I don’t know about you but I find myself in a bit of a rut every now and then. Recently, we have discovered the joys of Netflix and, to be perfectly honest, it has been a breath of fresh air. Which, strangely enough, has led to far fewer outings into the actual fresh air outside. And so, as we Netflix and chilled, we also ate a bit too much and found ourselves getting lazier and more unfit as the weeks turned into months.
I am more of a homebody, but when we all live on top of one another, the bickering tends to increase as our tempers decrease so, it is good for everyone concerned to leave the house as often as the budget allows. As such, the budget hasn’t led to weekends away for a long time which means we have needed to become far more creative when it comes to finding places to explore that require little to no budget whatsoever.
So, if you are finding yourself in the same boat and happen to also be living in Cape Town, here is our list of fresh air freebies.
Disclaimer: a number of these options have a “climb every mountain” kind of feel. But since we can’t afford a gym membership, that may not be a bad thing.
Fresh Air Freebies
Cape Town CBD offers a handful of options without even breaking a sweat. The Company Gardens, Sea Point Promenade, Mouille Point, Greenpoint Park and the V&A Waterfront are all easily accessible options whether you self drive, Uber or public transport your way around.
Of course, many of these are weather permitting but if you wrap up warmly and it isn’t actually pouring with rain, they are more permissible than you may have initially thought. When the kids are about to pile into one another, you may find that you are braver and less concerned about the weather and far more concerned about your sanity.
If you are based in the ‘burbs, finding free entertainment may be a little trickier but if you think outside the box, you may be surprised by what you find. Shopping malls and lifestyle centres may seem like wallet wanderlust initially but window shopping can be a great excuse to get you out of the house and, even if it is to laugh over the latest useless gadget, it can prove to be a useful distraction.
Living in wine country can mean opportunities to pop into the local wine farm to take a cellar tour or wine tasting. These are often relatively cheap and a great deal of fun. Groot Constantia even has a voice map route which means you can navigate the farm and cellar on your own steam and the entrance fee covers a visit to the museum and a commemorative glass as incentive.
When the day dawns, sunny and clear, you may feel inspired to climb a mountain. Try not to get stuck with the idea that the only mountain worth exploring is the big flat one. It may be the obvious choice but it isn’t your only option. How many times have you driven past the parking lot at Constantia Nek on your way somewhere else? What if you stopped there for a change and found out where those hiking trails lead. Did you know that one trail is your free entrance into Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden? Just remember to park a car there when you tackle the trail with friends. Otherwise you will have to walk all the way back again.
If you live closer to the False Bay coast line, Sanparks’ My Green Card is your best friend. There is your entrance to Silvermine, Cape Point and a few other places. Do it! Oh, and I also most forgot to mention your local green belt of park. If you don’t feel safe, get a group together and have a picnic. Just be careful where you step. Many dog owners don’t pick up after their fur babies.
So? Has this given you a few ideas? I’m sure I have missed many more and I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments below.
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