Summer Series 3: Sweet escape

I told a friend last night that taking breaks is healthy. A walk in the park, an afternoon at the mall, a leisure drive around town. But sometimes, you just gotta go far, far, far away, you know? Well, not THAT far.

With the north being the new south, Subic is a destination that remains to be an almost secret - everybody knows its there but no one talks about it. That means less cars, less traffic, and less chances of bumping into anyone from Manila.

And to some, thats quite a big relief. If you want to skip town and recharge yourself (like this weekend and all other long weekends thereafter), take a scenic drive up to Mountain Woods, a cozy bed & breakfast-esque place tucked away in a peaceful enclave in Subic. It has all the ingredients for a perfect vacay getaway: a helping of great food and drinks at its restaurant, Le Jardin (think a belly busting motherload of steak, pasta, pizza, seafood, and other local faves) with an added bonus of a healthy share of star gazing when you nurse a bottle of good Cabernet or Merlot at the Tree Top View Deck, a serving of quiet comfort with its lush contemporary Euro-designed rooms, and a large dose of peace and tranquility thanks to the amazing view and greenery of the mountains (it ain't called Mountain Woods for nothing) and Subic Bay on the horizon. You can also wash away all that stress and bake yourself to a golden crisp at the infinity pool. Escape to paradise at Entemedor St., West Kalayaan, Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBMA). For reservations and inquiries, ring the Mountain Woods’ Manila office at 671-7349 or 671-1068.