Latest news with #LakeBled
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
‘By handing over some planning to the kids, I could relax': readers' favourite trips with teenagers in Europe
Slovenia! We started in Lake Bled. Teens loved the Dolinka ziplines, the summer toboggan run, hiking in Vintgar gorge and swimming in Lake Bled. You can hire paddleboards and boats. If you have the money, there is rafting and canyoning too. After seeing the incredible Postojna cave, we went up the Vogel cable by Lake Bohinj. Half-board at the Bohinj Eco hotel kept the teens amply fed and it also has an aquapark, bowling and plenty of games to boot. We finished the trip off with shopping in Ljubljana and the best ice-cream ever at Romantika. Three happy teenagers. Sue Our favourite family holiday was to the Netherlands: taking turns playing captain guiding electric hire boats on canals; tilting our ice-cream cones at windmills at Zaanse Schans; cycling to the broad, clean beaches for mocktails in cabanas; Amsterdam for the colourful Pride parade counterpointed by a quiet, calming visit to De Poezenboot (which teen could resist a cat sanctuary on a canal boat?). And staying in Haarlem in an apartment with speedy wifi kept the teens happy while we indulged in morning strolls through medieval cobbled streets to Grote Markt for coffee and people-watching. Annette Guardian Travel readers' tips Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage - When I saw the picture of Ostello il Castello di Santa Severa in the Guardian in 2019, I thought it was too good to be true, but it's genuine. We have been twice with our teens, and sent friends too! A mile-long beach where teenagers can roam and paddleboard, an easy train journey to explore Rome, lunchtime pizza slices with locals cheering on the footie at L'Angolo delle Crepes. Plus the opportunity to sleep in a castle at hostel prices. Fluffy white towels aplenty, but also a gleaming kitchen if you want to cook. Don't miss the nearby necropolis for an Indiana Jones-style adventure. Fireworks over the castle and a hilarious Italian Beatles cover band were the ciliegina sulla torta!Margaret The best European trip with my teen (so far) has to be Romania. We stayed in Brașov, booked an apartment with a pool and had the best time. There is so much to do and lots of easy public transport. We ate outdoors at little cafes on the street, took a cable car up the mountain, went on a trip to see bears in the forest (up close and personal!), had a tree-top adventure at Adventure Park and visited Dracula's castle. The town itself is historic and beautiful, and the people are so welcoming. It's not your typical British tourist destination but it makes for a fabulous Rome in October half-term. Coliseum and Forum tours gave the right balance of interesting history, fun facts and a bit of gore that most teenagers would be entranced by! Walked a lot without seeming to walk a lot. A two-hour Vespa tour was the highlight. You hang on to the drivers and they negotiate the traffic, show you a different Rome with local knowledge and attitude. To complete the adventure: guaranteed great food, gelato and, for weary parents of an evening, vino cheapo!Ruth Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria in the summer meant hiking, ebiking and waterparks. Take advantage of the Joker card for free or reduced-price access to lots of activities. Hire a car to make the most of local resorts with lakeside beach clubs, alpine zoos, glacier visits and summer toboggan runs. Plenty to keep teens entertained. Hilary Last summer I went with my two children on a trip north through Scandinavia, then back via the Baltic countries. This turned into an epic 5,000-mile train journey, which we each took part in planning. The 10-year-old's focus was on cycling, swimming, play parks and cat cafes. The 14-year-old took us to the KGB headquarters in Riga, a tour around Berlin, and a visit to the Deyrolle taxidermy shop in Paris. By handing over some planning and responsibility to the kids, I could relax; they were engaged in activities away from their devices and their geography knowledge improved!Sarah Patel Antwerp by Eurostar was perfect. Coffee and buns at Pakt every morning, cool galleries like MoMu and Fomu every day, kilo vintage shopping, art nouveau streets, incredible Korean, Vietnamese and Nepalese restaurants, and bikes! Perfect October A brief holiday for us this year with our 15-year-old son but it was plenty – five nights in a gorgeous apartment on the edge of Belleville, Paris, not far from Buttes-Chaumont. He's the age where we can enjoy both Disneyland and then take in the Hockney retrospective at the stunning Fondation Louis Vuitton. Back at base we watched city life unfold from our French windows and then sampled Lebanese, Laos and French meals in the bustling streets around. Nearer to town, the family-run Eats Thyme is a A two-centre holiday to Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany, is a must with teenagers as there is so much to see and do. In Munich they loved the atmosphere in the beer halls – eating pretzels and listening to the oompah band and watching the Rathaus-Glockenspiel in the square. A visit to the Olympiapark is also recommended. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen there is a toboggan run, which is great fun, and nearby is the beautiful Zugspitze mountain and cable car, with boating on Eibsee lake. Bavaria has plenty to keep teenagers entertained and active, for a very enjoyable Watkins
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
‘By handing over some planning to the kids, I could relax': readers' favourite trips with teenagers in Europe
Slovenia! We started in Lake Bled. Teens loved the Dolinka ziplines, the summer toboggan run, hiking in Vintgar gorge and swimming in Lake Bled. You can hire paddleboards and boats. If you have the money, there is rafting and canyoning too. After seeing the incredible Postojna cave, we went up the Vogel cable by Lake Bohinj. Half-board at the Bohinj Eco hotel kept the teens amply fed and it also has an aquapark, bowling and plenty of games to boot. We finished the trip off with shopping in Ljubljana and the best ice-cream ever at Romantika. Three happy teenagers. Sue Our favourite family holiday was to the Netherlands: taking turns playing captain guiding electric hire boats on canals; tilting our ice-cream cones at windmills at Zaanse Schans; cycling to the broad, clean beaches for mocktails in cabanas; Amsterdam for the colourful Pride parade counterpointed by a quiet, calming visit to De Poezenboot (which teen could resist a cat sanctuary on a canal boat?). And staying in Haarlem in an apartment with speedy wifi kept the teens happy while we indulged in morning strolls through medieval cobbled streets to Grote Markt for coffee and people-watching. Annette Guardian Travel readers' tips Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage - When I saw the picture of Ostello il Castello di Santa Severa in the Guardian in 2019, I thought it was too good to be true, but it's genuine. We have been twice with our teens, and sent friends too! A mile-long beach where teenagers can roam and paddleboard, an easy train journey to explore Rome, lunchtime pizza slices with locals cheering on the footie at L'Angolo delle Crepes. Plus the opportunity to sleep in a castle at hostel prices. Fluffy white towels aplenty, but also a gleaming kitchen if you want to cook. Don't miss the nearby necropolis for an Indiana Jones-style adventure. Fireworks over the castle and a hilarious Italian Beatles cover band were the ciliegina sulla torta!Margaret The best European trip with my teen (so far) has to be Romania. We stayed in Brașov, booked an apartment with a pool and had the best time. There is so much to do and lots of easy public transport. We ate outdoors at little cafes on the street, took a cable car up the mountain, went on a trip to see bears in the forest (up close and personal!), had a tree-top adventure at Adventure Park and visited Dracula's castle. The town itself is historic and beautiful, and the people are so welcoming. It's not your typical British tourist destination but it makes for a fabulous Rome in October half-term. Coliseum and Forum tours gave the right balance of interesting history, fun facts and a bit of gore that most teenagers would be entranced by! Walked a lot without seeming to walk a lot. A two-hour Vespa tour was the highlight. You hang on to the drivers and they negotiate the traffic, show you a different Rome with local knowledge and attitude. To complete the adventure: guaranteed great food, gelato and, for weary parents of an evening, vino cheapo!Ruth Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria in the summer meant hiking, ebiking and waterparks. Take advantage of the Joker card for free or reduced-price access to lots of activities. Hire a car to make the most of local resorts with lakeside beach clubs, alpine zoos, glacier visits and summer toboggan runs. Plenty to keep teens entertained. Hilary Last summer I went with my two children on a trip north through Scandinavia, then back via the Baltic countries. This turned into an epic 5,000-mile train journey, which we each took part in planning. The 10-year-old's focus was on cycling, swimming, play parks and cat cafes. The 14-year-old took us to the KGB headquarters in Riga, a tour around Berlin, and a visit to the Deyrolle taxidermy shop in Paris. By handing over some planning and responsibility to the kids, I could relax; they were engaged in activities away from their devices and their geography knowledge improved!Sarah Patel Antwerp by Eurostar was perfect. Coffee and buns at Pakt every morning, cool galleries like MoMu and Fomu every day, kilo vintage shopping, art nouveau streets, incredible Korean, Vietnamese and Nepalese restaurants, and bikes! Perfect October A brief holiday for us this year with our 15-year-old son but it was plenty – five nights in a gorgeous apartment on the edge of Belleville, Paris, not far from Buttes-Chaumont. He's the age where we can enjoy both Disneyland and then take in the Hockney retrospective at the stunning Fondation Louis Vuitton. Back at base we watched city life unfold from our French windows and then sampled Lebanese, Laos and French meals in the bustling streets around. Nearer to town, the family-run Eats Thyme is a A two-centre holiday to Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany, is a must with teenagers as there is so much to see and do. In Munich they loved the atmosphere in the beer halls – eating pretzels and listening to the oompah band and watching the Rathaus-Glockenspiel in the square. A visit to the Olympiapark is also recommended. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen there is a toboggan run, which is great fun, and nearby is the beautiful Zugspitze mountain and cable car, with boating on Eibsee lake. Bavaria has plenty to keep teenagers entertained and active, for a very enjoyable Watkins
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Travel + Leisure
25-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This Lake Region Was Named the Most Relaxing Destination in Europe—With ‘Mirror-still Water' and Fairy-tale Vibes
Taking a vacation is good for you—it can help reduce stress and help increase your general outlook on life. But, if you really want to double down on those excellent vibes, you should head off to the most mindful and wellness-focused place in Europe. And the relaxation-focused brand Blakk Smoke knows exactly where that is. In June, the brand released the findings of a study it conducted in order to identify the most mindful travel destinations of 2025, or "places where stress melts away" if "disconnection is the goal." To find these laidback spots around the globe, the team parsed thousands of TripAdvisor reviews from the last three years using natural language processing and emotional sentiment analysis to determine the frequency of keywords such as "relaxing," "peaceful," "mindful," and "calm." Then, it analyzed the tone of each post, as well as the number of mentions of retreats, meditation centers, spas, and nature-based attractions each location had. The company noted that only recent reviews were included to "reflect today's traveler needs—think post-pandemic priorities, burnout recovery, and a growing desire to actually rest on holiday." After doing all that digging, it gave each place a "mindfulness score," based on its analysis. And Lake Bled, Slovenia, came out on top as the most mindful destination in Europe and the second most relaxing destination in the world with a score of 89. And really, its ranking comes as little surprise when you consider the beautiful scenery there. Lake Bled, located in the Julian Alps, is as fairytale-like a destination as they come, with what the study called "mirror-still water" that pairs beautifully with fresh mountain air and a view of the Church of the Assumption located in the center of the lake. The only place to outrank Lake Bled was Sedona, Arizona, which scored a whopping 92 out of 100, thanks to its "energy vortexes, red rock formations, and strong spiritual community." Lake Bled and Sedona were followed by the Lake District, England, at No. 3, which earned a score of 87 thanks to its "rolling hills, peaceful lakes, and literary inspiration." Rounding out the top 10 most mindful travel destinations in the world are Big Sur, California (No. 4); Santorini, Greece (No. 5); the Scottish Highlands, Scotland (No. 6); Asheville, North Carolina (No. 7); the Amalfi Coast, Italy (No. 8); Cornwall, England (No. 8); and Kyoto, Japan (No. 10). But if these somehow aren't enough options for you, you can always check out this list of the most relaxing destinations in Europe. Then, once you pick a spot, tell your boss you're going on vacation and put on that out-of-office notice for the sake of good health.
CNA
03-07-2025
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Discovering Ljubljana's Hidden Charms
In 'Destination Anywhere', show producer Vaisali Prabhakaran speaks with Rachel Alexa Wong, a travel content creator who shares her insights on Slovenia's charming capital, Ljubljana. Known for its dragons, castles, and riverside charm, the city is rich in history and architecture. Rachel takes us beyond the tourist trail, from iconic spots like Dragon Bridge and Ljubljana Castle to hidden gems like local-favourite restaurant Julija and nearby alpine escapes such as Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj. She also offers tips for first-time visitors and highlights what makes Slovenia a fairytale destination worth discovering.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Tourists reveal the underrated European country that's so beautiful it blew them away
Tourists have revealed the surprising hidden gem destinations that unexpectedly blew them away - and one lesser-known European country has emerged as a standout favourite. A Reddit user recently prompted a discussion in the popular subreddit r/travel, which saw globetrotters share the unlikely countries that have become the highlight of their travels. They asked: 'Has anyone else stumbled into a destination by accident or as a Plan B, and it ended up being the highlight of your travels? I'm convinced these unplanned discoveries are what make travelling so special.' The post racking up over 400 responses from seasoned explorers and spontaneous adventurers alike. While replies came in from all corners of the globe, a clear trend emerged, with Central and Eastern Europe revealed to be home to some of the world's most underrated treasures. Leading the bunch was Slovenia, a picturesque Central European nation many described as a 'fairytale come to life.' One Redditor wrote: 'I just got back from a trip to Slovenia, which honestly wasn't even on my radar until a friend suggested it last minute. 'I expected a kind of generic European vibe, but I ended up absolutely loving it. Lake Bled looked like something out of a fairytale, and the people were so welcoming that it almost felt suspicious (in the best way).' Another chimed: 'Lake Bled is one of the more stunning places we've been in awhile, everyone in Slovenia was incredibly nice, and would highly recommend.' A third wrote: 'My answer was Slovenia too. It's been more than two weeks since we are back. Cant get those green pasture scenery out of my mind - we were in Kranjska Gora.' But they warned: 'And against the popular opinion, somehow Lake bled did not feel that heavenly as it looked on social media! I agree it definitely looked good from a higher pov, we hiked a small bit near the castle.' Poland came in as a close second, with Redditors gushing over its rich history, food and architecture. One traveller, who ended up in Krakow on a detour before visiting Auschwitz, found themselves swept away by Old Town's charm, describing the area as 'gorgeous.' Another added: 'All the reasons you go to Europe in one country with an amazing and tragic history. Castles, mountains, great food, history, beaches, not to mention fantastic transport, etc... 'But Poland gets overlooked in favor of Czechia and other blue chip western Europe destinations. I've been three times now and I would live there.' Romania also drew praise from several Redditors, particularly for destinations located far from the capital. One person said: 'Bucharest wasn't bad - but compared to Brasov, Sibiu, Cluj, and Sighisoara… meh.' Georgia, situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, captivated adventurers with 'the most mystical, fairy book mountains they've ever seen.' Bosnia and Herzegovina, often overshadowed by its popular neighbour Croatia, also left a lasting impression. One traveller shared, 'The mountains of Bosnia stole my heart, as did the eclectic mess of Sarajevo,' while another said, 'Spent a week there and it's easily in my top 3 countries now. More people should visit.' While Europe dominated the conversation, some travellers looked farther afield for their unexpected gems. Guatemala, The Azores, and Lebanon received shout-outs for their rich culture, landscapes, and warmth. One humbled commenter wrote: 'For too long, I ignored Guatemala. Wrote it off for no reason other than I love Mexico so much and viewed Guatemala as "Diet Mexico." 'Feel free to shame me. But then I got a cheap flight on a whim. Being able to see living breathing Mayan cultures is amazing. And the volcanoes... Whew lad.'
