Expat Travel Mom: Slovenia — Slovenia and a Family Connection to the Region

You must come here to Slovenia. It's magical. My great-grandfather was born in the region, Miljana, once a part of Yugoslavia, as was Slovenia. It's a wonderful feeling to walk around Slovenia, knowing it shares a history from my past. I look for connection whenever and wherever I can, as I have lost so much family, way to early in life, and I try to fill the gaps.

Ljubljana

We first stayed in Ljubljana, which is quite frankly, like a medieval Disney movie set. Dragons, bridges, funiculars and more...the kids were in heaven walking around here. We encountered so many wonderful sights, sounds and people. A LOVELY place to be, and obviously yet to fully be discovered by waves of tourists, as it's relatively quiet, and not overrun by touristy shops. We admittedly fell in love with a particular Mexican restaurant while here, because let's face it, sometimes you just want good Mexican. Don't worry, we ate plenty of hearty local food as well.

We also found a great museum that the kids really enjoyed spending time in, and allowing us to get out of the rain a bit, called the Museum of Puppetry. It's interactive and quite cool to see how they are all made and developed over time. And don't forget the castle! Plenty to do for the kids, especially if all of the activities are set up!

Skocjan Caves

One of our day trips involved driving to the Skocjan caves. Now, you'll hear of other caves to visit, which are way more touristy. This was perfect, and as of now, not crowded at all, and just as, if not more, beautiful. You're going to have to take my family's word for it, as they went inside. My claustrophobia kicked in just talking about it, so I stayed up above and enjoyed the amazing views. They weren't allowed to take photos either, so I can't show you the inside. Just trust me on this one.

Lipica Stud Farm- Lippizaner Horses

Continuing on our day trips, we went to the Lipica Stud Farm. Again, one of those moments that we will all hold in our memories forever. Not only was it absolutely breathtaking scenery, who doesn't love being with horses and feeling their love and peaceful energy. We were lucky on this visit, as we were one of two groups of families...we wanted English, they didn't. So, we had a private tour, which allowed us to get more up close and personal than normal. If you want a magical day with the family, getting closer to nature, this is a must.

Our next Airbnb put us further out from Ljubljana, in a town called Savica. Staying here allowed us further outdoor adventures at Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, the Savica waterfalls, and rafting on river. I'll start with Lake Bled.

Lake Bled

I think it speaks for iteself, and it's probably so well photographed and covered, that you understand why it's so special. Tiny town, quiet area, stunning lake, and the cutest chapel in the middle. Make sure you save time to enjoy a slice of Bled Cream Cake while you're here. If you want, there's a little touristy train that will take you around the lake and explain everything to you and give you some time to take some photos.

Lake Bohinj

Absolutely stunning again. One thing Slovenia isn't short on is majestic views everywhere you go. The water was so clear and refreshing. We spent an afternoon here while the kids splashed and played in the water. It's quite a massive family friendly park area, so you can find your own space.

Savica Waterfall

From Lake Bohinj, we drove to the Savica waterfall. It was a really nice walk/hike through the forest. There were handrails at points, some areas were steeper than others, but there seemed to be routes to fit most needs. The views along the way are stunning (as always), and when you get to the end and see the waterfall in person, you know it was worth it.

Rafting

So, I'm not a water person, I have a fear of fast things, and overall, this probably would have been the last thing my husband had us pegged for. However, I couldn't pass up the clear water and family fun, as I was clearly outvoted on this excursion. We used 3glav Adventures for our rafting trip, and everything was perfect. They even captured lots of photos for us, since all you have time to concentrate on is your oar in the water and keeping yourself from falling out (ok, I jest, but like I said, I'm not a water person).

And that was Slovenia! We loved every minute here, and we hope it stays just as magical for years to come. It's a great family friendly place to visit, plenty of nature, and perfect for just relaxing.