Krka and Plitvice Lakes and a few other stops we explored along the way...
One definite must do when visiting Croatia is making time to visit the National Parks spread across Croatia's mountainous region. Rent a car or opt for a tour, but we like to explore at our own pace, rent a car to take detours and stop and explore the small towns and villages along the way. We began exploring just north of Zagreb in Medvedgrad, a medieval fortified town. You will find yourself in some beautiful twisty roads up the mountains as you make your way up to the town. This mountain region has some of the most beautiful roads and stunning views. You can park just off the roads at designated areas and hike the mountains or walk the trails through out this amazing scenery that has natural spring waters running down stream.
Medvedgrab region
While in this north region you can also visit Trakošćan Castle which dates back to the 13th century. A castle that was converted to a cool museum, where you can walk the well preserved castle rooms. We were not allowed to take pictures of the castle once entering, but we took a few shots of the castle from across the lake looking up the hill where it sits. You can walk around Lake Trakošćan and enjoy the green landscapes around the castle, or stop for a beer and lunch at a restaurant which floats on the lake below.
Trakošćan region
Days later we took a day trip and headed south to explore Plitvice National Park, one of the most beautiful parks we have seen to the day. The drive there is more filled nothing less of amazing sceneries, which if you rent a car, you can stop by a fairytale like village named Rastoke on the way to Plitvice National Park if heading south to Plitvice. Rastoke is a village with a natural phenomena of beautiful waterfalls and streams of water running under the villages wood bridges.
Village of Rastoke
From Rastoke you can keep heading south for another 30 minutes and you will begin to elevate up the mountains and arrive at Plitvice Lakes National Park. Another national park with an incredible display of a natural phenomena of huge waterfalls. The funnest part is walking across the many wooden bridges leading in many directions across the lakes and water streams. Plitvice Lakes has to be one of the most beautiful scenery's we have seen in the world, it honestly almost looks fake, yet surreal and breathtaking.
Plitvice Lakes
Our last stop was Krka National Park, which continued to amaze us how ridiculously beautiful Croatias parks are. We visited Krka while heading to the city of Split to visit some friends we have there. Krka is located further south right at about the middle of Croatia in the northern part of the Dalmatia region. The park offers numerous trails, wood bridges, waterfalls, streams of water, just amazing scenery in any direction you look. Restaurants and cafes are located at a rest area about halfway through the journey around the park. Stop and chill for a beer, coffee, or lunch and maybe even grab a seat on one of the rocks by the water. If you love waterfalls, nature, and hiking, then Croatias National parks are a must visit.
Krka National Park
With eight national parks across the country, this place is a hikers dream. We were told by many locals in Croatia that Krka and Plitvice Lakes are probably two of the top national parks in Croatia. We plan on returning to explore the rest of national parks one day and hopefully update this blog on our return visit. The national parks in here are truly a thing of beauty with nothing but stunning sites of nature and natural phenomenas all around you.
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