Travel Inspired Living SA

Inspired Living SA Travel Blog brings you great travel adventures from South Africa, as well as International destinations. You will find out more about the fantastic travel opportunities within the Western Cape and the greater South Africa. Read articles featuring the amazing places I have travelled, as well as what is on my Travel Bucket List.

Africa, Cape Town Lifestyle, Eating Out, Exploring the Cape, FAR Photography, Food, Lifestyle, Travel

Beautiful Simons Town

If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend why not take a trip to beautiful Simon’s Town.

Simon’s Town

Simon’s Town sometimes spelt Simonstown, is a town in Cape Town, South Africa, which is home to the South African Navy. It is located on the False Bay coastline, on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula. For more than two centuries it has been an important naval base and harbour (originally for the Royal Navy and now the South African Navy).

The town is named after Simon van der Stel, an early governor of the Cape Colony. The area is steeped in both history and tradition and is home to some wonderful Victorian architecture.

Simon’s Town is also the home of the False Bay Yacht Club which has keelboat regattas most Wednesday evenings and weekends.

Attractions

Simon’s Town is a popular tourist destination offering great restaurants and coffee shops. One of our favourite restaurants Bertha’s, is right on the pier and offers wonderful views of the harbour.

Other attractions include antique shops, galleries and fine walks. If you are feeling more adventurous you can take a Boat trip from Simon’s Town jetty. There are many options to choose from, these include harbour cruises, Seal Island boat trips, high-speed boat trips to Cape Point or even whale watching.

For the extreme sports junkies, there is Great White Shark cage diving, boat trips on offer. If you would like to go exploring, as well as getting some exercise then try sea kayaking, from Simon’s Town jetty.

If you are looking for things to do with the kids, pay a visit to Boulders Beach. Boulders Beach, located a few kilometres to the south of Simon’s Town, in the direction of Miller’s Point, is part of Sanparks. It is a pay-for-entry beach, made up of small coves of beautiful white sandy beaches. The water is calm and shallow, sheltered by giant Cape granite boulders. You will also see the colony of African penguins, which have called Boulders Beach home since 1985. Boulders

You can also visit the Scratch patch and mineral world. Kids love sifting through all the stones, to find the prettiest and most unusual colours!

Cape Town Lifestyle, FAR Photography, Featured Posts, Lifestyle, Local, Travel, West Coast

Jacobsbaai – A Beach Lovers Paradise!

As I have mentioned before one of our favourite places for a weekend getaway is the remote area of Jacobsbaai, it is up the West Coast of South Africa, heading out of Cape Town, in the direction of Vredenberg. We have a beautiful family holiday home there, decorated in distinctly beach style decor, which allows the space to be both tranquil and luxurious! It truly is a beach-lovers paradise.

On a recent trip up to Jacobsbaai, we were fortunate enough to have suitable sea-faring weather! Well when I say we, I mean my eldest daughter, her Dad and Grandpa. We have discovered that our eldest has a passionate love of the sea – or should I say of extreme adventure sports, which include boating, crayfishing and boogie-boarding! Needless to say all a bit nerve-wracking for the mother involved – ME! The interesting thing is that I was pretty much the same as a child, it is only recently that I have decided that swimming with sharks actually does sound dangerous and somewhat life threatening.

The boat trip was rather successful and the fisher-folk managed to catch a few crayfish, crabs and a fish! I was rather happy with this outcome seeing as I love crayfish! So the fishing crew returned rather chuffed with themselves and we could all enjoy the bounty that they caught, as an appetiser before dinner – yum!

A few other places to stay up the West Coast include: Langebaan, the quaint fishing village of Paternoster – where you will find lots of lovely B&B’s and self catering accommodation and the beautiful Shelley Point Hotel & Spa.

Images: Collage 1,2 & 3 ©FAR Photography by Super Mom Blog

Cape Town, Cape Town Lifestyle, Exploring the Cape, FAR Photography, Lifestyle, Proudly South African, Travel

Muizenberg Revisited

Muizenberg is a seaside suburb in Cape Town, South Africa, situated on the Cape Peninsula, on the east side of the False Bay coast. It is home to many examples of grand Victorian architecture, dating back to a time when the area was an exclusive seaside resort for the rich and famous. Muizenberg beach is one of the more popular swimming beaches in Cape Town and is considered to be the birthplace of surfing in South Africa.

This area comes alive during the summer season, with holiday-makers and novice surfers enjoying the calm, warmer water, which makes this stretch of coastline so popular.

There are a variety of surf shops, surf schools, restaurants, coffee shops and apartments located along the main beach pavilion – “Surfers Corner”. You have to visit Knead Bakery, when you are in Muizenberg and sample their scrumptious pastries, washed down with a glorious cappuccino!

As a teenager, my friends and I frequented Muizenberg Beach, catching a train from the Southern Suburbs along the coast. We spent many a day lazing in the sun, watching our friends surf and swimming in the sea. Visiting the area recently brought back many happy childhood memories! My eldest daughter is a keen boogie-boarder, so I can see “surf school” in her future!

Africa, Child Friendly Travel, Featured Posts, Lifestyle, Travel

Travelling With Children to Africa

Africa is any traveller’s dream, but that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if you are not adequately prepared for that special holiday, especially with little ones in tow. Travelling with children to Africa can place special demands on you as a parent! [Read more…]

Hotels, Local, Proudly South African, Travel

Top 10 Hotels in South Africa

South Africa is a stunning location, which serves as the perfect destination for a getaway, whether it is romantic, for the family, involving business, or geared to get your adrenaline pumping. At the end of every day, after hours spent building precious memories comes the time when you need to kick off your shoes, relax, take a deep breath and get some shut-eye. For the discerning traveller, I have put together a list of my Top 10 hotels in South Africa.

[Read more…]