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The Land of Fire and Ice

W. Spielfogel

Photo Credit: W. Spielfogel

The Kardashians visited this otherworldly location in last night’s episode of Keeping Up, their national soccer team made it to the quarter-finals of the Euro Cup last week and with Instagram introducing more and more people to the country’s steaming geothermal pools and obsidian lava fields, Iceland seems to be the “it” destination that is suddenly the only place that anyone is talking about.

Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Photo Credit: W. Spielfogel

Iceland is a Nordic island country located about halfway between North America and Europe and is an adventure traveler’s dream destination! IcelandAir has several non-stop international flights from New York, Boston, Seattle, Denver and DC (they fly from 16 US destinations in total) and you can even add an IcelandAir stopover, for up to 7 nights, at no additional cost en route to Europe. With some of the craziest scenery and wildest nightlife (did I mention that the Northern Lights are also viewable from Iceland?), Iceland is a must-visit destination for 2016.

Iceland is approximately 40,000-square-miles (about the size of the state of Kentucky), where the majority of its 325,000 inhabitants live in the capital and largest city of Reykjavik. This makes Iceland the most sparsely populated country in Europe.

Visitors should spend a few nights in the bustling coastal city of Reykjavik (a 45-minute drive from the airport), staying at the 101 Hotel (yes, this is the hotel that the famous Kardashian clan checked into). While tourism has been on the rise in Iceland over the past decade, hotels have been slow to catch up. Be sure to book your hotel well in advance of your travels since the best properties tend to sell out fast.

101 Hotel
Photo Credit: 101 Hotel

While in the Reykjavik, enjoy farm to table dining at incredible restaurants including Fishmarket, Matur og Drykkur, Snaps and Dill. Make dinner reservations before your arrival to the country. The best restaurants are very intimate and only accommodate a limited number of seatings per evening. Many will do tasting menus which is highly encouraged to take full advantage of local specialties.

Many travels assume that Iceland’s most notable dish is fermented shark. If you look at menus at tourist restaurants, it’s easy to see why this perception persists. The truth is that most locals don’t eat much of this delicacy any longer. What they do is is lots and lots of hot dogs! The most popular place to get a hot dog in Reykjavik at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, which translates to the “best hot dogs in town”. According to the folks behind the harbor side stand, 70% of the country’s residents have eaten here, with famous visitors such as Bill Clinton and members of the band Metallica.

Reykjavik is easy to navigate, relatively small and most of the shops and restaurants are located in the heart of the city (which line Laugavegur Street) so a rental car is not necessary for this portion of your itinerary. The best way to explore the city of Reyjkavik is by foot. There’s a free walking tour that departs daily from the center of town. Book this tour (online and again, in advance of your arrival since spots book up fast) for the start of your trip to become well acquainted with Reykjavik. The tour focuses on the history of Iceland, the evolution of the city and Icelandic culture in general. Once you get a good lay of the land, you can then experience the Reykjavik on your own. Take in a sunrise or sunset atop the Hallgrimskirkja Church and snap beautiful panoramic photos of the city. Other things to do include visiting the charming Skogár Folk Museum to learn about life in Iceland and shopping for local unique goods including wool, sheepskin, lava salt, ceramics and art. Reykjavik is famously dubbed “the nightlife capital of the north” and it sure lives up to its name. Plan to enjoy all that the city has to offer after dark by experiencing the Reykjavik Nightlife Bar Crawl – a fun experience you’ll be sure to remember (if the last rounds of shots don’t get to you).

City of Reykjavik
Photo Credit: W. Spielfogel

You’ll then want to leave the bustle of Reykjavik behind in order to gain a unique perspective on the rest of the Iceland landscape which is often referred to as the island of fire and ice. From exploding geysers and thundering waterfalls to steaming hot pools and rugged ponies, you can experience it all!

Icelandic Pony
Photo Credit: W. Spielfogel

From your hotel in Reykjavik, book a private Super Jeep tour of the Golden Circle, a route outside Reykjavík that passes some of the country’s most visited tourist attractions, like the Gullfoss waterfall and the geysers. A stop in the geothermal Haukadalur valley will reveal Geysir and Strokkur geysers, where boiling water erupts every ten or so minutes up to 65 feet into the air! Then you’ll enjoy a visit to the dramatic Gullfoss waterfall and a stop at the Thingvellir National Park. For a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, you can dive between the North American and Eurasia tectonic plates at the Silfra Rift within the park. You’ll be submerged into one of the clearest waters in the world – pretty unbelievable! Don’t worry about the freezing cold glacial water. Your dry suit will keep you warm. If you’re visiting during the summer months, go for a midnight dive between the plates when the sun will still be shining bright.

Geyser
Photo Credit: W. Spielfogel

After a full day of exploring, head to the ION Luxury Adventure Hotel in Selfoss, which is not far from the Golden Circle (yet far enough outside the city) to experience some rest and relaxation. The bare chic property overlooks Mount Hengill (a massive volcano) and vast lava fields and hot springs. ION, which is part of the Design Hotels consortium and is built out of green and sustainable materials does not disappoint! The abandoned inn turned luxury hotel is well situated allowing guests to explore various parts of the country, including the infamous Aurora Borealis – a.k.a. The Northern Lights. 

ION Hotel
Photo Credit: W. Spielfogel

Book a private evening expedition on a Super Jeep to see this phenomenon (which the hotel can arrange). The Northern Lights are a key Icelandic attraction in the winter months and sure to top your bucket list! If you’re lucky enough, you might even see this natural wonder from the hotel’s aptly named Northern Lights bar or the open-air deck at the back of the hotel featuring a natural heated pool with water from the hot springs. It doesn’t get any better than viewing the nocturnal fireworks show from the comforts of a hot tub! Capturing the Northern Lights on your iPhone, GoPro or point-and-click camera is not easy so be sure to read up on how to best photograph this phenomenon ahead of time.

Northern Lights
Photo Credit: NorthernLightsIceland

During the winter months, the hotel can arrange for snowmobiling on the Langjökull glacier, dogsledding, horseback riding, ice climbing and/or backcountry skiing. That said, a lot of the outdoor attractions in Iceland are better enjoyed in the summer, when it’s much warmer and brighter, with nearly around the clock hours of daylight. If you’re visiting in the winter and want to explore, be careful if you’re renting a car. Roads are often closed due to extreme weather conditions and the weather is often very unpredictable. Be sure to rent a four-wheel drive vehicle if exploring on your own and consult with the locals.

Private Super Jeeps
Photo Credit: W. Spielfogel

A trip to Iceland wouldn’t be complete without a visit to a geothermal spring, the most well-known being Reykjavik’s Blue Lagoon. While some might suggest skipping this “tourist trap,” only a certain number of visitors are allowed in per day, making the experience very enjoyable. Book tickets in advance (spring for a Premium Access pass to skip the entrance line) and pack some extra towels and your hotel’s bathrobe to truly enjoy the relaxation and comforts of the lagoon (just make sure to bring the robe back). During your time at the lagoon, indulge in a silica face mask (fun photos!) and enjoy lunch at the on-site restaurant, Lava. Again, you’ll want to pre-book your meal reservation and definitely consider dining in your plush terrycloth robe. 

Currently there are no five-star hotels in Iceland, but this is all set to change in less than a month with the launch of the Diamond Suites on the top-floor of the four-star Hótel Keflavík. According to the Iceland Monitor, no expense has been spared in making the accommodation as luxurious as possible. Guests will also be able to take advantage of Europe’s largest hotel gym, and sample culinary delights by Master Chef Iceland contestant Jenný Rúnarsdóttir. It was thought the first five-star hotel would be one currently being built at the famous Blue Lagoon resort, but the Diamond Suites, scheduled for a May 2017 opening, is set to beat it to the punch.

Iceland is fast becoming a year-round vacation destination and tourism is growing at a rapid rate every year. To avoid running into jam-packed bus tours and to enjoy the better hotels and restaurants, a visit in the spring, fall and even the cold winter months (which doesn’t see much daylight but has great Northern Lights viewings – and the Icelandic are avid Christmas and New Year’s celebrators) is suggested. Safe travels!

Whitney Spielfogel

Whitney Spielfogel is a guru in influencer marketing and public relations with experience working for popular lifestyle brands. Throughout the course of her career, she has worked for leading media companies including Z100 Radio, ABC TV, Viacom and Conde Nast Publications. Whitney currently lives in New York City where she enjoys spending time with her husband Ross and children Sienna and Slade, s...(Read More)

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