It's a lazy early winter afternoon and the sun is imposing its hazy glow on every windowpane, summoning you to pick up your car keys and beat a hasty retreat out the front door. But where to go? If you're a typical Capetonian, then the idea of driving more than 15 minutes in any direction is enough to warrant a passport and travel insurance.

But with so many gorgeous mountain passes and winding coastal roads to choose from, there's every reason to abandon the temptation of short cuts and linger in the simple pleasures of a Cape classic: the long, afternoon drive.

Strand to Betty's Bay
Venturing out of Cape Town is like taking a really long, deep breath. The calm and inimitable charm of the myriad little towns beyond the shadow of Table Mountain is worth the extra tank of petrol and the mustering up of the necessary courage to converse in Afrikaans all day.

Albeit just a 40-minute drive out of town, the Strand has an aura of otherness about it, as though it were captured in a time bubble and refused to move on beyond 1982.

The charm of this little beach town on the False Bay coast lies in its utter simplicity — no frills, no fuss and no fancy shops with exorbitant price tags.

In Strand, it's all about the good, uncomplicated things in life: moist biltong, cold beer, calamari and chips, and a pub on the water that offers all three. Bart's Tavern is an old-style pub perched on the water's edge at the far end of the jetty, where the locals go to watch rugby and knock back a few. It is also conveniently situated right next to the local market, where entrepreneurial craftsmen peddle their wares.

Continuing along the stunning coastline, Gordon's Bay beckons with more beautiful beaches and fun local drinking holes. Bikini Beach is the place to go to bronze your bod or enjoy a picnic under the trees nearby, but for those who prefer a little more activity, be sure to take a turn at the Steenbras River Trail about 10 minutes before you reach the town. The trail takes about an hour and ends at a perfect spot for kloofing, where jump spots range from five to 20 metres high.

Further along the winding roads of Clarence Drive, past the rustic charm of Pringle Bay and Rooiels, lies Betty's Bay, originally the site of a whaling station (it closed down in 1930) and still one of the best spots for whale watching between May and December.

Named after the daughter of a property developer, Betty's Bay is also home to the Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens, a great place to take a stroll and snap pics of the impressive floral kingdom.

Sandboarding enthusiasts will go nuts for Silversands, which boasts some of the Cape's larger dunes. Those who prefer observing should follow the signs to Stony Point Nature Reserve, home of one of the largest colonies of African (Jackass) Penguins in South Africa.

There is also the Penguin Place Art Gallery promoting work by local artists as well as the local pub Pebbles that has become somewhat of an institution in the town, probably because it is the only place in the Western Cape where you can still get a beer for R5.

Hout Bay to Noordhoek
Majestic Chapman's Peak is almost as famous for its breathtaking vistas and snaking mountain bends as it is for its temperamental rocks, which forced the pass to close in 2000.

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Published courtesy of Cape etc. magazine.
But thanks to geophysics and a hefty down payment, Chapman's Peak Drive was reopened as a toll road in December 2003. This world-renowned drive from Hout Bay to Noordhoek deserves a spot in every tourist's and local's calendar.

If the pass is closed, the Hout Bay harbour at the foot of the mountain is bursting with fresh fish markets, bustling restaurants and antique naval shops to keep you entertained. Take a boat ride to Seal Island and marvel at the sheer quantity of seals that have found a relatively safe haven away from their Great White predators (sharks don't enjoy the Atlantic's icy nip), or sip exotic cocktails at The Deck, one of the newest additions to the harbour complex. Back in the town, the restaurant/deli La Cuccina is a must-stop, offering a veritable smorgasbord of irresistably delicious deli goodies.

Once you're through the Chappies' toll gate and heading around its world-famous bends, the nature lover's paradise of Noordhoek awaits on the other side, with its pristine, seemingly endless stretch of chalk-white beach beckoning you as you wind around the top of the pass. A number of horse farms offer beach rides, although most of the activity on Noordhoek Beach takes place in the water, where surfers vie for the big swell. Alternatively, you can just kick back and enjoy the privilege of having so much space all to yourself.

In the centre of town, the Noordhoek Farm Village offers all kinds of organic culinary delights, or you can simply head straight to that most famous of late afternoon hang-outs: The Red Herring Trading Post. With a restaurant, bar, wooden deck and plaque in honour of the legendary Skebanga — the dog who inspired the name for 'Skebanga's Pub' — as well as some of the best views and yummiest pizzas on this side of the mountain, you would be forgiven for making this your only road-side stop. The Trading Post also includes an art gallery, pottery workshop and plant nursery. Prepare to browse!

For outdoor enthusiasts, the Sunbird Environmental Recreation Centre offers wetland trails and guided walks where you can view the shipwreck, Kakapo, which dates back to 1900, midway along the beach.