This time last year, we were visiting Cape Town, South Africa. My first honest impression was that I couldn’t believe we were still in Africa. It was so dramatically different from Zambia! Everything was modern – real highways, tall buildings, restaurants and shops everywhere. The European influence was evident as soon as we landed. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was the realization that Cape Town was by far the most beautiful city I had ever seen. I’ve always considered myself a beach person. I am like Moana drawn to the water, or more likely to the sand and a good book. I will pick a beach vacation over any other any day of the week. But, I also enjoy the beauty of the mountains. There’s something calm and peaceful in a mountain view. Being in Cape Town and having the beach on one side and the mountains on the other was seriously stunning.
When we first looked at trips to Cape Town, we were hesitant to take the kids along. We wanted to fully experience the city, its history, and the outstanding wineries. After researching some family friendly options, we discovered that it was in fact possible to do all of that and involve the kiddos too. For the record, Chad and I are in different camps when it comes to taking the kids along on vacation. He sees it as a waste of money because they won’t remember it. (And they’ve proven time and again that they’re more likely to remember the pizza they ate than the cheetah that they pet or the baboon that stole their sandwich.) I believe, that even if they won’t remember it later, the experience itself enhances their character regardless of their recollections. So, I always say, bring them along! (Although I do find myself asking at least once on each trip…Why did we bring them again?)
The first thing that we did the day that we landed was take a helicopter tour above the city. Wow! It was pricey, but I will never forget those views. Seeing the southern tip of Africa, Table Mountain, and Robben Island from above was magical. And of course, the kids loved being in a helicopter and wearing the headsets.
Our kids, like me, love the beach. They could spend days playing in the sand and surf and be perfectly content. Unfortunately, October in Cape Town isn’t exactly warm, similar to fall weather in the US. But that didn’t stop us from enjoying the sand in front of our beachfront hotel in Lagoon Beach. We actually really enjoyed experiencing the cooler weather since it was starting to heat up in Zambia.
Day 2 we headed to Table Mountain. We rode the cable car up to the top (sans kids we probably would’ve chosen to take the easy hike to the top). The day we went was pretty cloudy, and when we reached the top we were completely engulfed in the clouds. This meant no gorgeous views from the summit, but the experience of being in the clouds was pretty cool (and cold!). There was a nice little café at the top for some warm coffee and a snack and a nice little gift shop. My one disappointment was, because of the weather, we didn’t spot any rock dassies. If you don’t know what a rock dassie is – Google it. Adorable.
After Table Mountain, we drove out to Stellenbosch to visit our first winery. We chose Vergenoegd specifically for its kid-friendly environment. Although the inside was lovely and cozy with a nice toy room to keep the littles occupied, we chose to sit outside and embrace the views of the mountains and vineyards despite the cold. Luckily, they provided blankets at the tables. We tasted 6 wines, and each came paired with a food course. The wines were delicious, each one better than the last, but what we weren’t expecting was the quality of the food. It was seriously the best food we’d ever tasted! Or at least, that was our opinion after 6 glasses of wine… And then, to top it off, it was all so affordable! I’m talking $5-$10 per bottle. Buying wine directly from the winery, especially with the rand being so low, was incredibly cheap. While we thoroughly enjoyed the food and wine, the highlight for the kids was by far the duck parade. Vergenoegd uses a large fleet of ducks to keep the bugs and insects from devouring their vineyards instead of using pesticides. Every day, guests are treated to the Duck Parade as 500+ ducks waddle their way to the fields.
The next morning, we were up early to take the scenic drive down the coast to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. These are often mistakenly thought of as the southern-most tip of Africa, but in fact that point is 150km southeast of there. (Thank you Wikipedia.) Regardless, the views from both locations were beautiful, and the drive through Table Mountain National Park was gorgeous. We even saw a few baboons and ostriches on the drive through. 
To make the day even better, we followed the opposite coastline on the drive back and stopped at Boulders Beach for a few hours along the way. Do you know what Boulders Beach is famous for? A hint…it’s my favorite animal…PENGUINS!! This might have been my major motivation for wanting to visit Cape Town. It did not disappoint! It was a beautiful day for the kids to play on the beach, and it was so surreal to have penguins sitting on the boulders behind them as they played.
Our last day in Cape Town started a bit rough when Aria woke up sick, but after breakfast she perked up a bit so we decided to head over to another winery. We chose Vergelegen because of its close proximity and also the great playground for the kids. It turned out to be a beautiful day and we all had a great time relaxing. The wines and food were once again amazing. The grounds had stunning flower gardens, including a vineyard maze to meander through, and the kids were free to roam as we sipped. I would definitely return to this winery if we get the chance to go back to Cape Town.
Somewhere in the blur of these days we also fit in shopping at the Waterfront and delicious thai food from Wang Thai. It was connected to our building, so we ended up eating there twice since it was so good. The kids were exhausted from all the fresh air and fell asleep at the table both times. Between the food, the wine, the beaches, and the breath-taking views at every turn, it was certainly a trip to remember. And if the kids don’t remember, don’t worry, I took pictures. 😉