We have visited Maribor during the summer of 2009 and spent a whole month there. It is a small city but we regularly go back because it has got so much to offer. We visited Zrece spa just 30 minutes from Maribor, made climbing adventures in the "Pustolovski park" adrenalin center, ate wonderful food at tourist farms and restaurants in and around the city and yet again enjoyed Europe's best ice cream on a daily basis (literally). The city park itself is worth being visited regularly. It dates back to 19th century and hosts well marked trees from all over the world with three magnificent ponds so kids will enjoy feeding ducks and swans. Pohorje mountain is on a doorstep and when summer heat is too much for us we flock to its ancient forests and pastures or visit Vinag wine cellar which is one of the largest in Europe and interestingly spreads underneath the city center. There are World's oldest vine, Europe's longest floodlit world cup skiing slope, world cup mountain biking track and you can even take a panoramic flight over the city or the whole country if you wish. No wonder then we are going back in December 2009 - skiing is the answer.