The capital of The Philippines is Manila, on the largest island in the country. Metro Manila, the capital region, can be gritty. Though I find charm within the grittiness, my tween daughter does not.
Luckily, Manila also has many beautiful pockets of neighborhoods that are quite well kept, and one of these pockets is Makati. This neighborhood is one of the few neighborhoods in Metro Manila that have real sidewalks where one can actually take a stroll without risking being hit by a trike or a jeepney.
In Makati, you’ll find Greenbelt, which is a series of shopping malls forming its own mini-city, if you will. There you’ll find some great eateries and places to have a coffee or a drink.
The Walled City of Intramuros is steeped in history, which provides an educational experience for kids. It’s probably not thrilling for younger kids, but teens and tweens may appreciate its history.
It’s a perfect place to take a tween starving for some fun. It’s here that Bailey learned how to surf, it’s also here that she got her hair braided into cornrows, it’s here that we would watch people playing beach soccer and volleyball.