The Town of Anadolu Kavağı, Nature Parks and a Zoo

Start day two with an exploration of Anadolu Kavağı. First, hit Kardak Sehitleri Park, which is just a patch of land, but it's the perfect spot to start a walk along the seaside to see all the beautiful little houses upon the river. Once you arrive, park your car and walk toward the sea and then down the path and through the alleyways until you've seen the street and then walk back to your car.

This was a fabulous coffee shop, with so much space it feels like you have a whole garden to yourself. After your walk, drive here and get a hot or cold drink and relax while you soak up the greenery.

I don't direct people to many cemeteries on my road trip routes, but this one is special. The cemetery itself offers you a chance to pay your respect to deceased loved ones and it's in the most gorgeous setting. You can enjoy views from up on the hill that looks over Bospheros bridge and the spectacular landscape.

For lunch, you can head to Kulindag Dagevi on the way to the next national park. This place had a giant terrace that matches the setting perfectly - it felt like I was eating among the tree tops.
They;r open for lunch 7 days a week and you can make a reservation through their website.

After lunch, get ready for the second nature park of the route. Drive right into Polonezkoy Nature Park and leave your car in the carpark before exploring. You can follow the marked trails here through the thin and leafy forests to rejuvenate the soul and also look out for the wooden statues, big lakes and rivers and green rolling hills.

Your next stop is to see some cute animals at the zoo! Within the nature park, this zoo requires an entrance fee but I found it well worth the money with lots of adorable animals to watch and inspect as they go about their business.

On the way back to Istanbul, there's one more nature park that offers a different view. Before you cross the river, drive to Mihrabat Nature Park for a stunning scenic lookout at the suspension bridge and river, it's great to view at this time of day when the sun is close to setting.
There's a small entrance fee to enter the lookout area, and parking can get tight you can either leave your car on the road and walk to the entrance of the nature park or us the paid parking.

The final dinner of the route ties the experience together elegantly. Cemile Sultan Woods is a high-quality restaurant with furniture and views as good as the food and service. It was also less expensive than I had expensive, so it was a guiltless way to enjoy one final view.
They're open for dinner every day of the week, and you can make a presentation through the number found on their website.