The gates open and the hillside quickly transforms into a buzzing sea of people as I tip-toe around their picnic blankets. A prelude of cork popping lets me know the fun is about to begin at one of my favorite summertime activities: the open air concerts at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. The world-famous botanical garden is a stunning venue, as the sun begins to set over the backside of Table Mountain and the bandshell lights twinkle. Local acts such as FreshlyGround, Johnny Clegg, Goldfish, and the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra regularly sell-out, so it's wise to pre-purchase tickets. It's a great event to pack a picnic, bring the whole family, and mingle with local Capetonians. I can't think of a better way to spend a summer Sunday afternoon in Cape Town.

When you search for "gardens" and "Cape Town", you will inevitably be directed to the Company's Gardens or world-famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Sure, those are worth a visit, but for something a little more unique and off the beaten path, I'll direct you to the Arderne Gardens. What was once a family's private estate is now property of the city and one of the finest collection of exotic trees in South Africa. The original owner, an English timber merchant, collected seedlings from all over the world. Six of the trees have now been distinguished for their age and significance by the City of Cape Town as 'Champion Trees', one of the most popular trees being the vast Moreton Bay Fig in this photo. There are a few different areas within the gardens - a great lawn beneath a giant Norfolk Pine, a Japanese inspired koi pond, and one section filled with hydrangea bushes (resembling something straight out of Alice in Wonderland). On any given weekend, you'll brush past groups of girls in of bright orange or maybe turquoise taffeta dresses at the entrance. The gardens are a cultural gathering point for some in the community, and the giant fig is known as the 'wedding tree' where newlyweds have their photo taken. If you're looking to escape the chaos and see a hidden gem, Arderne is perfect place for a romantic stroll or afternoon picnic.

In 2010 we made our first trip to Cape Town and within 5 days it became one of our all time favorite places. The scenery, the people, the history, the places to see are so rich in culture and it's 'stormy' past all add to one's experience. Here's only one example and why we will be there again in 2012. The residents of Bo-Kaap are mostly descended from slaves who were imported to the Cape by the Dutch during the the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They reigned from Africa, Indonesia, Java Malaysia, and elsewhere in Asia. They were known as “Cape Malays”, which is an incorrect term as most of BoKaap’s residents are not entirely of Malaysian descent. There are still traces of Indonesian vocabulary in BoKaap’s dialect. There are also many words which have also been substituted with Afrikaans. The Dutch imported slaves who were political exiles, convicts, skilled craftsmen, artisans, famous scholars and religious leaders. Islam started in Saudi Arabia some 1400 years ago and many people with that background also reside there, having come in the 1700's.

Muizenberg is a fresh air escape. Straight down Metrorail's Southern Suburbs line, you'll go through the suburbs, wetlands, and eventually arrive at your destination - the False Bay side of the Cape, right in the heart of Surfer's Corner. This area, once a bit derelict, has changed since significant renovations and community investments have been made to keep it safe and clean. There are a few shops to rent boards and wetsuits from, if surfing is your thing. People watching is one of my favorite activities from the Knead cafe on the beachfront - all ages and races flock to this beach and you'll see why they call South Africa a "rainbow nation". If you've got time for another detour, I recommend the Muizenberg to St. James walk, just to the right once you leave the station. It's a promenade between the train tracks and the ocean that make for a really nice walk to the nearby town Kalk Bay.

Trips to Cape Town find me returning to a quaint little Mexican bistro called El Burro. Fantastic food at perfect prices and superior service have me and my guests always itching for more! Pictured above is a speciality, Prawn and Mango Tacos. My only qualm with this dish is that it's not part of the standard menu offering!

Origin roasts and serves, arguably, the best coffee in Cape Town. They're known for their quality and provide beans to around 80 city-wide establishments. I frequent their headquarters and cafe on Hudson Street whenever I'm in Cape Town for my caffeine fix. It's a trendy venue, tucked away in a small neighborhood where the Waterfront district meets the slopes of Signal Hill, making it a great place to people watch. Origin makes what they call "Montreal-style" bagels, which are a bit thin but still satisfy my cravings. For R30 their mini-breakfast includes a scrambled egg, tomatos, bacon (or mushrooms), and a bagel, and this is one of the best breakfast deals in town. If you're a caffeine addict like me, you'll want to ask for the loyalty card which will earn you a free drink every 10 stamps/beverages purchased.

The oldest winery in South Africa, Groot Constantia has a long history of producing some of the best wines in the world. Groot Constantia is also a rarity in its proximity to Cape Town itself. In the 19th century the European heads of state included wines from Groot Constantia in their cellars. Today the wine makers at this famous winery are still making their excellent wines and guests can visit for a full tasting. It’s also a great spot for a picnic, as long as you watch out for baboons. This is South Africa after all.

After a wine tasting at Groot Constantia, I had a nice late lunch/early dinner at a cute little French café called Pastis. It’s located in a shopping plaza called High Constantia, right outside of the road that leads to the vineyard. Sitting outside, amongst lime trees and sunshine was the perfect end to a wine tasting outing. My mozzarella/tomato/basil sandwich was delicious and I could tell the bread was freshly baked. The wait staff and manager were friendly, phoning a taxi for my return home without hesitation.

The Victoria and ALFRED waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa has seen virtually every tourist who sets foot in Cape Town. It is a hub of dining and shopping venues on the waterfront of the most beautiful city in the world. A fabulous view of Table Mountain can be had on the boat over to Robben Island which leaves from the area. The Cape Grace Hotel is located right there but for a more boutique choice try the Cape Heritage Hotel. And don't miss - seriously don't miss- the Savoy Cabbage Restaurant. Two incredible dinners there in the month we were in South Africa. We also had a wonderful meal at Caveau adjacent to the hotel.

Knysna - South Africa : In a park for orphaned elephants, one of my favorite memories of South Africa was getting to interact with the 'families' of elephants that the park gave home to. The animals were gentile and playful and interacting with them close-up gave me such an appreciation and overwhelming happiness. In addition, we had the opportunity to ride the elephants throughout the park with the African wildlife and beauty surrounding.

I'd gone up Table Mountain only to get completely engulfed by the cloud coming in over the top. This cloud cover is also known as the Table Cloth. With the view ruined, I was forced to make my way down and was presented with a lovely view of Signal Hill and Lion's Head. In this photo Lion's head is the big peak on the left and Signal Hill is on the right

This was one of the best highlights of our trip to Cape Town. We could not go the day before because of the windy conditions, so we postponed it for the next day. We are so glad that we did because when the cable car made it to the top, the clouds were thick and covered the mountain. This is know as the "table cloth". Walking through the clouds, seeing the unique flora, and enjoying the spectacular views of Cape Town from on top of the mountain is truly a "once in a lifetime" experience. The wait is not that long, and the line moves pretty quick. Bring a jacket though!

The casual Village Market in Cape Town is set in a rather upscale, downtown shopping mall called the Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village. Take the escalators to the upper level, where you'll find an open-air courtyard with ample seating among tables offering fresh gourmet food - from craft beers (try the Whale Tale Ale by Boston Breweries), to grilled seafood, to the irresistible homemade "Bar One Brownies" on this vendor's dessert table. This market runs every Sunday from 10:00am to 3:00pm and a smaller version of the market runs each Wednesday.

As time passes and memories fade we all would do well to make the effort to remember. Here at the District Six Museum in Cape Town you can learn about the experiences of one vital neighborhood dismantled under apartheid. Photographs and words bring the memory of District Six alive for visitors. Another must do sight is Robben Island where Nelson Mandela and others spent years in prison. Former prisoners speak of their own experiences there. And in nearby wine country there is a memorial to the Long Walk to Freedom speech Mandela gave on the day he was released. A half a world away when this struggle was going on, I had only an intellectual understanding - after visiting South Africa I stand in absolute AWE of Nelson Mandela - he chose peace and forgiveness over vengence and bitterness and made the world a much better place.

and those wonderful little sandwich things with no crust just like we yearned for as children... The high tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, SA is luscious- you need only take a sandwich or two for appearances and then make your several trips to the dessert table piled high with sweets of all sorts - fruity, chocolaty, cake and candy! So walk through the Company Garden on the way and on the way back be sure to take in a tour of colorful Bo-Kaap. You will undoubtedly have already been to Table Mountain and Robben Island but be sure to stop in for high tea in the most beautiful old hotel in the most beautiful city in the world.

Little Ethiopia Cafe in the central business district of Cape Town has fantastic Ethiopian food. It's a tiny place with low tables. We ordered several things to share and everything was delicious. They don't serve beer or wine but bring your own and they are happy to accommodate for a very nominal corkage.

Charly's Bakery is a family-run, Cape Town institution that is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth. The white and pink exterior made it impossible to miss from the road, and funky chandeliers and exposed work area made me linger to enjoy the frenzy. They're known for their custom, colorful birthday and wedding cakes. While it was hectic, the staff was very friendly as I hemmed and hawed over which treat to try. I settled on a slice of cheesecake and a cup of coffee, but I know I'll be back to try something else, soon.

I took a stroll down to the beach in Seapoint, Cape Town and although it was windy, it was definitely worth the trip, as I got to snap this magnificent sunset by the sea.

One of the many reasons I love South Africa is because of something called Ubuntu. It's hard to define, so I like to think of it as a simple word for conveying how when we support one another as a part of a community, we can all accomplish great things. Ubuntu Bicycles is launching this week, combining the founder's passion for bicycling and interest in giving back to the community of Cape Town. This social enterprise is transforming used and abused bicycles into something great by employing local artists and grassroots organizations to do custom paint jobs, leather seats, accessories, etc. and sells them online and locally in Cape Town. Part of the proceeds from their bicycle sales go back into the Ubuntu Trust, which is partnering with other local community organizations to offer funding and support for their causes.

While on tour to South Africa, we visited Cape Town and Table Mountain. It happened to be a rather large group, so we were only given a limited amount of time on the mountain in order to visit all the sights on the itinerary. After getting out of the cable car, I was walking around, trying to be quick about taking in the sights and happened to look up and spotted this scene.

Step off the top, at 1000 metres above sea level, and rappel into pure vertical space. Table Mountain Abseil is the world's original highest commercial abseil. You are surrounded by awesome views and the deep blue Atlantic at your feet. Lean into it if you dare !

Rhodes Memorial sits on the foothills of Devil’s Peak and is a beautiful monument to one of Cape Town’s most famous businessmen, Cecil John Rhodes. The view of the city and sprawling suburbs from the temple-style monument is simply stunning. It is easy to imagine the wealth that Rhodes amassed during his time was even greater than that of today’s billionaires, when you look out from this viewpoint. He owned a massive amount of land on the Cape, including (the now) University of Cape Town campus and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Near the back of the parking lot, there are relatively easy hiking trails around the contour of the mountain leading on your right towards the City Bowl or on your left to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. There is also a small restaurant at the monument, if you are looking for a quick bite to eat before or after your hike. Entrance to the Rhodes Memorial is free.