Adelaide is my buffet lunch. You see, I like my food and I like my exercise. I love being able to find a park on the city's streets and walking to the Adelaide Central Markets with my baby boy, Oscar, to buy continental foods, fresh fruit and scrumptious pastries. We sit at bustling Lucia's and watch the world go by, the scent of fresh coffee wafting.

I love picking fresh, juicy strawberries on a warm summer's day at Berenberg Farm in the Adelaide Hills, driving home through the hills communities of Stirling and Aldgate, stopping for organic produce in tiny side streets.

From the toll gate Adelaide unfolds as we roll down Glen Osmond Road,and within minutes we're in the heart of the city.

North Terrace - Adelaide

They call Adelaide the 20-minute city,though I've also heard people say the city has the longest urban sprawl in the southern hemisphere. I love Adelaide because it does feel like the 20-minute city- rarely a traffic jam with free-flowing wide roads and clear bicycle lanes.

I can ride to work within 20 minutes on one of the city's arterial roads, as fast as I could drive or catch public transport. I love to be able to ride 60km from North Haven to Seacliff along some of the whitest, cleanest beaches in the nation, sharing the roads with little traffic and only having to stop at three traffic lights.

Bronzed pigs in Rundle Mall

Where else can you do that, yet be only 20 minutes west of the city centre? Or I can be 20 minutes by bike on the eastern side of the city, winding my way through the foothills to Mount Lofty, Norton Summit or even Cherryville in bloom in spring.

And in January, I love seeing the world's best cyclists cruise Adelaide and surrounding regional areas as they prepare for the Tour Down Under.

                                                      River Torrens Adelaide
 

                                                       picture from kayhadrins

Our River Torrens may not be as grandiose or as clean as the Swan, but it's picturesque. The banks along its city stretch are lined with lush grass, and shaded by towering eucalyptus trees.

Parliament House

As a student I was among those who lazed on its banks behind the sandstone Adelaide University, smooching in between lectures. the river's Linear Park follows what begins as a small creek at Tea Tree Gully in the east, stretching more than 30km west to the beach. It's perfect to run along, uninterrupted,for families taking a Sunday stroll or wanting a safe bike path to teach the kids how to ride without training wheels.

And I love strapping Oscar into the jogger and running from the Torrensoutlet to the Henley and Grange beaches. he giggles when we hit the bumps.

i've lived overseas, travelled the world and worked in Europe, but nothing compares to Adelaide.

I love living within an hour of the Barossa Valley in the north, Mclaren Vale in the south and being 90 minutes from the Clare Valley. I love taking friends from Burgundy to cellar doors and watching the surprise on their faces when they are not only allowed to taste, but it is free. Ooh la la......I'm proud of our quality wines and our down to earth vignerons.

Adelaide Railway Station 

I love our dry, stinking - hot 40c days I love the feeling as if I stuck my head in an oven when I open the front door. Give me Adelaide heat over humidity any day. I love our four seasons, our mild winters, the city's parks awash with flowers in the spring and our crisp autumn mornings and sun-drenched days.

Autumn and winter bring local footy on a Saturday afternoon.

Growing up in Woodville South, my dad used to take me up the road to Woodville Oval at the three-quarter time to watch the game of the day. I would sit between his knees on the grassy hill and we would be close enough to smell the liniment.

Aussie Rules Footy Match

Our nightlife might not be as electric as Sydney or Melbourne on a Saturday night, but in March you'd be hard pressed to find a place with as much happening as Adelaide.

And I did forget to say I love Haigh's? As work deadlines approach, it's only a short walk to the nearest Haigh's shop for a dark-chocolate frog.

Life is never sweeter.

Thanks Verity Edwards for this great article.