Here’s what you can do on Father’s Day: Hiking, camping, and canyoneering with your old man

Photo by Filios Sazeides/Unsplash

Father’s Day is just around the corner and that means it’s time to plan the best day for dad as early as now. Although dads really just want to spend quality time with their children, it’s also the perfect opportunity to break away from the usual dad’s day out and go on a new adventure. Luckily, the Philippines offers many exciting activities to do.

1. Hike a mountain

The Philippines is home to lots of mountains where you can find some of the most breathtaking views. Hiking is the perfect activity for you and your dad to conquer a challenge (depending on the mountain, of course) together. The best beginner-friendly options would be Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales, Mt. Balagbag in Rizal, and Mt. Batulao in Batangas.

2. Go on a surf trip

If dad loves to surf, take him on a weekend outside the metro to hit the waves and enjoy beautiful surf spots like La Union, which is known for its clean, world-class waves, and Baler for its right-hand reef break and several wave peaks. Whether newbie or veteran, you can always count on the surfing scene in the country to give you a memorable experience.

3. Go for a bike ride

Spend Father’s Day by biking somewhere close to nature with great trails and some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. A couple of biking trails you can consider are the ones found in La Mesa Nature Reserve, Timberland Heights, Heroes Trail, and Filinvest Trail.

If you want to bike somewhere a little bit more daring and different, you can also bike around Mt. Pinatubo and Mayon Volcano. After all, cycling in some of the country’s biking trails is not something you can do with dad every day.

4. Drive an ATV

For those who are not keen to go on a cycling trip but still want to experience the off-road thrill, then an ATV adventure is another option. The best places to take an ATV for a spin is on the steep mountains around the country. A few destinations you could consider going to are Mayon Lava Trail, Pinatubo Crater Trail, Tarlac, and Forest and River Trail, Rizal.

5. Try out canyoneering

Canyoneering or canyoning is still a growing activity in the Philippines. It’s full of walking, scrambling, and hiking through ravines and gorges, descending on waterfalls and cliff jumping into rivers and pools. If dad is an adventure seeker then this could be the perfect activity you can bond over. Some ideal places to go canyoneering are in Mapawa Nature Park in Cagayan de Oro, Bangon Falls in Samar City, and Mt. Isarog National Park in Camarines Sur.

6. Go camping

Taking a camping trip with dad outside the urban area is the perfect opportunity to get together and enjoy the beauty of nature. In the Philippines, there are a number of camping sites you can visit such as Anawangin Cove in Zambales, Hundred Islands in Pangasinan, and Fortune Island in Batangas.

7. Indoor rock climbing

If you’re looking for an indoor activity that’s just as exciting, you can plan a rock climbing session for the family on Father’s Day. It’s as challenging as any other activity that does not really require you to get out of the city. A few places you can check out are Climb Central Manila in Mandaluyong, Power Up Indoor Climbing Gym in Taguig, and Edge Climb Gym in Pasig.