Planning for a family field trip can be hard. You have lots of things to check in your DIY travel checklist: your budget, accommodation, and—of course—the places you want to visit.
However, not all places are created equal. You have to make sure that they are enjoyable, especially for children. Around Manila, there are always places ready to be explored. There are different exciting activities for everyone that will surely reap the benefits of spending a weekend field trip with your family.
Check out the following itineraries for your hassle-free family field trip. You would be pleased to know that time allowance versus the Manila traffic has been factored in. Enjoy!
Parañaque
A hub for NAIA does not mean there’s nothing more to the city beyond airports. It’s actually the opposite: Parañaque City does boast of fun, excitement, and bonding that’s great for the family.
| Time | Activity |
| 7:00 AM | Travel from home |
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast at Maty’s |
| 10:00 AM | Visit Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch at Nobu Manila |
| 1:00 PM | Visit DreamPlay |
| 4:00 PM | Visit The Garage VR Zone |
| 7:00 PM | Dinner at The Garage Gastro |
| 8:00 PM | Head home |
7:00 AM - Start your journey from your Manila home.
8:00 AM - Have a good breakfast at Maty’s.
Maty’s
Location: Quirino Avenue, Don Galo
Operating Hours: 7:00AM-3:00 AM
Maty’s is a simple breakfast restaurant. The said restaurant is ideal for quick bites. They have a simple menu of silogs and short orders, like pancit canton and bihon. Their bestsellers include their tapsilog and bangsilog. Maty’s tapsilog is mouth-watering and delicious in their homemade marinade. Their bangsilog is also a restaurant favorite. There are also siomai and desserts available.
10:00 AM - Tour around Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area.
Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA)
Address: Freedom Island Trail, Parañaque
Operating Hours: no operating hours; it’s an open park
Travel Distance (straight from Manila): 1 hour
Photo courtesy by Derek Owens on Unsplash
LPPCHEA is a hidden vacation destination in Parañaque. It is a conservation site where you can observe and photograph migratory birds; enjoy ecotourism activities; and learn about the Philippines' indigenous trees.
How about taking a relaxing photoshoot at its Boardwalk area? The trail will teach you about the Neem trees known to repel mosquitoes; the beautiful and majestic Fire trees; and the crowd favorites Banaba and Narra trees. The Boardwalk also includes a nipa hut where you can relax and enjoy a view of the trees—free of charge.
It will take you about an hour or two to wrap up your visit and see everything that LPPCHEA has to offer.
DIY travel tips:
- Help protect LPPCHEA by signing up for coastal clean-ups and tree-planting projects in the area.
- Do not wear bright-colored clothes to avoid unwanted bird attacks.
12:00 PM - Enjoy Japanese-Western cuisine at Nobu Manila.
Nobu Manila
Location: City of Dreams, Manila
Operating Hours: 6:00-10:30 AM; and 5:00-10:00 PM
Photo courtesy by Riccardo Bergamini on Unsplash
If you are into Japanese cuisine or you haven’t tried it, you should go for Nobu Manila. The restaurant is a unique Japanese fusion in buffet style. Some of their recommended dishes are the Black Cod Miso and the King Crab Tempura Amazu Ponzu. Since it’s a buffet, there are lots of other bestsellers like their Yellowtail Sashimi With Jalapeño, Toro Tartar With Caviar and Seabass With Foie Gras.
1:00 PM - Keep the family entertained in DreamPlay.
DreamPlay
Address: City of Dreams, Manila
Operating Hours: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
DreamPlay is a world-class vacation idea for family fun activities. Laugh, dance, and party with your kids and their favorite DreamWorks characters at DreamPlay. Explore the Wall of Destiny and the Afro Circus with Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar characters. Test your children’s warrior skills by letting them climb the Wall of Destiny to see the Valley of Peace.
A weekend or a holiday pass costs PhP880.00 per head, while the Shrek Far Far Away VIP Ticket Bundle for the weekend fetches PhP1,399.00. There is also an annual pass rate of PhP8,000 for four persons. Children below 80 cm are free of charge. Stick around at DreamPlay for two to three hours, to get the most out of your visit.
DIY travel tips:
- Take note that weekday rate vary from weekend rates
- Adults are not allowed to bring in their own food and drinks; baby food and milk are allowed.
4:00 PM Immerse in a VR experience at The Garage VR Zone.
The Garage VR Zone
Address: City of Dreams, Manila
Operating Hours: 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Take a one-of-a-kind family field trip in a digital environment. Challenge your older kids in a unique virtual reality gaming experience through different attractions made by the world-famous gaming studio Bandai Namco.
The recommended age for the VR experience is 13 years old and above. Test your courage in the Winged Bicycle VR, while fighting your way in the famous Mario Kart VR game. The rates depend on the activity: one activity costs Php350.00; three activities cost Php990.00; 5 activities cost Php1,625.00. Enjoy your VR experience in two to three hours.
DIY travel tips:
- There are only 5 VR experiences available; so better check the website before signing up for any VR experience.
- Most of the VR games are not ideal for very young children ages 10 and below.
7:00 PM Indulge at The Garage Gastro.
The Garage Gastro
Location: City of Dreams, Manila
Operating Hours: 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM
As it turns out, The Garage is not only about family fun, but It also about experiencing different meals with your family experiences.
Try the chocolate goodies and sculptures at Chocol8; Juiced for a healthy and refreshing juice experience; and Little Flour for all-day brunch meals and local dishes.
Pasig
Pasig isn’t just called a green city for no reason. Beyond earning international recognition for being a livable city, it complements with fun activities within the area. It is home to great food, adventures, and community that’s sure will pique your interest to go back.
| Time | Activity |
| 7:00 AM | Travel from home |
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast at Cafe Lyon |
| 10:00 AM | Visit Climb Central Manila |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch at Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles |
| 2:00 PM | Visit Rave Rainforest Adventure Experience |
| 4:00 PM | Visit Fun Ranch |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner at Kko Kko |
| 8:00 PM | Head home |
7:00 AM -Start your travel from your point of origin.
8:00 AM - Enjoy a hearty breakfast at Cafe Lyon.
Cafe Lyon
Location: Ortigas, Mandaluyong
Operating Hours: 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Cafe Lyon boasts of its delectable Italian and Filipino menu. It offers delightful soups, starters, salads, pasta, and other special culinary creations.
Two of their must-try dishes include grilled pork chop pegged at Php495.00 and spicy longganisa pasta with a price of Php290.00. The grilled pork chops are slathered in appetizing garlic herb butter and sing in a symphony of buttered rice, side salad, and barbecue dip.
Their spicy longganisa pasta sauce, on the other hand, is a unique mix of longganisa bits, spicy aioli sauce, and roasted bell pepper.
10:00 AM - Challenge yourself at Climb Central Manila
Climb Central Manila
Address: Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Operating Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Photo courtesy by Roya Ann Miller on Unsplash
Consider building up your strength in one of your field day activities. Try this unique vacation idea of climbing at Climb Central Manila.
Climbing lanes and equipment are available for kids and adults of all ages. Children, though, should be at least 5 years old; weigh 20 kilos; and are 1.1-meter tall, to be allowed to climb.
You need to fill out the registration form at the Climb Central Manila website before going to their physical location. A child-adult day pass costs Php500.00, including unlimited all-day climbing, while an add-on day pass costs Php300.00 per child.
Maximize your stay for three to four hours, to get the most out of the experience.
DIY travel tips:
- It is best to sign up online to avoid queues, especially during peak seasons.
- Monthly pass holders do not need to queue, except to rent equipment. You might want to consider signing up for that, too!
12:00 PM - Eat a good lunch at Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles.
Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles
Location: Frontera Verde Drive, Ugong
Operating Hours: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles is a restaurant that offers savory and rich noodles and dumplings. Their noodle masters prepare their yummy hand-pulled noodles. Enjoy a good meal at this restaurant; order their best-selling dim sum specialties like hakaw and pork siomai, and beef wanton noodles.
2:00 PM - Experience a nature getaway at the RAVE Rainforest Adventure Experience.
RAVE Rainforest Adventure Experience
Address: Legaspi Avenue, Maybunga
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Photo courtesy by Nurpalah Dee on Unsplash
RAVE Rainforest Adventure Experience lets you enjoy refreshing activities for the family in the city. It has exciting nature experiences for family fun bonding that will surely inspire you to recreate an indoor garden in your home.
Try the newest RAVE attractions: the Boating Lagoon and the Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden is home to beautiful varieties of butterfly and moth species. Here, you will also learn about the life cycle of a butterfly.
The Boating Lagoon, on the other hand, lets you relax while you paddle your boat and gaze at the fish in the man-made lagoon. Rates per attraction vary, but prices can go as low as PhP10.00 per activity. Explore the lovely attractions for two to three hours.
DIY travel tips:
- Check out the website’s map before going to the physical location.
- Some attractions are free, others are paid. Check the website for rates.
4:00 PM - Have a good family fun time at Fun Ranch.
Fun Ranch
Address: Ortigas Avenue, Pasig
Operating Hours: 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Photo courtesy by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash
Among the best family vacations include trips to ultimate kiddie places. One such place is Fun Ranch which also doubles as a kiddie birthday party venue. It has many fun activities to offer and establishments that are sure to give your loved ones a unique family day trip experience.
Enjoy the rides and play areas. The rides include bumper boats and speed racing. A ticket per ride costs Php50.00, while the Ride-All-You-Can access costs Php299.00 per wristband. Have fun with your kids here for two to three hours.
DIY travel tips:
- Ask about their available playtime areas, because there are playtime areas that are not available at certain branches.
- Check if there are facilities booked for private functions. The company makes announcements about this.
6:00 PM - Indulge in a delightful Korean dinner at Kko Kko.
Kko Kko
Location: Sapphire Road, Ortigas
Operating Hours: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Excite your taste buds with a Korean dinner at Kko Kko. Have an authentic Asian food trip with their wide variety of Korean-style chicken and fondue dishes. Their must-try ramyun pongdang fondue that’s priced Php1,098.00 for a whole serving and yang nyum garlic chicken that’s sold for Php638.00 for the whole order, will leave you craving for more.
Their ramyun pongdang fondue is a pairing of spicy ramen noodles and mouth-watering fondue bowl, while their crispy yang nyum garlic chicken is served with a variety of savory sauces.
There are more places to visit for your DIY travel adventures with the family. Make sure to block out a day or two for your family to try out this itinerary, or simply get inspiration to catch some family fun beyond the comforts of the mall or your home.