Love or hate them, the Orchid is one of the most alluring and mysterious flower bearing plants. Before the guys start pulling their noses up at the suggestion of flowers, there is a rugby museum!

Plan your day by dropping your loved one off at the Orchid House while you make your way to a rugby event. Even if she is not a keen gardener, she will thoroughly enjoy the Orchid House in Hamilton Park.

All the while you can visit the Rugby Museum and share in the joys of rugby aficionado - Choet Visser. It is easy to find at, 3 Innes Avenue, and parking is no problem with your rental car from Bloemfontein Airport.

This museum is an impressive display of rugby regalia, official ties and tons of photos of players past and present. Mr Visser had over 6000 visitors pass through the building, within two years of him opening his sporting endeavour. Faded sepia and grainy black and white photos capture frozen moments. Do not be surprised to see grown men staring at some faded black and white picture with faraway tearful eyes.

The passion for rugby runs deep in the Free State, hence the rugby memorabilia and the almost fanatical support they give the game every weekend. Once you have had your fill of egg shaped ball players, pick up something to drink and snacks at the bottle store before retrieving your better half from the Flower museum. Surprise her by taking her to the only equivalent of sun downers, Bloemfontein has to offer.

The whole region is relatively flat and the only real vantage point for the Africa sunset is Naval Hill. On arrival you will find lots of locals and tourists alike doing their version of sun worship, while enjoying the vista of the nearby game reserve.

A lot of a major rugby match events take place at the Vodacom Stadium. If a match happens to be scheduled while you are staying in Bloemfontein, do a trade off with your womenfolk. Take them to the mall while you guys do the rugby. The Loch Logan Waterfront mall is very central and close to the Vodacom stadium. While the name may sound a little out of place in an African town, the Loch Logan is as stylish as any other mall in the world.

You can shop till you drop here or grab a half time snack at one of the many eateries in the centre. If the rugby game should go into extra time, the rest of the family can catch a movie at The Loch Logan.

• Loch Logan Waterfront
  Trading hours:
  Mondays to Fridays:09:00 - 18:00
  Saturdays: 09:00 - 17:00
  Sundays: 09:00 - 14:00
  Public Holidays: 10:00 - 14:00

  Tel: 051 448 3607
  info@lochlogan.co.za

  Directions to Loch Logan Waterfront:
  N1 from Johannesburg
  Exit the N1 by taking the Nelson Mandela off-ramp.
  Nelson Mandela Drive becomes Zastron Street.
  From Zastron Street turn Right into Second Avenue.
  Cross Henry Street Traffic light into Loch Logan Waterfornt parking area.

  GPS Coordinates:
  29°06" 46°46" S
  26°12" 29°48" E

• Choet Visser Rugby Museum
  3 Innes Avenue,
  Bloemfontein,
  Free State

  Telephone: +27 (0)82 492-1600
  Opening hours:
  Mondays to Saturdays, by appointment only