Hello Hive! Can you believe it? I'm still alive and so excited to post. It feels like an eternity—over two years since I last put fingers to keyboard to write a post here. I've missed this platform, the interaction, and honestly, I've just missed the creative outlet of posting or blogging that hive provides. It's especially good to be back in writing about travels and experiences that can potentially earn rewards.

A lot has changed since my last post. The biggest, happiest change is that I got married – 3 years and counting! Transitioning from a bachelor to a traveler-husband has been an incredible shift. My travel experiences have multiplied significantly, well not that I can't count them, but it seems I’ve been accumulating adventures faster than I can write about them. We've been blessed with numerous opportunities to travel, both domestic and international.

Before I dive into sharing my recent international travels with my wife, I need to clear the backlog of our Philippine travel experiences—starting with this long-overdue trip to the City of Pines!
So, without further ado, let’s pick up right where I left off in Baguio.

Baguio Bliss

Mines View Park—The View That Earned its Name

Our first stop of this trip was the magnificent Mines View Park. If your idea of a perfect morning involves a breathtaking panoramic view, this is the place to be. Located on the northeastern edge of Baguio, the park sits on a high promontory that overlooks the Cordillera mountains and the historic mining town of Itogon.

The spectacular view from the observation deck at Mines View Park. It’s one of the best places in Baguio for a sunrise coffee and a moment of quiet reflection around crumbling people. Even at the early in the morning, many people are already flocking inside the observation deck.

The primary draw is, of course, the Observation Deck. From this vantage point, you get a sweeping view of the valleys below, which were once the site of gold and copper mines. It's a great spot to appreciate Baguio's rich history that was once a mining town.

Must-Do Activities at Mines View Park:

	Experience the local Igorot culture! You can rent the full traditional Cordillera attire—bahag (g-string), shield, and headdress for men, or the tapis and vest for women—for a unique souvenir picture.
	Say hello to the iconic, gentle giants of the park! You can often take a picture with the famous Saint Bernard dog that I forgot the name or pose alongside the beautifully decorated pink horses for a small fee.
	When in the park... we embraced the Cordillera spirit! But we avoided riding these horses at the back for they really stink!
	The area leading up to and around the park has a small marketplace for local crafts. You'll find high-quality wood carvings, intricate jewelry, weaving products from Sagada, and beautiful Baguio plants like succulents and air plants.
	Baguio is a plant lover's dream! The selection of local flora and handcrafted souvenirs is incredible.

The Ultimate Pasalubong Run

A visit to Mines View Park is never complete without a short walk to the nearby Good Shepherd Convent. This is the best spot for me for buying the famous Baguio delicacies, most notably the rich, purple ube and strawberry jam, crunchy peanut brittle and creamy cookie lengua. We only bought and tried the lengua cookies.

Here’s a tip. Go early! Lines can get long, especially on weekends and holidays, as tourists flock here to stock up on their pasalubong (take-home gifts).

_{Our Mines View stop was a fantastic and vibrant start to our Baguio trip. Next, we traded the scenic heights for the historical grandeur of one of Baguio's most famous landmarks...}

Baguio Botanical Garden (Centennial Park)—A Free Escape

After soaking in the mountain views, we headed to the Baguio Botanical Garden—an absolute must-visit for any budget-conscious traveler, as it proudly remains a free tourist location with no entrance fee!

By the way, our mode of transportation in the area is a taxi which is more convenient and cheaper than renting a full suv for day tours.

This sprawling eco-park, located along Leonard Wood Road, is a serene sanctuary for a peaceful morning stroll. Often called the Centennial Park (commemorating Baguio’s 100th year as the Summer Capital of the Phils.), it is much more than just a garden; it’s a living showcase of history, culture, and nature.

What to Explore at the Baguio Botanical Garden?

The great thing about this park is that you can just roam around and discover its many colorful corners. The park is easily navigable via winding stone steps and pathways that lead you through various themed sections.

Walk through dedicated gardens that are well maintained, including areas inspired by Japan, South Korea, China, and the United States. These spaces feature unique cultural elements like temples and statues, offering an exciting and fun feel to your walk.
Right near the entrance, you’ll find a stone and cement - sculpture of the rituals and life of the indigenous Cordillera tribes. Deeper in the park, you can visit replicas of traditional Igorot huts, which offer a look into the region's ancestral architecture and houses of the past.
One of the most picturesque spots is the large, rustic stone archway adorned with various hanging plants. I'm exaggerating this a little bit as there so many couples taking their time to pose in this area including my wife.
The primary activity here is simply enjoying the fresh air and strolling along the paved walkways, surrounded by lush plants, flowers, and magnificent pine trees. Bring a jacket, as the shade from the trees can make the air quite cool!
There is an old Japanese Tunnel in the area but we regret not to see it and it's around the Japanese-themed spot. A 150-meter long relic dug out by Japanese Imperial Army soldiers during World War II, which they used as a bunker and storage area.
With plenty of shaded sitting areas and benches available, the Botanical Garden is the perfect place to sit down, enjoy a solemn moment with yourself or intimate time with loved ones, or have a simple picnic lunch instead.

Man-made grotto or cave-like structure used as a rest or photo spot for an eerie moment. It has murals on its wall depicting Ifugao or Igorot traditional huts (or bahay kubo style structures).

If you want a classic souvenir photo, you can find friendly locals near the entrance dressed in traditional Igorot attire who offer photos for a small fee, but exploring the natural and cultural spots themselves is entirely free of charge.

This spot truly lets you connect with the City of Pines in a tranquil, budget-friendly way.

Wright Park and The Mansion

Just a short distance from the Botanical Garden, we found ourselves walking through the Wright Park, a historical park that serves as the gateway to the official summer residence of the Philippine President: The Mansion. These adjacent landmarks are icons in the city - offering a blend of natural beauty and stately mansion.

Wright Park: The "Pool of Pines"

Wright Park is famously known for its "Pool of Pines," a long, rectangular reflecting pool lined with pine trees and neatly trimmed hedges. This elegant pathway is perfect for a leisurely walk, and the entire park for long walk. It's also where you'll often find the beautifully adorned ponies and horses available for rides, a classic Baguio experience, though we opted to simply enjoy the scenery.

Beyond the pool, the park also boasts a wide flight of stone steps, often a popular spot for visitors to ascend, providing a gentle workout amidst the refreshing Baguio air. It really burned my calves for short time.

The Mansion: A Glimpse of Presidential Home

At the end of Wright Park's main avenue stands the impressive - The Mansion, an iconic Baguio landmark. Built in 1908, this serves as the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines and I wonder who's the latest President to ever stepped inside and took a short vacation. While the mansion itself is not open to the public, its ornate main gate and well-maintained landscapes are a sight to behold and are very accessible for visitors to admire from the outside.

We managed to snap a quick photo in front of its huge gates, but unfortunately, as the clouds opened up and the rain began to pour heavily, our visit to this historical site was cut short. The sudden downpour signaled it was time to seek shelter, leading us to our next destination in the bustling downtown area to take merienda.

The shift in weather brought a new dynamic to our Baguio adventure, as we quickly made our way to a famously colorful neighborhood. From here, we ended our first day tour in Baguio and head back to the hotel.

This marks the end of Part 1 of our Baguio trip - Day 1! Covering four major destinations in one post is a good start, but there's still so much left to share from this quick post-marriage trip. It was nice to recall these thing to mind. Perhaps that's the drawback of being on hiatus for so long. I have so many stories and pictures to share! But honestly, I'm just incredibly glad I was able to write and finally publish this piece. Personally, getting back into crypto blogging is a win.

In the next post, I'll take you through the famous Strawberry Farms of La Trinidad, and maybe even squeeze in a few more stops before returning to Cebu. Stay tuned for Part 2!

All photos were taken by the author.

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