Amy and Jon: After Zell am See, Jon drove the Austrian autobahn toward Slovenia, a country I had been eager to visit. Our first stop was Landskron Castle near Villach, Austria. We enjoyed lunch surrounded by a surprising number of Harley Davidson motorcycles. This area seems to be popular for bike tours and there was a Harley rally going on at the castle. The castle offered lovely views, and we spotted large eagles soaring overhead during our visit.
We then drove through some long tunnels, crossed the border, and arrived at Lake Bled, Slovenia. We stayed at the Rikli Balance Hotel, where the view from our large balcony overlooking the lake was one of the most stunning we’ve ever seen. It was amazingly picturesque and close to surreal. After settling in, we walked down to the lake and made a quick stop at the Mercator grocery store to pick up dinner and beers, which we enjoyed on the balcony. The hotel’s large pool area with a water slide was a delightful way to enjoy the evening and watch the sun set.
The next day, we walked all the way around Lake Bled. The water was a striking shade of blue, and the iconic island was incredibly picturesque with the church at its center and many boats bringing visitors. We hiked up to Ojstrica, a hill with a postcard view of the lake and island below. A triathlon event was happening nearby, adding an energetic atmosphere. Later, we stopped outside Bled Castle before heading back to the hotel.
This was all on Jon’s birthday, which made the day even more special. The hotel provided a little bottle of champagne and we got a Bled Cream Cake (Blejska kremšnita) with a large layer of vanilla custard, whipped cream, and puff pastry on top and bottom. We kept dinner casual with Vienna pork outside and enjoyed another evening unwinding at the pool.
The following morning, we traveled to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital. After checking into the Occidental Hotel, we headed out for rooftop mojitos and explored the city, including a walk up to Ljubljana Castle. Dinner was at a lively local restaurant where we tried traditional Slovenian dishes. We appreciated the dragon theme throughout the city, which added a unique character. We also sampled craft beers from Loo-Blah-Nah brewery, a nice touch to the evening.
The next day, we headed to Kranjska Gora and Triglav National Park, where the mountain views were breathtaking. We stopped at Lake Jasna and crossed a swinging bridge before having lunch at Erjavčeva Mountain Hut on the Vršič Pass. The potatoes we enjoyed there were some of the best we have ever tasted. The afternoon included a pleasant, low-key hike around with plenty of stunning scenery.
In the evening, we strolled through Kranjska Gora and enjoyed another grocery store dinner on our balcony at Garni Hotel Miklič. The next day, we stopped for final morning light views of Lake Jansa, before crossing into Italy. Slovenia proved to be an incredible part of the trip, with beautiful landscapes, delicious food, and lasting memories.
Dates: September 5-9, 2025
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