After having lived in the metro for 11 years now, I’ve never really paid attention to its only amusement park – Star City. I have been to Enchanted Kingdom, which I always thought of as our country’s only decent amusement park, although still not comparable to the Disneylands or Universal Studios of other countries. It never crossed my mind to visit until our company decided to hold its first ever family day there!

So, in a span of a month, I went to Star City twice – the first was for an ocular visit, and also to create a video teaser that will be used to promote the Family Day event at work. The second was on the actual Family Day, where I still went despite not having my family with me. In these visits, I realized that Star City is actually fun.

Surf Dance

My favorite ride is the Surf Dance. True to its name, this ride simulates the motion of a wave so prepare to be spun around and have your insides be mixed up for a few minutes. This isn’t as life-threatening though, so I highly recommend this for people who are not used to rides as a stepping stone, in preparation for the more intense ones.

Viking

This is a ride I both hate and love. It’s fun until the boat goes on full swing – you’ll really feel like your spirit is removed from your body. And it does that for a long time, I almost felt dizzy towards the end. I can only remember wanting the ride to end already because I was almost passing out. It’s not a scary ride, and you’re actually safe in your seat, but it’s just the dizzying factor that makes me hate this.

Star Flyer

The Star Flyer is the 2nd scariest ride in Star City. This is their infamous roller coaster where your feet dangle from your seats, and you get reversed at least twice. It is fun but I’m actually concerned about the safety of the ride. I felt my seatbelt loosen up the first time so I got really scared – but there hasn’t been any incident on this ride since 2006 so I’m sure it’s safe. But this one is not for the faint of heart.

Giant Star Wheel

After the high intensity Star Flyer, I suggest you take a break by going on the Giant Star Wheel – Star City’s iconic Ferris Wheel. The cabins are airconditioned and can fit up to 6 people I think. But then again, even if this is chill, those with fear of heights might not be able to relax since the ride is slow! The view from above, especially at night, is spectacular so conquer that fear for a few minutes and enjoy!

Star Frisbee

This is probably the scariest ride in Star City and I didn’t even dare get on it. I almost did – but none of my friends wanted to and I couldn’t do it alone – so yes, I settled with a photo, pardon the selfie.

Snow World

My absolute favorite, and a waste because I don’t have a photo of it – is the Snow World attraction. So basically, it’s a sub-zero room that lets you experience winter in a tropical country. Just this room alone makes the visit to Star City worth it for me, especially in this heat that we’re experiencing now. There’s an ice slide inside, some ice sculptures, and you can also enjoy a cup of warm coffee or chocolate drink for just PHP 40. If you’re going, I recommend you bring your own jackets since their jackets are thin and have been used by several people already during the day (if you get what I mean).

Art Alive

There’s also a trick eye museum inside, which is fun if it’s your first time, and you have a lot of friends to take cool photos with. It’s not as good as the other trick eye museums I’ve been to (in Korea and Singapore), but it’s not bad either. In fact, it’s a good addition to the attractions within the park.

For the Gram

And, if you’re tired of all of the rides, you can check out the many stores and stalls that sell all sorts of things (cheap, too) as well as snack bars that are spread across the entire venue. If you’re into Instagram, you can also take photos that would look good in your feed, because who really goes to amusement parks in this country that often?

A Summer Alternative

So, yes – Star City is fun! It’s right in the heart of Metro Manila, accessible, cheap (490 PHP for ride all you can tickets), and is a great alternative to the beach or the malls. Go with your friends or family, not alone (but hey, if that’s your thing, go ahead), so that you can build fun memories. If you want to learn more, you can visit their website. What I mentioned here are just a few of the many rides and attractions – you can easily spend an entire day there.