Johannesburg, Jo’burg, Jozi, eGoli. Call it what you will, the reputation of South Africa’s biggest city won’t have passed you by. But high crime rates – now thankfully on the turn – aren’t the end of the city’s story.

Plus, as the site of the country’s primary international airport, there’s a good chance you’ll end up in Johannesburg at least overnight. It would be a real shame to waste that time locked up in a hotel in one of the city suburbs.

Born out of the discovery of gold in 1896, Johannesburg fell into decline with the ‘white flight’ of the transition between apartheid and multiparty democracy a hundred years later. As families moved out to the suburbs, undesirables moved in.

Now however, communities are taking back the streets, as demonstrated by redevelopment of Newtown and Maboneng. So while I do urge caution – as I do anywhere in the world – don’t let the headlines stop you checking out the current buzz around Johannesburg’s best things to do.

1. Apartheid Museum

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Opened in late 2001, the Apartheid Museum is located midway between Johannesburg’s CBD (Central Business District) and Soweto. Part of the Gold Reef City amusement park, its prison-like structure houses the foremost study of the country’s former policies of racial segregation.

Both hard-hitting and touching, the realities of apartheid are brought to life through cleverly thought-out curation. This includes having two entrances, with visitors randomly split between them.

Inside, the exhibits and displays don’t shy away from 40 years of events, including the Sharpeville Massacre and Soweto Uprising, days that led to the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians.

2. Johannesburg Art Gallery

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Right at the heart of Jo’burg in Joubert Park, Johannesburg Art Gallery has a collection larger than any other similar museum in Africa. Containing 15 connected gallery spaces and a small sculpture garden, its exhibits range from 17th century Dutch works to modern homegrown art.

Although the gallery has its fair share of well-known names, including Rodin, Picasso, and Moore, the main reason to visit is to learn more about South African art. The gallery was the first in the country to purchase a work by a black artist – Gerard Sekoto’s Yellow Bricks in 1940. Additional names to look out for include Jacobus Pierneef, Sydney Kumalo, and Walter Battiss.

3. Newtown

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Just south of Johannesburg’s main train station (the largest anywhere in Africa), Newtown isn’t all that new after all. Dating to the founding of the city in the late 1800s, and then known as Brickfields, it therefore has several historically important buildings, including Turbine Hall.

The pleasantly quiet streets of Newtown are known for their performance spaces, which range from The Market Theater to the Carfax live music venue. It’s also the location of the child-friendly Sci-Bono Discovery Center science museum and The Workers’ Museum.

4. Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct

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The seat of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Constitution Hill is no dry courts complex. Instead, it’s a structure dating back to the earliest days of Johannesburg. A fort turned prison turned museum, it’s walls have incarcerated names including Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

Made up of three main buildings, the Old Fort, Women’s Jail (or Gaol), and Number Four (or Native Prison), the museum plays another important part in recording the devastating effects of apartheid. There’s a café filled with tasty treats, alongside a perpetual Flame of Democracy lit by Mandela on the fifteenth anniversary of South Africa’s new constitution in 2011.

5. Johannesburg Botanical Gardens

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Covering an area of 81 hectares, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens wasn’t set up until 1969. Since then, an area of grasses used as a driving range for golfers has been converted into a much-loved recreation area.

Divided into a number of small gardens, visitors will find an arboretum of trees from around the world, a succulent garden of 85 species, and Shakespeare garden, with herbs mentioned in the bards plays. That’s in addition to a rose garden and reservoir created by the Emmarentia Dam.

6. Soweto

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Soweto, once short for the South-West Townships, was created to house non-white Johannesburg residents outside of the city center. The scene of various anti-apartheid actions, including the Soweto Uprising of 1976, it today contains several important landmarks.

Best explored as part of an organized tour, Soweto’s landmarks start with Walter Sisulu Square. A wide grassed square, it acts as an open-air museum detailing the creation of the Freedom Charter – the principles put forward for a democratic South Africa. Elsewhere, there’s the Mandela House Museum, and the 33 story high Orlando Towers. Covered in bright murals, these former power station cooling towers now make for one of the world’s most exciting bungee jumping spots.

7. Origins Center

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South Africa’s history isn’t limited to apartheid, or even European colonization from the 1650s onwards. At the Origins Center, it’s possible to step back more than two million years. Dedicated to the journey of human evolution, this museum helps to unravel not only our biological evolution, but also our development of art and culture.

Focusing on humans from southern Africa, the Origins Center protects an impressive array of rock art for future generations. Many belong to the San, the people who inhabited much of South Africa before the arrival of Europeans. Other exhibits include stone tools, all within an impressive state-of-the-art museum space.

8. Maboneng

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Heralded as one of the most successful regeneration programs in the world, today’s Maboneng Precinct is awash with cool things to see, do, and taste. A destination par excellence for lovers of all things artistic, street art brightens the area’s thoroughfares while Art on Main is home to various studios.

Along with Main Street, its Fox Street which is the heart of the neighborhood, and it’s here you’ll find no shortage of trendy coffee shops and cafes. Nightclubs take up the slack from late evening onwards, particular on Saturday night, when Maboneng is undoubtedly the place to head for a good time. Stay awake long enough, and you can even turn your attention to Sunday’s Market on Main, at Art on Main.

9. Museum Africa

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Taking up the whole of one side of Mary Fitzgerald Square, Museum Africa occupies a fruit and vegetable market building constructed in 1913. Its remit is to cover the cultures of the entire continent. It does this through its displays of musical instruments, masks, traditional clothing, and other items.

But Museum Africa also contains an image-based exhibition highlighting the changing face of Johannesburg over the ages. Additional exhibitions go into the Rivonia Trail which saw Mandela imprisoned for 27 years, and the history of photography in South Africa.

10. Gandhi Square

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Situated in Marshalltown, an area of shining office blocks belonging to the big banks, Gandhi Square is a large plaza named after the Indian activist – a lawyer in Johannesburg early in his life. Once incredibly down at heal, the regeneration of the square has seen shops and cafes return to this important location.

It was here, when known as Government Square, that Afrikaner Boer forces surrendered to the British military to end the siege of the city in 1900. On the edge of the area a number of beautifully designed heritage buildings have avoided the onslaught of the modern tower blocks.

11. National Museum of Military History

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This is a large museum consisting of indoor and outdoor exhibits detailing the role of the South African military throughout the country’s sometimes turbulent history. Its vast array of items on display include multiple tanks, and aircraft, including historic planes such as a Spitfire and Messerschmitt 109, both from World War Two.

Together with smaller objects, the collection records the involvement of the South African armed forces from the Anglo Boer Wars of the early 1900s to the free elections of 1994. Its grounds also contain the impressive Anglo Boer War Memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

12. Braamfontein

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With two major universities nearby, you can be sure there’s always something interesting going on in Braamfontein. A fashion and music hub, the weekend is usually the best time to visit this part of Johannesburg, since students are free of their lectures.

Things to do include the ‘Neighborgoods Market,’ which started in Cape Town before spreading to Jo’burg. Here visitors and locals alike can peruse two floors of clothing, food, and drink. The rooftop bar makes the most of the location. Not far away there are more traditional stores sharing the latest in cool, as well as a rooftop farm.

13. The Wilds

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The Wilds is an inner-city park and nature reserve in the Houghton neighborhood of Johannesburg. Sixteen hectares in area, it encloses two koppies, or rocky hills, which provide attractive views back to the center of Jo’burg.

However, the main attraction of The Wilds is its artworks, largely comprising brightly-colored laser cut animals created by local artist James Delaney. They began with an owl forest, containing almost 70 of the birds. The various artworks can be seen thanks to eight kilometers of paths cutting through largely indigenous flora.

14. Hop-on Hop-off Bus

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A regular sighting in cities the world over, Johannesburg’s hop-on hop-ff tourist buses shouldn’t be discounted. This is especially true given the size of the city if you’ve only got a few hours going spare.

They tend to run on two different routes, with one sticking to sights within the center of the city and the other going further afield. Commentary provides a little background to what you’re seeing – aim for seats on the open top deck if the weather is good.

If nothing else, these buses are a great way of getting to the Apartheid Museum without your own transport.

15. Wits Art Museum

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The architecturally stylish Wits Art Museum came into being in 2012, making it one of Johannesburg’s newest attractions. Boasting 10,000 individual works of art, the gallery’s 5,000 square meters of exhibition space contains a tightly curated selection of both traditional artworks such as carvings, and contemporary creations.

The crisp white interior really makes each of the objects on display sing, whether that’s modern South African photography, fabrics, watercolors, or sculpture.

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Affectionately known as Bloem (pronounced ‘bloom’), Bloemfontein is one of South Africa’s three joint capitals, alongside Cape Town and Pretoria. The largest city in Free State, which occupies largely flat grasslands to the north and west of Lesotho, it may not be an obvious first tourist destination.

However, this spacious, cultured ‘city of roses’ has enough attractions to keep most visitors busy for a couple of days. Here then are the 15 best things to do in Bloemfontein.

1. Franklin Game Reserve

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Get up close and personal with zebra, wildebeest, and giraffe without the bars of a zoo enclosure or even the protection of a safari vehicle at Franklin Game Reserve. A hilltop reserve completely surrounded by the city, it sits on Naval Hill. Covering 250 hectares, it’s been a unique protected space for nearly one hundred years.

Although traversable by car – its tracks are wide enough to do so – your best chances of encountering its wildlife are on foot. Bear in mind though that it will take at least an hour to circle the site, and tall grasses can limit viewing chances.

2. Oliewenhuis Art Museum

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A manor house in the Cape Dutch style, the structure housing Oliewenhuis Art Museum was actually only built in 1935 although it looks much older. Becoming the residence of the Governor General of South Africa and then its presidents, it also played host to King George VI and princess Elizabeth – who become Queen Elizabeth II.

Converted into a museum in the 1980s, the first floor of the museum is dedicated to twentieth century artworks, largely by South African artists. Its grassy grounds contain several short walking trails, taking in a number of sculptures of various styles.

3. First Raadsaal

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Located centrally on Saint George Street, and almost lost amid more recent buildings, the First Raadsaal is a simple stone and thatch building used as a museum to detail the history of the Orange Free State.

Constructed in 1849 with a pounded dung floor, it acted as the state’s first parliament building, or raadsaal. Now Bloemfontein’s oldest surviving building, its history also includes use as a church and as a school. While on Saint George Street, consider visiting the Wagon Museum next door too.

4. Maselspoort Resort

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If you’re looking for a few days of rest and relaxation, Maselspoort Resort could be the place for you. Located approximately 30 minutes outside of Bloem, this tranquil area of bushveld has become a renowned place to unwind.

Overnight visitors are able to book one of the plain but comfortable chalets, while activities range from non-motorized water sports to tennis and walking trails. However, its fishing on the Modder River which is very much the order of the day.

5. National Museum

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The National Museum offshoot in Bloemfontein is akin to a natural history museum, with collections centered around life on planet earth. Its large collection of fossils includes the Florisbad skull, which has been vital to scientists studying human evolution.

But its displays also cover archeology, ethnographic exhibits, grander themes including the creation of the solar system, and the recreation of a street scene depicting 1900s Bloem. Just in front of the museum is Hertzog Square, where there’s an impressive statue dedicated to General Hertzog, a key player in South Africa’s political history.

6. Waaihoek Wesleyan Church ANC Birthplace Museum

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A humble red brick church behind the concrete cooling towers of a city’s power station isn’t usually a tourist attraction. A South African National Heritage Site since 2018, this church is recognized as the birthplace of the Native National Congress, which went on to become the ANC.

The party of Nelson Mandela, and which still governs South Africa, the ANC was founded at this church in 1912 through a meeting of representatives, chiefs, and leading black academics. As such, this church laid the ground work for decades of protest, eventually leading to multiparty elections in 1994.

7. Happy Valley

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On the eastern edge of Bloem’s Westdene suburb, Happy Valley is a region of untouched natural landscapes used by hikers and off-road cyclists. A mix of hillside grasslands and wooded sections, its trails fall under the general category of challenging, although still easy enough for children as well as hardened walkers to enjoy.

At 2.7 kilometers in length, you don’t have to reserve a whole day to enjoy Happy Valley either. Most people can complete the main walk in around an hour. Although free of facilities, Oliewenhuis Art Museum isn’t all that far away, making a great two center morning or afternoon of attractions.

8. The Old Presidency

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Impressively grandiose, the Old Presidency sits on President Brand Street right at the heart of Bloemfontein. Also known in Afrikaans as Ou Presidensie, it was built in the 1880s to act as the presidential residence of the Orange Free State – then an independent nation.

Costing £12,200 to build, it served as the official residence of three presidents before being taken over by the British. Eventually becoming a museum detailing the lives of Presidents Brand, Reitz, and Steyn, it’s worth exploring to discover what life was like in South Africa during this period of the country’s history.

9. National Women’s Memorial

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The National Women’s Memorial is similar in scope to the Washington Monument in DC, primarily comprising of an obelisk of stone blocks. It was built to commemorate the estimated 27,000 civilian Boer women and children of the Orange Free State who perished in concentration camps put together by British forces during the Second Anglo Boer War between 1899 and 1902.

Partly paid for by public subscription, the monument also includes the final resting place of a British woman called Emily Hobhouse. She used her voice to speak out against the treatment of Boer women and called for human rights to be respected.

10. Rose Festival

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Taking place annually in October, the Rose Festival is one of the biggest events of the year in Bloemfontein. Largely taking place at the Loch Logan Waterfront, which sits beside Kings Park Rose Garden, it sees garden lovers from across South Africa descend on ‘the city of roses.’

Besides displays of hundreds of roses, many grown by amateurs, the festival has expanded to include a High Tea, cycle road races of 26, 55, and 106 kilometers in length, and an expo focusing on sustainability.

11. Sand du Plessis Theatre

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A work of art in and of itself, the Sand du Plessis Theatre is one of South Africa’s leading performance spaces. Decked out in marble and bathed in natural light thanks to massive windows, its crisp mid-century style foyer leads to a 1000 seat auditorium which has seen many of the world’s most famous names take to its stage.

Very much part of the community, skateboarders make use of its forms to practice their tricks on the weekends, while tours of the delightful interior can be made by appointment for anyone who isn’t in town when there’s a performance on.

12. War Museum of the Boer Republics

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Better known in many guidebooks as the Anglo Boer War Museum, this is the world’s only museum dedicated to the two wars between Britain and the Boer Republics – Orange Free State and Transvaal.

Sited beside the National Women’s Memorial, the museum accounts the causes of the two wars, before going on to explain their main battles and outcomes. Quaintly old-fashioned in its use of dark wood exhibition cases, it is nonetheless an important stop for anyone interested in learning how South Africa came into being.

13. Twin-Spired Church

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Tweetoring Kerk in Afrikaans, there’s something a little Disney princess castle about the exterior of the Twin-Spired Church. The slightly jarring form of the steeples comes from the collapse of one and fears for the other, leading to them being shortened in height.

Completed in 1880, it’s the only religious structure of its type in southern Africa, and belongs to the Dutch Reform Church which most Afrikaners adhere to. Now a national monument, the church witnessed the swearing in of the three Free State presidents who resided at the Old Presidency building.

14. Long Tom

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Long Tom was the general name given to four large cannon-like guns bought from France by the Boer Republics to defend themselves against British forces. Originally used to protect the Boer capital, Pretoria, they became famous enough that replicas were created, including the one that can be seen on the outskirts of Bloemfontein.

Continue along the same road and you’ll come to the Anglo Boer War Block House. Another reconstruction, this building of stone and sheet iron was probably used to defend the railway line north of Bloemfontein, which continues to connect Johannesburg to Cape Town.

15. Johannes Stegmann Art Gallery

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Part of the University of the Free State, the Johannes Stegmann Art Gallery combines a small permanent collection of South African masters with artworks by the so-called Bloemfontein group, and those from the town of Thaba’nchu, totaling around 150 pieces.

Come the end of the academic year, the gallery also hosts a temporary exhibition of final year student artworks. Who knows, you might find the next Monet or Picasso among them.

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Although now officially known as Gqeberha, most still know this Indian Ocean city as Port Elizabeth, or PE. It’s location on the broad Algoa Bay makes it an alternative choice to Durban for beach escapes. But there’s also plenty of culture and history to be had for those taking the time to get to know this noble lady of Eastern Cape Province, as we will see.

1. Donkin Reserve

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Smack bang in the middle of Port Elizabeth’s Central Business District (CBD), the Donkin Reserve is a publicly-accessible open space combining native flora, historic structures, and fine views over the wider city.

Its lighthouse, dating to 1861, can usually be visited to enhance the views from Donkin’s Reserve further. Next to it is a 10 meter high stone pyramid dedicated to Elizabeth Markham. The wife of then governor Rufane Shaw Donkin, it’s from her the city got its name.

Bringing the Donkin Reserve into the modern era are brightly colored mosaics in part depicting the Portuguese ships which first rounded this part of the South African coast, and metal cutouts of Nelson Mandela, fist raised in celebration.

2. King’s Beach

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Proudly flying a Blue Flag for cleanliness, King’s Beach is one of Port Elizabeth’s most popular stretches of sand. Its runs for 1.6 glorious kilometers from the harbor to Humewood, a beachside neighborhood with its own long history.

A good all-round beach, its sand is fine enough to ensure sand castles hold first, while warm Indian ocean waters lure visitors in to swim, bodyboard, and surf. Watched over the lifeguards, there’s also a nursery pool for toddlers, mini-golf, changing facilities, and refreshments. In fact, King’s Beach has all you need to spend a day soaking up Port Elizabeth’s sunny weather. Average daily temperatures don’t drop below 19°C at any time of year.

3. Route 67 walking trail

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The city’s Route 67 trail consists of a piece of public art for each of the 67 years Nelson Mandela gave his life to ending racial segregation in South Africa under apartheid.

Starting at the Campanile, the city’s easy to spot clock and bell tower, it passes through Vuyisile Mini Market Square. Continuing onto St Mary’s Terrace and Donkin Reserve, it also takes it what’s reported to be the largest flag on the continent. Each of the artworks come with an information board to provide the wider context.

4. Splash Waterworld

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The slides and rides behind King’s Beach belong to Splash Waterworld. Primarily aimed at children, this small waterpark nonetheless does its job of bringing smiles to the faces of those who visit. So prepare for a wet and wild time on attractions including the Super Tube, Lazy River, and Speed Slide, alongside a Kiddies Slide for younger patrons.

As you might expect, there are plenty of kiosks offering up drinks and snacks. More unusually, it’s also possible to take to the slides of Splash Waterworld after dark thanks to floodlights.

5. Fort Frederick

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Fort Frederick was constructed in 1799 to avoid a French invasion of this part of Britain’s Cape Colony. Although this may sound like a baffling idea today, at the height of the Napoleonic Wars between the two countries, nothing seems to have been off the table.

Never having fired a shot from any of its guns, the two-story complex is square in form and sits on one bank of the Baakens River, overlooking the modern harbor. Said to be haunted by the ghosts of a Shakespeare play, behind its walls you’ll find a blockhouse, powder magazine, and small museum.

6. Addo Elephant National Park

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Roughly 100 kilometers (1.5 hours) north of Port Elizabeth, Addo Elephant National Park makes for an easy day trip from the city. One of South Africa’s largest national parks, there’s no secret to what the big-ticket attractions are here.

There are around 600 elephants within the park, alongside several hundred buffalo, a pride of reintroduced lions, hyenas, Burchell’s zebra, kudu, eland, and bushbuck. Game drives are therefore the favorite past time, with 120 kilometers of track to choose between. Its lions and hyenas are most commonly spotted in the early morning or late evening.

My suggestion is to visit on a hotter day, which brings much of the action down to the waterhole.

7. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum

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Located within the grounds of Saint George’s Park, this gallery specializes in the art of South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Containing three main rooms, its artworks are regularly rehung to allow as much of its comprehensive collection to be seen as possible.

These works are enhanced by temporary exhibitions spanning from sculpture to quilting. In addition to artworks by colonial artists such as Thomas Baines and Frederick Timpson I’Ons, there’s a fascinating collection of beadworks by the Southern Nguni people, and a smattering of contemporary pieces too.

8. Bayworld

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Opened in time for the new millennium, Bayworld is part natural history museum, part oceanarium, and part vivarium. Its museum exhibits are thoroughly modern, with plenty of interest for all ages.

Meanwhile, its outside areas include a dinosaur exhibit and oceanarium with live animal exhibits incorporating rescued turtles, seals, and penguins. Last but certainly not least, Bayworld has South Africa’s oldest snake park. Here visitors can get the lowdown on a myriad of local snakes, as well as crocs and tortoises.

9. Cape Recife Lighthouse

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Cape Recife is the name given to Port Elizabeth’s southeasternmost point. The obvious location for an aid to navigation, its lighthouse was established in 1849 to guide ships around Thunderbolt reef, named after a British frigate which wasn’t so lucky.

Rising 24 meters and banded with black and white stripes, Cape Recife Lighthouse sits within a nature reserve offering hiking opportunities for all levels of fitness. Paths cut through the semi-tropical vegetation and over rocky outcrops to rockpools home to an impressive number of marine creatures.

10. Horse Memorial

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Back in the center of Port Elizabeth lies its Horse Memorial. In approximate life size, it depicts a British solider kneeling in front of a horse and offering it a bucket of water. Designed by English sculpture Joseph Whitehead, it was unveiled in 1905 to honor the estimated 300,000 horses brought to South Africa during the Anglo Boer wars of 1899-1902. Most were brought to shore at Port Elizabeth.

Paid for by the public, it cost £800, equivalent to around £120,000 ($150,000) in today’s money, and was shipped all the way from London where the bronze was cast.

11. Amakhala Game Reserve

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A private game reserve approximately 1.5 hours from Port Elizabeth by road, Amakhala has an area of 18,000 acres. Joining morning or evening game drives to explore them, visitors to Amakhala have a good chance of encountering all the Big Five species – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and Cape buffalo.

Amakhala ranges from bushveld to savanna, with areas covering five of South Africa’s seven biomes. This means other species to look out for on day trips from Port Elizabeth include giraffe, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest, antelope, and monkeys.

12. South End Museum

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This museum is one of just a few attractions in Port Elizabeth which directly tackle the apartheid period. The South End neighborhood had been a multiracial one known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, good schools, and host of successful local businesses.

But that all ended when its non-white tenants were forcibly relocated, an event which took place between 1965 and 1975. Its this history which South End Museum seeks to share. It does this through its blend of displays, historic photographs, and a walk-on map of the area.

13. The Campanile

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This stand-alone clock and bell tower has a passing resemblance to its more famous cousin in Saint Mark’s Square, Venice, Italy. Built for the most part from red brick, it rises to a height of 50 meters.

Constructed to mark one hundred years since the first settlers arrived into what became Port Elizabeth, workmen remained on the site between 1920 and 1922. Their efforts included completing the 204 steps which reach up to the observation room at the Campanile’s top. That said, there’s now an elevator too, providing easier access to the 23 bells which make up one of the largest carillons (bells played like a piano) in South Africa.

14. Whale watching

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Port Elizabeth’s coastal waters aren’t only of interest to beach goers. They’re also a draw to whales to such an extent that Algoa Bay has been declared the World Cetacean Alliance’s fifth Whale Heritage Site.

Joining a licensed whale watching tour from Port Elizabeth gives the opportunity to watch the antics of southern right and humpback whales. Both are known for breaching the water. Other whale species which can be encountered are minke and Bryde’s whales. Known as the ‘bottlenose dolphin capital of the world,’ taking to the waters of Algoa Bay promises plenty of action from these intelligent creatures as an added bonus.

15. South African Air Force Museum

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One of Port Elizabeth’s smaller museum spaces, the South African Air Force Museum is located within the perimeter of the city’s airport. Its collection currently contains nine aircraft, including South Africa’s oldest jet, a supersonic fighter, and two helicopters.

Access to a restored World War Two era hangar allows visitors to see restoration work as it happens, while the walls of the main museum are packed with cabinets and imagery linked to the force, founded in 1920. However, the highlight has to be the onsite flight simulator.

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Although just 40 minutes from Johannesburg by Gautrain rail, South Africa’s ‘Jacaranda City’ is a very different beast. It’s certainly more conservative in outlook than Jozi, but also arguably more attractive to explore. Not only are there a slew of impressive buildings, but also some 50,000 purple-bloomed jacaranda trees. Even when they’re not in bloom (in October and November), there’s still plenty to delight. From parks to museums, these are the 15 best things to do in Pretoria.

1. Freedom Park Heritage Site & Museum

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Named after the father of the first president of the former Transvaal Republic, Marthinus Pretorius, historic racial discrimination and the apartheid era looms large in Pretoria. Freedom Park was created as a way of honoring and remembering those involved in the struggle for democracy, alongside South Africans who died during the country’s wars.

The centerpiece of the park on Salvokop Hill is a simple ring of upstanding stones marking figures such as Steve Biko, killed by apartheid security agents in 1977. A peaceful place to ponder the beauty of Pretoria’s surrounding landscapes, Freedom Park also contains the ‘//hapo’ building. Here you’ll find a potted history covering no less than 3.6 billion years.

2. Union Buildings

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The Union Buildings are situated on another hill, Meintjieskop, overlooking Pretoria’s central neighborhoods. The offices of the South African president, Nelson Mandela’s historic inauguration as president took place here in 1994.

Today, the great man is honored with a literally larger-than-life bronze statue in the wonderfully maintained gardens. Open to the public daily, the gardens are a much-loved part of the city, used by locals, visitors, and even the occasional visitor to the president. Their heritage and significance to the country’s history makes a visit to the Union Buildings unmissable.

3. Pretoria Art Museum

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The sleek, single-story lines of Pretoria Art Museum are the perfect backdrop to discovering one of South Africa’s most important art collections. Founded in 1930, the early items obtained by the museum mainly comprised 17th century artworks from Europe, as was common at the time.

Now though, Pretoria Art Museum has expanded its collections to include many of South Africa’s leading artists. Look out for landscapes by Henk Pierneef, sculpture by Anton van Wouw, and canvases by once-exiled painter Gerard Sekoto.

4. Church Square

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For the heart of historic Pretoria, make a beeline to Church Square (Kerkplein). A statue of another president of the Transvaal, Paul Kruger, sits on its central plinth. It was created by Anton von Wouw.

On the square’s edges stand a number of significant buildings, including the Palace of Justice, Ou Raadsaal, Tudor Chambers, and Old Netherlands Bank Building. The Palace of Justice is rich in Victorian detail, though the structure is perhaps best known for events inside. That’s because it was here that Nelson Mandela was tried during the Rivonia treason trial which led to his imprisonment for 27 years.

5. Pretoria National Botanical Garden

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A short distance east of Church Square, this is one of nine national botanical gardens in South Africa. Comparatively small in stature, with an area of 76 hectares, it still manages to span a huge variety of landscapes, covering succulents, wetlands, grasslands, and medicinal gardens. There’s also an arboretum, artificial waterfall, and a restaurant.

One of the best ways to explore is by following the short Dassie Walking Trail. Sightings of these cute mammals isn’t guaranteed, but joining it for even a small distance will put you within touching distance of a multitude of natural wonders.

6. Voortrekker Monument

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The Transvaal Republic formed after Dutch-speaking settlers to South Africa left Britain’s Cape Colony in the mid-1800s in order to live independently of Britain. Calling themselves voortrekkers (pioneers), but also known as Boers, their Great Trek is part of the founding story of South African colonization.

This huge monument, rising 40 meters, was built in the 1930s. Its interior includes the world’s largest marble frieze in the Hall of Heroes, which comprises 27 panels. There’s also a Cenotaph decorated with the flags of the Boer Republics, alongside artefacts from the Great Trek. Although this can all feel a little at odds with the modern rainbow nation, it’s a fascinating insight into the minds of these early European settlers all the same.

7. South African State Theater

Impressive in both size and scope, the South African State Theater is the largest complex of its kind in Africa. In a Brutalist architectural style of raw unfinished concrete, it contains six performance spaces, and is capable of seating 2,700 people.

The Theater’s long list of monthly shows and events is a who’s who of South African and international talent. Comprising everything from new plays to fringe festivals, it’s well worth checking out the latest schedules before arriving into Pretoria to see what’s on.

8. Ditsong National Museum of Natural History

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This natural history museum has the sorts of displays of taxidermy animals and cases of insects you’re probably already expecting. What makes the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History stand out among similar attractions is its vast fossil exhibits.

These include incredibly important hominid fossils from several sites within the nearby Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Site, including Sterkfontein, Kromdraai, and Swartkrans. The star of the entire museum is a fossil known as Mrs Ples – the most complete skull of Australopithecus africanus ever discovered. Mrs Ples has been dated to around 3.4 million years old, and even made it onto a list of Great South Africans.

9. Hartbeespoort Dam Elephant Sanctuary

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Hartbeespoort Dam Elephant Sanctuary is approximately an hour from central Pretoria by road. It provides a home for elephants which wouldn’t survive in the wild in any of South Africa’s famed national parks.

The sanctuary’s elephants are instead looked after by a team of caretakers. Guides also lead visitors through the sanctuary on foot three times a day. An activity only otherwise available in a handful of national parks in Africa, it allows visitors to really get close to these mesmeric creatures.

My tip – head to Hartbeespoort in time for the 8 am tour. You’ll not only find the elephants at their most active in the cool of early morning, but also get to join the caretakers in brushing them down.

10. Fort Klapperkop

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Fort Klapperkop was one of four defensive structures built to defend Pretoria against the British during the Anglo Boer Wars of the late 19th century. Dating to 1898, it’s one of the best preserved of Pretoria’s historic forts.

In addition to its long building and defensive bastions, Fort Klapperkop contains a dry moat and one of the large French-built guns known as Long Tom. Despite its perceived importance, the fort was only ever manned by 30 troops, and never fired a shot except in practice.

If you like your music as much as I do, Fort Schanskop might be the fortification for you, since it hosts an outdoor music festival at the end of most months.

11. Van Tilburg Collection

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Housed in the Old Arts Building of the University of Pretoria, the Van Tilburg Collection spans a treasure trove of decorative arts. Alongside paintings, its collection includes furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the largest collection of oriental ceramics in South Africa.

The latter includes vases from the personal collection of the Kangxi Emperor, who reigned from 1661 to 1722, and 550 pieces of Ming porcelain. Sadly, its small self-portrait of Rembrandt van Rijn was recently proven to be a fake.

12. Burgers Park

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You’re unlikely to hear the words ‘do you want onions with that?’ at Burgers Park. Created in the 1870s, this historic green space is named after Thomas Francois Burgers, the fourth president of the Transvaal Republic.

Pretoria’s oldest public park, its wide lawns and curving paths weave between a smorgasbord of attractions, including a cast-iron bandstand, fish pond, and statue of Thomas Burgers. Just opposite is Melrose House, a museum with interiors detailing the shift between Victorian and Edwardian tastes. It also acted as the British military headquarters when Pretoria was occupied for 18 months from June 1900.

13. African Window

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The African Window is the name given to the building housing the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History (DNMCH). With one of the broadest missions of any of Pretoria’s museums, its displays cover everything from Stone Age axheads to early Apple Macs.

Exhibitions comprise a mix of permanent and temporary displays, and looks after an estimated three million artefacts belonging to South Africa’s mix of cultural groups. If you’re short of time, head straight for the galleries containing San rock art thousands of years old.

14. Groenkloof Nature Reserve

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Open daily during daylight hours, Groenkloof protects the region’s endangered bankenveld flora. It’s located just 15 minutes south of central Pretoria, between the Fountains Valley resort and Waterkloof Golf Club.

Groenkloof boasts a range of typical South African animals, including kudu, blesbok, giraffe, and jackal. Free of any big cats, the reserve is popular with both cyclists and walkers. There’s a 20 kilometer off-road cycling route, and three hiking trails spanning 3.5 to 10.5 kilometers. That said, the short vehicle route is best for wildlife viewing.

15. Kruger House

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Surrounded by modern tower blocks, Kruger House was the city residence of the Transvaal’s best-known president, Paul Kruger. One of the first buildings in Pretoria to get electricity, the house has been laid out with a blend of original and period furnishings, to show how the president would have lived.

The long partially-covered front veranda (or stoep) in particular was known as a spot Kruger liked to sit in. Exhibition halls depict his battle from freedom from the British of Cape Colony, while the grounds feature his presidential railway coach.

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When it comes to location, Durban has it made. Firmly positioned on South Africa’s east coast, this port city developed around a string of long and attractive sand beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

The region around Durban has been inhabited for at least 100,000 years. It only reached the attention of Europeans in 1497, when Portuguese golden age explorer Vasco da Gama sighted it on his way to India. It then passed through multiple hands until annexed by Britain in 1844.

Today, Durban is South Africa’s third-largest city. Alongside its beaches, it contains a blend of natural and manmade sights which range from exquisite cuisine to fascinating museums. Come for the sun, sea, and sand, but stay for the culture.

To provide you with a little helping hand, here are my pick of the 15 best things to do in Durban.

1. The Golden Mile

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Durban isn’t the getaway of choice for South Africans for nothing. You won’t need much convincing that the city’s Golden Mile is the best place to head. It stretches out from the Central Business District (CBD) to form several beaches backed by an attractive promenade filled with cafes and restaurants.

Like most of the Golden Mile’s beaches, South Beach is watched over by lifeguards most of the year. It’s also protected by shark nets. Its slightly calmer atmosphere makes it a good choice for families looking to enjoy the sand or water temperatures of 22°C. Neighboring North Beach is best known for its waves, which attract surfers and bodyboarders from right around the world.

2. uShaka Marine World

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When it’s time for a change from the sands of the Golden Mile, head to uShaka Marine World. Although primarily known as a water park, most agree that its slides don’t come anywhere near comparison with its aquaria, which total 4.6 million gallons and contain 10,000 distinct species of sea creature.

Putting rivals to shame, the aquaria at uShaka Marine World incorporate the largest single tank in the southern hemisphere. Its viewing windows run for 500 meters through four different ‘shipwrecks.’ Each offers insight into an alternative marine environment. Species you’re likely to encounter include sharks and manta rays, alongside turtles, seals, and even penguins.

3. Port Natal Maritime Museum

Source: Darren Glanville from Acle, Norfolk, UK / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 2.0

Just across the bay from uShaka Marine World is the Port Natal Maritime Museum. Maintaining the old name for the city – which was changed in 1835 – the museum has Durban’s elegant harbor as a backdrop. Its exhibitions span hundreds if not thousands of years of seafaring in the region.

The stars of any visit have to be the boats and ships which can be boarded and explored. It’s not just little kids who’ll enjoy pretending to be the captain of the minesweeper SAS Durban or NCS Challenger while discovering the tiny rooms which together made these ships function.

4. Umgeni River Bird Park

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Once a water-filled quarry, Umgeni River Bird Park now has tropical flora spanning 3.5 hectares on the opposite bank of the Umgeni River to the city. It provides a home for approximately 800 birds belonging to 200 species, including the only examples of their kind in Africa.

Birds to look out for range from owls and hornbills to vultures and macaws. Many play a part in the daily shows which take place at the outdoor auditorium. Still more can be seen hatching and being raised by the park team, including increasingly rare wattled cranes.

5. The BAT Centre

Nothing to do with flight, the BAT Centre is a community arts project found on Durban’s Victoria Embankment. It consists of a clutch of individual brick buildings containing small independent art galleries, alongside a performance hall, places to grab a bite to eat, and stores selling a mix of traditional and contemporary art from KwaZulu-Natal province.

A not-for-profit center looking to celebrate the artistic heritage of the city, the BAT Centre is without doubt the best place in the city to discover the diversity of arts and crafts on offer.

Related reading: 15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa

6. Durban Botanic Gardens

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Durban Botanic Gardens is the oldest formally laid out botanic gardens in South Africa, with a foundation date of 1849. A mix of local South African plants and exotics from around the world, it boasts specimens from a variety of floral kingdoms.

Among them are orchids, palms, and cycads (ferns). But covering 15 hectares, there’s also a sunken garden established in the English style and displaying a colorful array of flowers, a butterfly habitat garden, and a naturally-fed lake that’s the perfect spot for a picnic on any of Durban’s multitude of sunny days.

7. Mini Town

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A knee-high version of the city beyond its perimeter walls, Mini Town is a retro (turning to kitsch but in a good way) attraction close to the beachfront at Snell Parade. Recreating Durban in miniature, Mini Town contains versions of all the city’s main buildings of note.

What makes Mini Town extra special is the attention given to the functioning railway, and its harbor. Complete with its own moving tug and ship, it contains over 200,000 liters of water.

8. KwaMuhle Museum

To my mind, the KwaMuhle Museum is the most important and most interesting of all Durban’s exhibition spaces.

This museum of apartheid, and its forerunner, the ‘Durban system,’ has been sensitively situated in the building once hated by non-white South Africans – the Department of Native Affairs. It was here that the passes which had to be carried by everyone entering the city were issued.

The museum details all this with its collection of documents, photographs, videos and items belonging to ordinary South Africans. Refusing to hide away from the horrors of the apartheid system, KwaMuhle Museum plays a vital role in educating the generations born after the release and election of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s first black president.

9. Food

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One of South Africa’s most ethnically diverse cities, Durban’s population is made up of Zulu people in addition to a significant number with British and Indian descent. Blending their cultures over decades, Durban has a culinary scene unlike any other city in South Africa. And you don’t have to spend big to enjoy it.

The city’s oceanic location means fish is always a good bet, whether it’s deep-fried in the British style or covered in flavorsome spices originating from the Indian subcontinent. For dishes specific to the city, look out for Bunny Chow – a curried mixed vegetable stew traditionally served in a hollowed-out loaf of bread.

10. Moses Mabhida Stadium

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Built for the 2010 FIFA soccer world cup and named after a leading anti-apartheid politician, this stadium in Durban isn’t just for sports fans. As well as hosting soccer, cricket, and rugby union matches, the stadium doubles as a playground for adventure sports lovers.

The arch which spans the 55,000 seater arena incorporates a 550 step ‘adventure walk’ leading to a viewing platform 106 meters above the ground. There’s also a funicular to reach the top for those who don’t fancy the walk. Beyond the views of Durban and the Indian Ocean, the platform provides the perfect spot to watch daredevils fling themselves from the arch on the bungee swing which flings them 220 meters across the pitch.

11. Dick King Statue

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The Dick King Statue is another remnant of Durban’s past located on Victoria Embankment. A bronze equestrian statue, it honors the actions of Richard Phillip King in raising the alarm over the possibility of the Boer attack on the city in the 1840s.

Riding for 10 days between Durban and Grahamstown, King covered around 125 kilometers a day, whilst so sick some days he couldn’t even ride. Reaching Grahamstown all the same, he was able to mobilize a British force which saved the city from attack and led King to become part of the history of Durban.

Also read: 15 Best Tours in South Africa

12. Durban Natural Science Museum

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The grand columned exterior of the Durban Natural Science Museum should be enough to attract most visitors to its doors – part of Durban City Hall. Entering through a wide stone staircase lined with thick red carpeting, the museum’s displays are no less impressive.

Focusing on the living planet, the museum is a treasure-trove of animals stuffed in former years, from birds and mammals to insects and reptiles. Its displays extend as far as ancient Egypt, with the mummy known as Peter Amen, and one of the most complete skeletons of a dodo there is anywhere.

13. Sports

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Know anything about South Africa and you’ll know its people love sports. The city of Durban certainly isn’t any different, making attendance at one of its major sporting events a great way of getting under the skin of the city.

Kings Park Stadium is the home ground of the Sharks rugby union team, with most games in the domestic league taking place during the country’s winter months (June to September). At other times of year, there’s also the chance to catch cricket at Kingsmead Ground, and soccer at Moses Madhiba Stadium.

14. Old Court House Museum

This museum occupies one of the oldest remaining structures in central Durban, with its ironwork veranda and cream-yellow stone windowsills making for an intriguing addition to the surrounding office blocks.

Built in the 1860s, inside visitors will find a collection totaling some 10,000 individual items. Together, they help tell the story of the area and its people through good times and bad. Further interest is provided through the fact that the building was regularly frequented by Mahatma Gandhi while he acted as a lawyer in the city.

15. Phoenix Settlement

Durban’s connections with one of the greatest men of the twentieth century don’t stop with Old Court House Museum. The Phoenix Settlement, a few miles north of the CBD, was bought by Gandhi in 1904. It was here that he began the switch from lawyer to freedom fighter.

The settlement acted as a test bed for a series of ideas, from communal living to the policy of non-violence which would see Gandhi nominated (unsuccessfully) for a Nobel Peace Prize on more than one occasion. The house where Gandhi lived during this time has been fully restored, and can be visited as part of the Inanda Heritage Trail.

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Cape Town has everything. The beauty of its natural location really cannot be overstated. Table Mountain rises up from one side and the rolling waves of the Atlantic from the other. As South Africa’s first city, it’s intrinsically tied to South Africa’s history, containing important sites and some of the country’s best museums.

Then there’s the weather. It’s fine enough to ensure there’s almost always an excuse for getting outside, whether for a beach day or hiking. My pick on the 25 best things to do in Cape Town are therefore as eclectic as they are memorable. Miss them at your peril.

1. Table Mountain

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Table Mountain is more than an impressive backdrop to Cape Town. Enclosed within South Africa’s most visited national park, its slopes are draped in indigenous fynbos flora including stunning proteas. Among these flowers skuttle lizards and cute-as-can-be dassies (hyrax). Large numbers of birds of prey keep watch while using the thermals to rise up the mountain’s flanks.

A favorite of hikers and trekkers, even the easiest route to the summit, following Platteklip Gorge, is a strenuous assault on the legs. But have no fear. The Table Mountain Cableway lifts visitors to the mountain’s famed flat summit effortlessly. The 1,000 meter peak tops out at Maclear’s Beacon, where viewpoints provide endless panoramas of the city below. Exploring fully can easily take over an hour. I suggest to take a sweater, it does get chilly at the top!

2. Robben Island

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Visible as a small oval from Table Mountain, Robben Island became the obvious place for authorities over centuries to exile their most troublesome prisoners. From 1964 until 1982, this included Nobel Peace Prize winner and future South African president Nelson Mandela. Incarcerated for treason against South Africa’s apartheid state, the island then became a tourist attraction in the 1990s.

Tours are often led by other former political prisons. They include a stop at Mandela’s cell and the quarry where he was forced to break rocks by hand. There’s no more visceral way of understanding South Africa’s modern political history, than a visit to Robben Island (A must-visit in my opinion).

3. Company’s Garden

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Cutting its way through a swath of central Cape Town, the Company’s Garden is named after the Dutch East India Company. This was the organization which first founded Cape Town. It planted the garden to supply its ships with fresh fruit and vegetables. Laid out some time in the 1650s, it’s South Africa’s oldest dedicated garden. One of its pear trees was planted in 1652.

The garden is also a beautiful space in which to relax to the sound of birds and trickling water. There are plenty of shady benches to choose between after checking out monuments including the increasingly controversial bronze of Cecil John Rhodes.

4. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

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One of Cape Town’s newest attractions, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront saw boat-building basins turned into a thriving dining and shopping district. A mix of modern indoor mall and open-air shopping made out of historic dock structures, it has a vacation feel year-round.

The Cape Wheel provides the opportunity to take it all in, although simply sitting with a view of Table Mountain is hard to resist. Nearby, a small number of impressively-stinky Cape fur seals bask on the sunbaked paving before taking dips in the harbor.

5. South African National Gallery

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Originally founded in 1872, the South African National Gallery’s current home dates back to 1930. It contains a permanent collection which therefore emphasizes European culture, with artworks predominantly from Britain, France, and the Netherlands. In recent years the gallery has used its temporary exhibitions to highlight contemporary works, creating a fascinating mishmash of styles.

Artists contained within the collection include Abraham van Beerstraten and Thomas Baines, known for his drawings of colonial South Africa. Among its sculpture is The Butcher Boys, created by highly-respected South African artist Jane Alexander.

6. Castle of Good Hope

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Once situated on the edge of Table Bay, today the Castle of Good Hope lies slightly marooned beside the main train and bus station. Even so, the seventeenth-century fortification provides an unmissable part of any Cape Town itinerary.

The oldest colonial structure in South Africa, the castle was built by the Dutch East India Company. It’s generally labelled the best fort of its kind anywhere in the world. Forming a star-shape of bastions, and boasting some impressive architecture, it comes complete with its original moat. Attractions inside the complex of buildings include a torture chamber, slave quarters, and a military museum.

7. Green Point

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One of several upmarket neighborhoods lining the coast, Green Point has been called the Soho of Cape Town thanks to its nightlife. By day, Capetonians tend to head to Green Point Park. It contains various walking and jogging trails alongside a maze and a biodiversity garden. The square red-and-white striped lighthouse makes for an attractive photo op, as does the nearby Mandela’s Glasses art installation.

Come evening, the attention turns to Main Street. Here you’ll find a multitude of laid-back dining options, such as burger joints, Cuban, and Italian cuisine. For seafood, I would consider Sea Point Promenade instead.

8. Long Street

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Long Street stretches all the way from the harbor-front Convention Center to the lower slopes of Table Mountain. Along the way it’s adorned by a great selection of independent cafes, book shops, and antique stores.

Maintaining its feel of a Victorian throughfare as a result of the elegant ironwork balconies which line many of its buildings, the street evolves again come evening. At this time of day, it’s the many restaurants, bars, and clubs which take to the fore. Needless to say, the fun continues long into the night…

9. Bo-Kaap

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Colorful Bo-Kaap is probably Cape Town’s most distinctive of neighborhoods. Located at the base of Signal Hill, it’s just five minutes from the heart of Cape Town. Bo-Kaap gets its distinctiveness from the southeast Asian immigrants who settled in the area in the 1760s. A blend of Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture, the neighborhood’s structures took on their bold coloration as a celebration of freedom from slavery.

Wale Street contains the district’s oldest building, now containing the Bo-Kaap Museum. However, in my view the best way to enjoy Bo-Kaap is to walk its cobbled streets. Coincide it with the sound of the muezzins in the local mosques, and the atmosphere only builds further.

10. Zeitz MOCAA

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One of the newest additions to the Cape Town skyline is the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. Unveiled to the world in 2017, the nine-floor converted grain silo became the largest gallery to African contemporary art anywhere in the world.

Bolstered by an impressive series of rotating temporary exhibitions and fine permanent exhibits, visitors can be sure of plenty to absorb. From all the colors of the rainbow, to seriously thought-provoking new additions, top off your trip to Zeitz MOCAA with the elevator ride to the rooftop restaurant.

11. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

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Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are not only important as a place for preserving South Africa’s unique plant species, but also as a playground within Cape Town’s city limits. Situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, the gardens are as close as you can get to what the region looked like before the arrival of European colonizers.

Formerly created in only 1913, Kirstenbosch is nonetheless rich in history. Attractions include part of a wild almond hedge planted by South Africa’s first colonizer, Jan van Riebeeck. More modern editions to the garden include the Boomslang canopy walkway. Named after the deadly South African snake, it winds its way through Kirstenbosch’s arboretum. Stretching for 130 meters, it provides intimate views of the gardens, alongside Cape Flats township and the mountains.

12. Two Oceans Aquarium

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Part of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the Two Oceans Aquarium is named for the fact the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet just a short distance from Cape Town. Despite this, it contains sea creatures from right around the globe. The Diversity Gallery highlights the role of South Africa’s Benguela and Agulhas currents through species including seahorses, moray eels, and clownfish.

Meanwhile, a walk-through tunnel contains 1.6 million liters of seawater home to rays and turtles among other species. The Shark Exhibit celebrates critically endangered ragged-tooth sharks. However, the biggest display is the Kelp Forest Exhibit. Showcasing the natural habitats of a huge range of creatures, rockhopper penguins use it for daily exercise.

13. Boulders Beach

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To observe Africa’s only mainland dwelling penguins, you only have to go as far as Boulders Beach. Situated near Simon’s Town in suburban Cape Town, the beach unexpectedly became a home for African penguins in 1982.

Since then, the small colony has continued to grow to around 3000 individual birds. Wooden boardwalks have been built for visitors to see these noisy animals. Sounding like donkeys, their other name is the jackass penguin.

If you’re interested in a guided tour I’d suggest this one that included Table Mountain, Cape Point and Boulders Beach.

14. Iziko South African Museum

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Housed in an elegant building on the edge of Company’s Garden, the Iziko South African Museum has collections ranging from zoology to archeology. Spanning four floors, exhibits include the world-renowned Lydenburg Heads, some of the oldest Iron Age artworks found in South Africa.

The natural world plays a key part in the museum, with separate galleries displaying whales, birds, sharks, and mammal taxonomies. Heading to level 3, you can explore the bones of a 250 million year old reptile discovered in the country’s arid Karoo region.

15. Muizenberg Beach

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Known for its highly-photographed row of beach huts painted in primary colors, Muizenberg is one of Cape Town’s most popular beaches. Located in the suburb of the same name, the beach has a Blue Flag for cleanliness and plenty of soft sand despite the crowds.

Watched over by lifeguards during the swimming season, Muizenberg is also the birthplace of surfing in South Africa. This makes it a great place to jump on to a board for the first time. Waves rarely get large enough to trouble first-timers.

With fun for all the family, Muizenberg Beach makes for a good break from the cultural attractions of central Cape Town.

16. Bree Street

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Hailed by the likes of Vogue, Bree Street has certainly come a long way from its humble origins. Perhaps Cape Town’s trendiest address, it gets its name from the Dutch for broad. It was made deliberately wide so ox carts had a chance to turn around.

These days it’s street art, including some incredible full-building murals, you have to look out for rather than animal dung. A place to hang when you’re after a relaxing afternoon, there are no shortage of cafes and bars.

All are small enough that you’ll never feel lost in the crowd. Add to that a number of chic homegrown artisan products – from fabrics to pottery – and you’ve got those lazy hours well taken care of.

17. Signal Hill

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Standing to one side of Table Mountain, Signal Hill is the site of the noon gun which fires most days at midday. The guns themselves date to 1794, making them the world’s oldest guns in routine use. Maintained by the South African Navy, the 18-pound guns fire every day except Sundays and public holidays.

The hill also makes for a great alternative to hiking Table Mountain. There’s also a car park close to the summit for anyone who doesn’t want to walk. At the top, visitors will find a handful of street food vendors, alongside places to rent mats to watch the sunset.

18. Saint George’s Cathedral

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The first Saint George’s Cathedral opened to congregations in 1834. But Saint George’s is not only a historic place of worship for Cape Town’s Anglican communities. It played an intriguing role in the anti-apartheid movement too.

Its replacement was designed by important British architect Herbert Baker in the early 1900s. Construction is yet to be completed. In spite of this, it has already entered the history books after cathedral authorities ignored apartheid segregation laws and welcomed everyone to worship.

Led by Archbishop Demond Tutu, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, the cathedral also witnessed 30,000 people protest apartheid in 1989. It would end just five years later.

19. District Six Museum

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Another link to South Africa’s past of racial discrimination, the District Six Museum tells the tale of a single Cape Town neighborhood. Once multiracial, the apartheid authorities forced the rehousing of 60,000 non-white residents.

Dominating its central space is a map pinpointing the homes of specific residents. Many of these homes were demolished during ‘regeneration’ schemes which have left much of the area desolate to this day.

What’s unique about this museum is its focus on individuals. This makes it an important part of any Cape Town tour, even for people who have already uncovered some of the city’s apartheid past.

20. Chapman’s Peak Drive

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Chapman’s Peak Drive is a short but epic coastal drive which has also become popular with cyclists. Connecting Noordhoek with Hout Bay, it promises sheer drops, alluring vistas over the Atlantic Ocean, and an impressive array of engineering structures to protect the road from falling rocks.

Count carefully, and you’ll discover Chapman’s Peak Drive has no less than 114 curves. It means you’re never looking at the same view for more than a few seconds. Add to this the fact the drive leads southwards towards Cape Point Nature Reserve, and you’ve got the makings of a perfect day out.

21. Llandudno Beach

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It’s not as famous as Clifton Beach, but that’s exactly why I’ve chosen Llandudno Beach for anyone looking for peace and tranquility. Tucked into a small arching bay, the beach comprises a delightful expanse of rich golden sand.

Being on Cape Town’s Atlantic coast, the waters can be cold. But there are still plenty of reasons to visit, from sunbathing to sand castle building. Llandudno Beach has also developed a reputation for romance, making it popular with couples come sunset.

The boulders on the lefthand side of the beach have become known as Sunset Rocks.

22. Old Biscuit Mill

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Constructed in the late 1800s, the Old Biscuit Mill has been turned from a factory space to a cool hangout in the Woodstock neighborhood. Its series of old buildings have become home to a range of artisan producers. This is alongside office space for designers, and a choice of restaurants. Farm stores are on hand to offer up the best of local produce from Cape Town’s farmland, in addition to sweet and savory treats that need no cooking time.

The Old Biscuit Mill plays host to markets both during the day and at night. One of the most popular with locals is the ‘Neighborgoods Market.’ This family-friendly event is a heaven for anyone with a love for the gourmet.

23. Mitchell’s Plain Township

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The term ‘township’ refers to the settlements created by the apartheid regime to house South Africa’s non-white population. Although democracy has existed in the country since 1994, most of Cape Town’s non-white residents continue to live in townships. These include Mitchell’s Plain. In fact, many residents from District Six were forcibly relocated here.

Found on False Bay, around 20 kilometers from downtown Cape Town, tourism is being used as a way to improve the area. Visit on a well-run official tour, and you’ll see the reality of life for the majority of South Africans.

24. Groote Schuur

Source: meunierd / shutterstock

Translating from the Dutch for ‘big shed,’ Groote Schuur was first used as a farm in the 1650s. Passing through a number of hands over the centuries the Cape Dutch style building was bought in 1893 by Cecil Rhodes. He paid £60,000 for the property, a huge amount at the time.

The home of South African prime ministers and then presidents for almost a hundred years, it was also the site of an important meeting between FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela. A museum open by appointment, visitors are able to admire the furnishings and books which remain, as well as learning more about its position in the history of South Africa.

25. Wine tasting

Source: Luiz Antonio Nasser Jr / shutterstock

Cape Town and vineyards go hand in hand, and have done since the very foundation of the city. Understandably, most of the big names in wine are located outside of the city, in towns including Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington, and Paarl.

There are plenty of organized tours that will take in the winelands in each of these regions, if I’d had to suggest one I’d have a look at this tour that includes visiting 3 estates. That said, you don’t have to leave Cape Town to get your fill of one of the city’s most-loved exports.

Tasting rooms dot the city limits, while most of the city’s wine stores will also happily provide tastings.

I’ve got some more content on South Africa for further reading:

• 15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa
• 15 Best Tours in South Africa

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Located within Gwinnett County, it began life as New London, after the settlement of two native Londoners who crossed the Atlantic from Great Britain.

At some point around the 1880s New London became known as Snellville after one of the two men, Thomas Snell. The store they ran existed right up to 1960, when it was sadly destroyed by fire.

In the interim, Snellville received its city charter in 1923. Since then, it has developed into a comfortable suburban city within easy reach of a whole array of attractions.

These are the 15 best things to do in and around Snellville, Georgia.

1. Masterpiece Mixers Paint and Party Studio

Source: ESB Professional / shutterstock

Masterpiece Mixers is welcoming to all-comers, whether you’re a regular artist or a newcomer looking to try out a different skill.

Their evening events provide all the materials you’ll need to discover if you’re the next Picasso or not. This means you need arrive with nothing more than enthusiasm.

Led by a knowledgeable teacher, each session takes the creation of an artwork step by step. Emphasizing the importance of fun, this is a laid-back way to spend a couple of hours.

What’s more, this can be a great way of getting chatting with residents of the city and finding out why they love living here so much.

2. Veterans Memorial

Source: The Brownfowl collection / shutterstock

The Veterans Memorial forms a small complex of important structures in central Snellville. It sits just a few feet away from the blend of red brick and white Neoclassical stone that is City Hall.

Backed by a horseshoe-shaped wall of names, this simple memorial is dedicated to all those who have lost their lives serving the United States.

A focal point for the residents of Snellville to gather around on important occasions, it sits on Towne Green.

It replaces an earlier eternal flame constructed to mark America’s role in the Vietnam War.

3. Snellville Historical Cemetery

Source: The Brownfowl collection / shutterstock

Behind the Veterans Memorial is Snellville Historical Cemetery. It is overlooked by the elegant white spire of the city’s First Baptist Church.

The cemetery is a spacious and open one, and can provide some insight into the city’s most important families in times gone by.

Among the most important people interred here is James Sawyer, the Briton who founded Snellville alongside Thomas Snell.

He is buried in a mausoleum he constructed himself, having lived a long life and dying at the age of 91 in 1948.

4. Stone Mountain Park

Source: Bassam Faraj / shutterstock

Stone Mountain Park lies around 11 miles west of Snellville and can create a serious diversion for anyone heading to Atlanta with an interest in natural and man-made history.

It is one of a number of mountains that appear on the horizon as if out of nowhere, without an accompanying mountain range.

One of the highest points in the Atlanta region at more than 1,600 feet above sea level, its park is the perfect introduction to northern Georgia’s flora and fauna.

It is crisscrossed with a series of well-marked hiking trails, leading around and up the mountain to its summit.

5. Snellville Farmers Market

Source: Andrew Brunk / shutterstock

Located right at the heart of downtown Snellville in the City Hall parking lot, Snellville Farmers Market is a thriving place for the community to come together.

A huge range of vendors provide plenty of choice, not only from traditional produce you might find in markets such as fruit and vegetables, but also a great array of artisan items and potential gifts.

Handcrafted pottery and locally-made soaps from small scale producers can be found between them. There are plenty of stalls to stop by for a bite to eat too, with made-to-order pizzas a particular favorite.

6. Tribble Mill Park

Source: Photog4U / Shutterstock

Although not within the bounds of Snellville itself, Tribble Mill Park is one of the largest in the area and well worth the 20-minute drive.

It covers around 700 acres, with roughly a quarter of this area being taken up by the surface waters of two attractive lakes. Together they stretch for almost the entire length of the park.

Their size makes them popular with anglers, although the multitude of trails totaling around four miles mean Tribble Mill Park is also good for anyone looking to get a little outdoor exercise.

7. Gwinnett History Museum

Source: The Society for Georgia Archaeology / Facebook

Snellville is yet to have its own history museum, but the Gwinnett History Museum in the nearby city of Lawrenceville is no further than Tribble Mill Park when it comes to distance.

Covering the history of all of Gwinnett County, the museum is located in a building constructed in the 1830s as a seminary. It then became a finishing school for the county’s upper class young women.

For a local museum, the Gwinnett History Museum has an excellent collection of artifacts, covering all the most important moments from the past.

They include items relating to the region’s farming industry, as well as various homemade quilts and textiles that are a long-held tradition in this part of the United States.

8. Creekwater Alpaca Farm

Source: Dave Cornelius / shutterstock

Alpacas might not be native to Georgia – they originate from South America – but they certainly make a great addition to the Snellville landscape.

These sociable and inquisitive creatures are weakly related to camels, but are a whole lot more friendly.

Farmed primarily for the hair, which is one of the softest natural fibers in the world, they have also been found to be great for lifting the mood of hospital and care home residents.

Head to Creekwater Alpaca Farm, and you’ll soon discover why. Tours of the farm also take in goats, ducks and geese. There is a shop selling items made from the alpaca’s hair too.

9. State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Source: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is situated within the city of Athens, 45 miles drive east of Snellville.

Part of the University of Georgia, the gardens are able to boast an area of 300 acres along the banks of the Middle Oconee River. They are split into 11 specific zones.

These zones are connected together by roughly five miles of walking trails. The zones range from the fountains of the formal gardens loved by European monarchs in the 1800s, to the Heritage Garden.

Here visitors will find plants important to Georgia’s past, including tobacco and cotton plants. A hummingbird trail lets you get up close to creatures who’s wings beat 600 times a minute, and greenhouses protect some of the gardens’ most delicate inhabitants.

10. High Museum of Art

Source: f11photo / shutterstock

Atlanta is home to its fair share of major attractions. One which doesn’t get the publicity it deserves is the High Museum of Art in the Midtown arts district.

Known to almost everyone simply as ‘the High’, the museum has a collection that began more than a hundred years ago and is now spread over 300,000 square feet of gallery space.

Its 17,000 works of art sit within a building designed by some of the world’s most influential architects – Renzo Piano and Richard Meier.

They include paintings by European masters such as Monet and Singer Sargent, while Rodin’s sculpture The Shade stands immediately outside.

11. Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Source: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

Roughly an hour and 20 minutes from Snellville lies the main bulk of Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, some 115,000 acres in size.

The main attraction is the chance for uninterrupted hikes far from the hustle of central Athens or Atlanta. Many miles of hiking trails cut through the area, alongside bridal ways for those on horseback and a trail for dirt and quadbike riders.

A largely untouched region of indigenous woodland, lucky (or perhaps unlucky) walkers might catch sight of American black bears, in addition to coyote, beavers and bobcats.

Relatively flat with gently-rolling hills, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is one of the best places in the state for wildlife viewing.

12. Southeastern Railway Museum

Source: Darryl Brooks / shutterstock

Half an hour northwest of Snellville is Duluth. Another suburban city in the Atlanta metropolitan area, it is best known as the home of the Southeastern Railway Museum.

Georgia’s official transportation museum, this site has one of the finest collections of transport memorabilia anywhere in the southeast of the United States.

The museum includes items of road transport within its collection, although its name demonstrates that its main focus has been Georgia’s railways.

In this context, the star of the show has to be the 90 pieces of rail equipment, including President Warren G Harding’s private rail carriage.

13. Zoo Atlanta

Source: Dane Jorgensen / Shutterstock

A short distance from the historic street scenes of downtown Atlanta is Grant Park, where you’ll also find Zoo Atlanta.

One of the oldest zoos anywhere within the United States, Zoo Atlanta has become one of the world’s leading centers for the breeding of endangered species.

In all, the zoo’s spacious enclosures are home to some 1,500 individual animals belonging to 200 different species.

The Ford African Rain Forest is home to lemurs, colobus monkeys and extremely rare western lowland gorillas, while Asian Forest contains another king of the jungle – the orangutan.

Elsewhere, the giant pandas shouldn’t be missed, nor the 450-strong reptile house.

14. Centennial Olympic Park

Source: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

Much of Atlanta’s recent success and redevelopment is the result of the Summer Olympic Games, which the city hosted in 1996 – one hundred years after the first modern games in Athens, Greece.

The park that celebrates this fact is found right at the center of downtown Atlanta, a short distance from a number of alternative attractions, including the SkyView Ferris wheel and World of Coca-Cola.

Of the many points of interest among its 22 acres, the one not to miss is perhaps the Fountain of Rings. This is made up of 251 jets of water individually controlled by computer to jump and move to music multiple times a day.

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It was built on land cleared of its native American population and largely constructed using slave labor. This perhaps explains why it was stripped of its status as state capital in 1868 during the post-civil war Reconstruction period.

Although temporarily occupied by General Sherman during the civil war, the 200-year-old city survived largely unscathed.

With a motto of ‘capitols, columns and culture,’ you know you can expect plenty of historic southern-style architecture and a great array of attractions, from museums to hiking trails.

Here are the 15 best things to do in and around Milledgeville, Georgia.

1. Milledgeville Historic District

Source: denisbin / Flickr | CC BY-ND

Milledgeville Historic District roughly equates to the area laid out during the founding of the city in the early 1800s.

Its streets cover an area of approximately 3,200 acres, with a large number of homes and other structures demonstrating the traditional southern architectural styles favored before the American Civil War.

Listed on the United States’ National Register of Historic Places, the classical Greek Revival style is particularly prominent here. Atkinson Hall at the heart of the Georgia College campus is just one example of around 40 historic structures worth exploring.

2. Old Governor’s Mansion

Source: Gaogmsocial / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 4.0

With an appearance not unlike a peach-colored version of the White House in Washington DC, the Old Governor’s Mansion is hard to miss.

The official residence of the state governor for most of the 64 years that Milledgeville was the Georgia capital, today this mansion has been converted into a historic house museum.

Tours lead through the restored original rooms, which have also born witness to General Sherman. He headquartered himself here in 1864 during the Union army’s March to the Sea.

Its interiors help tell the story of all Georgia’s residents, from the governor down to its enslaved population.

3. Lockerly Arboretum

Source: Lockerly Arboretum / Facebook

Dating to 1852, the similarly grand structure of Rose Hill at Lockerly Arboretum is another important Milledgeville structure worth checking out.

Inside, original features include its hardwood floors, plaster walls and marble fireplaces. Externally, the house is surrounded by around 50 acres of garden.

Perfectly symmetrical ponds immediately in front of Rose Hill spread out into a landscape of rhododendrons, camellias, shrubs and trees that make the perfect spot for a summer picnic.

More recent additions include several greenhouses able to house species that otherwise wouldn’t survive the Georgia climate, including around 60 different types of orchid.

4. Lake Sinclair

Source: KWL Photography / shutterstock

Around 10 miles north of downtown Milledgeville is Lake Sinclair, a body of water with three thin main fingers that work their way through the Georgia countryside.

Edged by native trees, Lake Sinclair was created in 1953 by the damming of the Oconee River. Its more than 15,000 acres of area allow a huge number of leisure activities to take place along its shores and on its surface.

Those who enjoy more tranquil pastimes will relish the chance to relax amid extraordinary vistas, perhaps with a fishing rod in hand. But the adrenaline seekers don’t have to miss out. Boats can be rented from Sinclair marina, and jet skis are also available.

5. William P Wall Museum of Natural History

Source: William P. Wall Museum of Natural History at Georgia College / Facebook

First opening its doors to the public in 2004, the William P Wall Museum of Natural History soon made a name for itself as one of the best museums in the middle Georgia region.

Part of Georgia College, its 2,500 square foot exhibition area covers the long history of life on Earth. Besides more unusual geology specimens are also a diverse range of fossils from mammoth bones to early mammal species.

Next door, visitors will also find a state-of-the-art planetarium, which expands the museum’s remit to the creation of the universe itself.

6. St Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Source: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Milledgeville, GA / Facebook

Not only was St Stephen’s Episcopal Church built during the heyday of Milledgeville as the Georgia state capital, but it also plays a central part in the city’s civil war history.

Located in Statehouse Square, the church was constructed in 1843 in the Rural Gothic style, meaning it is rich with woodwork inside and out. It also contains some beautiful stained glass put in place after the civil war.

Had it been in place beforehand, it probably wouldn’t have survived. The church was used as a stable for General Sherman’s horses, while its pews were broken up for firewood. In another deliberate act, its organ pipes were damaged with molasses.

7. Oconee River

Source: Ancha Chiangmai / shutterstock

The Oconee River flows along the eastern edge of Milledgeville. It offers a great escape just a few minutes from the city’s downtown districts.

One of the best ways to discover its riverine landscape is by taking advantage of the Oconee River Greenway.

Running for around three miles, the greenway is made up of a combination of wide paths, narrower nature trails and wooden boardwalks.

And if strolling or cycling through the dappled shade of the river banks isn’t enough, the river also provides a playground for kayakers, as well as anglers.

8. Old State Capitol

Source: Barry Fowler / shutterstock

The Georgia state legislature first met in the Old State Capitol building in Milledgeville in 1807, when the building was still incomplete.

Once finished, it took the form of one of the best examples of Gothic architecture anywhere in the United States, with details recognizable from Europe’s medieval castles and cathedrals.

When the state capital was moved to Atlanta, the building became a court house, before becoming a part of Georgia College. Visitors are able to stroll its grounds, as well as enter a building that has had more than $10 million spent on its renovation.

9. John Marlor Arts Center

Source: Milledgeville Georgia / Facebook

Part of the Allied Arts Center, the John Marlor occupies one of Milledgeville’s oldest buildings, which dates back to the 1830s.

It lies within a part of town once known as the Strip, which was the focal point for Milledgeville’s African-American community as recently as the 1980s.

Step inside, and you’ll find a small gallery space with a regularly rotating series of exhibitions and artworks which changes every couple of months.

The three buildings that make up the Allied Arts Center also host a long list of workshops and seminars open to all.

10. Memory Hill Cemetery

Source: Milledgeville Georgia / Facebook

Part of Milledgeville Historic District, Memory Hill Cemetery is filled with impressive Victorian memorials from the grand dames of the city’s past.

Within its 20-acre landscaping are some of the city’s most important names, including the author Flannery O’Connor, enslaved African-Americans from the pre-war period, and soldiers who died fighting that same war.

This burial place is of such significance that its self-guided walking tour counts 47 different points of interest, and is recommended to last at least an hour.

However, even the shortest stop to Memory Hill Cemetery as part of a larger sightseeing visit to historic Milledgeville will be a worthwhile experience for first-time visitors to the city.

11. Andalusia Farm

Source: Stephen Matthew Milligan / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

This relatively simple structure was the home of Flannery O’Connor for more than a decade, from 1951 to 1964.

Dating back to around 1814, the farm began life as a cotton plantation, worked by slaves. The author moved here after being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Lupus.

Despite this, it was during her thirteen years at Andalusia Farm that O’Connor wrote the major of her work, with the farm clearly playing at part in her literary world.

Now a museum, the farmhouse helps to tell O’Connor’s life story, including that of her two novels. The first, Wise Blood, was adapted into a movie directed by John Huston.

12. Brown-Stetson-Sanford House

Source: Ken Lund / Flickr | CC BY-SA

This woodboard structure is typical of the Milledgeville Federal style of architecture. It was constructed in 1825, and was designed by local architect John Marlor, after whom the arts center is named.

Retaining much of its original look in spite of the passage of almost 200 years, its main staircase is particularly majestic, and considered a tell-tale sign of Marlor’s work. In the parlor, visitors can also see the original hand-worked wood.

Brown-Stetson-Sanford House makes an excellent addition to the city’s historic trolley tours, which make use of a vintage trolleybus known by the name of Milly in exploring the likes of Rose Hill, the Old State Capitol and Sallie-Ellis Davis House.

13. Bartram Forest

Source: sportpoint / shutterstock

On the southern edge of the city about five miles from Statehouse Square, Bartram Forest contains several looping trails for anyone eager to get out on a bike.

Its routes range from beginner friendly 5.5 mile trails to a trickier 10.3 mile track that should only be tackled by those with some experience on a mountain bike.

Two wheels is a great way of discovering all Georgia’s native habitats, including the remains of a vast sea that covered the area around 100 million years ago. The forest also has a plethora of local species of wildlife, while the forest was considered native American territory right up until 1794.

14. Tubman Museum

Source: Doug Nurnberger / shutterstock

This museum in Macon is named after prominent African-American Harriet Tubman. Born into slavery, she became a key figure in the Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape the southern states. She will soon be honored with a portrait on the new $20 bill.

Forty minutes northwest of Milledgeville, the museum is perfectly named, as it is one of Georgia’s major gallery spaces for African-American art and culture.

Its collection of artifacts range from historic objects to stunningly contemporary pieces of sculpture. Its displays aim to highlight the role of African-Americans in the development of the United States, such as the work of agricultural scientist George Washington Carver.

15. Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge

Source: feathercollector / shutterstock

A similar distance due west is the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. It has provided a space for Georgia’s native species since at least 1939, when it was first declared a protected area.

A region of forest interspersed with shallow streams, its ridges are dominated by pines while its beaver-inhabited creeks provide the perfect base for a variety of hardwoods.

Among its rarer species, visitors should look out for the red-cockaded woodpecker, among 200 other bird species and around 50 different types of mammal including the bobcat.

An orientation video can be enjoyed at the visitor center before you head out along the various trails that make the refuge such a delight.

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An independent city with its own ambience and charm, Griffin is the county seat of Spalding County.

Founded in 1840, Griffin became a boomtown with the coming of the railroad just two years later.

Surviving the American Civil War, it has become an attractive getaway strong on historic sights and other exciting things to do.

These are the 15 best things to do in and around Griffin, Georgia.

1. Griffin Commercial Historical District

Source: Downtown Griffin / Facebook

This downtown district at the heart of Griffin spans 11 hectares approximately encompassed by Central Alley, Sixth, Taylor, and Eighth Streets.

Roughly equivalent to eight city blocks, 100 or so buildings were added to the United States National Register of Historic Places because of their role in the development of the city and the region.

Among its sites are the historic red brick Griffin City Hall built in around 1910, the U-shaped Griffin Hotel built in the same time, and the Opera House.

Also known as Odd Fellows Hall, this structure was built in 1892. Rising three storeys, it has a Romanesque appearance counting the simpler structure of City Hall.

2. Griffin Regional Welcome Center

Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

Although called a welcome centre, this similarly attractive building in downtown Griffin is far more that a tourist information centre.

Behind its brown bricks and large windows visitors will find the History of Griffin Museum, as well as the Griffin Art Gallery.

Built in 1899 and once a grocery distribution warehouse, it was one of the first in the region with long-term cold storage facilities.

Its museum displays a variety of artifacts from Griffin’s relatively long history as a city, while its gallery is dedicated to displaying the works of artists local to the region.

3. Bailey-Tebault House

Source: Bubba73 / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

Another important historic structure, Bailey-Tebault House was constructed just as the American Civil War began in the early 1860s.

In fact, its completion was delayed because of the Union blockade on the states of the Confederate south.

An excellent example of Greek Revival architecture, the building has some similarities to the White House in Washington DC, because of its front portico supported by two-storey Greek columns.

Inside, you’ll find beautiful plaster cast mouldings on its ceilings and walls, as well as fine furniture. Much of which survived a period as the city’s first hospital in the 1900s, and then its time as a funeral home.

4. UGA Research and Education Garden

Source: UGA Research and Education Garden Events / Facebook

The Research and Education Garden is a 26-hectare botanic gardens routinely open to the public despite its association with the University of Georgia’s Griffin Campus.

Its mix of brick and gravel paths, together with a shady arboretum, allows visitors to explore plants native to the southern United States within the most tranquil of settings.

The presence of a picnic area and shelter demonstrate that this garden is definitely a welcoming space for all.

A further symbol of this is the regular series of events and classes that take place within its walls, including star-gazing sessions and art exhibitions.

5. Walker Hill Museum

Source: Walker Hill / Facebook

This museum is the result of decades of collecting by the Walker family, who have lived in the house it occupies on South Hill Street since 1905.

The family’s interests seem to have known no limit, and the result is an eclectic range of items, some of which date back two full centuries.

An intriguing look into southern lifestyles at the beginning of the twentieth century, the museum includes some really rare objects.

These range from full-sized carousels with their original horses, to early record players. But tours of the site also include the historic homestead built in 1867, an old dairy barn, and an outhouse.

6. Heads Creek Reservoir

Source: Griffin Environmental Council / Facebook

Heads Creek Reservoir is one of several reservoirs and man-made lakes created in the region to ensure a steady water supply for the metropolitan Atlanta region.

More than 120 hectares in area, the reservoir is a haven for anyone who enjoys getting into the countryside, if only for a few hours.

Its size means the reservoir rarely gets crowded, while its ban on motor boats ensures its waters are generally very calm.

Home to beavers, turtles, fish and various bird and duck species, it’s possible to enjoy the lake’s surrounds for its shoreline, or canoe or kayak around it to get closer to its small uninhabited island.

Heads Creek Reservoir is approximately 12 km west of Griffin.

7. Film Tours

Source: Christopher Cadle / shutterstock

A huge number of films and television series have been filmed in and around Griffin, with The Walking Dead production crew a particular fan of the area.

While it’s great to stumble on to recognisable locations by accident, for the best chance of seeing the backdrops to scenes from your favourite screen entertainment a film tour could be the thing for you.

Southern Hollywood Film Tours is based in nearby Peachtree City, and combines footage with real locations as they take in scenes from The Walking Dead and several movies from the Marvel universe including Spider Man and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Peachtree City is just over 30 minutes by road from Griffin.

8. Hill-Kurtz House

Source: Timkemp / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

Hill-Kurtz House is another Griffin addition to the National Register of Historic Places. It was constructed in 1860 for a man called Benjamin J Milner.

He is known for helping to form a local cavalry unit during the American Civil War. Sold just six years later to a printing magnate, the house is recorded as a fine example of what is called the Exotic Revival style.

If you decide to explore the suburban streets with wide lawns and mature tree cover in search of Hill-Kurtz House, also keep a look out for other historic private homes, such as Hunt House. This property was purchased by a Confederate army officer turned Griffin merchant.

9. Stonewall Cemetery

Source: Tony Pilgrim / Facebook

Set out on the founding of the city, Stonewall Cemetery is best known as the location of graves resulting from the Battle of Atlanta during the American Civil War.

Within a plot with cannonballs at each of its four corners are the final resting places of several hundred Confederate troops as well as a single Union soldier. They either died in the fighting or from wounds afterwards.

There are several memorials and statues worth looking at, and a memorial park opposite which contains an eternal flame for those who have died in every war involving US troops since.

10. Museum of Aviation

Source: HawkeyeUK / Flickr | CC BY-SA

The military connections don’t end at Stonewall Cemetery. The city of Warner Robins lies around 100 km southeast of Griffin. It is well worth the 1.5-hour journey because here you’ll find one of the country’s largest aviation museums.

On the edge of a US Air Force base, the Museum of Aviation receives more visitors each year than any other Georgia attraction outside of downtown Atlanta.

Its exhibition space covers an impressive 21 hectares, and contains 85 aircraft. These include tiny biplanes and giant bombers from the Second World War onwards, such as a B-52 bomber.

There is also the unusual chance to get up close to a U-2 spy plane, and a Blackbird, which flies on the edge of space.

11. Candler Field Museum

Source: IdRatherBeFlying / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 4.0

A little closer to Griffin, at just 15 minutes away, is another aeronautical wonder. Williamson’s Candler Field Museum can be found at Peach State Airport, and has worked hard to recreate what Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport would have looked like in the 1920s and 1930s.

Its lobby echoes a check-in desk from the period, and in addition to archive photographs and other items linked to powered flight, the museum boasts a number of aircraft.

Focussing on civilian rather than military aircraft, the earliest dates from 1917, just 14 years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight. Other attractions include working Ford Model A and Model T cars.

12. Griffin Golf Course

Source: Mikael Damkier / shutterstock

Open from 7.30 in the morning until dark, the Griffin Golf Course is an 18-hole 72-par course. It features rolling fairways edged with trees typical of this part of the United States.

There is also a 12-station driving range, and practice green for seasoned golfers to improve their swing. Open since 1932, the course has had plenty of time to adapt, with new facilities added frequently.

Alternatively, check out The Club at Shoal Creek. A secluded course around a large lake, it has been partially reconstructed in recent years to improve its playability. However, the owners have worked hard to ensure the deer and other wildlife that live here continue to feel at home.

13. Griffin Area Concert Association

Source: 18percentgrey / shutterstock

Its name might not be the most inspiring around, but you’ll find few who will argue against the GACA as a gig and concert destination.

The association deliberately tries to invite in acts of as many genres as possible. So while there’s the chance to catch a country act, it’s equally possible you’ll be in town at the same time as a symphony orchestra or up-and-coming rock group are playing.

Its regular performances include everyone from talented locals to performers with national and even international reputations. So, if you somehow find yourself at a loose end one evening, be sure to check out the Griffin Area Concert Association.

14. Atlanta

Source: Sean Pavone / shutterstock

We’ve resisted the allure of Atlanta up until now, but it would be hard to complete a list of the best things to do in Griffin, Georgia without mentioning the state’s capital.

Only 50 minutes north of Griffin by road, Atlanta has a long list of attractions which makes it easy for any visitor to Griffin to spend a day there.

Families with younger children will probably want to head straight for Grant Park’s Zoo Atlanta, one of the oldest in the United States and an important centre of conservation.

Within walking distance are the buildings of the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park, the street art of the Krog Street Tunnel, and several attractions relating to Gone with the Wind including a museum.

15. Cherokee Rose Sporting Clays

Source: Cherokee Rose / Facebook

America’s Second Amendment famously gives its citizens the right to bear arms, and this right is particularly associated with the southern states of the union including Georgia.

To uncover this culture in safety visitors should head to Cherokee Rose Sporting Clays, which provides a space to target moving clay discs in beautiful surroundings.

There is not one but two clay shooting courses here. One is a five stand, while the other is a Helice ring.

Welcoming of beginners as well as experts, the centre consists of 50 hectares of open ground, gorges, water, and rolling hills.

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Established in 1829, the city was named after Charles Carroll, the last living signatory to America’s Declaration of Independence.

Small enough to have avoided the troubles of the American Civil War a generation later, Carrollton would become rich off the back of the textiles industry.

Still largely surrounded by rural farming communities, today Carrollton is a well-administered college town within easy reach of attractions in two states.

These are the 15 best things to do in and around Carrollton, Georgia.

1. Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum

Source: Stanislav Samoylik / shutterstock

Quilting – the hand sewing of intricately decorated bed covers – is a fundamental part of the culture of the southern United States.

Since it opened in 2012, the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum has displayed a range of new and historic quilts and textiles on both permanent display and as part of a series of temporary exhibitions.

Fittingly housed within a converted cotton warehouse, the exterior is decorated with two ‘metal quilts’ by the nationally-important sculptor Gordon Chandler.

The museum sits just a short stroll from the centre of historic Carrollton at Adamson Square.

2. Carrollton Center for the Arts

Source: Carrollton Center for the Arts / Facebook

This state-of-the-art centre was created to act as a permanent arts hub within Carrollton, and hasn’t failed to achieve this distinction during its relatively short life.

With no expense spared, the Carrollton Center for the Arts was completed to a budget of $5.2 million. Within its walls stands a 300-seat theatre, which hosts performances that range from contemporary dance to comedy dramas.

The centre is also able to boast a 185 square metre exhibition space for hanging art, in addition to a permanent galleria.

Elsewhere in Carrollton, the Maurice K Townsend Center for the Performing Arts is another space dedicated to music and theatre.

3. Little Tallapoosa River

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A tributary of the Alabama River, the Little Tallapoosa runs for 156 km from Georgia’s Piedmont mountains and across the state border into Alabama.

Its clear waters wind their way through Carrollton in a series of bends, and are a perfect demonstration of some of Georgia’s most picturesque landscapes.

Largely navigable, there are numerous points at which it’s possible to launch a boat, kayak or canoe. The presence of three types of black bass make the river popular with anglers too.

The lawns of East Carrollton Park enjoy views not only of the river, but also of Lake Carroll, a favourite with holiday home owners.

4. Road to Tara Museum

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With the city mentioned in Margaret Mitchell’s novel Gone with the Wind, the Road to Tara Museum in Jonesboro is a great addition to any list of the best things to do in Carrollton.

It combines objects used in the Oscar-winning film of the same name with artifacts from the Civil War. It therefore shows the real events on which Mitchell based her bestselling book, while separating fact from fiction.

Specific displays also focus on the actors Hattie McDaniel (who played Mammy) and Butterfly McQueen (who played Prissy). As African-Americans, they weren’t even able to attend the film’s premier as it was held in a segregated whites-only theatre.

Jonesboro is roughly an hour east of Carrollton.

5. Carrollton Greenbelt

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At close to 30 km in length, Carrollton Greenbelt is the largest conservation project city officials have ever attempted. It is also the largest paved loop trail to be found anywhere in the state of Georgia.

Forming a continuous linear park, the greenbelt provides an alternative method to getting about many of the city’s distinct neighbourhoods, parks, and malls, rather than relying on motor vehicle.

But more than that, it is in itself an important habitat for the area’s wildlife species.

As a loop you can join the Carrollton Greenbelt at various locations. The easiest are perhaps the designated trail heads that can be found at East Carrollton Park, Lakeshore Park, and Hobbs Farm Park.

6. Historic Banning Mills

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Matching a historic mill location with thrills more usually found at a theme park is this unusual attraction in the city of Newnan 30 minutes southeast of Carrollton.

That’s because at Historic Banning Mills a range of adrenaline-fueled adventures await. These include trekking and horse riding through the surrounding woodland, kayaking on natural streams, and tackling the climbing walls.

The highlight of the mills must be the Screaming Eagle zipline, recognised by Guinness as the world’s longest. However, some visitors might instead enjoy the more relaxing surrounds of the onsite spa.

7. West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail

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As any visitor to the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum will already have realised, the textile industry has played a huge part in creating the Carrollton we know and love.

This heritage can be explored in greater detail thanks to the creation of the West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail.

Stretching from Dalton to Columbus, its central region includes Carrollton. Here, several mills were built to convert raw cotton fibres into clothing, since the railroad made transport of the finished products across the country all the easier.

The Maryon Hosiery Mill building is one of the points on this trail, while other privately-owned structures include the Mandeville Mill built in 1899.

8. Hills and Dales Estate

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Built using a fortune generated through the Callaway family’s textile empire, the Hills and Dales Estate consists of a stunning house and gardens with an Italianate feel.

Completed at the height of the region’s textile industry in 1916, the landscaped gardens that surround the European-style villa were first laid out in the late 1800s by Sarah Ferrell. They are therefore some of the best-preserved nineteenth-century planting schemes in the country.

The villa itself – house is too small a word – covers three floors, which visitors are able to explore for themselves. They are also able to enjoy a 15-minute documentary which details much more of the estate’s astounding history.

The estate lies in LaGrange, roughly 70 km south of Carrollton.

9. Talladega National Forest

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Cross the nearby border into Alabama, and you can swap the manicured gardens of the Hills and Dales Estate for the wilds of Talladega National Forest.

Incorporating 1,500 square kilometres of the Appalachian Mountains, the forest also protects a number of wilderness areas.

For instance, Cheaha Wilderness has some of the best areas of unspoilt nature within its bounds. At the same time, Dugger Mountain Wilderness seeks to ensure the continued success of species around Alabama’s second-highest peak.

Head here, and there’s a chance you’ll catch sight of some of the south’s most evocative wildlife species, including black bears, coyotes, and raccoons.

It will take you roughly 45 minutes to reach the forest from Carrollton by road.

10. Historic City Cemetery

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Laid out across two hills, the city’s historic cemetery is another spot in which to take in Carrollton’s first two centuries.

In fact, the cemetery’s Park Street area contains the graves of various founders and early settlers of the city. The earliest readable birth dates on the stones are in the 1700s.

As time went on the grave markings became more elaborate, with the angel standing guard over Georgia Price particularly poignant. She was the first freed African-American slave to become a business owner in the city.

Other graves include those that link directly to the Civil War, such as that of the confederate colonel William E Curtis.

11. John Tanner State Park

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The pleasant surrounds of John Tanner State Park include two lakes and the largest sand beach of any Georgia state park within its 56 hectares.

Ten kilometres west of Carrollton, the lakes are well-known for their pedal-boats and fishing opportunities. Its lawns are a much-loved outdoor space to enjoy time with friends and family.

Around them are walking and nature trails, as well as a bunk house and campsite for anyone looking to stay overnight.

The park is named after a local businessman who created it as his own private escape between 1954 and 1971.

12. Sewell Mill Textile Exhibit

Source: Sewell Mill Events Facility & Community Center / Facebook

Delve into Sewell Mill and you’ll also be delving into the history of the all-important textile industry that kept this part of Georgia prosperous for so many years.

The museum inside is filled with extraordinary survivors from this period, including archive photographs and a time clock which checked when workers entered and left the factory each day.

If you clock in for yourself, you’ll then be guided through the information displays to what it took to create the clothing worn throughout the country a hundred years ago.

Bremen lies 20 minutes north of Carrollton.

13. West Georgia Museum

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A further 15 minutes east of Bremen lies Tallapoosa. Though smaller than Carrollton and Bremen, Tallapoosa is home to the West Georgia Museum.

Its eclectic mix of exhibits ensures there are displays that will interest all visitors whatever their age. Its entrance is dominated by a replica T-Rex more than nine metres high, which towers over even the other dinosaurs on display here.

Stepping beyond, visitors will find artifacts stretching all the way back to the 1800s, such as a range of vintage vehicles. These include a horse-drawn buggy from before the advent of the internal combustion engine, and a Ford from 1923.

Other attractions here include the reconstruction of various old storefronts.

14. McIntosh Reserve Park

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The McIntosh Reserve sits on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. It was named in honour of William McIntosh Jr, who was of mixed native American and Scottish ancestry and became an important Creek Indian leader.

The two-storey log house in which he lived has been recreated within the reserve. However, the role of McIntosh as a leader did not end well. He was the signatory of a treaty selling Creek land to the federal government, which lead to him being sentenced to death by his own tribe.

His grave can be found on the opposite side of the road to his home, approximately 30 km south of Carrollton.

15. Six Flags Over Georgia

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Around half the size of McIntosh Reserve Park but still impressive in size is the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park.

Six Flags has 11 rollercoasters, two of which – Goliath and Mind Bender – are highly-rated not just regionally but nationally. In all there are over 30 different individual attractions and amusements here, including a water park called Hurricane Harbor.

Superhero fans should note that many of the rides are based on characters from the Marvel and DC universes, including the Superman: Ultimate Flight ride.

Six Flags Over Georgia is located on the western outskirts of Atlanta, around 45 minutes from Carrollton.

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