy these fruits in season.

Yoghurt Café: Known for it’s yoghurt esp. granola and yoghurt parfaits. Kids loved the strawberry lassi. Serves salads, pastas and sandwiches- not super easy with kids. But yummy food and ingredients.

Masferre: Didn’t eat here but had varied menu of Filipino food and western food. Also gets busy (we were turned away twice). Has black and white photos/portaits of Igorot people taken by photographer Masferre that were interesting to see.

To do:

All tourists need to register at the tourist office, 35 php/person age 10 and up (environmental fee). The tourist office was so helpful with a great information sheet/map of all the activities. I just asked her what we could do with kids and she told me. For any activity, you hire a guide at the tourist office.

Sumaguing Cave: You can just see the entrance of the cave by walking down stairs for 5 min. Or go in. Did the short hike with kids, one hour in and one hour out. Guide was 500 php for up to 4 people. No entrance fee. Babies/toddlers allowed but best with a carrier/backpack. Guide is definitely invaluable for telling you where to step. Rock is rough, wet and slippery, there are steep parts. Pitch black except for the guides lantern. First part can be overstimulating for kids because of darkness, mud, slippery rock, rocks covered in bat droppings, air smells like bat droppings. Second half is more fun/enjoyable. You take off your shoes and walk on smoother rock  and shallow pools. Guide really does carry your kids quite a bit. You see cool rock formations.  Way out is just the same way going in. Steep parts where you hold onto a rope to climb up, or climb on tires.

Sugong Hanging Coffins and Lumiang Burial Cave: you can see from the road going to Sumaguing Cave. Lumiang cave you can hike down to the entrance (15 min). On this road you also see the Balugan Rice Terraces- beautiful!

Echo Valley Hike:  20-30 min down and 20-30 min back. Hire a guide at tourist office (200 php) and walk from the tourist office. You get to a part where you can view the hanging coffins (make echoes here) or walk further down until you are right up to the coffins.

Sagada Pottery: Demonstration for 100 pesos per group. The clay is local to Sagada. Kids can try the pottery wheel for 100 php/kid.

Other things with kids (wish we had more time to do them!):

Sagada Weaving: Further past Sagada Pottery

Watch sunset from Lake Danum: Don’t need a guide for this. It’s past Sagada Pottery and Weaving, 20 minutes total from tourist office.

Eco-Hike: 3 hours roundtrip with kids. You do the Echo Valley Hike which leads to the underground river and then you end at Bokong Falls (small waterfall, the pool is clean to swim in). This hike is easier than the Sumaguing Cave Hike.

Bomod-Ok Waterfalls: 3 hours roundtrip with kids. Start at Bangaan (bring a guide) and hike down to Bomod-ok waterfalls. We didn't get to do this but I have friends who did it with their 6-year-old and about 2-month-old baby. Their photos of the rice terraces on the way to the waterfalls were gorgeous.

 Watch sunrise at Kiltepan: Leave hotel around 5:15 to see sun rising by 6:00am.

 Inside Sumaguing Cave

Hanging coffins at Echo Valley

Beautiful Sagada scenery

Banaue with kids

First of all, here's the itinerary we did. Baguio (4 nights), Banaue (2 nights), Sagada (2 nights), La Union (4 nights) plus a day trip to Vigan in there. Then back to Manila. Manila to Baguio is 4.5 hours, Baguio to Banaue via Sagada is 5 hours. Back to Sagada is 1 hour. Sagada to Luna, La Union is 4 hours. Luna to Vigan is 2 hours. Luna back to Manila is 5 hours.

The drive from Baguio to Banaue via Sagada is awe-inspiring! Here's an example of a view:

Stayed at Banaue Hotel
http://www.tieza.gov.ph/index.php/destinations/banaue
Manila main office number is 551-3945 or email s_reservations@yahoo.com.

Hired a jeepney for 2300 php from hotel itself (same price as from tourist office) that took us to Bangaan Village (about an hour away), and any other stops we wanted. Ideal hike with kids bc it's only 15 min down stairs. You can take a lunch and picnic in the village itself. Kids loved hiking around the rice terraces, and it's beautiful!

The jeepney could also take you to Batad village you have to hike into (1.5 hours to the saddle/view), and then another 1.5 to the waterfall, apparently.

See Banaue terraces from "Main Viewpoint."

Sanafe Lodge's restaurant has a great view of Banaue terraces as well.

Native Village Inn also has great view of back of Banaue apparently, but if you try to go there, it's only 80 per cent cemented so make sure your car can make it on rough, muddy roads!

Near Banaue Hotel is Tam-Wan village. 5 minutes down from the hotel. There is a store with good prices (weaved products, wood carving and igorot weapons) owned by a really nice man. Further down is the Tam-Wan village, don't be surprised if the locals want to show you the skeletons of their ancestors, for a donation of 100 php.

Banaue hotel has cultural shows of Igorot dancing at 8:30 pm (don't know which days)- totally worth watching!

Banaue hotel had the best selection of food bc had western food, including steaks. Everywhere else seemed to only have filipino ulams and rice.

Photos of hiking around in Bagaan village:

Baguio - things to do with kids

So like everyone else, I heart Baguio. I feel like my kids become their true selves there and I am the mom I always hope to be there. Fresh air, cool air, ease of getting places, Cordillera culture. Here are some of my fave things to do with kids;

1) Picnic near tree top adventure in Camp John Hay at the picnic tables that are for rent (the price is painted on the picnic table itself- 150 php?). Kids can run around the hill and trees. The Manor hotel is within walking distance for bathrooms.

2) Horseback ride from the spot next to Le Monet hotel (to the right of it if you are facing it). Two kids can even ride together on one horse. Or parent can ride with child.

3) The butterfly sanctuary near the paint-balling in Camp John Hay. Short visit of about 20 min. The man who runs it is so animated and hilarious (across the street from Le Monet). (These first 3 things mentioned could be done on same outing).

4) Have a meal at the Manor. Great food, and great kids meals. Kids can run around in the grass and beautiful grounds, even play at the playground. Near Christmastime, they have a Christmas village set up outside. At Easter time, they had a pen with chicks and bunnies in it.

5) Enjoy the kid activities at the Manor. On our last visit, we stayed at a different hotel but pretty much lived at the Manor during the day. Over Holy Week-end, the Manor has an Easter Village set up for kids. One price (around 450 php) for craft, snacks, face-painting, and photo booth. It wasn't crowded and the staff were so great with the kids. Then in the evening, there was a movie screening outdoors (free to anyone). AND also a bonfire and smore kits on sale. So great!

 6) Other hotels have their Easter activities too. We stayed at Azalea (and loved it for being able to have a 1-bedroom apartment, with kitchenette. There's a pull-out couch in living room, so kids in separate room. Breakfasts there are great and staff so accommodating of kids. Great playground just outside hotel) Because of the short cut through teacher's camp, we didn't deal with Holy Week-end traffic to get to Camp John Hay. And it is walking distance to Teacher's camp and Botanical Gardens). They also had family activities during Holy Week-end like a Black card hunt (their version of Easter egg hunt) and a face-painting activity.

7) Botanical Gardens. Only pedestrians are allowed in and it's not that big - so kids can roam freely. Great grounds. Big trees, amphitheater for kids to jump around in. Favorite part is paying 20php for all of us to get unlimited shots of us in Igorot traditional clothing. And just outside Botanical Gardens are local Igorots in traditional clothes who you can take your picture with (they charge 10 php for every local in traditional clothing in your photo--- so don't let too many jump in there with you). And okay, there are also people selling taho- but not just any taho- strawberry taho. We love ;)

8) Mine's View Park. Can be crowded with tourists during the day/evening. But one time went there at crack of dawn when baby was awake. So great to see sunrise views there! You park up where the shops are and then walk down stairs to the view. But now there's a ramp for wheelchairs and strollers. Even early in the morning, the stalls were all open there for buying Baguio souvenirs. Can also get photos taken wearing traditional clothing here.

9) Burnham Park. We did this on our way out of Baguio on a Sunday. So great for seeing how locals enjoy a park. Big groups of families having picnics. The park surrounds a small lake that you can walk around. Or rent paddle boats in the shape of swans on. And, there are also kiddie bicycles and pedicabs to rent and an area for kids to ride in.

10) Balatoc Mines. This was awesome. It is 25 min drive from Camp John Hay so really not that far. It is a tour of an old gold mine (mining still takes place at same site). You dress up as miners with boots and helmets (kids loved that aspect), and you walk through a tunnel and see all the equipment used, with a guide. The guide even showed us how they blasted tunnels and gave us a demo with dynamite (we were a lot further down the tunnel). We didn't' realize that they were serious about giving us a demo until the last min and didn't really get a chance to prepare our kids - so prepare your kdis if you can, and ask to forego it if you think it will ruin the experience for your kids. It wasn't loud, but we did feel the shock!

11) Strawberry picking in La Trinidad (check road for traffic or construction heading there, bc it can be a very slow road). Strawberries aren't particularly cheap or anything. But so fun for the kids to be able to pick fruit and to see the agriculture scenery in Baguio, and ALL the strawberry products. Our 3 year old at the time fell in a ditch next to the strawberry fields- we did not realize how deep those are- her head went underwater. So, be careful!

12) Easter weaving showroom. This is a weaving business that has a shop to buy their products on the ground floor, and in the basement they have a weaving room where women are at work, weaving away on their large looms. It is impressive and moving to watch, and so neat for the kids to see the process and finished product. And fun to see all the materials needed lying around. In the shop, you can buy woven material by the yard.

13) Lunch at Ben Cab museum (cafe Sabel). Great food made with local, fresh ingredients - that is also kid-friendly. E.g. kamote fries, carrot/pumpkin soup, and specials like a creamy mushroom mountain rice dish. But what's great are the grounds - it's up in the hills, so misty views. Kids can walk/play on landscaped grounds of duckpond and grassy areas. This is not close to the center of baguio city center so make sure you look up how to get there and allow time for the trip.

14) Winaca Eco-cultural Village. This is on the way out of Baguio if you are heading to Sagada/Banaue afterward. It is located just before the toll gate of Halsema Highway that goes to Sagada. A friend told me about this place. It is owned by Narda's weaving company. It has a weaving warehouse that you can go and visit (similar to Easter weaving). They let my children try the looms. It is also a place for team-building so had things to do like an obstacle course, rops course (for adults) and a rock climbing wall that leads you to a zipline to come down. My 4 year old even did it. There are also Igorot homes there transported from different parts of the region, e.g. a Bontoc house, a Sagada house, and a Banaue house. (These hou
ses are for rent to stay in, if you want the experience). What I loved seeing were the replica of assembly areas that every village in the Cordillera region has: a circle with a bonfire in the middle, surrounded by seats made from rocks. How local courts used to be held.

We need some green: Angono lakeside park

In the artsy town of Angono, Rizal (could pair this outing with visit to an art museum there), a public park by the water. Abour 1h15 drive from Makati. There are swing sets and see saws, possibility to do zipline and rent tricycles for kids (on week-end evenings, apparently). We went on a weekday hoilday and got to do the 20php/per person boat tour of the bay (20 min) and this very fun vintage barrel train ride. Loved seeing local kids playing and the local fishmen at work. Can get snacks (drinks, chips) at little sit-down tindahan there.

Something to keep in mind, Angono's town fiesta is Nov. 22 and 23. Higantes fiesta- paper mache giants are paraded... I want to go!