Another go-as-you-please day that that can be tailored by our resident wine expert, is an outing created exclusively for families with little ones in tow.
Take in the sites and spectacular scenery of the Winelands with your private guide as you make your way through superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads. For families that love being out in the open, surrounded by beautiful scenery and enjoy doing things together, there is much to offer with a selection of farms geared towards wine lovers with kids. Today we sample a selection of some of the finest wine estates and top-notch 'family-friendly' estates. From sessions that include a tasty food pairing - think chocolate and cheese - to ones preceded by a Segway tour, there's definitely something to suit every age (and palate).
With award-winning wine and delicious food on offer, a wine tasting at Spier is one of the most popular options in the Stellenbosch area. Here, the chocolate and wine pairing is a particular highlight which, as the name suggests, sees the farm's signature Méthode Cap Classique and Creative Block blends complemented by specially curated chocolates. Children are offered a special grape juice tasting and for something totally different, the 2-hour Segway tour (additional cost) is highly recommended. Not only is a ride on one of these two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicles a whole lot of fun, but it also offers a chance to experience the farm's vineyards and pastures. Middlevlei in the Devon Valley is genuinely relaxed and down to earth - a great antidote to stuffy wine farms. Go for the boerebraai (traditional South African barbecue) where kids receive a special basket with treats including a 'stokbrood' - a bread they can cook themselves over the open flames. Little ones are encouraged to run wild on the lawns and feed the farm animals - look out for the wallabies - and no-one will look twice at muddy feet. With an outdoor wooden deck and a generous fireplace, Mulderbosch's tasting room can facilitate tastings in both the warmer and colder months. But what makes a session at the vineyard truly special is that you can pair its full range of wines (up to five per session) with delicious, thin-based, wood-fired pizzas. Alternatively, if you are just in the mood for a nibble, you can opt for a charcuterie or cheese board.
At Laborie's Harvest restaurant in Paarl, you're guaranteed an excellent meal with a table near the jungle gym keeping the little ones busy, while the older kids (and their parents) will enjoy playing boulles on the lawns. A mere 45-minute drive from Cape Town, Spice Route's delightful village set-up in Paarl is the perfect day out for the whole family. Aside from fabulous restaurants, there's a smorgasbord of tempting things to do, see and taste! There's craft brewery that offers an ultra-slick beer tasting, Wilderer distillery for grappa, an art gallery, a glass-blowing studio, a biltong bar...and more! The most popular activity is the guided chocolate tasting at DV Artisan Chocolate. Here a tutored 'adult-version' wine pairing is highly recommended although the kids will prefer the shorter 25-minute chocolate tasting.
The Franschhoek Motor Museum offers visitors a special opportunity to look back at more than 100 years of motoring history with its unique and exciting collection of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and memorabilia in the magnificent setting of L'Ormarins. The museum's collection exceeds 220 vehicles - ranging from a 1898 Beeston motor tricycle to a 2003 Ferrari Enzo supercar - and more than 80 exhibits will be on view at any one time, displayed in four de-humidified halls with a total floor area of 2700 m², and presented in chronological order.
This day is yours to tailor and craft as you choose. Enjoy lunch at one of the family-friendly restaurants or estates (lunch to be settled directly but wine tastings included) and you will return to your hotel late this afternoon.
The Best of South Africa Travel map displays the locations of the destinations and accommodation that we have selected and visited; for each item, hovering over or clicking the marker will display a short summary and photo of that place or hotel, and hotel pricing. Follow the links in the info box to the full page listing which has much more information.
Note that the online map offers both a satellite view (click satellite in the top right) and, for some locations, a street level view (Drag the person in the top left onto the map). These let you explore the country; and when you wish to explore in person, or if you have any questions about the places you see, give our staff a call, or request a quote. Our staff regularly visit the places and accommodation that we feature.
When you book a holiday with us we will provide full driving instructions for reaching your accommodation, where necessary; these can be used by yourself, or you could enjoy the luxury of a driver. Alternatively we will arrange private (car rather than coach) transfers for you; helicopter transfers are also possible for some destinations.
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