It should come as no surprise that I have such a place. Actually, let’s be honest, I have TONS of them (hello New Zealand, Bali, Vietnam, Russia, Australia….). And I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many of my one-time dream locations already (Buenos Aires, Istanbul, South Africa, Thailand, Europe….).
But my bucket list is endless when it comes to travel and exploring this beautiful planet. And for years, there’s been one small pocket of Europe I’ve longed to visit and have somehow never made it to. But this August, that will change.
Hello, Slovenia, I’m finally coming for you!
(And Croatia and London, I’ll be swinging by you as well….)
Melissa’s Slovenian (and Croatian) Adventure
This Slovenia trip has been a dream of mine for years, and I’m so excited that it’s finally happening. For roughly a decade, ever since I lived in Central Europe and began exploring the magical cities and charming, history-laden small town that dot its landscape, I’ve wanted to see Slovenia. I almost went a few times, but something always got in the way (by which I mean, some other destination pulled me in just a bit more strongly).
But Slovenia kept calling to me, and its pull only got stronger as the years went by. I had originally been intrigued by its charming, café-filled capital of Ljubljana, which looks like heaven for those of us who have a thing for medium-sized Central European cities (I miss that part of the world badly). And lately, I’ve been more and more drawn in by photos of Lake Bled, which might just be home to the most stunning castle-on-an-island-on-a-lake in the world. Slovenia seems like a perfect blend of beautiful cities, small town charm, and natural abundance in the form of mountains, lakes, and even beaches. It looks absolutely perfect. What’s not to love?
So this year, I decided it was time to finally stop delaying and making excuses, and to jump into Slovenia with both feet and discover all that this beautiful country has to offer. I booked my plane ticket a few weeks ago and have been on a high ever since!
So what is there to see and do in Slovenia, you might ask? Plenty! Here are some of my plans:
- Ljubljana—I plan to spend a few days here soaking up the architecture, taking in the views of the castle and the famous bridge, and acquainting myself with as many outdoor cafes as I possibly can.
- Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj—While Lake Bled is legendary, I’ve heard Lake Bohinj is even more of a stunner—and less crowded! So I clearly have to take a few days to explore them both! I’ll be based in Bled but do a day-trip to Lake Bohinj to see which one I like best.
- The countryside—I’m looking to find a day tour that will allow me to see a lot of the gorgeous, varied Slovenian countryside in one trip. I’m hoping this will include some time at Mt. Triglav, Slovenia’s famous peak; the Vrsic pass in the mountains; and perhaps rafting on the Soca river (or at least getting up close to its stunning blue waters!)
But, this trip won’t be only about Slovenia. Because the country is so compact and so close to Croatia, I just have to make a return visit to one of my favorite countries…but this time, I’ll be exploring a different part of it. When I visited Croatia back in 2007, I stuck to Dubrovnik and Split, fairly common for first time visitors (and well worth seeing, especially Dubrovnik). This time I’ll be staying in the north of Croatia, basing myself in the capital city of Zagreb (another charming Central European city, yay!), and then hopping down to the Plitvice Lakes to see the famous waterfalls.
So if this trip has a theme at all, it’s clearly water. Or nature. Or both.
Finally, I’ve booked myself a flight into London, one of my favorite cities in the world and my one-time home, where much of my family still lives. I’ll have three days in London before I fly to Slovenia, so I’m excited to hit a few museums, spend time with my aunts, uncles, and cousins, and eat all the curry. (Oh, and stock up on that chocolate chip shortbread that only UK Starbucks seem to sell).
I’m so happy that I’m finally going to be able to make my Slovenia dream trip a reality. It’s still more than two months away, but I’m already feeling the anticipation. Slovenia, Croatia, and London, here I come! I couldn’t be more excited to explore new dream destinations while revisiting one of my favorite cities in the world.
Let the summer of Slovenia begin!
Have you visited Slovenia or northern Croatia? Any suggestions or tips for me? Do you have a dream destination you have always longed to visit?