A Summer Slovenia Road Trip

When Garden Village Bled opened in 2014 it took the concept of glamping to an entirely new level. Guests can choose to stay in glamping tents (some come with their own hot tubs), treehouses or pier tents. Treehouses are great for families as they come with kitchenettes, hammocks, and two bedrooms. The pier tents are the most basic, but are still done up with electricity, and super comfy beds. Each tent is set on a pier on the river so guests can fish right from their deck and the chef will cook up their day’s catch. I loved falling asleep to the soft rumble of the river below.

Most savvy travelers know to avoid dining at major tourist sites, however the restaurants at Ljubljana Castle are totally legit. After touring the castle I had an early dinner at Gostilna Na Gradu. The warm, straight-from-the-oven bread is itself worth a trip up the hill to the castle. The restaurant specializes in traditional Slovenia dishes and highlights regional delicacies such as roasted Bela krajina lamb with celery puree, carrot pudding and thyme sauce or cottage cheese stuffed pumpkin flowers (photo) and for dessert, cheeses from the Tolmin and Bovec regions. The restaurant sources as much locally as possible, including the best olive and pumpkin seed oil, locally produced meat, fruit and vegetables from the market and of course, Slovenian wines. During the summer you can time your meal to the outdoor movies shown at the castle. The restaurant also will do take-away in case you want a meal for a picnic nearby.