That’s Parys with a “Y”!
Shopping in Parys might not be as glamorous as shopping in Paris, but it does have its advantages.
When I first thought about Parys in the Vaal, I thought that there wouldn’t be much to write about, turns out there is a lot more to Parys then anyone would’ve thought.
www.parys.info describes Parys as a “picturesque town on the Vaal River that reminds you of the French city on the banks of the Seine. Today Parys offers a happy medium between old world country charm and adventurous outdoor activities.”
This description really intrigued me, so I decided to find out as much as I can about this charming Town.
Parys is situated in the Vredefort Dome, the largest verified crater on earth; furthermore, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this alone makes Parys a unique place, while spending your day in Parys you can think about the fact that you are walking on the ground where a meteorite hit 2 billion years ago.
I would definitely start my shopping experience at M Bezuidenhout Couture; Michael Bezuidenhout won the award for the “Most Classical Designer in SA” in 1998 and 1999, to name but one. This is without a doubt a must see store for the ladies.
For the men, there is of course a brand new 18-hole championship golf course at Parys Golf and Country Estate that has been redesigned in 2007, they also have water sport and squash facilities.
If you’re not that interested in golf or fashion, then you can always go for a nice ride in a hot-air balloon which will take you 50 minutes to an hour and a half depending on the wind direction, altitudes and treetop heights. After having that adventure and admiring the view you can go for a lovely meal at the Cradle Restaurant.
For the more artistic people, there is Art galleries, (Rooi Granaat Gallery, Chris de Beer, Coral Fourie and a few others) as well as Antique Furniture shops (Pines Antiques, Fieterjasies, etc.).
Don’t forget Die Blakermaker, where you can see how a combination of steel and art compliments each other perfectly, which has been around for 15 years.
After a long day of the fine arts, you can go and have a family meal at the Oak Creek Spur, because everyone loves Spur. If you are more into healthy eating, you can go to Klein Parys Farm Stall, they have a range of wheat free baked treats and sugar and salt-free peanut butter.
Whatever it is that you like doing, or if you are looking for something special, I’m sure Parys will be the place where you will find it. There are amazing restaurants, tours, quad biking, paintball, arts and crafts shops, 4×4 adventures, abseiling, bird watching, horse trails and game reserves.
At the Dell Cheetah Centre you can see how fast a Cheetah really runs, meet this astounding animal and have your photo taken with your “favourite” one. You can also go on self-drive adventures; the Parys Info Office will give you a map of the area, and you can explore the Dome Area on your own time.
After doing some research and reading how breathtaking Parys really is I have decided to take my savings and go do some shopping and exploring in Parys instead of Paris!
– Louise Burger –
Parys Info
call: 056 811 4000 or go to http://www.parys.co.za
Charmaine
Goeiedag, ek is opsoek na ‘n spesiale piekniek plek vir Dinsdag 3 Mei 2016, asook iemand wat ‘n piekniek mandjie kan voorberei. Het julle enige voorstelle asb. Baie dankie. Charmaine