Discovering Pickleball Near Lake Bled
I have been trying to think of a more amazing backdrop near pickleball courts, and so far I haven’t found one.
I visited Slovenia with Lake Bled high on my list of places to see. I knew there were pickleball courts nearby, but wow—I was surprised by both how picturesque the courts were and how spectacular the scenery around Lake Bled was.
Mountains, crystal-clear water, Bled Castle, and, of course, the famous island that I had seen so many times in photos. And less than 10 minutes from Lake Bled, you can be playing pickleball.
Slovenia also made a strong impression on me. It is incredibly clean, beautiful, and much less hectic than many other European destinations I’ve visited.
Pickleball is still in its fairly early stages there, but after meeting and playing with some of the local players, I have a feeling the sport is going to grow.
Exploring Lake Bled
One of the great experiences at Lake Bled is taking a traditional boat out to the island in the middle of the lake. You’re rowed from shore to the island, where you have time to explore before making the trip back.
The island has plenty of history, along with its famous church and bell—which visitors enthusiastically ring throughout the day.
With the lake and mountains surrounding you, it’s one of those places that looks every bit as good in person as it does in the photographs.
Pickleball Is Growing in Slovenia
I will certainly return to Slovenia. Part of its appeal is that it still feels somewhat undiscovered compared with many of Europe’s better-known destinations.
I met an excellent pickleball player named Matjaz, who owns Tenis, Pickleball Šobec, the pickleball venue I visited less than 10 minutes from Lake Bled. The surrounding area also offers camping and plenty of outdoor activities, including swimming and hiking.
I also met two sisters, Tea and Sandra, who play pickleball in Ljubljana and the surrounding region. Both have experience playing on a pickleball tour in the United States, and they are among the people helping introduce more players to the sport and grow pickleball in Slovenia.
For me, that’s what makes traveling for pickleball so interesting. Sometimes you discover great pickleball in places you might never have expected—and in this case, it’s just minutes from one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe.
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