Backpack Adventures: Greetings from Croatia
Oh, the places you’ll go! We asked you to send in photos of your CCHC backpacks during your summer travels and you delivered! Tag along as we take you to Croatia, the Adirondacks, Mount Rushmore and several places across New England.
For Darijan Suton, traveling to Croatia every year is more than just a vacation. It’s a chance to return to his roots, visit cousins and his parents, and introduce his daughter, Adria, to the culture, history, language and the place where he grew up.
The Wellness Program Manager has such a close affinity with the southeast European country, he even named his daughter after the Adriatic Sea.
There are more than 1,000 islands of all shapes and sizes in Croatia. Darijan and Adria, 9, visited the islands of Hvar and Vis, then continued on to the city of Dubrovnik, famous for one of the filming locations for “Game of Thrones.” Throughout their travels, they enjoyed cliff diving, snorkeling and swimming during picture-perfect days with temperatures in the 80s and 90s, dry heat with no humidity.
“The sea is so clear—you can see the fish swimming beneath you,” says Darijan. “I even played water polo. It reminded me how hard it is to play this sport. After 20 minutes, I was drained.”
To get around the towns, Darijan rented a scooter similar to a Vespa. “It is a popular way to travel because the streets are narrow,” he says.
Darijan says Croatia used to be a hidden gem for many Europeans, but now it’s a hot spot for celebrities and Mediterranean cruise stops. The country is also increasingly popular with Central and Eastern Europeans because it’s a drivable distance from places such as Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Switzerland.
Throughout his travels, Darijan said his Cape Cod Healthcare backpack came in handy for beach days and exploring the islands. He packed it with plenty of water, Gatorade and snacks.
Thank you to all of you who sent in photos of your backpacks on your travels this summer. We hope you enjoy clicking through the slideshow of photos (click arrow on right; swipe left on mobile).
Wellness Program Manager Darijan Suton enjoys spending time on Hvar Island, Croatia, in August.
Julie Badot takes in the stunning views from a summit in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks.
“My 14-year-old-son, Ryan, has been using my backpack all summer on his adventures,” says Karin Sloan, MD. Here, Ryan returns home from a youth service trip in Maine. Dr. Sloan shares the group did a lot of work for H.O.M.E, an organization that enhances the quality of life for low-income and homeless families.
Jessica Eressy reaches new heights with her backpack in Acadia National Park, Maine.
The CCHC backpack was a big hit at Cape Cod Baseball League games this summer.
A staycation for Chris Widegren included spending time at Pleasant Bay Beach in Harwich.
Lisa Connors shares that her son, Quinn, at Norwich University in Vermont, liked her backpack so much, he decided to keep it to start off his freshman year!
Heather Ward took this snapshot of her CCHC backpack at Mount Rushmore during her recent travels in South Dakota.
Julie Decoteau brought her backpack on a trip to Chicago for her Doctor of Nursing Practice graduation.
