n Search of a Cool Summer: Baguio, Philippines pictures

Asia is hot in the summer. At least most of it is. But there are a few spots where the summer traveler can enjoy moderate, perhaps even cool, weather. Chief among those locations is Baguio City, Philippines.

Baguio is referred to affectionately as the summer capital of the Philippines. The title is unofficial but well deserved. June, July and August are cool, wet times in Baguio. While the temperature in Manila is hovering around 78F degrees at night in July, it rarely climbs past 75 in the heat of an afternoon in Baguio. And while residents of the Bay City are running their air conditioners, Baguio's citizens can sleep with their windows open...

During the 52 days between June 20th and August 10th it was warmer than 80F degrees in Baguio only 5 times in 2001. The temperature didn't even reach 75 degrees on 28 of those days.

Temperatures at night always fell below 65 degrees. Thirty-eight of those days saw more than a tenth of an inch of rain.
What is there to do in Baguio? Sitting on a porch and looking at the mountain scenery might be sufficient occupation. But there is plenty to do besides breath the pine-scented fresh air.

A number of tribal ethnic groups from the surrounding mountains make Bagiuo an ideal location to observe tribal culture. The Ibalois are thought to city's original settlers, but there are also Bontocs, Kalingas, Ifugaos, and Kankanaeys.

Baguio's Session Road is worth a day. The street is the heartbeat of Baguio's commercial life - with bazaars and cafes, bookshops and banks, department stores and movies theaters. The public market at the bottom of Session Road is among the city's most interesting places.

You can also visit Mansion House, the former summer residence of the American governor-general of the Philippines. Today it is the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines.

There's also the Camp John Hay golf course; 18 holes in the mountain air. The camp used to be a recreation spot for U.S. troops. Or there's Burnham Lake; the man made body of water in the heart of town is a popular place to picnic or paddle around in a small boat.

If you're up to a short trip, the Asin Hot Springs is located about 10 miles outside of Baguio. The resort there includes a swimming pool surrounded by thermal hot springs.