Kid-Friendly Outdoor Spaces in Metro Manila and Nearby Provinces if You’re Wary to Go to Malls

After dilly-dallying for quite a while, the Philippine government has finally allowed kids inside malls amid a downward trend in COVID-19 cases, paired with improvements in the national vaccination drive. The decision comes on the heels of the de-escalation of Metro Manila’s COVID-19 restrictions to Alert Level 2, which means businesses such as restaurants can operate at a larger capacity while age restrictions are discarded outside individuals’ homes.

For parents who have found ingenious ways to entertain kids inside their homes, this is a welcome decision. After all, being cooped up at home for nearly two years does take a toll on someone else’s mental health. Hence, it’s no wonder that many parents scrambled to go to the malls with their kids, many of whom haven’t been in one since they were born.

While it’s easy to raise our eyebrows at the sight of kids crowding indoor spaces at a time when the virus is still lurking, it’s hard to blame the parents especially those who have limited options. Not all of us have the capacity to go out of town where restrictions are much looser. To help ease your dilemma, here are outdoor spaces in Metro Manila and nearby provinces where kids are allowed to wander around.

StrEAT Market

You can now take your children to restaurants for al fresco dining but if you’re still reluctant to go inside a mall, why not try food parks and night markets? Inspired by Bangkok’s Chatuchak market, StrEat Market is filled with stalls selling American-style burgers, corn dogs, Takoyaki, pizza, pasta, desserts, Pinoy street food, and juices. South peeps can visit their set-up in McKinley Hill, while those coming from the north can swing by the recently opened stalls in Greenhills, San Juan. Kids and pets are welcome!

Click here to know more about their schedule.

Hiraya Childhood Play Farm

Spanning 1.2 hectares, this kid-friendly outdoor space near Metro Manila is a family-run farm that accepts only one group per day as an added precaution (and for privacy, too!). That means the entire area is exclusive to you from 9 AM to 5 PM! Aside from wandering through the greeneries, kids will enjoy a myriad of activities like pottery, horseback riding, interacting with animals, and swimming. A one-day tour costs P5,000 during weekdays and P7,000 during weekends for eight people, excluding kids aged one and below. The maximum capacity is 25, with P500 per additional person.

Check out Hiraya Childhood Play Farm’s Facebook page to book your slot.

Bonifacio Global City’s Parks

You don’t have to spend much for a day out under the sun with your kids. BGC has given us kid-friendly outdoor spaces in Metro Manila where you and your littles ones can walk, jog, bike, and roam around for free.

• North Triangle Park

• Burgos Circle Park
• Track 30th
• My Street, High Street
• Neo Park
• Terra 28th
• Kasalikasan Garden
• Sundial Park
• BGC Greenway
• Kiddie Wheely Parks: De Jesus Oval, McKinley Parkway, 31st St., and 27th St.

Intramuros

For something fun but also educational, head over to Intramuros and let your kids experience the Walled City under the Spanish rule. Be sure to hop on a kalesa as you tour this famous Manila landmark’s cobbled streets and colonial architecture.

Little Baguio of Rizal (Antipolo)

Aptly nicknamed “Little Baguio of Rizal,” this landmark is tucked away in Antipolo and is easily recognizable by the tall pine trees lining up the road. The guarded lot is a private property but it has been open to the public since the pandemic to accommodate visitors from Metro Manila and nearby provinces who are craving for green and open spaces after months of being cooped up at home. Kids and kids-at-heart are welcome to this place free of charge!