6 Ways to treat yourself this summer
If you’re living in Cape Town, then you can expect a warm summer and a tough one with the water restrictions. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be a fun one and full of spoils for little ol’ you! In and out of the city there are places to go, things to do and beautiful sunsets to see. Treat yourself to the beauty of the Mother City.
Summer outfit
The sun will be shining and you’ll have every reason to start working on that tan coming out of winter. But it’s not socially acceptable to walk around in your swimming costume all day. So it’s time to find that perfect summer outfit. Take to the malls and scour the racks for that perfect dress, tank shirt or plakkies to start summer the right way.
Trying to find a reason to treat yourself to a summer outfit? You survived months of drowning yourself in material just to try and stay warm. Now ditch the socks and embrace loose, cool clothing. Find yourself “on trend” this summer with ice cream and rainbow colours, and sheer and sequence materials.
Stay by the beach
Book yourself into a campsite, guest house, hotel or villa by the beach and spend a weekend away by the sea. Country Hotels has a beautiful villa in Plettenberg Bay that’s perfect for you and all your friends. There you’ll have your choice between the sea, a lagoon or a pool when it comes to cooling off and having some fun.
Pack sunblock, beach umbrellas and the beach bat sets for the perfect beach day. Braai in the evenings as you watch the sun set the sky on fire as it sets. Have the crashing waves put you to sleep at night and the seagulls wake you up in the morning.
Eat ice cream
You can’t go through the heat of a summer’s day and not have an ice cream. Well, you can, but you really wouldn’t want to. And if you’re one of those rare people who can’t eat or don’t like ice cream… just skip this section.
And make a day out of it. How you may ask? Drive through to Hermanus for Gelato Mania and a view overlooking the ocean. A popular spot for whale watching as well. Otherwise find Unframed Ice Cream, The Creamery Café, Crumbs & Cream, Moro Gelato, or any of the many ice cream joints in town. Treat yourself to cold and creamy goodness just because you can!
Take it outside
Summer means beautiful days. And beautiful days mean adventurous outdoor activities.
From putt-putt in Seapoint, to abseiling from Signal Hill, cycling along the promenade, taking a cable car up Table Mountain, kayaking in the oceans, going for boat rides from the Waterfront Harbor, enjoying the outdoor cinema on a summer’s night, horse riding along the beach, hiking through nature, spending a day at Blue Rock Adventure Park, quad biking, river rafting, and wine tasting the way it should be done – outside.
Cape Town is ready to treat you to anything you want to experience. There is so much to do and you’re almost always guaranteed a breathtaking view as a bonus. Staying inside would just be offensive to your city. Unless you’re shopping for that summer outfit we spoke about. Then it’s momentarily okay.
Summer concerts
Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts. If you didn’t know what you were going to do during some of the weekends of 2017’s or 2018’s summer, you do now. The summer sunset concerts celebrate local and international musicians in this beautiful, peaceful, and nature-filled venue. Gardens around you and a mountain-backdrop to the humble stage, trust the reviews – you want to be there.
Spend the day in the gardens and pack in a picnic basket dinner to enjoy over the acoustic sets. It really is something to experience and not an arm-breaking expense for you to treat yourself to.
Drive around the Western Cape
If you feel like you’ve seen all the city can offer you, hop in the car and explore your province. A mini-holiday treat, if you will. Discover the little towns and go on all the game drives. Visit the beaches and immerse yourself in the culture and heritage of your land.
Rather do this in the summertime where you can roll the windows down and enjoy a breeze through your hair (yes, like it is in the movies) and go on the hikes to explore the diverse nature each area offers. There’s no excuse of a rainy day or “baby, it’s cold outside”. If anything there’ll be those super hot days where a quick swim, an ice cream and a snooze in the shade is more than enough.
