Family Overseas Adventures: Croatia Break

Half term break at school + my parents ending a tour of Turkey around the same time = a get together in Croatia. What’d we find?

A cool, old walled city: thick fortress walls were fun to hike

.....weapons to appeal to the kids

...and a jail to appeal to the parents

(where's the padlock when you need it?!)

Highly walk-able Old Town: narrow stone streets and no cars = a paradise for 'active kids'

Fab Rocky Coast: we enjoyed the beach (swam in our clothes on multiple occasions) & hiking the rocky ledges

A fun kayaking trip gave us fantastic views of the city.

Everyone enjoyed the first hour or so. The boys reminded us of the challenge of paddling and inequity of a sister who wasn’t doing so for the remaining two.

Strong Italian Influence: = loads of pizza joints. While not the same caliber as Italy, any pizza seems to have magical calming powers over the kids

(Q reports the pizza was his trip highlight)

X reported the gelato was his trip highlight...

We visited one place so often, we got free scoops by the end of the week!

Loads of outdoor seating: which especially improves restaurant dining with kids.

One of the more relaxing meals was one where QX&Z spent half of dinner chasing a neighboring 1 ½ year old German boy around

Cruise ship tourist swarms – but easy to escape: by mid-morning the town is overrun by cruise ship day trippers. While they can overwhelm the Old Town, it’s easy to escape...

A 15 minute ferry ride gets you to a nearby island (more beaches & rocky coast, peacocks to chase & a funny play / exercise area)

And even POTABLE TAP WATER! We were told tap 'is drinkable as long as it isn’t raining'. This may have caused pause a year ago – but now was interpreted as a green light to drink up.

(Amazing what joy a bucket of ice can provide)

Best of all, hanging with Nana & Gramps and Sissy: We enjoyed chilling at cafes, patio happy hours, rounds of Hearts, LCR and a hilarious wacky souvenir scavenger hunt