German, Austrian, and Italian travelers have been well-versed in what Croatia has to offer as a vacation destination for more than a century. Until recently, every time they poured into the country in July and August, they had Croatia's endless beaches and clear blue sea almost all to themselves. Today, the rest of the world has opened its eyes to Croatia's charms and miles of coastline, wealth of Roman ruins, medieval hilltop castles, and natural wonders, as well as its warm and welcoming people. This makes the crowd of summer people who swoop down on the country larger and more diverse, swelling tourism to one of the country's biggest sources of income. Even when crowds are at their largest, it is possible to find a secluded cove or patch of beach where it seems you're the only person on Earth. And when all the name-brand hotels are filled, there is always a room with personality waiting in a private home where the landlord welcomes you like a long-lost friend.

Every town and village has at least one restaurant where the locals hang out and where the slice of life you get with your meal is the best dessert there is. In Croatia, each building has a story that adds another facet to this gem of a country, an ancient land with a rocky past that also happens to be a magnificent work in progress.