Knysna - Inspired Living SA

Events, Exploring the Cape, Lifestyle, Out & About, Travel

Knysna Oyster Festival 2013

As you know Knysna is one of my favourite places to visit in the Cape, so I thought I would let you know about the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival 2013, which is happening soon!

The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, between 28 June and 7 July this year! With more than 100 events on the programme, there will be fun for everyone.

“Knysna has long been regarded as the pearl of the Garden Route,” said Festival Manager Nicci Rousseau-Schmidt. “And with pearls being the traditional gift for 30th anniversaries, the 2013 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is sure to shine as it presents attendees with a wide array of activities and events.”

“On the menu is a smorgasbord of events to thrill and delight the most discerning of gourmands, wine aficionados and those who appreciate the finer things in life, such as the Admiral’s Ball with the SA Navy Dance Band – the perfect opportunity to display your own pearls and dance the night away. The Festival enjoys a wonderful relationship with the South African Navy, who are attending once again and, along with the Admiral’s Ball, the Navy Band performance is not only an event not to be missed, but the perfect grand finale to the Festival.”

“Showcasing over 40 top South African wine producers as well as bubbly from the Cap Classique Association, the Knysna Wine Festival & Night Food Market invites you to meet local winemakers, taste their current releases and learn more about the latest trends in wine making,” said Nicci. “And it only makes sense to pair this extremely popular event with the Night Food Market which is sure to offer tasty titbits to enjoy – and line the stomach!”

“The Pick n Pay Flavours of Knysna challenges restaurants in and around Knysna to compete in a variety of categories for recognition by judges and the public,” Nicci continued. “The event allows them to showcase their talents in what promises to be an evening of culinary delights and gastronomic greatness.”

“Various restaurants will also be identified as Oyster Hotspots. Here you will be able to sample oysters a la natural, as well as oysters cooked according to the restaurant’s own original recipes.”

“And of course we cannot forget about the oyster shucking and eating competitions. Regularly drawing record amounts of participants and spectators, these events are known for their fun factor. On 3 June 2012 Sonya Thomas, also known as ‘The Black Widow’ of competitive eating, ate 47 dozen – 564 in total – oysters in 8 minutes!” Nicci exclaimed. “This record was set in New Orleans, but I can’t help but wonder if we’ll find someone who can better that attempt at this year’s Festival…”

“So train your taste buds and stock up on the milk thistle,” she urged. “This year promises to not only satisfy your taste buds, but to astound them.”

“28 June to 7 July is sure to be the best 10 days of your winter,” Nicci concluded. “Especially if you spend them in Knysna at the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, South Africa’s largest lifestyle, sporting and family event. With over 100 sporting, lifestyle, foodie and kiddie events on offer – each of which benefits local communities and charities, the festival truly offers something for everyone. All you have to do is arrive – we’ll take care of the rest.”

Please visit the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival website for regular updates to the programme and more details on the event, or contact Knysna Tourism on 044 382 5510 for more information.

Top Image Source: Knysna.org

Africa, Be Inspired, Child Friendly Travel, Exploring the Cape, My Top, Travel

My Top Cape Holiday Destinations

The West Coast – My favourite spot up the West Coast, Jacobsbaai, is probably a bit of a biased choice, as it is where our family holiday house is but the West Coast is such a magical, unspoiled piece of Coast line you cannot help but love it! Spending just a few days there is wonderfully relaxing and good for the soul! Jacobsbaai is approximately an hour outside of Cape Town, in the direction of Vredenberg. As I mentioned 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 and wonderful for family holidays. It is also the place you will witness the most stunning sunsets! Other popular holiday spots up the West Coast are Langebaan and Paternoster.

Franschhoek – Is one of my favourite holiday destinations in the Western Cape. It is approximately an hour’s drive, travelling on the N1, from Cape Town. “Franschhoek” meaning ‘French corner’, is a beautiful town steeped in history and renowned for good food and wine. It is wonderfully romantic and the perfect spot for a weekend away to reconnect with a loved one but equally good for a family holiday. Accommodation in the area is plentiful, with many quaint guest houses, self-catering cottages as well as luxurious boutique hotels; offering travelers many options when visiting the area. One of the most enjoyable places we have stayed at, was Rose Cottage, on the most picturesque Burgundy Bourgogne Estate. The cottage is four-star, self-catering luxury; it has an open plan kitchen, lounge dining room and an exquisite master suite.

Hermanus – Is a beautiful sea-side town, in the Overberg, which forms part of what is more commonly known as the “Whale Coast”. We love visiting the area and if you are lucky you may even get to see a few whales while you are there. If you are planning a trip to Hermanus, the end of September is a good time to go. You can enjoy the renowned annual Whale Festival, which is a great deal of fun! It can get very busy during this time of year, so pre-booking accommodation is essential. There are many great restaurants to choose from – most of them, with a view of the sea.

Knysna – The Majestic Garden Route is definitely a very popular holiday destination in South Africa, especially for families. Knysna is one of our favourite Garden Route spots and is approximately six hours by road. Although a long trip, the Garden Route is wonderfully scenic and there are lots of things to see along the way. We enjoy staying on Leisure Isle when we are holidaying there and if you are fortunate enough, you can rent a home directly on the Knysna Lagoon. It offers the peaceful tranquility of island style living, with the most amazing views and the town is a mere 10 minutes away by car. The area is great for families – children can happily bike ride around the island or potter on the Lagoon when the tide is out. Another popular location in Knysna is Thesen Island, a Martha’s Vineyard style development and a very popular choice for holiday rental. We have stayed there in the past but I still prefer the peace and tranquility that Leisure Isle offers. The marina on Thesen Island sports many wonderful shops and restaurants and a boutique Hotel, catering to a holiday makers every need.

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Child Friendly Travel, Exploring the Cape, FAR Photography, Local, Travel

The Majestic Garden Route

The Majestic Garden Route and East Coast are one of our favourite local destinations in South Africa. The trip from Cape Town to Knysna is approximately six hours by road. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit, and you are in complete awe of the beauty that surrounds you. It also allows me to indulge my passion for photography!

The Majestic Garden Route

The Milkwood tree, which is synonymous with the area, has a distinct smell. I associate this smell with that ‘holiday feeling’; it lets you know you are away from it all. The resort Under Milkwood, on Knysna Heads, takes its name from these majestic trees.

Leisure Isle

We have enjoyed many memorable holidays in Knysna and after a break of two years returned, this year, for our Easter break. Our choice of area to stay, in Knysna, is Leisure Isle. If you are lucky enough, you can rent a home directly on the Knysna Lagoon. It offers the tranquility of island style living, with the most fantastic views and the town is a mere 10 min car trip away. The area is ideal for families; children can happily bike ride around the island.

Walking across the Lagoon at low tide is something you have to do, it is a somewhat surreal experience.

Looking across the Lagoon towards the Heads

The Knysna Heads

The Knysna Heads is also a popular area, also with fantastic views from a slightly different perspective, looking down on to Knysna and the Lagoon. The area boasts a handful of restaurants, which as you can imagine, have the most spectacular views.

Thesen Island

Thesen Island is a Martha’s Vineyard style development, is a more recent addition to the area and is a very popular choice for holiday rental. We have stayed there in the past but still, prefer the peace and tranquillity of Leisure Isle. The marina on Thesen Island sports many shops and restaurants and a boutique Hotel, catering to holiday makers every need.

Knysna is a skipper’s paradise, with all sorts of vessels on display and plenty of boating shops in the area. There are a variety of boat trips on offer, for those of us who do not own our own boat. These scenic adventures depart from the Knysna Waterfront and provide the seafaring traveller a variety of options; from simple sightseeing to a luxurious trip including a meal and drinks.

Knysna forest

If it’s the outdoors that you enjoy, the walks and trails in the area are fantastic. The enchanting Knysna forest is wonderful for children of all ages. It is the largest indigenous forest in South Africa and was once home to vast herds of the Knysna elephant. If you would like to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures, then a visit to Knysna Elephant Park is a must.

Other Garden Route Attractions

Other interesting things to do with children while in the area, other than visiting the beautiful beaches; you can pay a visit to Monkeyland, a primate sanctuary or Birds of Eden, a bird sanctuary. They are both in the Plettenberg Bay direction, heading out of Knysna going East. Both of these venues will keep you and your family enthralled for hours.

Lookout Beach Plettenberg Bay

Although the weather was rather inclement during our trip, this Easter, we still managed to enjoy the sights and do all the touristy things. We were even treated to a trip across the Knysna Lagoon, on a beautiful catamaran, which was a definite highlight of the holiday. Knysna is a place for relaxing and getting away from city life, and we always enjoy it immensely. We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful country!