Location

Opatija, often called the Nice of the Adriatic, is one of the most popular tourist resorts in Croatia and a place with the longest tourist tradition on the eastern coast of the Adriatic.
In 1844 the powerful merchant Higinio von Scarpa erected Villa Angiolina, with beautiful green and a lavish park around it, visited by distinguished guests – the Croatian Viceroy Josip Jelacic, the Austrian empress Maria Anna – which soon made Opatija a popular excursion destination of the inhabitants from Rijeka, then of the Italians and Austrians.

Opatija was the first in the region of the Adriatic to introduce tourist statistics already in 1884, and the first hotel on the Adriatic, called Kvarner, was built by the Society of the Southern Railways in 1884; situated on the very coast and luxuriously furnished, it attracted exclusively elite guests. With the construction of the hotel, Opatija became an elite summer resort, so that, apart from the 12km-long promenade (Lungomare) from Volosko – Opatija – Lovran, a mountain path from Opatija to Veprinac and farther to Ucka was laid. Already in 1889 Opatija was declared the first climatic seaside resort on the Adriatic, which strengthened its position as the most fashionable tourist resort.

Numerous tourists and owners of the villas contributed by planting exotic plants to the horticultural grandeur. Opatija was so attractive that, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, it was visited by the then most prominent personalities of the noble rank – Princess Luise von Sachsen Coburg, the Romanian king Charles I, the Swedish-Norwegian king Oscar, etc. Tourist development is Opatija´s main feature even today.

Favourable climate, well-maintained landscape, maintained beaches and lively entertainment throughout the year make this place one of the most elite summer resorts in Croatia today. The offer includes 20-odd hotels, a large number of catering establishments, sports and recreational facilities, and especially entertainment opportunities.

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Meeting the natural history guide

AUTHOR: Prof. dr. sc. Milan Mestrov, academic

The natural attributes of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, uniqueness and sensibiliry of that phenomenon, deserve a full attention of our visitors. Recreational aspect of stay and the amazement with beauty of the area that conquers by its natural diversity and harmony of shapes and colours in any of the seasons, is based on many mutually conditioned natural characteristics. That is a specific geological and hydrogeological phenomenon of karst. The series of 16 bigger and a few smaller lakes, gradually lined up, separated by travertine barriers for which the period of the last ten thousand years was crucial, and which were ruled by ecological relations similar to those of today – suitable for travertine depositing and for the origin of the lakes – are the basic phenomenon of the National Park. Travertine forming plants, algae and mosses have been and still are playing an important role in their creation, thus making a very sensitive biodynamic system. Transitive type of climate between coastal and continental with microclimate diversities makes summer pleasant and sunny, while on the other side winter is relatively long, harsh and snowrich. There are large forestry complexes in the Park area, of which some sections are protected as a special reserve of forestry vegetation due to its primeval characteristics (Corkova uvala virgin forest). Diversity of places and living conditions makes possible for numerous species of plants and animals in watery and terrestrial areas of the Park to develop with no disturbancy. It should be stressed that all fundamental things that do determine the Park, make a very fragile structural and functional complex, sensitive to natural changes and to incautious human actions. UNESCO has declared it with all rights as the World’s natural inheritance. All that was mentioned in this short introduction shows a big importance and the reason why this Natural History Guide of The Plitvice Lakes National Park is being published. It should come into hands of every single visitor and draw his attention to numerous attractions of the first Croatian National Park.

The most beautiful jewel of Croatia’s cultural heritage, the old city of Dubrovnik, is located in the southernmost part of the sunniest Croatian tourist region of all: the Dalmatia-Dubrovnik area. It comprises one county, the County of Dubrovnik-Neretva, which extends almost entirely along the shore. And within it, Dubrovnik, the most beautiful and the most important, but by no means the only, cultural gem.

Dubrovnik, Croatia - Travelers ...

Also in this part of Croatia is the island of Korc(ula – the home of Marco Polo – the green islands of Mljet, Lastovo and the Elafiti with their picturesque settlements; the Pelješac peninsula, with its vineyards and the especially fine houses built by sea captains; the magical Konavle valley; the fertile River Neretva delta. The area of Dubrovnik underwent a quite distinct historical development, for it was here, in the period between the 13th and 18th centuries, that Croatian culture and art flourished, while the remainder of Dalmatia was under foreign rule. It reached its zenith in the 16th century, when the power of the famous Dubrovnik Republic was at its mightiest.
The vista of the OLD CITY OF DUBROVNIK, approached from the route way above the sea, from the direction of Dubrovnik airport, is one of the best known panoramas of Croatia and of the whole of the Mediterranean area. Indeed, the first sentence of the description of Dubrovnik in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage begins with words: “Pearl of the Adriatic on the Dalmatian coast…”, for few are the cities which enjoy such a wonderful position on a rocky shoreline above the sea, and few are the places where Medieval stone walls and fortresses are so well preserved.

And they are there for a good reason: the beauty and wealth of Dubrovnik have made it the target of many would-be conquerors, including those engaged in the most recent war, fought in the final decade of the 20th century. Today, however, the cannons on the walls of Dubrovnik are not manned by soldiers but by a multitude of peace-loving tourists and performers in numerous theatre productions, folklore manifestations and other cultural events.

The main artery of Medieval Dubrovnik within its walls is Stradun at the western end of which is the Large Onofrio Fountain, while at the eastern end, in Luža Square, stands Orlando’s Column, symbol of the freedom of Dubrovnik. Luža Square is the most popular gathering place for tourists and one of the main venues for various events, particularly the main cultural events taking place as part of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.  Around Luža Square are the most important secular buildings of Medieval Dubrovnik: the Gothic-Renaissance Ducal Palace, once the centre of the Dubrovnik Civic Authorities, and Sponza Palace. Both date from the 15th century, as indeed does the majority of all key buildings in the Old City. In the Ducal Palace there is a lovely atrium, today a popular stage for theatre performances . The interior, which now serves as a museum, contains numerous items of old furniture, paintings and sculptures, even the sedan-chairs of Dubrovnik’s nobility. Sponza Palace, once the custom house, and today the Archives of the City of Dubrovnik, also has a beautiful atrium.

The main sacral buildings of the Old City are also set around Luža Square: the church of St Blasius, patron saint of Dubrovnik, and the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary. Both boast the sumptuousness of the Baroque, as they were built towards the end of the 17th century, following the catastrophic earthquake which struck Dubrovnik in 1667. In the cathedral there is a wonderful organ, and a treasury with precious exhibits the most important of which is the reliquary of the head of St Blasius.

The city nucleus of Dubrovnik contains several finely-built monasteries with superbly appointed interiors. Within the Jesuit monastery is the church of St Ignatius, the walls of which are adorned with frescoes; the Franciscan monastery which houses a collection of old apothecaries’ utensils, while the Dominican monastery displays a rich collection of paintings and a finely appointed courtyard. Among the sacral edifices of other denominations is the 15th-century synagogue, the second-oldest in Europe when measured by continuity of use.

Dubrovnik is famous for its museums too, attracting close to half a million visitors each year. Alongside the most popular, in the Ducal Palace, there is the Maritime Museum where one can learn everything about the maritime history of Dubrovnik, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

The surroundings of Dubrovnik do not abound in monumental buildings, but those that are there have been superbly blended into the greenery of the environment, particularly in the southernmost corner of Croatia, the fertile valley of KONAVLE.

The problem with a lot of holiday trips is that resorts or theme parks are so predictable.  While we all go that route at first when the kids are little, it doesn’t take long even for the kids to see that these manufactured adventures are just that, pretend adventures and that it’s far more exciting to get out there and have a real adventure and come home from holiday or vacation with a memory that will last a lifetime.

This is why yachting has become such a popular approach to enjoying some time off with the family and having an exotic vacation where the variety of things to do is virtually endless.  The yachting industry has come a long way to make the experience available to the wealthy and to people who are not looking for the most luxurious vacation ever as well.  Because you can pick the level of service you want or need, you can opt to have an entire crew on board of your yacht catering to your every need or scale down the size of your service personnel to just a captain or even to skipper the yacht yourself with a bareboat tour that is as close to “us against the world” as you are likely to get.

The great thing about yachting in one of the exciting vacation spots around the world is you have a lot of freedom to move about easily.  Virtually while you nap, your captain can take you from a remote forest just off shore to gaze through binoculars at exotic beasts in their natural setting to a remote beach you would pay big money to enjoy in a luxury resort.  There is no experience as breath taking as sitting with your sweetheart and seeing the sun go down over the horizon at sea with no land in sight north, south, east or west.  This is the kind of change of pace that can take you out of the humdrum of life and really make you reflect on your life and on the world.  And that is always a healthy outcome of any get away.

The choice of destinations for a yachting holiday are vast and diverse because anywhere you might go to vacation in a land bound resort offers charter yachts so you can take in the entire experience from the deck of a boat that is yours to captain.  Feel free to stand with your hands on your hips and leg up like a pirate king or to stand on the point and shout “I’m the king of the world” to the open seas.  It’s your yacht to get out there and enjoy it.

The biggest problem you might have when planning your yachting vacation is picking what area of the world to enjoy in this very unique way.  Whether your yachting takes you to Greece, Turkey, the south of France, Bulgaria or the gulf coast of America, each location offers exotic cultures to explore, new food sensations to savor each night and shorelines that will all compete for you to crown them “best beaches in the world”.  Then next year the competition will be even more intense for where to go or where to go back to.

Of course one option to try at least once is simply to “disappear at sea“.  While you would not literally vanish, with a yacht at your disposal, you can get away from humanity to where it is just you and the sea and stay there for a day or a week if it suits you.  The gentle movement of the saves will create an entirely new balance in you and sooth you like nothing on hard ground can do.  It might seem like you would get bored but if you have ample provisions, simple acts like fishing, taking a swim in the deep with the creatures of the sea or just watching the birds dive for their suppers can be wonderfully entertaining and give you hours of time to reflect and recuperate from a busy life at home.

That kind of relaxation may be only possible with a complete retreat environment such as a yacht can provide.  And once you enjoy the deep refreshing that being at sea with complete isolation, complete freedom but also the luxury your yacht affords, you will get hooked and be planning a new yacht holiday next year and for many years to come.

Each year, a large number of individuals and families make the decision to take a summer vacation.  If you and your family are interested in scheduling a summer vacation, have you decided on a destination yet?  When families set off to reach their summer vacation destination, there are many that end up at the same place, the beach.

Summer vacations at the beach are a vacation “hotspot.” Everyone loves the sand, sun, and waves.  There are an unlimited number of advantages and disadvantages to vacationing at the most well-known beaches.  The main disadvantage is the crowds.  If you were to select a popular beach, such as South Beach, Daytona Beach, or Virginia Beach, you could be one of thousands vacationing in the sun.

When it comes to beaches, there are many who believe that only coastal locations can be home to a beach.  This is just simply not true.  The shoreline of a large river or lake can easily be turned into a beach; in fact, many of them are.  These beaches are often referred to as inland beaches.  When it comes to inland beaches, there are many individuals who are concerned with the lack of accommodations.  One of those accommodations includes a hotel.

While it is true that a large number of inland beaches do not have onsite hotels, many have something even better; private cottage rentals.  Private cottage or cabin rentals are found along the banks of many popular lakes in the United States.  Many cottage or cabin rentals are right along the shoreline. Cottage and cabin rentals are often compared to traditional homes.  This is because most come fully furnished with multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen.

Inland beach

Many inland beach cottage rentals are popular due to their close proximity to the water.  In many rental locations, the shoreline in front of your cottage rental is privately yours.  This may allow you to spend your days and night relaxing beside the shoreline.  In addition to private shorelines, many cottage rentals are grouped together, almost like a community.  Despite being grouped together, many rentals are an appropriate distance away from each other.  To service the community of vacationers, common services and facilities can often be found nearby.

Just a few of the many facilities, services, and activities found in or around inland beach cottage rentals may include public boating, fishing, and swimming beaches.  If your cottage rental is not supplied with a washer and a dryer, there is often a public laundromat located close by.  In addition to a laundromat, you may find a small general store within walking distance or a short drive from your cabin.  General stores are popular around many inland beaches.

If you are interested in vacation at an inland cottage rental in the United States, you have a number of options.  There are hundreds of inland beaches found all across the country.  A large number of beaches can be found in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State and along Lake Michigan and Lake Huron; these beaches are often found in Wisconsin or Michigan.  In addition to inland cottage rentals in the United States, rentals can also be found in Canada.

Does an inland beach cottage rental sound like an exciting vacation for your and your family? Whether you are vacationing with the whole family or just your partner, you can enjoy a fun, romantic, or relaxing vacation with your own private, inland cottage rental.

Location
Opatija, often called the Nice of the Adriatic, is one of the most popular tourist resorts in Croatia and a place with the longest tourist tradition on the eastern coast of the Adriatic.
In 1844 the powerful merchant Higinio von Scarpa erected Villa Angiolina, with beautiful green and [...]

Meeting the natural history guide

AUTHOR: Prof. dr. sc. Milan Mestrov, academic
The natural attributes of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, uniqueness and sensibiliry of that phenomenon, deserve a full attention of our visitors. Recreational aspect of stay and the amazement with beauty of the area that conquers by its natural diversity and harmony of shapes [...]

The most beautiful jewel of Croatia’s cultural heritage, the old city of Dubrovnik, is located in the southernmost part of the sunniest Croatian tourist region of all: the Dalmatia-Dubrovnik area. It comprises one county, the County of Dubrovnik-Neretva, which extends almost entirely along the shore. And within it, Dubrovnik, the most beautiful and the most [...]

The problem with a lot of holiday trips is that resorts or theme parks are so predictable.  While we all go that route at first when the kids are little, it doesn’t take long even for the kids to see that these manufactured adventures are just that, pretend adventures and that it’s far more exciting [...]

Each year, a large number of individuals and families make the decision to take a summer vacation.  If you and your family are interested in scheduling a summer vacation, have you decided on a destination yet?  When families set off to reach their summer vacation destination, there are many that end up at the same [...]