Baguio City

Baguio the Summer Capital of the Philippines or the City of Pines.

American city planner Daniel Burnham was the one who turned Baguio into a summer recreational center. Now, Baguio City is a popular destination for tourists who want to relax and spend an enjoyable vacation. It is also a place of faith healing and a university town.

As one of the cleanest and greenest cities in the country, its notable golf areas, famous Kennon Road, legendary Burnham Park, Bridal Veil and Colorado waterfalls are some of the highlights of the city that opened Baguio to tourism. These tourist spots have turned the city into a suiting place to spend leisure time and to enjoy sights.

Among Baguio most popular attractions are the beautiful lawns of Club John Hay Baguio, Camp John Hay Baguio , the Mansion House, Mines View Park, Philippine Military Academy, Session Road, Baguio Flower Festival and the Burnham Park.

This famous northern city has its Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay, which helped in turning it into a golf destination. This old rest-and-recreation base of the American military is now a world class resort with its vast pine tree conservation area.

The Mansion House, which is the official summer residence of Philippines presidents, houses a museum of presidential memories.

Located quite close to it is the Wright Park, popular to horse riders. Wright Park, which is located at the eastern part of the city and fronting the main gate of the Mansion, is one of the many scenic parks in Baguio City. Its main features are a shallow elongated rectangular body of water known as the "Pool of Pines" and the park circle which is on one end of the park.

Tall pine trees and decorative street lights line both sides of the access road beside the pool. Native handicrafts are also sold at the Mansion end of the park by a few Igorot peddlers.

Panoramic views of the old mines of Benguet can be found at the Mines View Park. A flea market is nearby for tourists who would like to buy native trinkets for souvenirs.

There are also pilgrimage sites located on top of a hill for devotees. These include the Baguio Cathedral, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Bell Church, which holds religious service of combined Buddhist, Christian, Confucian and Taoist dogmas, and is also a popular venue of fortune telling.

The Philippine Military Academy, the most important military learning institution, has its own military museum within the campus. Each Saturday morning, tourists are attracted by the cadets' Parade in Review. Tam-awan Village, a recreation of a typical ethnic village with authentic tribal homes, was made possible by a native artist BenCab.

Dining is also one of the specialties of Baguio. Many well know restaurants and cafes are present in this city, including Star Cafe, Dainty Restaurant, casa Vallejo, New Bonuan, Jade Restaurant, Barrio Fiesta, and many others cook and serve the best dishes in town. At the Hotel Monticello in Kennon Road, Hakuun Sanso Restaurant serves Japanese cuisines, while Rose Bowl Steak House and Resto in Harrison Road offers Chinese, American, and Filipino dishes.

Because of its elevation at 1372m above sea level, Baguio City has a cooler climate and is known as the summer capital of the Philippines. It is also nicknamed as the City of Pines. The presence of Saint Louis University and the University of Baguio proves that this city is not just a haven for tourists but also a venue for education. The City Hall Museum with its exhibit of artifacts from the native Igorots also contribute to the education of those who seek.

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