Visiting Iceland was such an amazing and unique journey for my family and me. No, it isn't covered in ice, but it is pretty cold, even in the middle of July! Yet, that didn't stop us from making the most of our time there. Harboring some of the most stunning landscapes, breathtaking waterfalls, and beautiful architecture, we had many exciting things to do. We stayed at the lovely Alda Hotel in Reykjavik, located on the main shopping street Laugavegur in the city! There were several shops, restaurants, and sights that were easily accessible, and we had fun checking all of them out.
My favorite restaurant we dined at was called Rok. In fact, my family and I liked it so much that we ate there twice! Both times, I got a traditional Icelandic fish pie which was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection! My mom enjoyed their duck confit, and my sister savored the steak they offered. We even tried a wild mushroom risotto that I highly recommend! In addition, we got several breakfast pastries from a bakery just down the street from our hotel, bought some sweet gelato served in a waffle at a store named Valdís, and purchased a few memorable souvenirs.
Traditional Icelandic Fish Pie Quaint Rok Restaurant
Probably one of the coolest activities we partook in was hiking up the Sólheimajökull glacier. They had us use special equipment that included clamps for our shoes, pickaxes, and of course, helmets. The clamps assisted us in gripping the ice so that we had stable footing, and I found it quite easy to walk upon the glacier! Our guide led us to a few spots where holes had formed with water pouring through, similar to a water slide. He joked that we could use it to ride all the way to the bottom of the glacier! In the end, we definitely got some impressive photos during the hike!
Hiking Sólheimajökull Glacier
Another activity in Iceland that I thoroughly enjoyed was wading in the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Though the air outside was freezing, the water was warm and soothing. It was also extremely blue (hence the name "Blue Lagoon") due to the abundant element silica reflecting visible light. While enticing, the water's minerals can cause your hair to become stiff and difficult to manage, so make sure to avoid letting your hair touch the water! Furthermore, the spa had a pool bar where we got free drinks, courtesy of our tour!
The Blue Lagoon
In addition to the Blue Lagoon, our bus tour took us to several tourist spots all around Reykjavik. We visited Thingvellir National Park, the place where you could see the incredible separating tectonic plates. However, next time I'd wear a face shield or something because there were so many black flies! We also saw the famous Geysir, taking a few videos to capture it projecting water multiple feet in the air. The exquisite Gulfoss Waterfall was next which my mom liked to call a "mini Niagara Falls." The last stop before the Blue Lagoon was Kerid Crater, holding gorgeous, bright blue water (my mom also called this one a "mini Crater Lake!").
Other sights we saw during our trip to Iceland was the Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Gljufrabui, and Íráfoss waterfalls (all part of Iceland's Golden Circle), the famous Hallgrimskirkja cathedral, and Reynisfijara, a giant black sand beach. We walked behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall and captured some pictures with it in the background! We also got to climb to the top of Skógafoss waterfall and peer down, noticing how tall (and how chilly it felt!) the falls appeared. The cathedral was another attraction we ventured to the top of. At the top, we were finally able to get a couple of pictures with the sun out. Fun fact: the time we visited Iceland was the time they got lots of rain. Locals even said it had been 100 years since they had gotten that much rain! Furthermore, the black sand beach was extraordinary. Not only was the sand black, but there were also wild puffins and striking basalt columns that continued all the way up the cliffside!
Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral Reynisfijara Black Sand Beach
Iceland is by far one of the most fascinating and remarkable countries I have had the opportunity to visit. All of the aspects of our trip were momentous and full of surprises. If you asked me, I would definitely go back again in a heartbeat!