Planning weekend trips while studying abroad is one of the most exhilarating feelings I’ve ever encountered. I felt invincible having Europe at my fingertips for 3 months. I can honestly say that taking advantage of exploring as many places as possible has been beyond worth it and the highlight of my experience abroad. Before arriving in Italy I had endlessly surfed the web from Lonely Planet to Pinterest building up my ultimate list of places to visit. I eventually narrowed down to popular tourist cities like Paris, Barcelona, Milan, etc., which all exceeded my expectations.
Surprisingly, my favorite place was a city I had never heard of before in my life and had never come across it during my research of best places to visit in Europe. This was Ljubljana, Slovenia. For midterm break I gave the reigns to my Mom, who could choose any top city in Europe. But instead she had chosen a wild card. I had no clue where Slovenia was on the map and I walked onto the plane prepared to take a full risk.
On my boat cruise along the river in the heart of the Ljubljana I felt at complete peace and escaped to a place away from all the tourists. The whole city displays elegance in the sophisticated architecture and atmosphere. The colorful buildings, dragon bridge, and castle on the top of the hill made me feel as if I were in a fairytale. Slovenia is truly a treasure in Europe that I had just discovered.
It might seem strange to prioritize random places when having the opportunity to go to all the popular, “touristy” areas. However, I encourage everyone who gets the chance to travel all over Europe to consider traveling off the beaten path and indulge in adventure. It’s surprising how satisfying it is to discover unique qualities of an unfamiliar place. Slovenia has shaped my perspective of traveling and in the future I will prioritize finding more hidden gems.
Kaila Bailey

Ljubljanica River, Slovenia