Georgia

Georgia is a small country that I know about mostly because of its food. January is only a good time of year to visit if you like skiing, but I wanted to visit this country in 2026 because I had already procrastinated my visit many times, so I decided to travel there as early in the year as I could. The food did not disappoint, the traffic was worse than I could have imagined for a city this size, and I will need to return to see the amazing nature that I know this country has.

Croatia

Croatia has been a favorite tourist destination in Europe for decades. This trend continues increasing, as the clash of mountains and sea on the Dalmatian coast is unparalleled. Further inland, dramatic lakes and other tourist sites await. This was my first time exploring the country with a rental car, which was an excellent idea to get a view of some more offbeat destinations that the country has to offer.

Slovenia

Slovenia has fantastic nature around Triglav National Park. On the other hand, the capital city of Ljubljana is very small and boring. The country has a small population of 2.5 million and is very clean and organized, but the combination of high prices, boring city, and overall sleepy feeling makes me think it's a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.

Macedonia

Macedonia is a funny little country that the Greeks claim is unoriginal and the Serbians claim is not an independent nation. But this small country has a lot to offer, especially in the nature category.