Originally Posted by yorkshire

Another thought:
I like Zagreb too, but since you are getting that stopover in Zurich and won't be jet lagged, I would consider skipping it and getting in the car and heading straight to Plitvice. The reasons being (1) you need more time somewhere else to do some outdoorsy stuff (I get the sense you will all be disappointed if you don't) and (2) Plitvice is best seen as a split-stay anyway--that is, the late afternoon/early evening after day trippers move on, and early the next morning before they arrive.

Originally Posted by ivson

If you like grill, god chain is Batak, they have one restaurant on Tkalciceva street downtown Zagreb. We usually go there when I visit my hometown. Although another location but same food.
We have a bit of a same situation , 50s, sons 20 and 22, one even named after st Donat in Zadar haha.

Originally Posted by ginacrystal0464

I think you should definitely add more time to Dubrovnik, you’ll be exhausted by the time you get there if you’re driving! But honestly you may be better off leaving the car in Split and just taking a boat over to Dubrovnik, especially if you’re staying in the old town. The buses in those cities are very reliable and will save you a ton of money and headaches with parking!

Originally Posted by KarenWoo

When we visited Plitvice, we did the Upper Lakes on our first day in the late afternoon. We did the Lower Lakes the next day in the morning. We were on the trail by 9AM. This plan worked for us. I don't remember exactly why we planned it this way.