South of Manila - Tagaytay City

One of the exciting places to see just outside of Manila is the cool city of Tagaytay in the Province of Cavite. With its cool climate because of its elevation, wide variety of restaurant and food choices, places to stay and things to do, Tagaytay City is a great place to escape the Manila heat. About an hour and a half drive from Manila to Tagaytay passing by the newly renovated SLEX (South Luzon Express Way) via Sta. Rosa Laguna Exit, and taking the Sta Rosa-Tagaytay Road will bring you to the city proper. The other way to Tagaytay coming from Manila is via Roxas Boulevard to Aguinaldo Highway, passing by the other towns  of Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas, Silang.

Tagaytay is also famous for its view of the Taal Volcano crater inside the Taal lake. Several local guides offering boat rides and trekking services to tourists can be seen all around the city. Because Taal crater is an active volcano, local tourist and government agencies warn tourists from time to time of the level of geological activity around the volcano island.

A favorite destination among visitors of Tagaytay is the People's Park, also known as Tagaytay Picnic Grove. For a minimal fee of 50 pesos per person, except for children below 4 years of age which can come in free, one can roam around the park and enjoy the great view of Taal volcano. Additional fees may apply for the use of other facilities and park attractions like the zipline and cable car for the adventurous, picnic tables and gazebos, and the park's inn.

Tagaytay is also known for its fresh fruits and vegetable products. Several small  stalls can be seen along the road offering tropical fruits and products made in Tagaytay and the surrounding towns. A lot of restaurants line up along the Tagaytay ridge where customers can enjoy delicious meals with the view of Taal volcano. The city is also a popular place for people to relax to. A lot of establishments offering spa and relaxation treatments are located in the city and its neighboring towns. Tagaytay is also home to a lot of spiritual and religious residences. With the number of beautiful gardens and churches, Tagaytay has become one of the favorite out-of-Manila wedding destinations.

Other notable attaractions/businesses in and just outside of Tagaytay are the following:

Palace in the Sky - located at the highest point in Tagaytay, is the old unfinished Presidential Palace. Now reduced to just an old building with some unfinished walls, it has a great view of Tagaytay and surrounding towns.
Days Hotel Tagaytay - Accessible hotel, right across the old catholic church along the main road.
Nurture Spa - known for its Spa and relaxation treatments
Gourmet's Cafe - (along Aguinaldo Highway going to Silang) cafe offering dishes made from their own garden
Josephine's, RSM, Leslie's, Taalenya, etc. - Row of restaurants along the Tagaytay ridge offering great tasting local dishes with the view of the Taal Lake
Immaculate Conception Church - Catholic church along the main road in Tagaytay popular for weddings
Pink Sisters' Convent - religious convent with beautiful garden open to the public
Taal Vista Hotel - Newly renovated hotel and one of the more popular hotels in Tagaytay
Mushroom Burger - famous for vegetable burgers
Sonya's Garden - a beautiful garden offering customers with an unforgettable dining experience, also famous for their bed and breakfast (Alfonso, Cavite)

Travel Outside Manila: 100 Islands Pangasinan

Hundred Islands National Park, Alaminos, Pangasinan.  -   Hundred Islands National Park is a set of islands of various shapes and sizes just off the shores of Barangay Lucap, Pangasinan. It lies within the Lingayen Gulf located in the province of Pangasinan facing the South China Sea. It is now a protected area managed by the Philippine Government to conserve and promote tourism in the area.

Pangasinan is a province in western Luzon north of Manila. About 300 km from Manila, a 5-hour drive to Alaminos, Pangasinan, and another 5-minute drive will bring you to Baranggay Lucap. Here is where tourists may register and enter the park for a minimal fee of 20 Pesos for each adult. You then have an option to take a motorized boat tour around the islands for 1,400 Pesos per boat which can carry up to 5 adults.

The islands are mostly rock formations and only a few of the bigger islands are accessible to people. You'll be awed at the different shapes and rock formations of the many different islands. Each island offers several unique features, some have caves, others with small lagoons where people can enjoy and swim, the bigger islands have white sand beach where cottages where built to accommodate people, while another island (the governor's island) offers an elevated view of the hundred islands.

The islands will remind you of the chocolate hills of Bohol, only partially submerged in ocean. The hilly rock formations actually extend to the land part of Alaminos, Pangasinan. There are only a few accommodation and restaurants in the area, but have transient houses along the road. One restaurant near the Park is Maxine By The Sea, offering good food and several room accommodations.