More "Slaps" than a Three Stooges Marathon: Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia

A slap is the Croatian word for a waterfall, and in the Plitvice Lakes National Park, visitors are warned to prepare themselves for a serious slap-attack.

The trip to northern Croatia was more involved than I had originally anticipated. It was cold and rainy in the middle of July—a stark contrast to the seemingly endless sunny days I had just spent on the southern Dalmatian Islands. The amount of bus time, although inexpensive ($15 for a three-hour bus ride), was starting to cramp my travel style—and I mean literally, as I had no choice but to stand in the aisle of the over-booked bus. However, when I had asked people if visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park, (a UNESCO World Heritage site) was really worth the trip, my query was answered by all with an enthusiastic “YES!” So, after a catching the 9am bus from Zadar, I arrived at the gates, congratulating myself at being one of 100,000 annual visitors about to be privileged with witnessing the beauty of Croatia's largest national park. Judging from the stats, I was not surprised to find the park quite crowded for a Thursday. I felt a bit of pressure in choosing one of the several different routes—their estimated hiking times ranged from the minimum of 2-3 hours, to the maximum of 6-8 hours. I settled for a 4-6 hour path, figuring I could walk fast and make it back in time for the 5pm bus to Zadar.

Lots of wooden signs remind you of what you can’t do, which is pretty much anything other than walking on the planked pathways and taking photos. Stepping in the water upsets the delicate balance of minerals and organisms that make this water so blue and beautiful. And besides, who would want to contribute to the downfall of something so ancient? Not I. It was obvious that someone had broken the rules, however, as the waters' many trout were expecting tourists—you could observe schools of them next to the wooden pathways, eagerly waiting for a snack.

Electric boats, cutely named after the park's main waterfalls, silently transported hikers from the upper to lower lakes. The pathway around the lower lakes was the main Plitvice sightseeing trail. Celebrity slaps, such as the aptly-named "Big Waterfall," could be found on this route and were definitely worth a visit...if you could manage to navigate your way based on the occasionally convoluted signs. ("Was that straight line supposed to be an arrow?")

So, if you find yourself debating a visit to Plitvice—do yourself a favor and slap some sense into yourself. You won't regret it.