C is for Cape Town

The tourism capital of South Africa and with very good reason. CT is beautiful. A thousand postcard worthy views and always someting to do. I would love to live there but hubby dearest hates the wind so I make do with a nice long visit every couple of years.

My first visit to CT was in 1988. Wow it really has changed since then....mind you I have too:) Every trip is so different and each one filled with amazing memories. In 2003 my brother and I travelled down to Cape Town on a very small budget to spend the week with some friends of his. We stopped over for the night on the way down and the way back. I had to sleep curled up in the passenger seat as I wasn't allowed in the tent. That trip is why I bought a tent with my first salary check. The time in Cape Town was great fun. Driving around in a car that you had to hold the door closed when you went around corners and that had a block of wood as a handbrake. We went out drinking at beer and wine festivals and hit the vineyards a couple of times. On the third day we faced diving in the cold waters of the Cape. Never again. That put me off Scuba for a couple of years. The water was 11 degrees on the surface and dark and freezing at 18m. The rest of the trip was fantastic and the time that I really fell in love with the Cape.

Last year we travelled around the border of this country and spent a week in Cape Town. Seeing it through the excitement in Ewan's eyes made me fall for the Cape all over again. He was permanently bouncing. We stayed in an RCI flat in Seapoint. It was great to be a few blocks from the V&A waterfront and to be able to go for long walks along the boardwalk.Cape Town is great family destination, romantic spot and place to party. It really does have everything. Just a pity about the weather....

Places to Stay

I love Allandale Cottages. They are very central with a great play area for kids and nice roomy, budget friendly cottages. I also stay there for sentimental reasons. It's the place my parents always stayed in when I was a kid. Don't worry they have updated the cottages since then:)Their rates range from R440 for two people to R1265 for six.

Of course you could stay on the luxury end of the kid friendly spots although personally I would save this for a romantoc getaway. The One &Only Cape Town currently has a special running for South Africans at R1499.50 per person sharing per night. They do have a really fancy kids club and one of the most amazing views in Cape Town.

There are hundreds of options in between including some really nice campgrounds. Whatever your budget Cape Town will have a place to suit you.

Places to Eat

One of our favourite spots is The Brass Bell in Kalk Bay. It really doesn't look like much from the outside but inside the views are spectacular and the food is worth trying to find a parking spot. It really doesn't get much better then an ocean view with prawns and white wine.

You have to go for lunch at least once in your life at Snoekies in Hout Bay. The place is a South African institution. There is no ambiance or decor and the place is really rustic BUT the food is cheap and finger licking good. You will not get better down to earth fish and chips anywhere. Cover the chips in bright red tomato sauce and lashings of vinegar, then make a total pig of yourself.

There are of course hundreds of places to eat in Cape Town as it really is the foodie capital of South Africa. I was really amazed during our last trip how many places where very kid friendly. The very fancy Thai restaurant we went to at the V&A found a cushion to make Ewan comfortable at the table and brought him extra Dim Sum after he had polished off Andrew's.

Activities

Boulders Beach- to see one of the few land accessible penguin colonies in the world. Yes it is crowded with hundreds of tourists now but the spot is still special. Plus the walkway itself is free and you will see lots of penguins far away from the tourist buses. When you get to the main centre go right along the path instead of going through the pay area to the main beach.

The Ferris wheel at the V&A waterfront. Yes it is pricey but the views are spectacular.The wheel is R80 for adults, R40 for kids 4- 11 and free under 4. It really is great for kids. Ewan loved it. Next time I want to see the views at night.

Cable Car- we skipped this on our last trip as Andrew and I have both been a couple of times and it really is very expensieve. I will take Ewan on our next trip when he will remember it. Buy your tickets online here for a significant saving plus you don't have to queue. Adults R185 return, Children under 18 R90 return and under 4's are free. The new cable car really is amazing with it's 360 degree views.

SAS Assegai - this was the highlight of Ewan's trip and he still talks about it a year later. At R40 per adult and R20 per child it also one of the best value trips you can do in Cape Town. The submarine was saved from being turned into scrap by a recently retired admiral of the fleet. Your visit really does help save this wonderful part of our history. Our tour was about an hour long and very interesting. The admiral is a personal friend of mine but even if that wasn't the case I would still feel strongly about saving our past. Please support them:)

Seal trips from Hout Bay- if the weather is looking good then a seal trip can be a wonderful experience but check the weather carefully. The seas around Cape Point are very rough and you can truly seasick and have a miserable trip.

The Winelands- I will talk more about this on my Western Cape post but you really need to spend a day or two seeing all the vineyards around Cape Town. Some of them like Fairview and Spier are really kid friendly. A picnic at Spier makes a wonderful day out. The goats at Fairview provide hours of entertainment for kids while the adults enjoy the wine and cheese.

Of course I have missed out many places so I think there may be  a Cape Town 2.0 post at some point. There are just so many things to do and places to see that one week is never enough.

Postcard perfect

The Brass Bell

Ewan and Andrew at Boulders Beach

SAS Assegai - climbing down the ladder, a highlight for Ewan