{5 of the Best} Fun Things To Do In The Cape Winelands

I have lived in Cape Town all my life but only settled in the Cape Winelands area shortly before becoming a mother for the first time.  I had always thought that the winelands area was reserved solely for Wine cellar tours and hopping from estate to estate checking out the local wines and estate fare.  It was only later after I had my first child that I considered other options in the area, and what greeted me, was a veritable cornucopia of family fun and excitement. Alright, so that is the first time I have ever used the term “veritable cornucopia” in a blog post but it really does sum up the extent of what there is really nicely. I may sadly only chat about 5 fun things there are to do, but just know that the list goes on for days and each and every activities total experience, is only amplified by the beauty for the Cape Winelands and gracious mountains that surround you.

First up is our current favorite place to go on a Sunday.

1. THE LOURENSFORD HARVEST MARKET AT LOURENSFORD ESTATE IN SOMERSET WEST.

Markets are a big thing in the Winelands area, but the Lourensford Harvest Market is a great intimate family market set on the greater Lourensford Wine Estate.  The actual market is set under a constructed area with 77 built-in stalls, which makes walking through the event nice and easy with kids in tow as the aisle is wide and there is plenty of room to move. There are stalls on either side stretching all around the market area.  These are mainly food, Organic Fare and craft type stalls but there are other very interesting things to be seen too.  There is a seating area inside the market where you can sit and enjoy all the lovely fare and listen to a live band playing.  Just next to the constructed area is a large grass area filled with Jumping Castles and other fun activities for kids.  It is run by Adventure Kids and costs a mere R30 for entry for a great deal of fun. The grounds of the estate are vast and if you are in the mood to stroll you could find yourself having a cup of excellent coffee at the Coffee Roasting Company  or Sitting down at the Mill-house Kitchen for only the best Pizza I have ever eaten.  There is also a great little enclosed outdoor play area at the Millhouse Kitchen  so relaxing and eating are the order of the day while your kids enjoy the facilities.  Besides the market, the restaurant and the Coffee Roasting Co [1]. you could have a look at the Aleit & IS art gallery  on the estate and of course go off to the Wine Cellar if that tickles your fancy.  There you will get to taste some of the very best wines in the world. You can do a Chocolate and Wine pairing or my favorite, a Turkish Delight & Wine Pairing. They even have a Kiddies tasting option on the menu (Red & White grape juice of course with cheese & biscuits) so the kiddies also have something to keep them busy while you indulge. The entire atmosphere on a weekend at the Estate with the Market open from 10:00 to 15:00 is really up-beat and full of fun.  There is also a handy ATM service at the market which makes getting what you have your eye on really easy.  Some vendors do use credit card machines too.

2. THE HELDERBERG NATURE RESERVE, SOMERSET WEST

Next up we have the lovely tranquil Helderberg Nature reserve which is the perfect place to go to if you would love to lie down on a picnic blanket under the lovely huge tree’s and read your book while your kids play around you on the vast areas of grass.  This is just the best chill place.  If you don’t want to pack a picnic basket you can also visit the Oak Cafe, a small restaurant and coffee shop on site, and have something to eat and drink there.  At the reserve there are lovely trails that you can take by foot and also explore the river with the kids.  There is plenty of bird and small animal life to be seen.  There are also giant tortoises as well as some small buck that wander freely. There is a small entry per car to get in and annual passes are also available.

This is really just one of those places families all love.  Many people also choose to have birthday parties at the reserve.  It really is a must see.  The Spring/Summer season is of course the best time to go. We love to pack a picnic basket and some blankets, take a ball and go laze around under the tree’s on a Sunday.  I read my book while the kids play ball games.  We usually go on a nice long walk after our picnic to work off some of the food and then head home for an early night because all that fresh air really does tire out the littlies, oh and the mommy.

3. THE STRAND WATERSWORLD WATERSLIDES, BEACH ROAD STRAND.

In the summer months one of the best places to go is the Strand Water world. This should be on everybody’s list at least once over the summer break.  We recently held my Son’s 6th birthday party there too, and it was a complete hit.  There are slides and pools to suit everybody, and there is even a little cafe where you can buy food and drinks.  You are allowed to bring your own goodies too.  There is picnic table seating under a big awning so if you would like to get a place there it is always a good idea to reserve your spot.  For the rest there is plenty of free space to sit on the grass or under the trees. The water is solar heated so really great for people like me who like a little of the chill off. There is also Safety is their number one priority and they have on duty life guards and the kids get to wear life jackets if needed.  I am super pedantic about spots with water as the main attraction but I always feel like I am no the only one having to be the eyes and ears and it’s much nicer that way.  The team at the water slides really do their utmost to make it the best experience for everybody. The fees are listed on their Website and you can select from a 1 Hour, 2 Hour or full day pass.  Spectators only pay R10 so if you are not up to swimming then you don’t have to pay the full entry pass which is great. Riders pay between

R65 and R100 per ticket dependent on your duration at the slides. As I mentioned this is an excellent place to have a birthday party and it will be a guaranteed hit with the guests.  You can take in all your goodies but need a minimum of 10 riders at the party to reserve your table.  The kids and adults alike have the best time.  No need for fancy catering and entertainment as it’s already all there under one roof.

You can either purchase food at the venue or bring in your own for your guests.  We took our own Cake, Party Packs, Hot Dogs and cold-drinks but we bought Ice-creams and some extra’s there like coffee for the adults.

With the December holiday season coming up now it does start to get busy so it’s better to reserve a spot to get a table under the awning, out of the hot sun. We love it so much that we are actually considering a season ticket.

4. THE BLAAUWKLIPPEN FAMILY MARKET AT BLAAUWKLIPPEN ESTATE, STELLENBOSCH

Another market, and there are many in the Winelands, is the Blaauwklippen Family market.  This is a much larger family market than the Lourensford one but a fantastic day out nonetheless.  There are stalls galore with a little bit of everything for everybody but the food, oh the food. There is such an array of food and treats to be had that you may want to take a spare pair of pants with an elastic waist.

You could sit at the food tent and enjoy your meal or find a table or a patch of grass in another spot.  Grab a glass of great wine or some of the great craft Beer and just enjoy the day nibbling on all the fare and listening to the live music.  There are lots of different stalls selling all sorts of interesting things as well as a great activity area for the kids with jumping castles and a mini train and go carts. There are also Pony rides and there is an enclosure with lots of cute farm animals.

There is also an ATM available should you need to draw cash. You can check out their Facebook page here. On the Facebook page you can keep track of anything special that will be happening at the market like for instance the antique fair and the different live music acts.  Our favorite thing to eat at the market is the Giant Nacho bowl, it’s a real treat. This market is only open on Sunday’s between 10: and 15:00 but a lot of fun and well worth a visit with the family.

5. BUTTERFLY WORLD, ROUTE 44, KLAPMUTS (JUST OFF THE N1 TOWARDS PAARL.)

Going to butterfly world is an experience you will never forget.  Being in a place completely surrounded by the most beautiful and etherial creatures flying around your head, and landing on your shoulder is like being whisked off into a fairytale land.  In a closed tropical garden environment you will see thousands of butterflies as well as many other interesting creatures.  It is not ideal to go in the dead of summer because the butterflies don’t like such hot weather and so you wont see too many.  That being said, we have been there in January and saw a large variety of species. The last time we went we saw a large variety of bird life and reptilian life too.  There are areas outside on the premises that house all sorts of other animals so it’s not just about butterflies.  There is a really great family type restaurant on site too for a quick-lunch or something to drink.  Inside the gift shop you will find just about anything.  Lots of souvenirs and gifts.  A huge temptation for the littlies though so bear that in mind when you go as you will probably walk out with an obligatory plastic bug in green slime set in a little plastic jar. You are not limited to the amount of time spent inside of butterfly world so you could make a great few hours of entertainment.  It is not something you want to rush because there is really a lot to see.  They are open 09:00 – 17:00 (every day except 25 December) and entry costs are listed below and you can check out their website here.

Adult: R65

Child: R37

Student: R59

Pensioner: R59

Family (2 adults & 2 children): R167

Children under 3 enter free

 

There is so much more to see in the Winelands district.  I could spend weeks writing about it. If you haven’t visited any of these places before I really do suggest you give one or all of them a try.

This post was written by Celeste from My Friends Think I’m Supermom.You can find her on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook

If you would like to feature your top 5 fun things to do in your city or favourite holiday destination then mail me laura@samomblogs.co.za