Croatian Hospitality
After visiting the beautiful cities in the north of Croatia we were not particularly impressed with Split. The city center is run down and probably not the safest so we decided that one night was enough and continued on.
On our way we found a small Pizza place called Domina in the center of Nikola-makarska. We spent about 2 hours there enjoying an order of their delicious pizza.
After lunch the plan was to drive all the way to Dubrovnik but the weather was so bad that after two hours of driving we decided to look for an apartment. We saw a sign off of the road in Podaca advertising available apartments so we decided to stop and check it out. The apartment was absolutely beautiful and it had a balcony that overlooked the ocean. The owner Marija did not speak English or German but we managed to communicate and negotiate a price on her hand held calculator.
After settling in to the apartment we met Marija’s husband who is a carpenter and makes his own chairs and terrace furniture out of wood. He invited us to try some of his homemade liqueur and he showed us his work shop. We were all sitting together on the terrace and he and Jeremy began taking turns at playing his guitar. Marija’s husband sang croatian songs for us and Jeremy shared some of his American music.
Later a family friend by the name of Raoke came to visit, he spoke English and German which made everything easier. He brought olives out of his garden and wine for us to try.
We were the first guests in Marija’s apartment this season and her husband wanted to make dinner for us. We got so delicious croatian saucages and bread and Marija made palatschinken for desert. We Will Never forget this perfect croatian afternoon.
Miami
Miami is what I imagine to be the typical spring break destination. Miami is famous for its picturesque beaches, warm weather and wild parties.
Sightseeing Miami
Clevelander
The Clevelander is a very nice day club on Ocean Drive in South Beach. Equipped with two pools, a stage, and 3 bars this place is ready to go off at anytime of the day. If you are just getting into town with some friends the Clevelander is a great place to start your trip off right.
Everglades National Park
If you are looking for a break from the wild parties in Miami Beach you can check out some wild animals the Everglades National Park. The Everglades are home to the American Crocodile, the Florida Panther and many other endangered species.
Miami Marlins
The first Major League Baseball Stadium to house a full club with a DJ booth, full bar, and dance floor.
South Beach
If you come to South Beach you have to walk down Ocean Drive. It will probably be one of most entertaining walks you ever take. You will see everything from quarter million dollar cars to the occasional pro athlete. Ocean Drive is just over a mile long with hotels, restaurants, and day clubs on one side and beach on the other.
Delicious Food in Miami
- Cuban Food: Miami has very close ties with Cuban culture so you can find Cuban restaurants everywhere.
Seattle
There’s a Starbucks, and there’s Starbucks, and there’s another Starbucks. You can thank Seattle for that. But Seattle is famous for a lot more than just a great marketing and mediocre coffee. Seattle is the birthplace for some of America’s greatest musicians including Nirvana, Pearl Jam and the legendary Jimi Hendrix. This beautiful, rainy, hipster, pot smoking paradise is truly one of a kind.
Sightseeing Seattle
Space Needle: From the top floor of the Space Needle you have a great view over the entire city so make it one of your first visits and familiarize yourself with the landscape.
Century Link: You cant talk about Seattle without talking Seattle Sports. I have never witnessed a more loyal fan following than I did in Seattle. Whether you visit “The Hawks”, “The Mariners”, “The Zags”, “Wazzo” or “U Dub” you are in for a treat. “The Link” however, is the loudest of all venues in Washington and in America, if you ask a Seattleite.
Pioneer Square: Pioneer Square, also known as the old city center, is the site of the first settlement in 1852. Walk on cobblestone roads and check out some of the classic red brick buildings. Pioneer Square is a must see when you are visiting Seattle.
Hing Hay Park: To say the least this is not your typical park but it would be cool if it was. Check out some interesting musical performances and cultural events. Even participate in some Tai Chi or play a game chess. If you want to pass on the Tai Chi you can always do the local thing and hit up a karaoke bar and drink bubble tea.
Port of Seattle: One of the cleanest ports I have ever been to. Check out Waterfront Park and Pier 66.
Delicious Food
Seafood: Try the seafood at the Port of Seattle
Accommodation in Seattle
Try AirBnB or Couchsurfing!
New York
The Empire State, the Concrete Jungle, and home to the new Freedom Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Yankee Stadium. New York is easily one of the most popular destinations in the world. Famous for the bright lights and 24/7 lifestyle it’s rightfully called the city that never sleeps.
Sightseeing New York
Twin Tower Monument: 9/11 happened when I was 7th grade. Unfortunately, I never got to opportunity to see the Twin Towers in person. I visited the site on my trip to New York in 2011. The monument is very meaningful and incredibly moving. It was a very important experience for me as an American. It’s a must visit if you are in New York.
Statue of Liberty: The Statue of Liberty is typical tourist attraction in New York but a must see if you are visiting for the first time.
The Freedom Tower: The Freedom Tower is said to take the place of the fallen Twin Towers. I had the opportunity to see the Tower during its construction but it was since been completed. Check out this magnificent building that towers above the world famous New York Skyline.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge: Walk the Brooklyn Bridge and have a great view of the city.
Times Square: Just go there. If you’re wandering the streets of lower Manhattan you will probably stumble upon it anyway. Take your little selfy at Time Square and move on. ☺
See the Empire State Building: Still tallest Building in New York. Take the Elevator to the top floor and get a birds eye view of the New York Skyline, one of the most famous skylines in the world.
Visit Central Park: Central Park is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. Walk one of the many trails through the park that covers more than 40 blocks. It’s easy to spend hours in this massive park. Durring the summer months you can even catch a free concert and possibly a theater production.
Staten Island Ferry: If you want to see the Statue of Liberty but want to avoid taking the 2 hour + tour, take the Staten Island Ferry and get a great view of the famous Statue of Liberty.
Delicious Food in NYC
Street Food: If you eat at restaurants for every meal you are sure to burn a hole in your pocket pretty quick. Street Food will save you a lot of money and its very delicious.
Hotels in New York
Hotels in any of the city centers are very nice but incredibly expensive so if you are on a budget, check out some other options like Couchsurfing or Air BnB.
Transportation in NYC
- Don’t take a Taxi. WALK its Faster.
- Subway
Boston
I truly believe that you can’t experience the real America without visiting Boston. Boston is one of America’s most incredible cities and the people of Boston are just as amazing. They’re strong, hard working, passionate, and not always politically correct but real nonetheless. Don’t mistake their boldness for arrogance because Bostonians are some of the most helpful people and they are just as excited to show you their city as you are excited to see it. The first question I ask someone who tells me that they have been to Boston is, “have you been to a Red Sox game?” “Did you sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ in the middle of the 8th inning?” If you did, and you felt what I felt when I sang that beautiful song at Fenway Park in front of the Green Monster you know what I’m talking about. Boston is one of the cities where I don’t care about looking like a tourist; I go all out. I take the duck tours, I visit the breweries, and once I’ve worked up an appetite I treat myself to one of Boston’s delicious lobster rolls. You can’t beat it!
Sightseeing Boston
Visit Fenway Park
I could write several pages about this ballpark but I will spare you guys and just highlight the things you should know.
Built in 1912, Fenway Park is one of America’s oldest ballparks and home to the famous Big Green Monster. (For those of you who don’t now what I mean when I mention a Green Monster at Fenway. No, it’s not literally a big green monster. It’s a big green wall that was put up in left field to increase the difficulty of hitting a homerun.) If you want to learn a little bit about America’s Greatest Pastime, Fenway Park is a great place to do it. Fenway still maintains many if its old traditions including the singing of Neal Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” in the middle of the 8th inning. Fenway also offers tours of the park, which I would recommend to anyone whether you are a long time fan or a first timer. Check the website for more information but the prices are very reasonable and the tour is worth every penny.
Walk Boston’s Freedom Trail
On a nice day the Freedom Trail is a must. Put on a pair of comfortable shoes, grab a camera and some snacks and follow the 2.5 mile route that will lead you through some of Boston’s must see historical sites.
Visit Bunker Hill Monument
It’s about 250 steps to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument but it’s well worth the effort. Once you reach the top you will have the best view of the Boston skyline.
Sam Adams Brewery
Take a tour of the entire brewery or stop in for a fresh beer right from the tap. Visit the website for more information.
Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall is a hot spot for locals. Go shopping, have a drink at an Irish pub and make sure you eat at the Quincy Market.
Harvard
Harvard University was the first established school in America. The University offers tours of the campus and its historical halls. If you visit Harvard on school day, enjoy the atmosphere but please be respectful of students who are working hard. ☺
Delicious Food in Boston
Lobster Roll: The Lobster Roll is Boston’s most famous sandwich and a must try if you are in Boston. If you are looking for a traditional Boston Lobster Roll the people at the Sam Adams Brewery can recommend a very good restaurant that’s just around the corner.
Accommodation in Boston
Hotels in any of the city centers are great but can also be pricy so if you are on a budget, check out some other options like Couchsurfing or Air BnB.
Transportation in Boston
- Taxi
- Uber
- Car2Go
- Rent-a-bike
Krka National Park
In the morning we went into the city of Zadar to grab breakfast before heading out to Krka National Park. We sat down at a nice little Croatian restaurant where they advertised a “delicious English breakfast.” We both ended up passing on breakfast all together and ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese. I know you might be wondering, Spaghetti for breakfast? But after seeing the picture of the English breakfast I’m sure anyone would have done the same.
Towards the end of our breakfast we noticed a crowd of young people in matching shirts gathering in the streets. I wanted to know what it was all about so I asked one of the guys in the crowd. He told me the students in Croatia celebrate the end of a school year by having a food fight. The students divide themselves up into separate groups that wear different color shirts according to their class and participate in the event. By the afternoon the small food fight turned into all out war. Some students were being ambushed with flour bombs and egg launchers. I even saw a group of students armed with ketchup and mustard squirters shooting crazy into a crowd of their peers. The food fight was all in good fun and very exiting to watch. I had to dodge a few flour bombs myself while capturing the footage on my go pro. Luckily, both of us survived the battle free of any stains.
We left Zadar around noon headed for Krka National Park, the second national park of the trip. We arrived at the park shortly after 3pm when most of the visitors were on their way out. We followed the main trail which was an easy 4 kilometer hike to the big waterfall. When we finally arrived at the falls I was completely blown away. Krka’s waterfall is absolutely massive. Made up of 17 smaller waterfalls the Krka waterfall is easily the coolest thing I’ve seen so far on our road trip. We spent about an hour swimming and relaxing around the falls before getting back on the road.
Our final stop for the day was scheduled for Split. We made it to Split around 9pm and drove around the city center looking for accommodation. I read so many great things about Split during our research of the city and wasn’t expecting to have much trouble finding a place even at such a late hour but boy was I wrong. We must have checked out a dozen places but every place we checked was either super sketch or ridiculously out of our budget. We ended up finding a small apartment 5km outside of city and called it a night.
Vir Croatia
We started our day a little before noon and drove to Vir Croatia. A long bridge connects Vir Croatia to the mainland to make it easy for people to cross over without having to board a ferry. Upon arrival we stopped at a small cafe and met a few locals that told us where to find the best spots on the island. Unfortunately most of the places in Vir don’t serve food until 3pm so we picked up a few things from the local bakery to hold us over.
After exploring the island some more we decided to pick a spot on the east side to relax. We spent a few hours snorkeling and lounging on the beach. The water in Vir Croatia is so clear and and there are so many good spots that often we had a whole beach to ourselves.
Later we ate dinner at an small place in Nin called Pizza Palace. The food was excellent and like most restaurants in Croatia, the prices were cheap. After dinner we walked around the old town. We saw a nice church courtyard and a very cool stone bridge.
Plitvice National Park
Since we arrived so late the night before we got out of having to pay for a Plitvice National Park parking day pass which can be pricey during the high season. The entrance to the Plitvice National Park was about a 5 minute walk from our car so we were already off to a good start. The price for students is about 11 Euro and it includes bus rides through the park and one ferry ride. Online we found advice on which was the best route to follow but if you want to avoid the massive crowds follow our route and you will have the best views of the park with the sun always in the perfect spot for photos:
Start early to avoid the crowds and begin your day by taking the bus from Parking Lot 2 to STR 3
Hike to P2 and check out the small rivers, lakes and stunning views from the highest part of the park.
From P2 take the ferry to P3 and stop for lunch. The kitchen doesn’t open till 11:30 so be the first in line at 11:15 and you can have first pick at the meat fresh off the grill.
By noon the park is packed so try to make your way to the Big waterfall before 1pm when the sun is at the highest point in the sky to see a cool rainbow effect in the waterfall.
Close out the hike by walking the rest of the way to Parking Lot 1 and hop on the bus back to Parking Lot 2
The whole hike should take you 6 hours, give or take a few, and plan to be back by 3pm because the heat is brutal in the summer.
We left the park at 3pm and were set on reaching the coast before sundown. We arrived in Zadar much faster than we expected so we stopped in the city center to explore a little bit. We enjoyed a couple of Zadar’s famous pizza sandwiches and made it to the beach house before 8pm just in time to witness our first beach sunset of the trip.
Rastoke Croatia - Our Road Trip
We left Zagreb first thing in the morning and our next stop was Karlovac on our way to Rastoke Croatia. We saw a sport fishing competition at the river and we met the Croatian national team coach. He didn’t speak very much English and preferred speaking German so Ina did most of the talking but he told us about the sport and a little history about the town of Karlovac. Karlovac has 4 rivers that flow through the town and the locals often joke about the 5th river that is made of beer because of a famous brew there called Karlovako.
For a small town there is so much to see and we decided to spend the afternoon at the Vrbanicev Park and walked around Lake Korana. The views in Karlovac are simply amazing. Lake Korana is so cool because it has its own mini waterfall and on the south side of the lake there are 3 diving platforms, the highest of which looked about 13 meters high. If I were to come back to Karlovac in the mid summer I’m sure the lake would be packed.
Waterfalls Rastoke Croatia
After a short coffee and snack break at the Green Cafe we headed to another small city along the way called Rastoke Croatia. Rastoke is easily my favorite little town so far. The old town is famous for its many mills and beautiful waterfalls. We spent a little over an our hiking the short trails and relaxing in one of the small parks which was very beautifully landscaped. You can tell the people of Rastoke take pride in their town as they are eager to share their history with you.
Unfortunately, we had to pass over visiting Slunj because we spent a little too much time at the waterfalls in Rastoke Croatia and we headed for Plitvice National Park. We arrived at the camp grounds a little late and were unable to book a room so we found a safe area and set up camp in the Audi and spent the night in the car. The Audi’s bucket seats aren’t the most comfortable but when you’re planning a road trip on the fly sometimes you have to just roll with it… Get it? Roll with it.
Read more blog posts about our Croatian Trip here: Croatia
Croatia Roadtrip
We left Germany for a roadtrip through Croatia and we want to see the wonderful nature, breathtaking waterfalls and beautiful and lonely beaches in Croatia.
Day 1: Graz, VaRazdin and zagreb
We stoped on our way in Graz, the second largest city in Austria. The old center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We enjoyed a few minutes in the nice park.
We drove through Slovenia and our next stop was Varazdin in Croatia. We explored the town and had dinner at a nice restaurant, called Dominico.
After 1,5 hours driving we arrived in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. We had a small room close to the center.
Day 2:
We left Zagreb in the morning and our next stop was Karlovac. We saw a sport fishing competition at the river and we met the Croatian national team coach. We enjoyed the Vrbanicev Park and walked around the Lake Korana.