Under an hour's ferry ride from Split and the mainland, Brac is central Dalmatia's largest island (the third largest in the Adriatic) and the windsurfing capital of Croatia. An island of vineyards, olive groves and pine forests, its other claim to fame is its white marble -- the island provided stone for Diocletian's palace in Split and also the White House in Washington D.C. In fact, Brac boasts that it had the first limestone sculpture school in Europe.

The island's population is almost 14,000. Along with idyllic coves, traditional villages and bustling fishing harbors, one of Croatia's most famous beaches is here: tongue-shaped Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape). It looks Caribbean-like on posters, but be prepared for pebbly golden shingle, not soft sand.

Some people automatically object to stony beaches, but bathing in the water here is idyllic. The white stones lend a champagne clarity that sand beaches just can't match.

As well as swimming and wind-surfing, there's tennis, cycling and scuba diving. A popular walk is up to the summit of Mount Vidova Gora, where you can look across to the neighboring islands of Vis, Korcula and Hvar.