We tend to stumble across awesome places completely by accident, which is exactly how we ended up at Vergelegen.
How do we do it by accident? Well, we do this thing where we all pile into the car, starving of course and go on a quest to find something to eat. Like hunter gatherers, but the modern day version – armed with my phone which is open on my Zomato app scanning the places in the area with a decent review. Obviously we end up driving around in circles, getting irritated with each other for setting out without an end place in mind and trying to block out the kids shouting, “I’m huuuuuuunnnnnnngggggrrrrrrryyyyy!” every two seconds. But does that stop us from doing the same thing almost every weekend? Nope. Apparently we’re suckers for punishment.
Anyway, we’d been staying in a place that was half way between Stellenbosch and Someset West, so because we’d done the Stellenbosch side the whole of Saturday, we headed into Somerset West for Sunday morning breakfast on the way home. According to Zomato the only kid friendly place that was open on a Sunday morning was Vergelegen. So we headed on over.
It’s another farm where there is a cover charge to go in and at first I was a bit miffed. I mean I don’t want to pay a cover charge AND then still have to pay for breakfast and then just go home. Call me cheap but it feels like a waste of money. But like I said, the kids were about 5 seconds from eating each others eyeballs so we were desperate, we paid the money and went on in.
Guys the reason you pay a cover charge is because the place is AWESOME and there is so much to do! While we were eating breakfast we perused the map and immediately changed our plans from going home, to spending the morning exploring all that Vergelegen had to offer. The food was delicious, there’s a huge play area, a real life maze (that we eventually found the middle of), the oldest Oak tree in South Africa, a manor house filled with antiques, a rose garden, an old mill wall, friendly cats and so many forest walks. We didn’t even go into the “enchanted wood” but as soon as Summer rolls around we’re getting one of the pre-packed picnic baskets that they make up there and heading back out with as many friends as we can muster.
I just LOVE having experiences like this. Totally unexpected fun. It’s the best.
Have you ever accidentally landed up somewhere and then had the best time ever? Please tell me about it? I want to go there to 🙂
Packing acorns into his pockets for our squirrels at home.
4 comments
We do the same thing! Love Vergelegen, it’s walking distance from my Brother in Law’s place
Vergelegen Estate is amazing. Apart from the amazing food, the magnificent camphor champion trees (300+ years old!), rich history, and all the beautiful gardens to explore – it also doubles as a fantastic outing for the whole family. We absolutely love it!
Sho, it looks stunning.
I agree – a summer picnic in this setting would be incredible. Must check it out 🙂
[…] also been in this area before if you want to see what else you can do when you stay/visit […]