we arrived on a day with a dusting of snow but the ferry man was still willing to row us over to the island in the middle of Lake Bled. Happy to have the fare, he broke a sweat as we huddled together for warmth. Slovenia is an undiscovered gem- Ljubljana is stunningly beautiful and virtually the entire old city has been made into pedestrian only streets. Visit the market, eat in a river side cafe, but be sure to get outside the city as well - the countryside offers much and can easily be done in day trips from LJU. The Slovenians joke that if you play the accordian in their country you invade a neighbor because Slovenia is so small. "Good things come in small packages" has never been more true!

Inventive and traditional gastronomy merge—truffles, to be sure, but also bear cheek—at Pri Lojzetu, arguably the birthplace of Slovenian slow food. 386/(0) 5368-7007.

A tour of the massive World Heritage site Škocjan Caves affords the singular experience of peering into a glowing subterranean river that flows beneath a blanket of snow. 386/(0) 5-708-2100. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue.

Ride the cable car at Velika Planina ski resort to the Zeleni Rob mountain hut, where you can savor a bowl of jota (bean and pickled turnip stew) with a glass of Laško beer. 386/(0) 5-134-1406. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue.

Bled (and the lake by the same moniker) is the most Fairytale-esque town I've ever experienced. The people are almost jarringly friendly by American standards, the island church is as beautiful as it is quaint, and the castle perched on the cliffs underlines the old worldyness of it all. The lake is so pristine because they don't allow motorboats. We swam to the island and back and enjoyed the calmness of the deep, cool, fresh water.

Our wonderful host, Luka at the Garni Hotel Berc, told us we shouldn't miss out on the beautiful bridge and boardwalk hike at the nearby Vintgar Gorge- he was right! What a gem. The water was so deep and the most surreal aquamarine I've ever seen.

The Soča River runs along Western Slovenia and following its path made for a beautiful road trip. The river has a deep emerald hue that looks photoshopped in pictures, but is 100% real. Coming from Ljubljana with the goal of arriving in Bled, we took the south -> north route, which climbs from a moderate elevation and ends in the Julian Alps at the gorgeous Kranjska Gora. I took this shot halfway through our trip from a footbridge right before they set off south down the river.

Stall after stall of kitschy folk art? Sure. But December’s monthlong Festive Fair also has homemade pear brandy, piles of fresh sauerkraut, and hours of great stories about the days of socialism. Lights on the Triple Bridge add a warm glow. Photo by Gandalfar. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue. 

Movia is practically a synonym for the growing prominence of Slovenian wine. Learn why at the winery’s swanky bar in Old Town. For a more casual tasting experience, head roughly two hours east to the Kogl Estate winery and ask about the Mea Culpa line.

Ernest Hemingway memorialized the Soča Valley, home to one of the bloodiest fronts of World War I, in A Farewell to Arms. Today you can toboggan down the slopes. 386/(0) 5-389-6200. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue.

Triglavski Narodi, or "Triglav" is one of Europe's oldest parks and is a hidden traveling treasure. Premiere places to see while traveling western Slovenia. Raft the Soča River, one of the world's premier rafting locations and an important battle front of WWI. Swim and paddle the perfectly clear alpine water at Lake Bled while soaking up Medieval history. Hike in the mountainous Julian Alps perched above and around Lake Bohinj. Camp, fish, ride horses. Beautiful natural surroundings in a truly awesome country.

The 13 suites at Ljubljana’s Antiq Palace complement the city’s historic and artsy appeal. Vaulted ceilings, muted lighting, and private terraces create a hushed oasis near the bustling commercial neighborhood around the Ljubljanica River. From $295. 386/(0) 8-389-6700. Photo by Ziga Koritnik. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue.

Škofja Loka is home to the oldest preserved bridge in Slovenia, 12,000 people and a wonderful medieval center. Mostly, though, it's got a name you'll turn over and over in your head. SHKOfia LOka. Tempted to re-name my daughter, but that's probably a lot of trouble.

This is a lovely coastal town which is very Italian in charm and food. A must destination while in Slovenia if for nothing more than the excellent seafood and vistas.

Do no miss out on the pristine mountain town of Bovec if you're in Slovenia, Austria or Northern Italy (it's very accessible from all 3). Situated between several rivers and valleys, Bovec perfectly combines serenity and adventure. I highly recommend Avantura Adventure (Jelena runs the office) for caving, paragliding, canyoning and rafting. They are located in the main town square. All of the guides speak perfect English and provide local history to accompany the breathtaking setting. I also highly recommend driving in through the Vrsic pass (location of this picture). Perfect starting point for an amazing mountain experience.

This treasured country is phenomenal Though this castle by far was the most impressive and seemingly almost undiscovered by the world. And I appreciate why. I felt like ( sadly) I was in a James Bond movie and this was the grand lux hotel. The thing most enjoyable is the constant ease, quite and seemingly undiscovered hidden gems. In the area- vintar gorge - I'm not a hiker but this was the best hike I have ever done and almost feel no other hike could top this. The extreme rushing river under my feet on a board walk strapped to rocks for over an hour... Scary, fulfilling, stunning and magical. As with castle and the gorge I was ready for dragons to pop out of the rocks- Slovenia display and holds homage to the mystical dragons- evident all over the country in various forms

While in LJ City we took the tram up to the castle for a lovely September afternoon enjoying the museum and panoramas of the city and mountains. This is a must while in town.

I insisted on visiting Lipica to see the grounds and the horses since I ride English Hunt Seat. We walked from our farm stay in Tomaj to Lipica just to discover where the World Championship Carriage Competitions were being held that day! What a treat in addition to the tours and watching the stallions perform.

This was a MUST do for me during out trip. To visit the annual Kow's Ball festival where the cows come down front the mountain meadows to lower pastures. This is a reason to celebrate with Pust, Prust and Pivo! Also lots of dancing.

The Istrian interior is agrarian and food-focused – the kind of place where the roads are marked "Oil Route" and "Wine Route." So, what better place to stay than at a farm hotel? The Agroturizam San Mauro is run by the Sinkovic family, who have been making wine in Momjan for nearly a century. You'll likely be greeted by Gigi and Jack, the retired truffle pigs who live on the property. Rooms are spacious and comfortable (some have sea views) and there's a large terrace where you can enjoy breakfast or sample some of their wines. We did not have dinner here (though it is reported to be excellent) but breakfasts are generous, and feature the family's homemade jam and honey.

Need a break from the snow and mountains? The bright Istrian town of Piran, on the Adriatic Sea, can feel downright Mediterranean if you time your surprisingly short trip right. Just an hour and a half from Slovenia. Tool around Istria while you're at it. In one of the guesthouses lives a friendly pig named Jack who sniffs out truffles, and still has cameos in my dreams years after meeting him.

Slovenia's Soca Valley is one of the world's great adventure hubs – the steep terrain of the Julian Alps is carved with narrow gorges for hiking and canyoning, while the ice-blue Soca River has class I-V rapids for rafting, kayaking and canoeing. Or, if you want a (literally) breathtaking view of the valley, you can try paragliding. For any and all of these activities, head to X Point Sport and Tourism in Kobarid. My husband and I went paragliding on a whim – though it was our first time and we were terrified (I mean, nervous), we were in the expert hands of pilots Ivan and Dejan, and it went without a hitch. Circling high above the villages, farms, and forest-covered mountains, with no sound but the wind and the flutter of the chute, is an experience I'll never forget.

Marital bliss. Too much to ask? That's the promise for the lucky groom to carry his bride-to-be up the 99 steps to ring the bell and wed in the church at the top of the stairs on Bled Island. I'll be honest, they're kind of steep, so you really gotta want it. Slovenia is magic and Bled is the dove appearing from thin air. High in the Julian Alps, this mountain village is home to a castle, ski slopes, gorges and the famous lake surrounding the country's only island. There are tours to ferry you out to the island, but row your own. Swan boats are available for rent in different spots around the shore and you should pack a picnic and hit the oars. No special skills necessary outside of not falling out of the boat while getting in. Once settled, you'll leisurely glide through floating flocks of ducks and geese as you make your way across the lake. The world just seems bigger from a small boat on the water and the panorama does not disappoint. Making island landfall, the stairs loom. We didn't know about the carry-the-bride thing until we clawed our way to the top and explored the grounds and church. After reading about the tradition, it was back down the steps. Fortunately, there weren't any large groups to gasp at our feeble folly. The mantra is "one step at a time" to carry you to the top. Already being married made me suspect about the effort. The picture is a reminder of the good fortune we bestowed on our marriage that day. All 99 steps worth.