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Roadtrips & Adventures with Kids

@gowiththevan

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ᴀ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴏꜰ 4, ᴀ ᴠᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴅʟᴇꜱꜱ ʀᴏᴀᴅꜱ
💡Travel ideas • 🥾Outdoors • 🇸🇮🇮🇹
🗺️Explore all our routes ↓

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⬇️𝕋ℍ𝕀𝕊 𝕀𝕊 𝕌𝕊⬇️

👋🏻Hello!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👧We are Luka (the driver 🛣️), Andreja (the travel planner 📑) and M&E (8 and 6 y.o., live music performers 🎙️), a family of 4 based in the Karst region in Slovenia. We bought the van in March 2022. We were searching for the perfect van for us for a long time and then finally found it: Fiat Ducato from 2008, ready to go!

🏞️We love spending time outdoors, whether in the mountains or by the sea, and we are always looking for new places to explore.

💼We both have full-time jobs. Whenever we can, we enjoy traveling in our van balancing work and school schedules.

🥴It's not always easy to juggle everything and it's not always picture-perfect, but we strive to make the most of every moment together, even amidst the daily challenges.

📽️We are camera shy and don't like to post too much of our private life. So, you'll see lots about van travel, the outdoors and hiking. We also prefer not to expose our girls on social media, so you won't see them often. But don't worry, they're always with us! 😉

🐕Sometimes you'll also see our furry friend with us, but only on day trips. He doesn't like long car rides; he's more of a home watchdog.

🚐Follow us along for some itinerary ideas for road trips around Europe, spots in our nearby for a weekend getaway and maybe some advices on van life and travel/hiking with kids. Hope you will enjoy it with us! 🤩

🧭Making memories one road trip at a time🗺️

Last update: March 2025

#aboutus #tosmomi #hello #familyof4 #vanlife #vanlifefamily #travelwithkids #vantravel #familytravel #familieslovetravel #travelfamily #viaggiareconibambini #camperlife #campervan #ducatovan #ducatocampervan #fiat #fiatducato #fiatducatocamper #aroundeurope #slovenija #slovenia #famigliainviaggio #famigliaincamper #druzinskiizlet #druzina #potovatizotroki #potovanje #bambiniincamper #vankids by @gowiththevan

⬇️𝕋ℝ𝔸𝕍𝔼𝕃 𝕁𝕆𝕌ℝℕ𝔸𝕃⬇️

👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 Family vacations are some of the happiest experiences that a child can have, so I decided to record some of their favourite travel memories. The girls don't have a travel-specific workbook, I bought them a blank notebook so they can fill it with their own creativity and document their van trips.

📖At the end of each day I write them the places we've visited and then they draw their favourite activity or sightseeing of the day or glue ticket stubs or cut out photos from brochures and glue them. They really like that!

📑I keep a travel journal too, but is quite messy! Before each trip, I plan the route and write down all the spots we want to visit. I make an estimate of the distance to cover each day, of how long we will stop in each place and where we will spend the night. When you don't have many days on tap to travel and you want to visit as many places as possible, it is necessary to organize the trip in broad terms. You will still have time to improvise, as we do too!

📚My favourite guides are those from Lonely Planet and Touring Cartoville.

Do you keep a travel journal too?

#traveljournal #diariodibordo #potovalnidnevnik #kidsactivities #travelmemories #travelwithkids #vantravel #travelwithvan #campervan #ducatocampervan #roadtrips #familyof4 #planning #pianificareilviaggio #vanlifeexplorers #dejavnostizaotroke #attivitàperbambini #ontheroad #familyvacation #vacanzeinfamiglia #traveldiary #lonelyplanet #cartoville #guides #guide #vodnik #travellingthroughtheworld #familyvan by @gowiththevan

𝓛𝓮𝓽'𝓼 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝓽𝓸𝓰𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓼𝓲𝓼! 🌍💕

Usually they are arguing and fighting but sometimes there are also moments like this.😉

#sisters #sisterlove #sistersquad #sisterhood #loveandfight #likecatanddog #exploringtheworld #together #togetherforever #travelkids #adventure #kids #kidstraveltheworld #exploreeurope #adventureawaits #vantravel #vankids #vanfamily #travelwithkids #travelwithvan by @gowiththevan

Postcards from Trst-Trieste
A weekend as tourists in our backyard.

#touristathome #trieste #trst #fvglive #home by @gowiththevan

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝔹𝔸𝕃𝕂𝔸ℕ𝕊 🇧🇦🇲🇪🇦🇱🇭🇷

ℍ𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤
🌞22 days
🛣️2.478 km
💶2.071 € (all inclusive)

After 3 weeks in the Balkans, we can tell you this:

🏕️ Lower your standards when it comes to campsites
🚐 Montenegro & Bosnia are pretty motorhome-friendly
⛺ Free camping is allowed in Albania
🏔️ Beautiful mountains, rivers & lakes — the Dolomites are NOT the only ones worth seeing
💸 More expensive than we expected, especially Montenegro
🚗 Montenegro’s coast = crowded + expensive parking
👑 We skipped Dubrovnik (aka King’s Landing) because €12 for 1 hour of van parking was a hard NO
💶 Cash is still king
🥬 Amazing fruit & vegetables
🇪🇺 Expect looooong queues when entering the EU
🛶 Tara River rafting was our absolute favourite.
🛣️ Mountain roads are spectacular… but definitely not for everyone
🏊 Lake Skadar looks stunning, but don’t expect Caribbean-clear water for swimming
🗑️ Unfortunately, litter is still a big issue in many places
🥫 Going to Theth? Bring some food with you. The mini-market is tiny, expensive and mostly junk food — although there are some good restaurants
🐌 And remember: distances on the map can be VERY misleading!

The Balkans: messy, beautiful, surprising, sometimes frustrating — and that’s exactly what makes them so interesting.

🗺️Check out our 22-days itinerary through The Balkans ➡️ link in bio

#balkanadventure #roadtrip #travelwithkids #vanlife #summervibes by @gowiththevan

5 BALKAN SCENIC ROADS (and a bonus!)

These are some of the most spectacular roads we’ve driven in the Balkans. It was hard to choose just five — there are so many incredible roads, but these are our picks:

1️⃣P14: Plužine → Žabljak, Montenegro 🇲🇪
Across the wild heart of Durmitor, climbing to 1,907 m at Sedlo Pass, Montenegro’s highest paved mountain pass.

2️⃣P15 Sea & Heights: Ulcinj → Virpazar, Montenegro 🇲🇪
From the Adriatic to the mountains and Lake Skadar, one road crossing some of Montenegro’s most dramatic contrasts.

3️⃣P1: Kotor Serpentine, Montenegro 🇲🇪
25 hairpin bends descend towards the Bay of Kotor on a road built in 1884, with the bay getting bigger at every turn.

4️⃣SH20: Leqet e Hotit, Albania 🇦🇱
A narrow mountain road twisting through the Kelmend region, with steep slopes, deep valleys and one bend after another.

5️⃣E73/M17: Neretva Canyon, Bosnia& Herzegovina 🇧🇦
Following the emerald Neretva through a narrowing limestone canyon, with tunnels, cliffs and the river constantly appearing beside the road.

𝘽𝙊𝙉𝙐𝙎 R435 / R436: Umoljani → Odžaci → Konjic, Bosnia&Herzegovina 🇧🇦
Found by chance, this remote mountain road through the Visočica range, where steep limestone slopes and almost empty valleys make the road feel far from everything with almost surreal views.

⚠️Just keep in mind: not all of them are suitable for motorhomes!

Which one would you take first?👇🏻

#balkan #roadtrip #vanlife #scenicroute #traveleurope by @gowiththevan

🇲🇪 Montenegro may be small, but it is home to 5 incredible National Parks, each offering completely different landscapes and experiences.

🚐 You can even stay overnight inside the National Parks for a small symbolic fee.

🎟️If you plan to visit more than two parks, the annual National Parks pass is the best value: it costs €13.50 (while a single entrance is usually around €5) and gives you access to all five parks for one year. Children under 15 enter for free.

💾Save this for your next trip to Montenegro!

#montenegro #nationalparks #travelwithkids
#vanadventures #roadtrip

🏞️ Durmitor National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the breathtaking Tara Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in Europe (up to 1.300 m), and 18 glacial lakes known as the "Mountain Eyes."

#durmitor #durmitornationalpark

🌳 Biogradska Gora National Park

One of the last three primeval forests in Europe. Some of its trees are over 500 years old, making it one of Europe's most precious ancient woodland ecosystems.

#biogradskagora #biogradskagoranationalpark

🪷 Skadar Lake National Park

The largest lake in the Balkans, shared by Montenegro and Albania. Its surface changes with the seasons, from about 370 km² in summer to over 500 km² in winter. It's also a paradise for birdwatchers, with more than 280 bird species.

#skadarskojezero #skadarlake

⛰️ Lovćen National Park

Home to the Mausoleum of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, reached by climbing 461 steps. On clear days, the views stretch from the Adriatic Sea to the mountains. The park is also home to Adventure Park Lovćen, located at 1.350 m on Mount Lovćen, right where the Kotor–Lovćen cable car arrives.

#lovcennationalpark #kotor

🏔️ Prokletije National Park

Known as the "Accursed Mountains," this is Montenegro's youngest National Park. With peaks rising above 2.500 m, glacial lakes and spectacular hiking trails, it was our absolute favourite for its wild, untouched beauty.

#prokletije #accursedmountains by @gowiththevan

🩵From the first splash to the last rapid, this was one of the highlights of our Balkan road trip.

🚣🏻‍♀️22 km of rafting, 23 rapids, turquoise water, waterfalls, wild nature and unforgettable views. We started with a fun off-road ride to the river and spent around 4 hours floating between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

🌊The Tara river is known as the "Tear of Europe" thanks to its incredibly pure, crystal-clear water. Even in summer, it's freezing cold, and it flows through one of the deepest canyons in Europe, reaching over 1.300 m in depth.

✌🏻Our guide was great: skilled, friendly and always in control. We could relax and enjoy every rapid, knowing we were in great hands.

📍Outdoor Resort TaraSport (Hum, Bosnia & Herzegovina) @tararafting
💶€299 for our family (including overnight stay with our van and a traditional 3-course lunch)

Would you take your kids rafting? 👇🏻

#rafting #tarariver #familyadventure #bosnia #raftingtara by @gowiththevan

WTF?

Gotta try this trend 😉

#wtf #travelwithkids #vanlife #roadtrip #adventures by @gowiththevan

One of the most beautiful glacial valleys in the Alps.

📍Logar valley (Logarska dolina) 🇸🇮

Tucked in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Logarska dolina is a 7km-long valley surrounded by steep limestone walls, dense forests, and alpine meadows.

DON'T MISS:
🌊Rinka waterfall — the highlight. A 90m cascade at the far end of the valley. A 15 min hike from the upper car park.
🌲Fairy forest (@ekohisa_narazpotju ) — a themed trail through the woods with 21 story stations blending folk tales with forest education (🎟️ entrance fee).
⛰️The views — basically at every turn.
🥾Many hiking trails all around.

HOW WE DID IT:
🚲 by bike
📏7km from the valley entrance to the upper car park, on asphalt
📈Mostly manageable, with a proper climb in the final stretch — but the waterfall more than makes up for it.

⚠️Vehicles pay an entrance fee. Bikes go free.

WHERE WE STAYED:
🏕️Farm stay Na Logu (Turistična Kmetija Ambrož Gregorc) - just 3km from the valley entrance. Simple, quiet, genuinely lovely.

💾 Save it for your next trip to Slovenia!

#logarskadolina #visitslovenia #alpsmountains #travelwithkids #vanlife by @gowiththevan

𝕊𝔸𝕃ℤ𝕂𝔸𝕄𝕄𝔼ℝ𝔾𝕌𝕋 - a road trip through lakes, mountains, salt and ice🇦🇹

ℍ𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤
🌞4.5 days
🛣️915 km
💶740€ (all inclusive)

📍𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐓
🧊 𝘌𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘵, 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘯: the world's largest ice cave
🗓 Open daily May 1 – November 1

🏰 𝘏𝘰𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦, 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘯: a medieval fortress dating back to 1077. The falconry show is unmissable!
🗓 Open April – early November

🚂 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘨 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘚𝘵. 𝘞𝘰𝘭𝘧𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨: the steepest steam railway in Austria running since 1893
🗓 Daily April 25 – November 1

🏔️ 𝘎𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘶 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴: we hiked all the way to the third lake (~7km and 2h one way). The first lake is the most accessible.
🗓 Accessible year-round; best May–October

🏘️ 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘵: A UNESCO World Heritage village of just 800 inhabitants clinging to a cliff above the Hallstätter See. Rumoured to be the inspiration for Arendelle in Disney's Frozen.

🧂𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘻𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘵: the world's oldest salt mine, in use for over 7,000 years and the skywalk perched above the village with breathtaking views. We visited in 2015.
⚠️ Heads up: the salt mine, funicular and skywalk has been closed since September 2025 for major renovation works, with reopening expected around June 30, 2026. Check their website!

🏕️ 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏
🚐Seecamping Appesbach & Seeterrassen Camping: we found them fully booked in early May — reserve in advance!
🚐Camper Stop Trauneck
🚐Bauernhof Schauphof

👉🏻Have you been to the Salzkammergut? Drop a comment and save it for your next trip!

#austria #salzkammergut #hallstatt #travelaustria #roadtrip by @gowiththevan

📍SOTESKA PEKEL (Hell Gorge) 🇸🇮

😈The name says it all. In Slovenian, "pekel" (hell) traditionally referred to isolated, hard-to-reach places where the Devil was said to hide — deep gorges, dark caves, places you didn't wander into by accident. The first paths through the gorge were cut by charcoal burners, over a hundred years ago. The wooden devil at the trailhead is still there to welcome you.

💦Five waterfalls drop through a sequence of rocky steps, with wooden ladders and iron pegs helping you through the steeper sections. In summer the gorge stays cool and shaded; in winter the stream freezes into ice sculptures.

TRAIL INFO:
📍 Borovnica, 23 km from Ljubljana
📏~6km circular loop (up through the gorge, down via Pristava, where the path is considerably more gentle and less exposed)
⏱️ 3-4 hours with stops
📶 Difficulty: moderate — some steep sections with fixed cables and wooden staircases after the 2nd waterfall
⬆️Elevation gain: ~300m
🌧 Avoid after rain — rocks stay slippery
🍝 Restaurant Gostišče Pekel at the gorge entrance
🅿️ Free small parking at gorge entrance

OUR TIP:
🧗🏻‍♀️For the girls we brought a via ferrata kit. Not strictly required, but it gave everyone — kids and adults alike — a much more relaxed and confident experience on steep sections with fixed metal cables. Definitely worth considering if you're hiking with children.
🚐Overnight idea: @pred.peklom small camping place near the gorge entrance

👉🏻Would you go to Hell… Gorge? 🤪

#soteskapekel #hikingwithkids #slovenia #familyadventure #exploreslovenia by @gowiththevan