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Beach lovers, architecture buffs and ski bums will find an enchanting world in this Western piece of the former Yugoslavia.

Slovenia is sometimes referred to as "Europe in miniature" because it offers nearly everything: rivers, lakes, caves, underground waterfalls, forests, vineyards, medieval towns, majestic castles, the Alps and access to the Adriatic Sea.

Slovenia shares its borders with Austria and Hungary to the north, Italy to the west, and Croatia to the south and east. It's only been independent for a little more than 16 years. Luckily, its 1991 secession from the rest of Yugoslavia was relatively bloodless; thus, Slovenia was able to avoid the deep scars of war that are still visible across many regions of the former Yugoslavia. Admission to the European Union in 2004 was an excellent economic move that still pays off for visitors, who are now able to enjoy many modern and up-to-date amenities, from thermal spas to ski resorts.

Maribor

Visitors may want to check out Maribor, also known by its German name of Marburg. Maribor is a charming university town located at the Austrian border. The town has about 133,000 inhabitants and offers cultural variety, from opera and theater to art galleries and culinary treats.

Maribor features several towers that were erected in the 15th century to defend the city. At the foot of the Zidovski Stolp (Jewish Tower), the Jewish quarter begins. Its small streets and the more than 600-year-old synagogue are well worth a visit. The city originally featured three castles of which only one remains. It now houses the Regional Museum.

The most charming part of Maribor is likely the medieval town center called Lent, which spreads along the river Drava. In this part of the city, tourists will find a vine which has grown here for more than 400 years. Each year, the grapes are ceremonially harvested; and if your timing is right, you can buy a bottle of this unique wine in the shop located within the Vodni Stolp, which translates as "Water Tower."

Throughout the year, Slovenes and tourists gather for large festivals in Maribor. The Lent Festival in summer and the Golden Fox ski races are the biggest draws.

Maribor is a great city for outdoor activities during summer and winter, due to its location at the foot of the Pohorje mountain range, which is home to a famous ski resort and features the World Cup women's slalom and giant slalom races each January. Visitors can hike, kayak, cycle, golf, ride horses, fish and go rock climbing and caving in the summer.

About half of Slovenia's 7,800-square-mile territory is covered in woods. Thus, Slovenia is the third most forested country in Europe (after Finland and Sweden). Hikers may still encounter a bear, a wolf or a lynx in some of the forests, especially in the Kočevje area, in the southern region of the country.

Ljubljana

Once you have enough of the wilderness, a visit to Slovenia's capital Ljubljana is a must. First mentioned by its German name, Leibach, in 1144, the city's architecture is magnificent, and even in early spring, the promenade along the river Ljubljanica invites outside lounging and people watching.

High above the old town towers the impressive Ljubljanski Grad – the city's medieval castle. Archeological excavations prove that the castle hill was first fortified by the Celts and Illyrians. Later, the Romans erected a military base on it. The castle is easily reached by elevator, and the view from the tower shows the entire city, which boasts a population of about 300,000.

Ljubljana's structural richness can be contributed largely to its most famous architect, Jozé Plečnik (1872-1957). Plečnik, who was born in Ljubljana, began by building his own house in Trnovo, which now houses part of the Architectural Museum and is well worth a visit. Following his masterpieces throughout the city, tourists will be able to enjoy gardens, courtyards, passages and interiors he designed.One of the highlights of Plečnik's work is the National and University Library.

Even if you decide not to follow in this master's architectural footprints, you will come across one of his designs when you stroll from the castle into the old town - the Market on the east bank of the Ljubljanica River, also called the river of seven names.

Kras

While Slovenia's cities surprise many visitors with their unexpected riches of history, art and culture, one of the most impressive rural areas is the Kras region, where the term Karst originated. Karst refers to a type of topography that is formed by the dissolution of soluble rock such as limestone or dolomite. About half of Slovenia is full of sinkholes, potholes, underground waterfalls and sunken lakes. Nearly untouched landscapes can be found off the tourist path for the real adventurers.

Even beach lovers will be satisfied after a visit to Slovenia. While the country's access to the Adriatic Sea in the Mediterranean is not quite 30 miles long, it is only about an hour from Ljubljana and a small hop from Italy's Trieste. Most European tourists revel at the nearby, longer Croatian beaches. However, Slovenia's coast is celebrated as being comparable in charm to the French Riviera, albeit without the pretentious crowds.