Exploring Iceland

ABOVE: Powerful Gullfoss Waterfall along Iceland’s Golden Circle. BELOW, FROM LEFT: No trip to Iceland is complete without a relaxing spa day at the Blue Lagoon. Iceland’s favorite snack: a plysur with brown mustard. The Aurora Borealis: a natural firework display. Beautiful interior nave of Hallgrímskirkja Church in Reykjavík—don’t miss the view from the top!

WRITTEN BY HEIDI SIEFKAS

Mother Nature pulls out all the stops in Iceland. Nowhere else than on this Nordic island does a landscape surprise you with volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, and lava fields  ontrasted with massive glaciers and countless waterfalls. Its nickname—Land of Fire and Ice—certainly rings true and can be witnessed starting from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, and continuing along the Golden Circle.

REYKJAVÍK

The capital city of Reykjavík is home to nearly half of the country’s population, making it the largest city in Iceland. As a thriving cultural center, Reykjavík is a perfect starting point for your adventure. Your best bet is to jumpstart your trip with a walking tour of the city’s highlights such as Hallgrímskirkja Church and the Sun Voyager sculpture. Take a break to refuel along Laugavegur (Wash Street) to enjoy culinary delights like lamb stew or fermented shark with a shot of brennivín (caraway flavored vodka). For a bit of entertainment, take in a show at the Harpa Concert Hall or perhaps catch the captivating northern lights before dancing till dawn in one of Reykjavík’s world-renowned nightlife hotspots. Don’t leave Reykjavík without trying the locals’ favorite snack, the pylsur: a hot dog with the works.

THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK

Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO heritage site within a forty-five-minute drive from the capital. The impressive geological formations remind visitors that Iceland is located at the junction of two tectonic plates: the North American and Eurasian. The gap between these plates grows two-and-a-half centimeters a year. Within the park you witness the newest part of Iceland beneath your feet, and also learn of its rich history from Scandinavian influence and Dutch rule to independence in 1944.

GEYSIR GEOTHERMAL AREA

From Thingvellir through the Haukadalur Valley is an easy forty-five-minute drive peppered with volcanic activity, including steaming vents and cones. The most
notable site is home to two geysers: Great Geysir and Strokkur. Although the names would lead you to believe the former is grander than the latter, because of geothermal changes in the early twentieth century, this is not the case. The Great Geysir has sadly ceased to erupt; whereas Strokkur powerfully shoots water to an impressive sixty to 130 feet in the air every ten minutes. It is a must-see!

GULLFOSS WATERFALL

The Golden Circle’s crowning jewel is Gullfoss Waterfall. Located a ten-minute drive from the geysers, Gullfoss is situated in the Hvítá River Valley. With a drop
of over one hundred feet in two cascading tiers, Gullfoss Waterfall is a shutterbug’s playground. Plan to stay and enjoy a bite to eat and a local beer (Viking Gylltur) at the visitor’s center. Depending on the timing of your visit, you can add on a Hvítá River rafting tour or a snowmobile tour of the Langjökull glacier. Adventurous
travelers might consider adding highlights like Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon, or the seven- to fourteen-day Ring Road itinerary.

GRAND FINALE

Many times, vacationers feel like they need a vacation from their vacation. In Iceland, the Blue Lagoon provides an excellent geothermal spahhh experience. With
proximity to the airport, luggage storage, restaurants, and bars, why not recharge your batteries before returning home in mineral rich-waters averaging 99 to 102
degrees Fahrenheit?

In a world with so much manmade infrastructure and technology, it is important to unplug. Natural, awe-inspiring beauty awaits you in Iceland.

Photography by (top) Olga_Gavrilova/iStock/Getty Images Plus, (above from left) Mlenny/E+/Getty Images,
JasonDoiy/iStock/Getty Images Plus, golfer2015/E+/Getty Images, Bibhash Banerjee/iStock/Getty Images Plus.