Off the Beaten Path in Croatia

On the first of July, we made our way from Turkey to Croatia. We’ve been excited about every country we’ve been to, but Mac was especially looking forward to exploring off the beaten path in this small nation that used to be part of Yugoslavia. Although many Americans aren’t familiar with Croatia, it’s known around Europe for being a hidden gem of outstanding natural beauty and affordability. We were in.

But before we explored the national park, we first road-tripped to Split (in the southwest of Croatia), where Mac’s cousin happened to be staying before participating in Yacht Week Croatia. 

  
  
It’s always nice to see people from home when you’re abroad, and we had a great time hanging out with Brandon and his friends. Mac wore his captain’s hat for the occasion. (Sidenote: Because of the captain’s hat, which we bought in Venice, most people we’ve met on our travels think Mac actually is a boat captain.)

  
After a night of partying, it was time for hiking and exploring Plitvice Lakes National Park. We drove to a tiny village within the park itself to find lodging, then spent two days hiking the hills and lakes of the area.

It was magical, like something out of a Disney movie. It was so impressive that it looked man-made but this UNESCO World Heritage site is au naturel–and one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe. The main attraction is a series of 16 emerald and azure lakes that cascade into each other via hundreds of waterfalls.

  
We rented a rowboat one afternoon and leisurely made our way around one of the largest lakes.

  
Mac was manly and did all of the rowing while I relaxed in the back of the boat. It was a bit like the Little Mermaid …

  
… until a watersnake tried to get into our boat. Then it was chaos.

  
One of my favorite parts of Plitvice was hiking around the lakes. The trails were marvelous, weaving in and out of caves, snaking along the water, shadowing waterfalls and making people feel like they were part of the exotic landscape. Whoever built these trails did an incredible job.

  
  
  
While our days in Plitvice were filled with exploring, our evenings were almost as good. We found a little pension that served homemade food cooked over a fire and made it our go-to spot. The food was local and authentic. One night we were served the Croatian version of fish and chips. (We’re getting used to eating all of the fish these days, not just fillets.)

  
  
On our way home from the pension one night, Mac saw his first firefly! We named him Fred and took him home with us. But don’t worry. Once we got home, we set him free again.

  
From the natural beauty to the cooking to the wildlife (fireflies galore!), Croatia was a score. We can’t wait to come back.