I can say with some certainty that Shaun and I generally are not spa people. For some reason (and it may be really great marketing on Iceland’s behalf), the Blue Lagoon is one of those places that I couldn’t get out of my mind and really made us want to visit Iceland. When you think… Continue reading Rolling in the Deep: Blue Lagoon Edition
We arrived in the middle of what was a freak September snowstorm during one of the coldest falls they had on record in 100 years. You can imagine that the smile on my face when we arrived to the very clean and very warm Welcome Hotel Hvammstangi in Hvammstangi, Iceland while we were experiencing gale… Continue reading Weekend Review: Welcome Hotel Hvammstangi
I was super giddy as we pulled into the parking lot to check into the Vogafjos Guesthouse out in the Lake Myvatn area. I had read so many amazing things about this place and was looking forward to my first ever farmhouse stay. While we may not normally be B&B people, I’m always up for… Continue reading Weekend Review: Vogafjos Guesthouse
It was love at first sight. Sure they are a little stumpy and rotund but they kinda reminded me of... well.. me. You can see Icelandic horses everywhere while traversing the Ring Road however it isn't often that you see them super close to the fence. You can imagine my glee when I hopped out… Continue reading Photo Friday: Icelandic Horses
*PING* I look down at my Facebook messages to see, "Head south. A massive snowstorm is heading your way!" I looked out the window at our place in Myvatn and wasn't convinced. Since it was our time to leave the area we packed up the car to head to northwestern Iceland - to the land… Continue reading White Knuckles and Seal Poop: The Great Snowstorm
Did you know that the Lord of the Rings author, J.R.R. Tolkien, was inspired by folklore found in Nordic countries? With stories of trolls and Icelandic folk tales, Tolkien studied and translated many stories from the Old Norse during his education. He drew upon Echoes of William Morris's Icelandic Journals. With a land enveloped and… Continue reading Lord of the Rings Inspiration in East Iceland
I was determined to see everything in Lake Myvatn. There were so many hikes, it was a massive task to take on. And while we didn't get to see everything, here is a quick highlight of a few hikes you can do in a day. I call it our "Hole Hunting Hiking" because everything around… Continue reading Take a Hike! Big Hole Hunting in Lake Myvatn, Iceland
You can smell it the moment you happen across the volcanic fields. It hits your nose like a punch in the face. Sulfur. Somehow I thought I would have already been used to it seeing as all the hot water in the country is heated volcanically. Sure, we may smell like it a bit but… Continue reading Sulfur’s Up! Riding the Lava Wave in Iceland
"The only way that you can see the aurora borealis (northern lights) this early in the season is to have a freak temperature drop and the skies open up for you. And well, you have seen Reykjavik, so I'm not sure that is going to happen for you. But you can always hope!" Signy from… Continue reading Light ‘Em Up! Our Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) Miracle
If you search "top restaurants to eat at in Reykjavik", you will certainly find the well known local gastronomic pleasure of Dill. Not only has it been reviewed by the New York Times but is a gem in the local's eyes. Chefs Gunnar Karl Gíslason and Sommelier Ólafur Örn Ólafsson had returned from a trip… Continue reading Weekend Review: Dill Restaurant Reykjavik
One of my favorite things about Iceland: Reykjavik and the unique architecture found around town. Hallgrímskirkja (a Lutheran church) is a must see when making your way around Reykjavik. It was designed to reflect the nature of Iceland - namely the basalt lava flows that you can see in various waterfalls around Iceland. A stoic… Continue reading Photo Friday: HDR Church in Reykjavik Iceland
The land of fire and ice is known for its magnificent natural beauty and there are no shortages of waterfalls in Iceland. We even had a running joke that all waterfalls coming out the sides of mountains close the the highway have amazing little colorful houses near them. During our awesome Iceland Ring Road roadtrip… Continue reading We Went Chasing Waterfalls in Iceland
Don’t be fooled by the name of SAD cars. While these babies are over 10 years old, they pack a punch in personality. Sure, they may not be the most attractive car on the road there were a few strips of - but seriously, do you want that pressure while driving down dirt/rocky roads? I… Continue reading Takin’ the Long Way – Road Trippin’ with SAD Cars
If you guys saw our last weekend review, you had the chance to check out how awesome Kex Hostel was. And if they couldn't get any more awesome- they have their own fantastic restaurant inside their place- Saemundur. Every bit of food is locally sourced and in season- a concept that I love and is… Continue reading Weekend Review: Saemundur, the Kex Gastropub
“They call it Silfra - which means Silver in Icelandic - because all the bubbles make it look like silver rising to the top.” I’m not sure I entirely believe that but I was captivated by our DIVE.IS guides nonetheless. I was about to participate in one of the biggest boasting notches in my belt… Continue reading SCUBA Diving Silfra or How to Flounder in a Dry Suit
