10 Things To Do On Long Holiday Weekends

5. Surf.

Head out to La Union and hit the big waves.

This place is usually packed with people, pro surfers and newbies alike. Thus, many music festivals are held here during long weekends. One of the popular music events is the La Union Soul Surf. It is a two-day professional surf competition accompanied by music from local and international acts to promote good vibes over the long weekend.

Another popular surfing destination is Baler, Aurora.

If you want to skip driving at least 6 hours to go from Manila to Baler so you can spend more time with the waves, you can now do so by flying via Skyjet Airlines. It will only take you 25 minutes and it has flight schedules on Fridays and Sundays, which are perfect if you’re making plans for the long weekend. Mid-week, it also has a flight schedule on Wednesdays.

Down south, Siargao is one of the best destinations for surfing. It has the Cloud 9 surf break, which is best known for its thick, hollow tubes. The Siargao Cup is highly visited domestic and international surfing competition backed by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte.

4. Travel further north.

For a different adventure and scenery, travel on the long weekend to the northernmost tip of the Philippines — Batanes.

Batanes is popular for its untouched and unspoiled beauty that even earned it a nomination in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The plane ticket to this place can be expensive, which ranges between PhP 10,000 to PhP 20,000. However, if you plan ahead then you can take advantage of low fares during a seat sale.

There are many things you can do in Batanes and so it will be helpful to plan well so you can maximize your long weekend stay here. You can enjoy the beach in Batanes — swim, surf, and scuba dive. You can travel around on foot or by riding a bicycle to get immersed to its rich culture, see the stone houses, and enjoy the scenery by the hills of what they call “Marlboro Country”. You can also eat your way around Batanes. Here are other things to do in this tranquil place.

3. Stay at home, roll like a burrito, and catch up on some sleep…

Or watch some TV.

Play some video games.

Video games anyone?

Stock up on food and host a party for family and friends.

Spend the long weekend to do leisure activities that you can’t usually do on busy work or school days. Use the long weekend too to revitalize connections with family and friends by catching up on the party that you might want to host. The work doesn’t necessarily be all on you because you can plan a potluck party so everyone can have something to contribute.

2. Camp.

On the long weekend, you can go on camping and sleep in the comfort of nature around you.

You can head out to Anawangin Cove or Nagsasa Cove, which are all popular as camping sites in Zambales. You can hike going to Anawangin Cove or take the boat, which takes less time. Both coves give a good view of nature. You can have a bonfire at night with friends.

Calaguas Island is also a great place to go on camping. It is also known as a serene Boracay with its pristine waters, powdery white sand, and picturesque sunset by the beach.

If you’re looking for nice campsite to unplug from the stress of city living, consider escaping away to Calaguas, since this place has not yet caught up with time.

You can also choose to go on a posh holiday weekend glamping or glamorous camping at Nurture Spa Village in Tagaytay. There are promos you can avail while brave the great outdoors camping in style.

1. Enjoy the car-less streets of Manila and explore the city.

Enjoy the traffic-less streets of the city because during long holiday weekends, many people get out of the city so it is highly likely that there will be less cars on the roads and less people in the city. You can roam around Manila without the stresses of the traffic that you usually experience on a regular day.

You can head out to Binondo, easily find a parking space unlike during a regular day when there are a lot of cars parked on the streets of Chinatown and embark on a food adventure. Enjoy authentic Chinese food like noodles, dumplings, and of course, hopia.

You can also tour Intramuros and learn all the stories that it has to say. If you are a photography enthusiast, Intramuros is also a great place to do a photography walk. Even newbie photographers can enjoy this quaint place.

Intramuros may not be very grandiose but its historical significance is something worth checking out. Even if you don’t have a SLR camera, you can still do that photography walk using your phone, post a photo on social networks, and spread the beauty of the place online.

Tour different museums in Manila.

There is the National Museum of the Philippines. It is located in Ermita, Manila, which is usually packed with cars and people on a regular day so take advantage of going here on a holiday weekend.

The National Museum of the Philippines is located right in the heart of Manila. Two buildings bursting with entertainment, education and art. Each room is packed with rich history that’s sure to amaze and bring out the scholar in you. BEST PART: ADMISSION IS FREE ON SUNDAYS!

The Mind Museum is also a nice museum to visit. It is located in BGC where parking is always tough during weekdays. On long holiday weekends, it is most likely that there will be a lot of parking space available for you.