Family Traveler

72 HOURS INDUBROVNIKFewcitiesinEuropematchDubrovnikforsheerdrama.TheiconicwalledcitythatdefinesCroatia’ssparklingcoastlinemaycurrentlybemostfamousasKing’sLandinginGameofThrones,butithasahistorythatoutdoesanythingtheTVshowcancomeupwith.Sixhundredyearsago,itwasthecapitaloftheVenetianEmpire.Fromthe19 thcentury,itbegantowelcometourists,butitwasthrownintoconflictagainintheearly 19 90s,whenthecitywasbesiegedforeightmonths.Twenty-fiveyearslater,thecityisreborn.StariGrad,thewalledoldtown,hasbeenrestored,andthegleamingStradun–amarble-flaggedboulevardthatrunsbetweenthetwoancientgates–throngswithtourists.WhatmakesDubrovniksoeasyisyoujustwander;therearemuseums,butthewholeoldtownissteepedinhistory,andsimplywalkingthelatticeofstreetsthatspreadoutfromtheStradunfeelslikebeingtransportedbackintime.Citiesaren’talwaysthebestchoiceforafamilybreak,butwhatsetsDubrovnikapartisitsseasidelocation.BoatsglidefromtheharboureachmorningforthetranquilElaphitiIslands,thesmallresortofCavtatontheothersideofthebay,ortosimplycruisealongthemountain-backedcoastline.Andthesea–crystalclearandsparklingclean–isperfectforlazydaysonthebeach.ANNABELLETHORPEonhowtomakethemostofthisbeautifulwalledcityandenvirons