I don't know about you, but when I've mentioned Croatia, Serbia or Bosnia to people in the past - they've always had trouble working out exactly where it is. I usually hear things like "Oh, that's up by Russia right?" 
Well, erm, no - it's actually in between two of your favorite holiday destinations, Italy and Greece. So whey do we just skip over them? I personally think that the war there has left visitors feeling a little wary, and after having seen such terrible images, it hasn't exactly propelled these places to the forefront of our mind when planning a holiday. However, that war, which I'm sure you've all seen in Behind Enemy Lines (if you haven't go watch it - amazing film) all ended in 1995. That's coming up to two decades ago now y'know! Lonely Planet, and these guys know what they're talking about, have dubbed Croatia as Europe's 'it' destination, due to it's blend of glamour and authentic culture. Because it isn't yet a tourist hotspot, it's pretty much perfect for a traveler on any budget.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
image credit These stunning lakes lie in the central Pika region of Croatia, which is about level with Bologna in Italy. There are sixteen of these beautiful blue-green lakes in total which are separated by natural dams and waterfalls. You can explore these by hiking or by boat, although how the boat gets around and over these dams is beyond my understanding. There's a few hotels nearby and a campsite, woo camping!
some more loveliness... 
