On the look for a place to spend one long weekend in February, we opted for Tarlac, which is 2.5 to 3 hours away from Metro Manila. And the place did not disappoint. There are places to cater to different interests: history, fun, food, nature, and spirituality. Despite the short time, we were able to discover some places worthy of a visit.
The following was our itinerary for a short overnight visit. This itinerary considered that we have an elderly with us, and thus, we could not pack our day with several activities:
DAY 1:
- Checked in at Microtel-Hacienda Luisita at 2 PM
- Lunch at Robinsons Mall-Luisita (there are several restaurants available in the said mall and it is very close to Microtel)
- Visited the Aquino Museum , which is right beside Microtel. You could spend around 1 to 2 hours in the said museum.
- Dinner at Dampa sa Tarlac. They have ample parking space and both buffet and ala carte food choices.
DAY 2
- Enjoyed at the amenities at the Tarlac Recreational Park
- Communed with nature on top of the mountains at the Monasterio de Tarlac
- Got a glimpse of the Aquino Ancestral House
Other places to visit, but which were unable to was the JSJ Goat Farm and the Capas National Shrine. Maybe next time.
For the pasalubong, Tarlac's cane vinegar is really good.
.
