Croatia

My journey to Croatia took me into medieval towns, swimming in crystal clear waters, hiking in waterfront forests, exploring vineyards, and eating incredibly fresh seafood.

GETTING THERE

Most travelers arrive in Croatia thru the main airport in Dubrovnik DBV, on direct flights from across Europe and the USA, or they fly from Europe into the Split Airport SPU, to be closer to the party islands. Many people also drive down from Europe, like I did.

AMAZING EXCURSIONS

I drove through the region of Istria, along the Adriatic Sea. The countryside had rolling hills and charming vineyards, offering tastings and some even had overnight stays. The coastal old town of Rovinj was a spectacular medieval fortified island city. It was built on a small, rocky peninsula. It was very walkable, with steep, narrow cobblestone streets, open air markets, and waterside inns, most with views of the Mediterranean. Many pathways led to the sea, offering stunning views and large rocks along the water's edge to lounge on. When I was there, some jellyfish floated gently in the sea, but they were docile and ethereal, just drifting with the tide. There were outdoor cafes everywhere, selling seafood of all kinds, super large plates of food which were very inexpensive

Just a little farther south was Mulini Beach, with its pebbly sand, crystal clear water, walking promenade, beach bars and resort hotels. The large cove was filled with sailboats and sports fishing boats.

Punta Corrente Forest Park was on the southern edge of the bay, with many biking and hiking trails through cedar, cypress and pine trees. Visitors could easily hike to private spots along the park's shoreline.

I met many people heading south, to the legendary medieval capital city of Dubrovnik, and the party islands around HVAR to explore and have fun.

While my road trip to Croatia focused on the northern part of the country, I still experienced some of the best Croatia had to offer; historic middle age fortified cities, fabulous beaches with transparent clear waters, and fresh seafood for reasonable prices.