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A local Cebuano shares tips on how to enjoy the best island in the Philippines for families interested in city culture and great beaches.

Cebu is just an hour's flight from the Philippine capital of Manila, but it is worlds apart in landscape and sensibilities. The province of Cebu is an island, making Cebu City, the second biggest city in the Philippines, different from landlocked Manila. Cebu offers visitors beautiful beaches, mountain retreats, fun nightlife, a wide selection of shopping and dining --all conveniently located in or around a bustling city. It's also a place where fresh seafood is as easy to come by as friendly people.

In the last 20 years, Cebu has grown rapidly as a tourist destination. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport has regular direct flights to Japan, Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong. A lot of tourists prefer to bypass Manila and fly straight to Cebu, in fact it is the primary destination of approximately 50% of the Philippines' foreign visitors. Its location in the middle of the country makes it a convenient hub for exploring the other 7,000 islands in the archipelago.

I'd like to add that I've been all over the Philippines, and there's no place like Cebu, where I grew up. Nature trips -- both underwater and high in the clouds -- were a big part of my childhood, but so was city life. I could scuba dive in the morning, shop in the malls in the afternoon, and have dinner in a restaurant overlooking the city and the sea. I hope you and your family come to visit sometime and find the tropical vacation you've always wanted.

Family Fun

If you're not staying at a beach resort in Mactan (the island across from mainland Cebu), the best way to enjoy Cebu's beaches and dive/snorkel sites is to rent a boat and go island hopping. While the province has beautiful white-sand beaches, most of them are owned by resorts or belong to private homes. Few of these resorts allow day use for a fee -- try the White Sands Resort (63 32 495-9000,  Mactan Island 6015 Philippines).

The better option is to rent a boat and spend a day touring the nearby islands. Boat operators in Mactan also do dive trips and rent out snorkeling equipment. An entire day's trip can cost as little as US$30. Don't forget to tip the boatmen (20% is generous), and pack lunch and a cooler of drinks to make the trip more enjoyable.

You can schedule a trip once you arrive through any of these local boat centers: Boyong Dive Resort (63 32 492-1800, Buyong, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City) Scuba Star Dive Services (63 32 492-0120, Buyong, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City), or Liquid Assets (63 32 492-01008, Buyong, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City).

For serious diving, it's best to go with the more established PADI centers such as Scubaworld (63 32 895-3551, 800 Ma. Cristina St., Capitol, Cebu City). There you can get your Open Water certification for under US$200. They also offer advanced courses, night diving, and liveaboards.

If your kids prefer to stay dry, they can stay in the city and go go-karting at Kartzone (63 32 422-2782, F. Cabahug, Ayala Ext. Road). Five rounds on the track costs a mere US$3. It's fun, safe, and always effective in getting kids excited. Another option is line fishing at a fish farm on the outskirts of Cebu City. At Cebu Wetland Farms (63 32 261-9921, Tabunol Road, Pardo, Cebu) both children and adults can spend a few hours waiting for the fish to bite. The wait won't be long, as the pond is filled with tilapia, catfish, and other delectable fish you have the option of having cooked at the farm's restaurant.