Pretty Paarl

Nature lovers, foodies, and history buffs can all find appeal in this place whose name means 'pearl.' Here in Paarl, South Africa, an extensive network of trails traverses mountainsides and meadows alike, offering wanders amid wildflowers as well as high vistas of the city. Mild in climate, Paarl is also a major center in the Cape Winelands, where you'll find the country's finest vineyards. Finally, cementing its place in national history, Paarl is where then-future President Nelson Mandela was finally released from prison in 1990, heralding the end of apartheid.