Quezon City – From skyscrapers to nature reserves
Home to numerous shopping outlets and high-rise buildings, Quezon City has been expanding in the last couple of decades and today its skyline can rival many Western capitals. If you are staying in one of the numerous boutique or chain hotels in the city centre, you will be surrounded by tall glass skyscrapers half-submerged in the clouds.
Wild & wonderful nature
There are many advantages of choosing a hotel in the very heart of Quezon City as you will have shops, cafes and restaurants on your doorstep. However, once you’ve had enough of the hustle and bustle, it’s time to plan a trip to one of the nearby parks and nature reserves where the humming of birds will replace the humming of drills and engines. Quezon City is undoubtedly a place of contrasts as a short drive out of the town will take you to a place of peace and tranquillity, namely the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center. Spread over 56 acres of land the park and wildlife centre boasts bike trails, a lake as well as an animal rescue centre where you can see indigenous and exotic animals from this part of the country such as the stunning Philippine Eagle Owl. If you are planning on spending a whole day at the park, it’s a good idea to bring food and drinks with you and enjoy a picnic in the shade of the trees. Many of the larger hotels in Quezon City offer ticket and tour assistance where you can enquire about day trips to local attractions such as the popular La Mesa EcoPark. There are plenty of activities on offer at the park ranging from horseback riding through the forest, through to swimming in the saltwater pool and fishing. Nature lovers will can indulge their senses at the Drilon Orchidarium and Shell Flower Terraces. There’s also an Adventure Zone for children and those young at heart complete with bungee jumping and archery.
High & Low brow culture
Quezon City is home to the Ateneo de Manila University, the third oldest university in the Philippines. Within the university complex is the Ateneo Art Gallery founded in 1960 and is the first gallery in the Philippines dedicated to the promotion and exhibition of modern art. If you are planning on travelling to the gallery from your Quezon City hotel then it’s helpful to know that the journey takes around twenty minutes and there’s also parking on the premises for those who are getting there by car. Once at the gallery, art lovers can admire many of the exhibits by local artists as well as various temporary exhibitions which are often on show. During your stay in Quezon City, you can visit another popular art venue which is a bit more informal and low- brow, Art in Island. Guests of all ages can have fun exploring the gallery barefoot or in socks and taking ‘selfies’ next to the 3D Pop Art paintings. The gallery is very popular with families and young children so it’s a good idea to visit during weekdays when the venue is less crowded. Once you’ve had your fill of culture for the day and before heading back to your hotels and apartments, you can pop into Sky Garden and enjoy a few drinks and snacks at some of the many cafes and restaurants scattered around the premises.
Out of the ordinary
Before putting together your short list of hotels in Quezon City and booking your accommodation, it’s worth considering whether to schedule your trip to coincide with some of the town’s popular festivals. The Food Festival at Maginhawa Street, which is lined with restaurants and cafes, is a great opportunity to sample some of the wonderful and rich flavours of the local cuisine. At the festival, which is held in mid-December, guests can savour various delicacies sold on the stalls and also enjoy listening to some live music. If you are considering visiting Quezon City during the winter months it’s good to know that the larger hotels are open all year round and temperatures during December can reach up to 35 degrees Celsius so be sure to pack your shorts and sun creams. Another interesting, if not slightly unusual event in Quezon City is the Lechon Festival of La Loma which takes place in May and involves a parade of roasted pigs. A colourful procession of roasted pigs on floats is something certainly worth seeing. There’s also the added bonus of being able to savour some succulent pieces of roast during this lively and unique annual festival.