I never imagined Ilocos to be our first family road trip. Firstly because it was a long and destination-full travel and secondly, because my son was just 4 months old at that time and it seemed impossible to do the trip with all the infant “paraphernalia” we have. But still being the go-getter me, I made sure our itinerary was fool-proof and fortunately, our 3-day trip went everything to plan. Here was our Ilocos trip in chronological order.
Blue Lagoon
We spent most of our 1st day on the road as we opted to go to the furthest north as our first stop – the famous Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud. We stayed in Hannah’s Beach Resort for breakfast and took a quick walk on the shore. It was my son’s first time on the beach so it was such a delightful treat seeing his tiny feet on the sand.
Along the way were some steep hills which were also quite a scenery. We were tempted to go down the rocks but had to leave soon to catch up with the rest of our itinerary for the day.
Bangui Windmills
The famous Wind Farm of Bangui, Ilocos Norte is indeed a top highlight when travelling to Ilocos. This nine-kilometre stretch of wind turbines supply 40% of Ilocos Norte’s electricity and is a very good model for implementing sustainable energy country-wide. The strong breeze coupled with the crashing waves of the West Philippine sea had both our hair and spirits fly.
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
This famous destination along the coasts of Burgos is yet another nature’s masterpiece formed by the natural forces of the ocean. Kapurpurawan came from the Ilocano word “puraw” which means white.
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
One of the many things Ilocos is popular for is being a haven of Philippine cultural heritage. Cape Borjeador was our first blast from the past during our tour. Built in the 1890’s, this historical landmark is still functional and guides ships away from the rocky coasts of the north.
Sinking Bell Tower
Laoag’s Cathedral is famous for its bell tower that sinks at a rate of one inch per year due to its sturdy structure built on a sandy foundation.
Malacañang of the North
It is pretty much well known that the infamous dictator and former President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, was born and bred in Ilocos Norte. So it was not a surprise that many of the Marcoses’ memorabilia are found in the province. One of which is the former leader’s family residence during his seat as Chief Executive. Setting aside personal political thoughts on the Marcoses, I cannot help but note of how the locals honor them during our visit in this Presidential Museum.
Paoay Sand Dunes
If we were single and as wild and free as before, we would definitely rent a 4×4 jeepney and ride our lives away on the Sand Dunes of Paoay. But since we have a sleeping infant left back at the car, we just chose a simple stroll and a pica sesh notwithstanding the windy atmosphere that brought sand on our faces.
Paoay Church
It is common for a Filipino traveler anywhere in the world to include churches in their itineraries. That’s why we made sure we won’t miss this three-decade old UNESCO World Heritage Site in Paoay.
Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo
We concentrated our final day around Ilocos Sur’s center, Vigan. We started in Baluarte, a 100-hectare property of famous Ilocano politician Chavit Singson, in our attempt to stimulate our son’s interest with animals in its famed Zoo and Safari Gallery. We also side-tripped to the mansion also situated in the same area.
Pagburnayan Jar Factory
This is our first time together in a jar factory and we were amazed with pottery. Though we did not get a chance to try it out (soiling your hands is not the best option when you have a infant to carry), we definitely looked forward to experience this craft at another time.
The Hidden Garden of Vigan
This not-really-hidden restaurant of Vigan was surely the city’s gem. Food was good and a sure place to experience the local delicacies of Ilocos such as the Vigan empanada, Poqui-poqui and Warek-warek.
Calle Crisologo
The most known tourist spot in Vigan is a street that will take you back to the Spanish era. This is now a busy commercial street full of antique and souvenir shops, but its cobblestones and ancestral houses are well-preserved which is definitely why see-goers won’t dare skip to visit.
Vigan CathedralÂ
Bantay Church and Bell Tower
Our last stop for the Ilocos Sur trip is 2 of the oldest structures in the province. It is a longstanding watchtower circa 1591 that was converted into a church Bell tower in 1857.
To cap this post, here are some of our family random road trip snaps. Surely, this is indeed a trip to remember that we will be delighted to show our son when he grows up.
InfinitEpiphanies 