A place fit for kings

MANILA, Philippines - Looking for a place that’s serene and quiet yet majestic enough to stay and live like a king? Then search no more.

About 140 kilometers south of Manila, about a three-hour drive from the hustle and bustle of the metro, and nestled right at the foothills of magnificent Mt. Banahaw is Graceland Estates and Country Club, an 11-hectare development that sits on a 22-hectare property in Tayabas, Quezon that’s surrounded with lush flora and designed to enrich one’s experience with nature while enjoying some quality personal time or with the people one cares about.

Though the place was named after the Memphis home of Elvis Presley, the acknowledged “King of Rock and Roll,” it doesn’t look much like the late star’s grandiose estate in Tennessee. As Graceland’s developer, also an avid fan of “The King,” Ronnie Soliman admits that the look of the club was inspired by a Spanish-Mediterranean neighborhood in southern California.

Graceland has a cluster of townhouse villas, two stylish two-story buildings for the guest suites, 40 apartelles and a couple of five-story condominiums where guests and club members can stay for as long as they want. It also has a country clubhouse and an activity center where big groups can hold their seminars or concerts.

Still, a larger part of the property is covered by open space where guests can choose their own activities.

One of the key characteristics of Graceland’s lodging is it doesn’t make one feel that it is just temporary lodging. There is a homey feel in every room, specially the guest suite, with its own kitchen, dining area and a spacey living room where a big window opens to a picturesque view of mahogany trees along the borders of Graceland, a spot that is sure to give a very relaxing feel as one sits and sips coffee while reading a book.

The experience itself is invigorating enough to encourage guests to take an outside walk and enjoy the fresh and breezy mountain air or try out the club’s different features and amenities.

While it has always been a goal to get all the needed relaxation time during an out-of-town vacation, at Graceland there is a big room for fun and adventure, as Graceland houses various facilities for the active and sporty guests who want to sweat it out while enjoying the outdoor scene.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the villas are the basketball and tennis courts where guests can play it all out with friends and try to outscore each other out in a friendly game. Right next to the courts is a swimming pool where they can cool down and splash away their exhaustion off, and float on the serene blue waters while enjoying the regaling spectacle that is Mt. Banahaw.

Road running has been a big hit in many parts of the metropolis with a whole gamut of fun runs almost the whole year round. Graceland offers its guests who are into running a paved path around its scenic man-made lagoon. Bikers, on the other hand, are also welcome to hit the trail and for those who didn’t bring their wheels can always rent out bikes from a kiosk along the road.

Aside from its beautiful landscape, the lagoon also offers boating activities where friends and families can paddle their way around the man-made pond. They can also do some fishing while they’re at it in their boat or at the wharf, but for the more adventurous types, Graceland has a jet ski that’s on standby.

And since a lot more people are becoming aware of the fun in going out on an adventure, Graceland has a big turf for a campsite just near the lagoon. Perfect for a bonfire in the evening while gazing up the star-studded sky, the place is also a cinch for team-building activities because of its fun and equally challenging facilities such as high rope set-ups, zip line, wall climbing and rappelling, all equipped with world-class safety devices and manned by professionally trained personnel to ensure guests’ safety at all times.

Kids, meanwhile, can enjoy their time at the playground — slides, swings and swing bars are available for their enjoyment. Graceland also offers horseback riding to anyone who feels like being a cowboy or a haciendero for a few minutes. For the golf aficionados, there are also putting greens where they can hone their short game in preparation for their next tourney.

After all of these exhausting yet relaxing activities during the day, one can always have a little nook around Graceland, where they can sit on a bench, read a book or just savor the beautiful landscape.

Before guests cap their day off, they can enjoy sumptuous treats — mostly local cuisine with a Quezonian touch — at the Memphis Garden Café amid hushed and calm surroundings. Whether during the day or early in the evening, guests can savor on these gustatory delights together with a glass of wine or local spirits (you can try Quezon’s favorite “lambanog”) while sharing hearty laughs with people who matter most to you, your family or friends, while you celebrate life’s finest moments.

All in a place that’s fit for kings.

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Graceland Estates and Country Club is located in Barangay Camaysa, Tayabas, Quezon. Its corporate office is located at the 4th floor, Graceland Place, Zapote cor. Ponte Sts., Makati City. Call 896-9113, 899-6597, 897-3665 or 896-8616, fax or call (042) 793-2857 or (042) 697-7468 (Quezon office). For more details, visit www.graceland-tayabas.com.