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Friday, December 31, 2010

Mines View Park

by lakwatserong tatay

Lunch time arrived and our next destination is Mines View Park, i've remembered the first time i've visited this site, there were just only stalls, even restaurants. You will really view the beauty of Cordillera mountain ranges upon approaching the park. But although now it is really crowded with different souvenir shops and restaurants. It still behold the beauty of nature, this ridge is located at the extreme northeast side of the city, past The Mansion & Wright Park, its boast a scenic view of mining sites of Benguet's Gold & Copper Mines Corporation plus the Cordillera mountain ranges that sprawl as far as the eyes could see. Mines View Park is doubtless a favorite among visitors who take the trouble to trek up Baguio just to see this site again though seen a countless times before.


The view from Restaurant
Group lunch @ Mines View Park is still the best specially seeing on your side a green mountain ranges and together with air breeze. It will definitely get your tired off. I forgot the name of the restaurant we dine-in, our group ordered for 2 bowls of Bulalo, 2 bowls of Pinakbet and super many rice, some of my group had additional orders on their own. But for me im contented with the food choices that they ordered.

Still choosing...hehehe...
Standing 1,500 meters above sea level, Mines View Park is among the coolest parts of the Pines City. It is part of the vast range of the Cordillera Mountains. If we just look hard enough we’d see part of Camp John Hay across from it. But the majestic mountains are just among interesting things the site can offer. Just look around our immediate milieu and we’d see other features.

Welcome signage of Mines View Park
After having our lunch, of course, we strolled around the area where you could find somewhere near are sounds of grilled corn popping and filling the air with sweet aroma. There are jumbo hotdogs on sticks, too, and a box container of cool softdrinks. Across the street opposite the entrance to Mines View Park are big souvenir stores selling big wooden sculptures, swords, souvenir t-shirts, native wallets, brooms, beads, curtains, hats, caps, wooden dining sets, strawberry jams, earthen pots, and what-have-you.


I really wanted to have a dog that is big as St. Bernard...hehehehe...
Looking down directly below we see a steep almost vertical wall of hard and sharp granite all the way down about 100 or so feet to level ground. Igorot boys run up and down there with great speed without holding on to anything. They’d dare us to throw coins they’d run after like crazy. Their black huge dogs do likewise. Mines View Park is getting popular for this, too.

At the back of the Mines View Park deck there’s also a lazy white horse we can sit on while having our pictures taken for a fee. Both kids and adults go crazy for this. In fact, sometimes they completely forget about Mines View. Best of all, there are the small huts and stalls in and around Mines View Park where thousands of interesting souvenir and miscellaneous items are displayed.



View from view deck of Mines View Park
Another thing that visitors are beginning to discover and really love is the freshly baked creamy and tasty ube jam home-made by nuns of the Good Shepherd Seminary within walking distance from Mines View Park. The pies there are also super.

All these extra features add to the already luring appeal of Mines View Park. These days, it’s not only about awesome views of mine-rich mountains and spectacular sights, it’s also about daring boys, lazy horses, sweet corns and hotdogs, souvenir items, and home-made ube jams and pies.



The Mother & Son tandem photo opps....peace!!!!!
How to Get There:


By private transportation: From Sesion Road, climb up and turn to Leonard Wood Road, past Teachers Camp and Botanical Garden, past the Pacdal Rotunda, and go straight up C. P. Romulo Drive past Wright Park Riding Circle and the The Mansion.
As the road climbing up curves left you will be on Outlook Drive (you will see Baguio Townhouse to the right and do not take the road going straight down to Itogon, Benguet) and Mines View Park will be at the top.

An alternative route will be to pass Gibraltar Road, which is to the left of Wright Park Riding Circle. When you see the Good Shepherd Convent to your left, Mines View Park is just a few meters away. This route is actually more direct, but C.P. Romulo Drive is way prettier, and you get to pass by some more popular Baguio attractions along the way.

By Public Transportation: Public jeepneys are also available using the Plaza-Mines View line. You may also hire one of our many taxis cabs to take you there, and contract the driver by the hour or for the day. If your group is large, it may be better to hire a jeepney instead.

You may visit some other attractions that are very near Minew View Park:
 
Wright Park Riding Circle, Wright Park, The Mansion, Good Shepherd Convent

Lakwatserong Tatay w/ other tourist...hehehehe

2 comments:

  1. Is the St. Bernard commercialized? I mean, do people come to the dog for a shot and pay for the photo? If in case, yes, I just hope that the dog still has his life.

    ReplyDelete
  2. @nimfa, sad to say, your right, those dogs are commercialized. picture-taking are open to tourists that are willing to pay just to have a souvenir shot with the st. bernard dogs. But still, that's the owners discretion.

    ReplyDelete

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