With direct flights from Charlotte to Munich, we couldn't resist sandwiching our trip to Slovenia between 2 days and nights at Oktoberfest. So of course, we'll need beer and pretzels. Contribute and win a personalized toast in German from us ;).

We’ll arrive by train from Munich to the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. Upon arrival, we’ll head directly to the Ljubljana castle for a view of the city and all that it has to offer – world famous architecture, museums, and riverside cafes and bars.

The waters of the Adriatic are surely therapeutic! Next stop is Piran, a seaside retreat. We’ll hike to the Church of St. George, stay at the quaint Hotel Max, and enjoy some time on the beach.

While we're in Piran, it wouldn't hurt to take a ferry over to Venezia would it? Va bene! Canals, world-famous glassware, and Piazza San Marco (don't forget the gold mosaic ceiling).

Entrance fee to Skocjan Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Skocjan Caves, with the vastness of their underground halls and gorges, hold a special place among the 7000 caves in Slovenia.

Maribor is the European Capital of Culture for 2012! We’ll see many luxurious gardens in this rich wine county & view the oldest vine in the world. There's also rumor of a nearby enchanted forest. Hotel Orel overlooks the main square.

Vinag’s 19th century wine cellar is one of the greatest in Europe. It's 20,000 square meters, with capacity for 5.5 million liters (only 400,000 bottles). We've contacted them and they've offered to "make for us a little romantic moments."

Ptuj: pronounced Pi-tooey! Rush is pumped to see the oldest city in Slovenia. It's formerly Roman, with evidence of habitation in the Stone Age! The Pullus wine from the monastic cellar is the healthiest and Hotel Mitra decorates in medieval fashion.

Spa Therapy! Excavations from the period of the Roman Empire bear witness to Slovenia’s rich and diverse culture of thermal baths, the health benefits of which have been touted for more than four centuries. We hope to see for ourselves for Ptuj!

Bled is a fairy tale—with a cliff-top castle, an island church, and mountain scenery. One of the most popular destinations in Europe these days,it draws an upmarket crowd from around the world. Tito entertained in a palace here, which is now a hotel.

This is a pletna. They're perfect for a nice cruise around Lake Bled, or to cross over to the island church. The boats have no keel and require skill to handle. That's why this nice fella will be our guide!

Pristine Bohinj is in Triglav National Park. We’ll stop at this alpine lake on our way up the Julian Alps. A museum of dairy farming, Bohinj cheese, and mashed corn with sour cabbage! We’ll also see Savica Falls, the most famous of Slovenia's 260 falls.

Hiking, paddling, and camping-OH MY! We are already dreaming of the Soca. Draining the Julian Alps, suspended flecks of limestone reflect uncanny hues of green and blue. With plenty of outfitters here, we look forward to a few days of adventure.

Rafting on the clear, turquoise waters of the Soca River. There are numerous outfitters for the half-day trip down this amazing aqua strand.

The restaurant at the Hisa Franko Casa hotel is reportedly one of the best in Slovenia. The hotel is situated in the Julian Alps, just past the Soca Valley, in Kobarid. What better place to end up after our outdoor adventures?

Planning is ongoing since we are not leaving for this trip until September 2011. So more details may continue to be added as we learn more about the country and our specific destinations.

This bed and breakfast in downtown Charleston was the former home of Edward Rutledge, one of SC's representatives to the First Continental Congress. He later became the youngest person to ratify and sign the Declaration of Independence! GO PATRIOTS!

A sunset cruise! We'll enjoy an evening on the water with the beautiful settings of historic Charleston in the background.

North Carolina has a strong tradition in pottery making. Potters in the nearby Seagrove area are famous worldwide, and Sara's personal favorite (to-date) is the crystalline style at Dover Pottery (www.doverpots.com/index.html).

Brady Beck Photography - This photographer is a friend of ours, and we love his work and the Sandhills. If we end up moving on, we'd like to take a piece of it with us. Check out more of his work at: http://bradybeckphotography.com/

Todd Pusser Photography - Another friend of ours from the Sandhills, Todd has amazing photos from here and all over the world. We'd love to hang some of his art on our wall! Check out more of his work at: www.toddpusser.com

For uncorking the good times :).

OXO Salad Spinner - I hate wasting paper towels to dry off my lettuce! This will be awesome to have :)

REI Ridgeline 65 Pack - We've been hoping to stock up on some gear, especially for our honeymoon adventure, so his and her multi-day packs are definitely in order!

Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus Sleeping Pad - Hopefully, having sleeping pads will help us make the leap from car camping to real backwoods hiking and camping!

First Need XL Water Purifier - Clean H20 priced right... it's Rush's thing