2 Best Sights in The Western Cape and Winelands, South Africa

About 4 km (2½ miles) out of town, set on high ground commensurate with its status, is the majestic De Oude Drostdy Museum. Built by architect Louis Thibault in 1804, the structure was badly damaged by fire in 1934 and later by the 1969 earthquake, but it has been carefully restored and is a fine example of neoclassical architecture. The building now houses an impressive collection of antique furniture and artifacts. Look for the gramophone collection and the Dutch grandfather clock that has a painting of Amsterdam harbor painted on its face. There's a small coffee shop inside where you can grab a quick bite.

From August to early October, the wonderful Tienie Versfeld Wildflower Reserve is an unpretentious, uncommercial little gem showing off a range of South African veld plants. Look out for the geophytes—plants uniquely adapted for this type of environment—which come in a striking array of sizes and colors.