Every winter, we gravitate towards warmer temperatures when deciding where to vacation. Us snowbirds (from the colder northern parts of North America), typically flock to the usual crowded vacation destinations spots, such as the state of Florida and the Caribbean. But have you ever thought of trading the scorching heat waves for cooler temps? Toss your portable fans, neck coolers and breathe a sigh of relief in Iceland!
Myth Buster and More.
Contrary to popular belief, Iceland is actually not icy at all. The country has an average temperature of 41 degrees fahrenheit. It was a perfect average of 50 degrees when I went in October. Surprisingly, Iceland is also only about 5 and a half hours away from NYC. When preparing for our trip to Iceland, narrowing down our list of activities was perhaps the hardest thing about planning. The diverse landscape of the country made it impossible to view everything in the span of two weeks. I needed to put on my thinking cap to make executive decisions and thought to myself, “Where should we go? The Golden Circle or the Ring Road?”
On one hand, well-known areas in The Golden Circle include Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall. Meanwhile, Iceland’s Ring Road is a paved highway that encircles the entire island. It’s a popular self-drive route, connecting major towns and offering a wide variety of attractions. The Ring Road is a long drive, requiring at least a week to enjoy the scenery and attractions.
The Golden Circle
Due to time constraints, I ended up visiting The Golden Circle and it did not disappoint! Thingvellir National Park was a must-see, as it is the only place you can walk between 2 tectonic plates (North American and Eurasian plates). How cool is that?! The Geysir Geothermal Area was quite a site. As a bonus, this site shares a sweet tradition with rye bread which is traditionally baked in a pot which is buried near a geyser and uses geothermal heat to cook it for about 24 hours. The result? The sweetest bread to ever reach my taste buds, almost like a fresh moist cake. If bread tasted like this in the states, I would convert myself into a bread lover (I know I’m in the minority here). I had to hold back from eating a second piece. Do not miss it.
The Magnificent Aurora Borealis
I visited Iceland in October of 2017, during the Autumn Equinox which is the best time to view the Northern Lights. Late September in Iceland is known to produce more geomagnetic storms than any other time of the year, leading to some amazing Northern Lights displays. I booked a tour with a reputable Jeep company – they have the rare ability to get viewers closer to the sky, as their rugged wheels climb over rough terrain, which other vehicles are incapable of. I made sure to download two different Aurora Borealis apps; My Aurora Forecast & Alerts and Northern Light Aurora Forecast. I cross checked them with the weather app. I purposefully picked a day with clear skies to ensure the maximum chance of viewing the Northern Lights spectacle. I wasn’t taking any chances. I was locked in!
It was my husband’s 40th birthday getaway, and one of his dreams was to see the aurora borealis. His birthday was in February but we traveled afterwards, in order to time it perfectly during the Autumn Equinox, for the best sky show on Earth. My husband’s voice cracked, as the heavens put on a light show to remember. The Jeep tour took us up to the highest possible peak, served us hot chocolate with Vodka and behold, the skies painted the most magnificent show, with explosions of green and purple dancing across the sky. It was incredible!
Ice(Cream) Capades
Perhaps the most surprising discovery during this trip was tasting the local ice cream! Seriously, Iceland should consider naming their country Ice CreamLand. As an ice cream lover, I always research top rated ice cream parlors of the places I vacation in. Naturally, I was excited when I came upon a highly rated traditional cafe that offered rye bread ice cream. Yes, you read that right. At first, I was skeptical, since I am not a bread lover, but how often do you see an item called rye bread ice cream on the menu? As a foodie, I had to try it, for science! And I would have kicked myself if I did not take that leap, because ’til this day, that is the most amazing flavor I’ve had. No kidding! I don’t know how they pulled it off, but it was like rye cake ice cream heaven. I repeatedly went back for more and I’m pretty sure I went into withdrawal when I left. HIGHLY recommended.
I found another least expected place where unique and flavorful ice cream was discovered… a tomato greenhouse and family owned restaurant called Friðheimar. I tried their tomato Schnapps which are served inside a fresh tomato and I had to try their tomato ice cream, because why not? Again, I was surprised with the magic inside my mouth! They somehow managed to pull it off! It had a glazed taste to sweeten the tomato and the presentation was top tier.
The food In Iceland was always fresh and I was living to eat. The people were friendly and the skies were always blue. While I like visiting a different country every year, Iceland is one of the few places I would revisit in a heartbeat! Iceland and I have some unfinished business. I will return to see the Puffins, as they were not in season when I went. I also have the Blue Lagoon pending. I did not buy tickets in advance (they sell out fast). And, of course, I will be revisiting Cafe Loki for their famous rye bread ice cream. Until we meet again, Iceland.
Things to Do In Iceland:
Cafe Loki- Rye bread ice cream.
Friðheimar- Tomato Ice Cream
Hallgrímskirkja- Beautiful Church
Sun Voyager
Thingvellir National Park-Walk through tectonic plates
Ring Road
Golden Circle
Landmannalaugar
Northern Lights
Skógafoss
Waterfall Way
Fimmvörðuháls Hike
Kirkjufell
Blue Lagoon
Mývatn
Dettifoss and Selfoss
Walk on a Glacier
Explore an Ice Cave
Explore the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Laugavegur Trek
Thórsmörk
Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Diamond Beach
Explore the Westfjords
Hike to Glymur Waterfall
Stuðlagil Canyon
See Puffins in Iceland
Sigöldugljufur
Fjaðrárgljúfur
Svartifoss Waterfall
Snorkel or Scuba Dive at Silfra
Godafoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi
Kerlingarfjöll and the Hveradalir Geothermal Area
Mount Hekla
Snaefellsjökull National Park
Háifoss Waterfall
Punk Rock Museum
The Icelandic Phallological Museum
Written By Jacqueline Patella