Hi! Coming from California (mom 43, dad 52, kids 8 & 10) none of us have been to Croata (my kids have never been to Europe).
Itinerary I’m thinking of, with many stops along the drive + day trips —
FLY SFO - Zagreb (2 nights)
Plitvice Lakes (2 nights)
Zadar (3 nights)
Split (1 night) then car Ferry to Brač
Brač (4 nights - stay in Bol, explore the islands)
Return car in Split; Catamaran → Cavtat / Dubrovnik
Cavtat (3 nights): Ferry into Dubrovnik & Lokrum
FLY LATE Dubrovnik - London (1 short night… not great but CHEAP flights!!) - SFO (home)
Q for you lovely people —
Drive from Zadar to Split — a 3-4 hour stop in Šibenik or Trogir?? Remember, it’s July…
Thank you!
Hey, Croatia is very safe and most of the tourism is family oriented so you will have great time. I will drop you guides on what to do and see in each place, note that since you are coming in July there will be lots of tourists so plan for that whenever you will be exploring the main attraction, its always best to go the earliest if possible.
Zagreb (2 nights)
20 Things to do in Zagreb guide by a local2 Days Itinerary for Zagreb (Guide)
Plitvice Lakes (2 nights)
Since you will be 2 nights in Zagreb and Plitvice not being that far away one full day at the park would be sufficient even with visiting Rastoke a village near by which has waterfalls flowing through it. You can sightsee Plitvice Lakes in a slow pace in 4-6 hours, upper and lower lakes.
Plitvice Lakes Guide by a Local (Which entrance, trail to choose, prices etc.)
Rastoke (Beautiful waterfalls, great stop towards National Park Plitvice Lakes)
Zadar (3 nights)
For sandy beaches go to Nin or to island Pag an easy day trip for the beaches, locals from Zadar do it all the time if you dont mind the travel.
Guide for Zadar Croatia ( Is it worth visiting?)
There also islands you can visit from Zadar but they are usually great for relaxing with lower amount of tourists, so if you dont plan to lay on the beach the best islands to visit will be from Split.
Split (1 night) One day in Split ( Guide on what to do and see, where to eat etc.)
Brač (4 nights - stay in Bol, explore the islands)
Brac Day Trip Guide (With a car or without) Best Beaches on Brac Island
Cavtat (3 nights): How to travel from Split to Dubrovnik (Bus, Ferry, Plane, Car)
Cavtat Guide ( a great place to stay near Dubrovnik)
IF you will have time in London London in 1 Day
Sibenik is an easy stop if and when you go to Krka Waterfalls, its only 15 minutes away with a car. And out of two Sibenik is bigger and more interesting, Trogir is nice to see but its sightsee in 30 minute walk.
Trogir Croatia Guide (Day Trip From Split)
If you will need any other city guides, restaurant guides, sightseeing, beaches in Croatia check this subs Megathread here which has all links compiled, this CROATIA TRAVEL GUIDE, or this Croatia Travel Map