Slow Down: Islands of Lošinj

If the pace of life on the major islands is too hectic, knock your engine down to quarter-speed and head out to one of the tiny islands that pepper the seas around the coast of Lošinj. The island of Unije is by far the largest, managing to fit in a population of 90, although many of them are summer-only residents. The tiny town of the same name has a few restaurants settled around a large pebble bay, although exploring the northern coasts, by foot or by boat, should reveal many private swimming spots. Ilovik is the southernmost island of the group. Its nickname, "Island of Flowers," is accurate; oleanders and roses surround almost every home. Watch yachts at close quarters cutting through the channel between Ilovik and the islet of Sveti Petar, on which there was once a convent. The graveyard remains, and burial processions by fishing boat still take place. Paržine, on the southeastern coast, has a large sandy beach.

If you're from New Jersey, you may have a good chance of being related to one of the 188 people living on Sušak since many folk from here have settled in the Garden State. Sušak, flung farther out into the sea than any of the other islands, is a very different beast. First, while the rest of the Kvarner is composed of limestone karst, Sušak consists entirely of sand, so its coast is far gentler both in elevation and indentation. Not wanting to be outdone, the population retains a distinctive character and culture. The only wheeled transport on the island are wheelbarrows.