DUBoak

DUBoak, the Maritime Heritage Interpretation Centre, is a small museum on the waterfront of Malinska, a resort town on the western coast of Krk Island, facing the Kvarner Gulf. The name is a play on words: dub is the Slavic root for oak, the Croatian word for the tree, and it is combined with the English word. That mix points to the story the centre tells, which links the oak forests of the Malinska-Dubašnica area behind Malinska with the boats and ships that carried the island's timber across the sea.

Dubašnica is the name of the green, hilly part of Krk around Malinska, and its name comes from the same root as dub. Oak woods once covered much of the area, and the wood was valued for building boats. The centre's displays describe how timber from these forests was cut, moved to the shore and shipped out, in particular to Venice, whose shipyards needed huge quantities of oak. They also look at the traditional vessels of the island, the skills of the people who built and sailed them, and the way local communities managed their forests so that they could be used for generations.

The exhibition is modern and interactive, with indoor displays and an outdoor area, which makes it suitable in any weather. It uses models, panels, multimedia and hands-on elements to explain how the forest and the sea were bound together. Visitors of all ages can get something from it, and children tend to enjoy the interactive parts, while adults can take in the broader subjects of sustainable forest use and the history of seafaring on the Kvarner islands.

Malinska is a good place to combine the visit with a stroll or a swim. The nearby Malinska Promenade runs along the sea past cafés and restaurants, the Malinska Town Center and Harbor are a short walk away, and Cuklićevo Beach and Plaza Malinska offer places for swimming. There is also a monastery in the town, which can be visited as part of a walk. Rijeka Airport lies on Krk and is close by, and the island is joined to the mainland by a bridge, so the town is easy to reach.

Opening times and ticket prices change between seasons, so it is sensible to check locally before going. A visit takes about an hour. DUBoak suits families, curious travellers and anyone interested in how an island community used its natural resources, and it makes a good rainy-day alternative to the beach.