SLOVENIA

Life is but a Dream

Slovenia is a small european country on the Adriatic Sea.  It is a hidden treasure and doesn't make a lot of Americans' travel lists when they go to Europe, but it should! 

HOW TO GET THERE

We flew into Milan and drove to Slovenia, because we love a good road trip. But that can make for a long drive (about 4.5 hours) and a hefty fine at the border if you don’t pay attention. Although part of the EU, Slovenia requires a vignette (a sticker that you buy and put on your car window) if you plan to drive on any motorway or expressway—which is really the only way to drive into Slovenia from any of the neighboring countries.  At about 7.5 Euro, the vignette is pretty cheap.  But, you have to remember to pick one up at a gas station near the border before you drive into the country. We didn’t know about the vignette and our ignorance cost us 300 Euro—the police stopped us as soon as we crossed the border and no amount of arguing would change their minds.

WHERE TO STAY

Slovenia is small enough that I recommend picking a location and doing day trips from there. Everything is quite close, and boy have I picked a beauty of a base camp!  Lake Bled, yes you can hear angels singing when I say it.  Nestled in the Julian Alps, it is probably the top tourist attraction in Slovenia and is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been—and I’ve been to a lot of places! Sure a lot of people think of it as a tourist trap, and it is... and it's awesome.

We stayed at Penzion Mlino and it was perfect for us: a great value for clean, simple lodging. It’s a fifteen-minute stroll from the center of town, but the walk is along the lakeside path and the scenery is gorgeous. And the pension arranged bikes for us for free!

WHERE TO EAT 

Lake Bled has dozens of restaurants, with something to suit about every palate and budget.  Although I did not love all Slovenian food, there are some definite foods you must try (see krem-snita, below!). If in doubt, stop in at any number of bread shops and grab some things for a picnic lunch. No one does bread like Europe. And if the season is right you can munch on a dandelion salad. We should all eat more dandelions!

Pizza Rustika 

Tucked into a basement and off the beaten path, this is some really good pizza.  It’s open late, which is very helpful. Nice people too!

Slascicarna Smon 

Lake bled is famous for krem-snita or cream cake. And this pastry shop serves it better than anywhere else in Slovenia It can be very crowded, but it’s worth the wait! 

Mayer Penzion

This is great place to sample some local foods. Slovenians love their goulash and this place serves a yummy a venison version. Or you can also try the wild boar medallions.

WHAT TO DO

There is so much to do that you could spend months exploring the county, but I have picked a few of my favorites.

Predjama Castle 

Built into the side of a cliff this castle is glorious.  It is billed as the worlds largest cave castle and it is full of surprises—it even has a secret passage. We wandered around its narrow passageways for hours.  There were not a lot of restaurant options there and the little café is unimpressive. I would recommend packing a lunch.

Bled Island

Take a rowboat out to Bled Island. It has a quaint little church where you can play Quasi Moto and ring bell. It also has an amazing clock tower; the intricate workings kept us mesmerized.

Vintgar Gorge 

The crisp, blue alpine water rushes beneath you as you crisscross the river on wooden bridges, or hike along the trail that skirts along the banks. None of us had ever seen water so crisp and clear looking. This place is amazing!

Canyoning a Waterfall 

Don’t miss this chance to descend a 50-meter waterfall.  It’s a great adrenaline rush and the scenery is breathtaking. They provide all the safety equipment and even wet suits.

Special thanks to Kiana Lawton  and Jen Brotherson. They are the perfect travel companions and extremely photogenic!