1. Find enchantment at Enchanted Kingdom

Enchanted Kingdom is probably one of the largest amusement and theme parks in the Philippines. Located in Santa Rosa, Laguna, the park is only 17.1 kilometers (10.6 miles) from Muntinlupa, making the city the ideal jump-off point for a day trip to the park. It is a proud member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. To date, it features 30 rides, spread across seven themed zones, including Victoria Park, Portabello, Boulderville, the Midway Boardwalk, Brooklyn Place, Spaceport, and the Jungle Outpost. Victoria Park is a Victorian themed area, while Boulderville is a small area for kids and the Midway Boardwalk is designed after Coney Island, in the US. The park also organizes special musical events, in each of the zones. With its 25 hectares (62 acres), it can accommodate as many as 25,000 guests.

From Muntinlupa, the Enchanted Kingdom is only a 45-minute bus ride away. Several bus companies ply the route that takes you to Sta. Rosa. You can choose between the JAC Liner or the Jam Liner. Both JAC and Jam have terminals in Pasay City, near the Buendia LRT station. From there, take the bus to Balibago - fare costs about 1.25 USD per way.

Enchanted Kingdom

Address: San Lorenzo South, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna

Operating Hours: 12pm - 7pm Thursday and Friday; 11am - 9pm Saturday and Sunday.

Fees: Adults - 12 USD weekdays, 14 USD weekends: Kids - 6 USD weekdays, 7.60 USD weekends; inclusive of unlimited rides except for the Agila Ride. Tickets can be purchased online.

Website: Enchanted Kingdom

2. Spend a day in Bonifacio Global City: See the Mind Museum and walk around to check out public art

Bonifacio Global City is a financial and commercial district in Taguig City, one of the cities in the southern part of Metro Manila. It is 27.8 kilometers (17.2 miles) from Muntinlupa to BGC. From Alabang in Muntinlupa, you can ride a bus that passes through the EDSA (Navotos, Lagro, Monumento, Novaliches etc.) and get off at the Ayala MRT Station. From there, take the bus to the Fort.

Your first stop should be the Mind Museum, a world-class science museum, located in J.Y. Campos Park, along 3rd Avenue, in BGC. With its mission to bring science closer to the public and make it come alive, there are over 250 interactive exhibits, here, which are all interconnected by the themes of Atom, Earth, Life, Universe and Technology. The museum also has two outdoor areas: Science-in-the-Park and the JY Campos Park. The Fort bus has a bus stop for the Mind Museum - just ask the driver to drop you off.

Another attraction is the public art installations found all over BGC. Because of the ArtBGC program, art has become more accessible to the public. The program brings together local and international artists to paint murals in public places, such as the sides of buildings. Check out their Facebook page at ArtsatBGC.

The Mind Museum

Address: J.Y. Campos Park, 3rd Avenue, BGC, Taguig City

Operating Hours: 9am - 6pm, Tuesdays to Sundays.

Admission Fees: about 15 USD for an all-day pass; 12.55 USD for adults, for a 3-hour pass.

Website: The Mind Museum

3. Spend a day in Makati: the Ayala Museum and Greenbelt

From Muntinlupa, Makati City is 27.1 kilometers (16.8 miles) away. To get to Makati, take a bus which travels the route along the EDSA, from Alabang. You can get off at the Ayala MRT Station, in Makati. From there, you can walk to the museum and the Greenbelt area. For a map, check out the Greenbelt website.

The Ayala Museum is located in the center of the business district, of Makati. It houses several permanent exhibitions: an exhibit of prehistoric gold, a collection of ceramics that marks the point of the Philippines’ economic contact with its neighboring countries, an indigenous textiles collection, and finally, the Philippine Diorama Experience, featuring 60 dioramas of major events in Philippine history. The non-permanent exhibits are usually exhibits of artwork by local or international artists.

The museum is a short walk away from the Greenbelt Commercial Complex. This sprawling complex has various retail shops, restaurants and a park, with a chapel. After a tour of the museum, you can take the rest of day walking around the Greenbelt, do some shopping or just sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee.

The Ayala Museum

Address: Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City

Operating Hours: 9am - 6pm, Tuesdays to Sundays.

Admission Fees: adult non-residents about 8.50 USD; regular discounted rate about 6 USD

Website: The Ayala Museum

4. Spend a day in Tagaytay City: Sky Ranch and the Museo Orlina

Tagaytay City is about 40 kilometers (25.4 miles) from Muntinlupa. Taking public transportation to Tagaytay is easy - from the Manuela Metropolis Alabang mall, you can ride a jeep to Balibago/Sta. Rosa and get off at the Balibago Terminal. From Balibago, you can ride a jeepney to Tagaytay. The total commute would take between 1 to 1.5 hours.

Sky Ranch is located along the Nasugbu Highway. It is an amusement park that has one unique feature - the 162 meter (531 feet) high Ferris wheel and 20 other rides. Situated on one side of Tagaytay Ridge, riding the Sky Eye can be quite an experience as you view Taal Lake and the volcano. You can spend a whole day here, especially if you are with your family.

Or you can take an art break and go to the Museo Orlina, in Tolentino East. The museum displays the works of world-renowned glass sculptor, Ramon Orlina. Open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10am to 6pm. For more information, check the museum’s website.

Sky Ranch

Address: Tagaytay - Nasugbu Hwy, Kaybagal South, Tagaytay, Cavite

Operating Hours: 10am - 10pm Mondays to Fridays; 8am - 10pm weekends and holidays

Admission Fees: about 1.50 USD during weekdays; about 2 USD during weekends and holidays

Website: Sky Ranch

5. Spend a day in Mt. Makiling, Laguna: National Arts Center

Mt. Makiling is located in Los Banos, Laguna which is 51.2 kilometers (31.8 miles) away from Muntinlupa. The best way to get there is to hire a private car, as commuting can be quite tedious, with various stops. The National Arts Center is found on Mt. Makiling and this building complex occupies a part of the Makiling Forest Reservation. The renowned Philippine High School for the Arts operates most of the facilities here, except for Pugad Adarna, which is under the auspices of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. You can roam around the complex and enjoy the fresh mountain breeze or you can sit down and contemplate at the open-air St. Marc’s Chapel, another architectural work of the National Artist for Architecture, Leandro Locsin. No admission fee is required to visit the center.

National Arts Center

Address: Makiling Forest Reserve laguna, Ibarang Rd, Los Baños, Laguna

Operating Hours: 9am to 6pm, Daily

Make Muntinlupa your starting point for your next adventure

The city does not have much to offer, beyond shopping malls and commercial centers. It’s biggest advantage is its proximity to the nearby provinces, as well as the interesting parts of Metro Manila. So don’t hesitate to make the city your starting point, for your next adventure.