Glenelg
Everyone says that if you are in Adelaide you have to catch the tram to Glenelg. It turns out, you can catch the bus too. Glenelg is all about the tourists while Henley Beach is perfect for the "local" experience. I hopped on a tram at King William Street (at the end of Rundle Mall) and rode all the way to Glenlg. The trip took about 30 minutes. The Glenelg tram stop is (literally) on the beach and about a two minute walk from The Beach House. This is like an arcade or beach side carnival. There is a ferris wheel (although it was out of order when I was there), air hockey, video and arcade games, water tube boats, a café and (the main reason I went), Putt Putt a.k.a. mini-golf.I had fun moving through the 18-hole course, although there were several young people playing in their swimwear and that was a sight I didn't need. If you look beyond the course while moving through it, you can see the beautiful blue water and gorgeous white sand of the Glenelg Beach. I also had fun taking photos of my mini travel buddies. Ha ha... he he he!!
You can easily spend a full day in Glenelg with the beach, boardwalk shopping and dining, and special events. On the holidays they have a moonlight cinema open on the beach. Purchase a ticket and you can watch a new release laying on your beach towel. I only spent the morning there as I had more things to do in the city. By the way, there are mini-golf courses at West Beach, Victor Harbour, Semaphore and Hahndorf. If I had more time in Adelaide I would have played on all of the courses. At least I can add them to my list of things to do next time.
After a game of Putt Putt, I checked out a few shops on the boardwalk before hopping on a bus back to the city centre. After a light breakfast in my apartment, I had quite a day of dining out. Considering I hadn't eaten out that much, I decided to check out a few places that I'd heard were worth a visit. The afternoon was spent just exploring and it was great!
Adelaide Dining
St Louis Desserts- they have restaurants at Glenelg and in the city. It was definitely worth a visit. There was a selection of cakes, slices, gelato and made to order delights such as waffles, fondue, crepes and churros. I had fun just reading the menu. The range of hot and cold drinks include the humble cuppa as well as some fancy, sweet creations. They also serve breakfast. Check out the website (linked above) for more info. I had the strawberry Nutella crepe, which was divine!
Peter Rabbit- is a restaurant on Hindley Street. You can visit the real live rabbits in their hutch behind the restaurant, while waiting for your order. I had poached eggs and bacon on sourdough with avocado, which was delicious. I would liken the experience to having lunch in Mr McGregor's garden. The décor suited the theme which was lovely and, perhaps the best review, it was busy. I loved the comfy couch, books and piano in the corner. It's worth a visit and is a nice place to catch up with friends or sit alone and enjoy. The menu included vegan options too!
Hindley St - is another dining hub. I was told by a friend that I "had to" walk up Hindley St. They failed to mention that the best experience would be had at night when all the clubs are open. So, my mid-afternoon walk was exceptionally uneventful, as I walked past dozens of closed bars and night clubs. I did happen upon a little independent book store and enjoyed reading the titles, old and new, on the shelves. The store itself was just a wonderful place to be. I could have spent hours there. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the store.
The Bunker Sports Bar and Grill
After another day of walking far and wide, I was not in the mood for meal preparation, so went to The Bunker, which is the sports bar situated under my apartment building. The restaurant is a big space with lots of booths and dark alcoves. You can be in the middle of the action or hide in a corner if you like. Now I can say I have been to a sports bar. I can't say I will do that again, but the food was yummy!
That was Day 5. Next week, I will tell you all about my last day in Adelaide.
Sigh... I miss it.
