Whether you want to escape the European winter blues, explore historical sites, or simply get away to indulge in some tropical water sports such as surfing or wreck diving, the Philippines has it all.

Here are some great reasons to visit:

1. Escape the European winter blues.

Fed up with shivering through the European, American, or Australian winters? The answer is simple -- escape to tropical Philippines!

The Philippines has a tropical climate characterized by high temperatures. Even during the coolest months the temperature seldom falls below 25° C (77° F) and the average annual humidity remains between 71% and 85%.

2. Visit historical sites.

The Philippines is full of historical sites, far too many to list here. However, just to whet your appetite, here are a few. All are accessible to you when you visit.

Intramuros, the walled city in the heart of Manila, was built in 1571 during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. Here you will find old churches, forts, colonial style houses, and horse-drawn carriages.

Vigan, the third oldest Spanish settlement in the Philippines, and the best preserved. Established in 1574 by the conquistador Juan de Salcedo, it lies on the West Coast of Luzon about 400 kilometers north of Manila and only a few hours north of Bali Hai. Its architecture reflects a mixture of cultures without parallel anywhere else in Asia.

Corregidor, 48 kilometers west of Manila, is a small rocky island at the entrance to Manila Bay. It was from Corregidor that Philippine President Manuel Quezon and General MacArthur left for Australia in February 1942, leaving behind Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright in command.

Palo Beach, Leyte, the site of General Douglas MacArthur's landing on October 20, 1944, where he fulfilled his promise, "I shall return."

Banaue Rice Terraces are 2,000 year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao. You will find them in the provinces of Apayao, Benguet, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are dubbed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World."

3. Enjoy Tropical Water Sports.

If you like water sports, soft white sand, ocean waves, snorkeling, surfing, or scuba diving, the Philippines is your answer. With 7,107 islands, and a coastline twice the length of that of the United States, the Philippines is Asia's Beach Capital. And Boracay Island, on the northwestern tip of Panay, Western Visayas, is often touted as the "finest beach in the world."

If you are into wreck diving, try Subic Bay in Olongapo. Subic has 27 wrecks including the USS New York, a battleship scuttled during World War II, to keep her 17-inch main guns from falling into the hands of the Japanese.

There are many other popular wreck diving areas including Busuanga Island with 12 WWII Japanese wrecks that were sunk in September 1944.

Palawan also hosts 40% of Philippine coral reefs with incredible drop-offs. And whether you are scuba diving or just snorkeling, the reefs off the islands of El Nido boast a dazzling array of color teeming with rich marine life. Absolutely amazing!

The Lingayan Gulf just west of San Fernando, La Union, has eight main reefs and some good drop-offs.

Surfing is becoming popular here and is best during the north east monsoon that blows from October to February. A popular destination is San Juan, just north of San Fernando, La Union.

And after a hard day in the tropical waters you can lay back under the shade of a palm tree, sip on your favorite drink, and watch the setting sun turning the tropical clouds into a golden hue.

But of course there are more reasons than can be listed here. For example, the natural wonders of the Philippines such as the The Chocolate Hills of Bohol and the El Nido Marine Reserve.

Or trekking through the rugged mountains, or simply feasting on Filipino mouth-watering delicacies.

Allan E Miller is a retired Airline Pilot who has lived in Asia for over 44 years and has traveled extensively all over the world. He has been a freelance travel writer for 19 years and specializes in articles about the Philippines and other Asian countries. He also maintains the web site for the Bali Hai Beach Resort http://balihai.com.ph/. in La Union, Philippines

Bali Hai provides easy access to many of the attractions mentioned above. Enjoy!