Dalmatian Coast

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/croatia/obt.htm

The long, rugged islands off Croatia's mountainous coast make this a yachting paradise. There are plenty of deep channels, quaint ports and good steady winds. It's also a great area for sea kayaking, especially around the Elafiti Islands and the Kornati Islands. The varied topography of the coast has spurred a growing diving industry and nearly every coastal resort has a dive centre. The main attractions are shipwrecks and caves (including the famous Blue Grotto). There are excellent rock climbing opportunities, especially in Paklencia National Park and the rocks surrounding Baska on Krk Island. For landlubbers, Risnjak and Paklencia National Parks both have excellent areas for hiking.

Rab Island, near the centre of the Kvarner island group off north-western Croatia, is one of the most enticing in the Adriatic. The north-eastern side of the island is barren and rocky, while the south-western side is green with pine forests. Medieval Rab town, one of the prettiest in the region, is built on a narrow peninsula that encloses a sheltered harbour. Stone buildings climb from the harbour to a cliff overlooking the sea. Rab has been ruled by both Venice and Austria, and these days you'll hear as much German as Croatian spoken.

Just off Croatia's southern Adriatic coast, a third of pencil-thin Mljet Island is a national park. The park's main attractions are two saltwater lakes surrounded by pine-clad slopes. Most visitors come on a day trip, so if you stay overnight you'll have the place to yourself. There's a little island in the middle of the larger lake; if you catch a boat out there you can have lunch at the 12th-century Benedictine monastery, which is now the park's hotel. The island is a great spot for swimming and sunbathing, or you can rent a bike and ride around the park.