Croatians sometimes refer to Crikvenica as the "poor man's Opatija." Like the glitzy strip of real estate that skirts Kvarner Bay, Crikvenica is a resort town and has been since the late 19th century. Unlike Opatija, Crikvenica is a comfortable, affordable weekend getaway where folks who live in Rijeka and central Croatia are the most frequent guests. They stay in the town's post-World War II hotels and apartment complexes or at weekend homes, and take advantage of Crikvenica's long waterfront promenade, which is lined with shops, cafes, and acres of pebble beach. Nearby Novi Vinodolski has many of the same features as Crikvenica, but it is smaller and even more "down home."