Despite its cramped location as Italy’s shoulder, Hungary’s step-stool, and Croatia’s hat, Slovenia, the forested heart of the Mediterranean, has not succumbed to the cultural pressures of its neighbors. The tiny nation will satisfy the tastes of all those looking to ski some slopes, walk the woods, drain some wine, and indulge their deepest green-leafed veggie passions at the country’s annual cabbage festival. With about half the country’s land covered by dense forest, nature-lovers will get their fix in this former Yugoslavian nation, from the thrilling hikes in the mountains of the north to the coastline its caves in the south. Beware of bears while exploring the caves, however: though the people of Slovenia are kind, hospitable, and largely open to letting you sleep in the barn, the substantial brown bear population will hardly offer you a snack when you enter their lair. They’re more likely to let you be the snack. At least they’re pretty creatures. The cultural encroachment of surrounding countries has done nothing but than strengthen Slovenia’s national pride. Examples of this can be seen in the historic alpine towns that dot the countryside, and in traditional farms that use methods dating back hundreds of years. Visitors should be sure to understand the consequences of falling in love with this country—or, better yet, the consequences of falling in love with someone in this country. In Bled, tradition maintains that the groom must carry his wife up the ninety-nine steps of the church’s island in the middle of the lake; otherwise, the marriage will be cursed. Best to save the wine for after the climb, however, as dead wives make for unhappy in-laws. Ex-in-laws, that is.