Fantasy World: Still Remains a Fantasy

We passed by Fantasy World on our way to Tagaytay from Lemery, Batangas after the Feedmix medical mission in San Nicolas, Batangas. Upon seeing this unique structure, we did not let the opportunity to take its picture pass us by. We parked along the highway and were welcomed by a throng of vendors lined along the road coaxing tourists to buy their goods. 

Kid Activity: Swimming at Tagaytay Haven Hotel

The main reason we chose to stay at Tagaytay Haven Hotel Mendez was because of their covered pool. One of the purpose of our out-of-town trip was for the kids to go swimming before summer officially ended, hence the planned beach getaway.

The hotel's covered swimming pool is located at the basement, the same level as the carpark, and is accessible from the lobby/reception area via a staircase. There is an entrance fee of Php100 per head paid at the reception area, which is already good for the whole day. A door is separating the swimming pool from the carpark, which opens at 9am and closes at 10pm. Sometimes, if the lifeguard is still available, they extend the swimming hours up until 12 midnight, mostly during weekends.

Eway's Grill: Tagaytay Restaurants

For our last night in Tagaytay, we decided to try out the restaurant Eway's Grill, located very near the Tagaytay Haven Hotel. According to the locals, this is a relatively new restaurant that had just opened a few months back.

Sky Eye of Sky Fun at Sky Ranch Tagaytay

After our buffet breakfast, courtesy of the Tagaytay Haven Hotel, we went to Sky Ranch to try out the Sky Eye of Sky Fun Amusement Park. Now that's a lot of skies that it's quite confusing, I know. Sky Fun is the name of the amusement park located inside Sky Ranch Tagaytay, which is a leisure park located beside Taal Vista. The Sky Eye is currently claimed to be the country's tallest ferris wheel at 207 feet, surpassing MOA Eye's 180 feet height. It has 32 air-conditioned gondolas presenting guests with a breathtaking view of Taal at over 2,000 feet.

Dinner at Diner's Café: Tagaytay Restaurants

It started raining as soon as we left the hotel to have our dinner at Diner's Café. For us, this is the best place to try bulalo in Tagaytay. It's been more than 5 years the last time we've been here that the place looked quite different from what I remember (the old place looked carinderia-like, but this one looked like an improved canteen). I'm not sure whether they actually transferred to a new location or they just had the restaurant renovated.

Gumbo - A Taste of New Orleans: Gateway Restaurants

For our fifth year wedding anniversary, hubby surprised me with a lunch reservation at Gumbo Gateway Mall. It's my first time to dine here and I honestly didn't know what to expect. We were greeted at the entrance by waitresses wearing fancy headdresses, more like fascinators actually.

Lunch at Mahogany Market: Tagaytay Budget Eats

From the Picnic Grove, we then went to Mahogany Market for a budget lunch. Mahogany Market is actually famous for the numerous food stalls to the side across the main market, serving beef bone marrow soup or bulalo at a more affordable price compared to the restaurants located along the highway. Here, you are assured that the meat and ingredients used are fresh since they are located just right across the market. They also serve exotic dishes such bull testicles, tripe and intestines as local delicacies.

The Picnic Grove: Budget Place to Hang Out in Tagaytay

The Picnic Grove Tour

From Maryridge Good Shepherd, we next went to the nearby Picnic Grove. This is a very famous place in Tagaytay that boasts of spectacular view of Taal, with minimal entrance fee. We initially planned to have our packed breakfast here, but since we already did, we just roamed around the picnic grounds.

Breakfast at Maryridge Good Shepherd Sisters' Bahay Pastulan

Day 1: Tagaytay 

For the first day of our 3 days, 2 nights Tagaytay-Nasugbu vacation, hubby and the kids fetched me from the office so we can head directly to Tagaytay City. We reached Tagaytay at around 7am, and thinking it was too early to enter Picnic Grove, we decided to drive around and chanced upon the Good Shepherd signage. Hubby said he wanted to buy his favorite ube jam, so we decided to have our breakfast there as well.

Tagaytay Weekend Getaway: Summary of Expenses

Here's a summary of the expenses we incurred during our technically 2 days/2 nights stay in Tagaytay. I have included all items here, since we were not able to purchase pasalubongs to bring home to our loved ones. Hope this helps you in planning your own Tagaytay trip!