Get off the Beaten Path With Your Family: Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Venice

Croatia’s capital city is bustling yet small enough to allow for easy exploration, especially with little ones. I suggest staying in the Lower Town for the ability to walk around and explore on your own, but also for the many parks and green spaces in that area. We were near the Park Zrinjevac, which was having summer concerts almost nightly during our stay. It was such a memorable experience to be outside enjoying Croatian music while our two boys were playing soccer with local children.

If you enjoy trying local cuisine, I highly recommend heading to La Štruk restaurant and sampling some štruklji — a traditional pastry filled with cottage cheese that can either be served savory or sweet. We chose a few different options to share among the four of us and it was definitely a crowd favorite! I also recommend checking out Vinodol for traditional Croatian dishes. The ambiance was light and airy, and the truffle pasta was something we still talk about to this day.

Day trip option: Since Zagreb is easy to see in a day or two, depending on your pace, I would suggest taking a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park for their impressive waterfalls and lakes. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a little under two hours each way from Zagreb, but totally worth the effort! Its unique series of tufa lakes and connected waterfalls make for an unforgettable time.

Kid-approved tip: Much of the park’s walkways are boardwalks over the water without any type of railing. I would suggest either wearing your child in a carrier as we did (if they are small enough) or ensuring they are old enough to follow directions and/or hold your hand. Also, bring lots of sunscreen and snacks. It’s a long day but so much fun!

I really had no expectations for our time in Ljubljana, but it ended up being my favorite city of the trip! It has all the charm of a small European countryside town, but there is so much to see and do. Our boys enjoyed exploring Ljubljana’s castle, which is up on a hill overlooking the city. The tram ride to the top was fun for them and we had a wonderful meal at the restaurant within the main courtyard. I highly recommend building in time for lunch or dinner there.

Ljubljana is also known for the many ornate bridges spanning the banks of the Ljubljanica River. I recommend taking a scenic boat ride along the river to learn more about the architecture and history of the city. On our early morning ride, we practically had the boat to ourselves. The boys had a blast!

Day trip option: Lakes Bled and Bohinj are very popular day trips from Ljubljana—and for good reason. It would be a shame to go all the way to Slovenia and miss out on these picturesque alpine lakes. We were traveling at the end of July, so the lakeshores and waters were packed with Slovenians cooling off from the warm summer temperatures. If you want to swim, I suggest wearing your suit under your clothes because changing areas are limited and lines are long! And no trip to Lake Bled would be complete without a boat ride out to the small island in the middle of the lake. We chose to take a ride out in the traditional wooden boat known as a pletna, which our boys thought was really fun. We then had time to explore the small island and visit the main church.

Kid-approved tip: Ljubljana prides itself on its main symbol—a dragon. The mascot of the city is featured prominently on its coat of arms and all throughout the architecture of the city. A fun scavenger hunt for kids is to find as many dragons as you can while exploring the many streets and beautiful buildings. You’ll definitely want to start your search at the Dragon Bridge—for obvious reasons!

Now I know Venice is nowhere near an under-the-radar destination; it is very much ON the beaten path! But we ended our trip here due to its close proximity to our other two cities and the better flight options home. Plus, we met up with family who were disembarking from a cruise ship so we could spend a few days exploring Venice with them. Because Venice has so much to offer, you’ll definitely want at least two days to explore all the side streets, cathedrals, and historical buildings—plus time to sample all the gelato! I suggest getting out early to beat the crowds (and the heat if there during the summer months) and then resting in the afternoon to head back out in the evening. This worked especially well with our young boys because it gave them time to nap and relax in the afternoon.

You’ll want to check out all the Venice favorites: St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, and of course, a boat ride along the canals. But as always, don’t hesitate to get off the beaten path by getting “lost” among the main side streets. That is always when we find the best coffee shops, restaurants, and piazzas to explore.

Day trip option: While Venice is beautiful and there is so much to see, the summer crowds can be overwhelming - especially with little ones who just want to run and explore. I was so glad that we booked an excursion to the Dolomites, which gave us a day out of the city to enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, open spaces, and gorgeous views! I highly recommend heading out to either the Dolomites or even to Padua or Verona to explore what those cities have to offer.

Kid-approved tip: We always try to locate a local park or playground near our accommodations. This way we can have quick access to areas where our young boys can play and have fun in between exploring the city, eating out, and fitting in museums and castles. The playground we found in the Dolomites had the most incredible mountain views—a win for the kids and the adults!