Slovenia is a small but brilliant country – especially for family travel. Rent a car and head north from the capital to Maribor, a compact city just a stone’s throw from active entertainment appropriate for all ages. There’s canoeing on the river Drava in summer and skiing in the nearby resort of Pohorje in winter. In spring, try the resort’s Pohorjet – a single-track toboggan that hurtles down the ski slopes at up to 30mph.

Lake Bled is an excellent example of how enticing Slovenia can be. It looks just like a scene from your favourite fairy story, with its castle-like church, sitting in the middle of a piercing, emerald green lake.

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