I’ve already linked this up and committed myself to getting in written…so if you’ve found it today, bear with me as the details continue to roll forth from my brain. I was writing fast and furious to get the other posts up!

Blue Lagoon: What to Expect
Iceland Overview: Land of Fire and Ice
Driving the Golden Circle Day 1: Snowmobiling
Reykjavik Off The Beaten Path
Iceland Volcano Hike to Fimmvörðuháls

GEYSIR
Geysir gives geysers their name and goes off every 15 minutes, which is very convenient for tour buses. Luckily for us we spent the night the hotel across the street, which meant getting there before the rest of the tourists…an actual shot without others in it is nearly impossible for most!Lots more to walk around and see besides this single geyser. In fact the information center had an amazing multimedia room with a plate you could step on and feel a simulated Earthquake along with tons of factoids that I’ve been sprinkling throughout these posts!

GULFOSS
Gulfoss is a beautiful waterfall, though it can’t in any way match the size of many others in Southern Iceland (just another reason I can’t wait to go back). It was again so windy we nearly couldn’t stay standing.

But hey you suck it up and just dig in so you can see it from all the angels because each one is incredible in it’s own right. From the path along side it you can feel the water rising up and really get a sense for it’s power and depth.While from above it’s just a majestic site to see the landscape of green pierced by a raging river and to know it’s coming from the big glacier we were just snowmobiling on the previous day.
Efstidalur Farm
Not a must see, but a fun little stop on your golden circle drive is this small farm which allows you to see the entire dairy process, from the cows to the making of the gelato they serve in some delectable flavors.
As we walked around in came a local mother with her two kids and by local I mean within an hours drive, followed by two men on Harleys and eventually another older couple who headed upstairs to enjoy the farm fresh ingredients for lunch.

To our dismay neither of us were hungry and so we explored, but then continued on our merry Golden Circle Adventure.

Laugarvatnsheller
David spent each night looking for intersting things we might want to check out the next day and thus he came upon a stop not in most guide books.

A bizarre little cave with a story.

In 1910 a young couple took up residence in the cave and lived here for 11 months. When they moved out another couple moved in and actually created a wall for the front of the cave, set up a kitchen and raised kids there!Super interesting story, but not a ton to see…which meant we did what we do best. We started climbing around and just enjoying the view.

Thingvellir Park
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is the National Park was once again far more than we expected and to our great fortune the weather continued to be gorgeous, so we walked around for a few hours exploring the paths, waterfalls, beautiful views, church built in 1859.
Of course I also did what I do best…RUN!

Overlooking the park…

What’s your favorite thing about visiting a new country?

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After a solid night of sleep and another super star buffet breakfast, we started driving the Golden Circle. Some people do this in just one day, but we of course found a bazillion places to stop that aren’t listed on the main tour maps, to hike and oh yes…snowmobile!

HENGILL HIKE
A short drive out of town and we were already ohhing and ahhing at the landscape, when we arrived at our first stop (not on most people’s drive, but of course on ours!). This town fascinated me thanks to our hiking guide who told us that here they have no graveyards.

Why is that interesting? Because the ground temperature is over 60 degrees they can’t bury anyone or they’d cook! EIIKK!!Anyhow we weren’t there to bury anyone, so we made our way to paved path up in to the mountains which lead to a hot spring where you could potentially strip down and soak for a bit.

This was literally the ONLY paved hiking path we encountered during the many hikes we did over the course of the week…and can you tell how steep it is? So freaking cool. We got to side tracked by the sheep, the horses and the steaming hot springs on the way up so no skinny dipping for us. We had more places to see..as soon as I made friends.

KERIð CRATER LAKE
The next stop on our drive was back to something they list for tourist. Opening the car door we both nearly fell over from the massive wind gusts, which I admit concerned me a tad as we walked along a narrow ridge looking down in to a massive whole in the ground!Kerid is a volcanic crater lake that was originally a cone volcano that erupted and and emptied its magma reselve. Once the magma was depleted, the weight of the cone collapsed into an empty magma chamber, later to be filled with water. The water here never drains, it just rises and falls in sync with the water tables.While you could walk to the bottom on a nice day and even take a very cold dip, we just enjoyed the view from above with our hands shoved in our pockets.

Can I be super honest?? Our legs were so sore from the previous day of 7 hours hiking we couldn’t fathom getting back up!!

RIDING ALONG IN MY AUTOMOBILE
Now the real adventure started! Based on my calculations we were just an hour away from our snowmobile tour…this was based on a very loosely provided direction from them that said “turn after the waterfall and follow the road.”Hmmm so we turned and suddenly the paved road turned to dirt and everything around us turned to massive boulders. Our little Yaris was shaking hard core, but we kept thinking it must just be a tad farther.

A tad farther was 45 minutes of bone rattling driving, at which point we arrived at “their small cabin” only to find this was not the meeting point, we need to keep driving!! As you might have guessed we were INSANELY late to our tour and of course both wondering if we had just jostled loose our innards and spent a bunch of money for nothing.

SNOWMOBILING
NOPE! The guide said “you are late!” but then bustled us off to get in to full snowsuits, extra gloves and face masks. Unfortunately our lateness meant I didn’t get the waterproof foot covers so I had wet shoes for the ride…yes cold to the 9th degree as we splashed through melting waters from the get go.

Actually making our way to the glacier to start the ride was once again it’s own part of the journey! We strapped ourselves in to a mega bus and then the boulders you see above…we drove over them, no roads here at all! 20 minutes later we reached the edge of the glacier and with a 30 second here’s how you turn it on explanation, we zipped off following a guide on a mission to catch us up with the small group.

Zoooooom, eeeeiiikkkk, heeeeellllp, ohhhh shitttttttttt.

Quite certain the only sounds out there were the machines and me. As we skipped like a rock across the water I found out that holding on to a thin metal bar with slick gloves was nearly impossible and if we turned, without really understanding the weight distribution we came close to flipping twice.

That was just the first 10 minutes! It’s fair to say I thought I might need to change my underwear. David clearly being in front of me couldn’t see the terror radiating across my face and really just though most of my squeals were a bit like someone on a roller coaster.

The rest of our group was single riders which meant more control and desire to FLY.

After our first stop, I said well my friend we have to slow down cause I’m not going to die today…I’d like to see the glacier and enjoy it. David is a great sport so we slowed down and then the group disappeared into the fog.

Ooopss. The words off our instructor came rattling in “you must stay in the guides tracks, there are many large crevasses“.As we soon realized the others were zipping about wherever they pleased, so this may have been an exaggerated take… Or not who really wants to find out?

Either way, as we finished and boarded the next mega bus to drive back up the boulders I could see it written on David’s face – this was possibly the best excursion I had EVER selected on a vacation. And that my friends was enough to make it worth every “please God I don’t want to die today” moment.

NIGHT TIME RELAXATION
Finally the day was ready to come to a close, but of course we had that whole drive back along the teeth shattering road to reach Hotel Geysir, which upon first pass looks like an adorable old building full of charm.
Except that’s not where the lobby is any longer or the rooms. It turned out to be the most minimal room ever – no clock, no photos, no shower curtain or tub or bath mat.

You know us, we couldn’t care less as long as it was clean and comfy, which it was. Once we had sufficiently refueled with lamb stew, it was time to take advantage once again of the geothermal powers of Iceland!

The hotel had a great thermal spa with a sauna. It was nice to relax and chat with a few others who wandered in throughout the evening as we all waited for the big show to begin…the Northern Lights.
I was tuckered out after our big adventures and a relaxing soak, but couldn’t wait to see the lights. Around 10 we bundled up and ventured out to see them start to peak through.

According to all the sites it was only a 4 on a scale of 9, which means we didn’t get the full show, but it was awesome just the same!  I’m not a pro photographer, but at least I was able to capture a little of the essence. The color are more vivid in a photograph due to the long exposure.

David woke me up later in the night as he continued to peak out the window hoping for the show to get even better… and it did.  At this point the bands were really moving across the sky and I so wish a video could capture it, but it’s just too dark. I attempted a few more sleepy shots and here is one for your viewing pleasure! All in all, day one of the Golden Circle surpassed my expectations. Is it possible for day two to be anywhere near as good?? Yeah spoiler alert it was good and in a totally different way.

Have you ever been snowmobiling?

Ever seen the Northern Lights?

Blue Lagoon: What to Expect
Iceland Overview: Land of Fire and Ice
Driving the Golden Circle Day 2: Geyser’s and Waterfalls
Reykjavik Off The Beaten Path
Iceland Volcano Hike to Fimmvörðuháls

Other ways to connect with Amanda
Instagram: TheAmandaCBrooks

Facebook: RunToTheFinish

Get new posts via BlogLovin

The Golden Circle is a go-to for most tourists in Reykjavik, and with good reason — the tour features some of the area’s most impressive sights. But if you’ve already completed the Golden Circle and still have time to spare, you’ll quickly find that you have only scratched the surface.

Since we had a full day before our flight back, David spent our last night at the B&B curled up with his Sony tablet playing a game of “FIND SOMETHING INTERESTING”. We aren’t museum people and we didn’t want to waste a day.

The drive he created quite literally blew my mind and proved that together we make a pretty phenomenal travel team! I can handle the ideas, the upfront details and then he is supremely happy to play with maps for hours to figure out driving and interesting sites. After another leisurely run and breakfast, we packed up the Yaris and started a breath taking drive to many places that weren’t listed in any tour or guidebook (and a few that were):

Dried Fish Racks
I missed stopping to get a photo (there aren’t exactly turn around spots on these cliff side roads), so you’ll have to do with a stock photo here, but suffice to say it was cool to see! The air drying of food is one of the oldest methods of preserving food in the world, and dried fish has a storage life of several years. Dried fish has been a staple food of the Icelanders for centuries and it is mentioned frequently in Icelandic tales.
Seltún Geothermal Area
When David mentioned another geothermal area, I though if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all right?? Well not really, this one is a high-temperature geothermal area spanned by a boardwalk, Seltún features a variety of colorful displays made possible by deposited minerals from geothermal solutions.

The area is also home to several solfataras (shallow volcanic craters), fumaroles (openings in the planet’s crust that emit gas and steam) and boiling mud pots. Seltún was once intended for use as a drilling center, but mining efforts were eventually abandoned.
Gunnuhver Hot Springs
By far and away the smelliest of our stops as the piping water was billowing so much heat in to the air I was convinced we were driving up to a factory! In fact, I pulled my hood up as we started walking because the steam was so thick I was certain my hair would smell like eggs the rest of the day. Again I was glad we stopped because seeing the massive boiling water spot that in fact piped directly in to their nearby power plant was amazing.

The steam vents and mud pools known as Gunnuhver have all the appeal of Reykjavik’s better-known springs and none of the crowds. Sulphuric vapor brings a slightly eerie feel to the hot springs, as does the sign regaling the story of Gunna, the witch believed responsible for the creation of the geothermal area. Reykjanesviti Lighthouse
This is actually located right next to the Hot Spring, which means with one stop you can catch the both and more importantly it leads to my next tip… the cliffs!! So let’s be honest we gave this cute lighthouse a passing wave on our way to the vistas.

Reykjavik is typically associated with geothermal attractions, but the area surrounding the city also boasts a number of impressive lighthouses. Reykjanesviti is especially worth visiting, as it is Iceland’s oldest lighthouse. The original Reykjanesviti Lighthouse was built in 1878 and then destroyed in an earthquake less than a decade later. The current lighthouse was constructed in 1907 on the far safer Bæjarfell hill.

Reykjanes Cliffs
I wish I had a name for you here, but all I really know is they were the most beautiful site. If you can’t make it to the South side of Iceland (we didn’t) this is the next best thing to experiencing the magnificent ocean cliffs.  As always it was a combo of staring in to the crystal clear waters hundreds of feet below, seeing the black boulder beaches to the right, more stunning cliffs to the left and then turning around to see nothing but lava fields leading to the lighthouse and hot springs!

Iceland is a 360 view of awesome at all times.

Sandvik Beach
An expansive beach perhaps best known as the site of Iwo Jima in Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers, Sandvik is a surprisingly popular surfing destination. Those not daring enough to explore the surrounding waters on surfboards can still marvel at the waves from the comfort of the shore.

BUT to get there you need to be willing to drive down a serious off road. Our Yaris made it to the first water crossing and well if you remember our hiking story (read it) we decided not to join the ranks of the “stupid tourist” and turned around.  Luckily our very next stop, still allowed us to see the black sand!

[bctt tweet=”If you want to get off the beaten path in #iceland this is a must read! #travel”]

Bridge Between the Continents
Designed to mark the connection between Europe and America, the Bridge Between the Continents (or, as it is sometimes called, Leif the Lucky Bridge) is a small footbridge from which visitors can look down and see the fissure formed by two diverging tectonic plates.  Nothing out of this world here, it’s literally just the bridge…but D was still very excited to see it and hey we crossed black sand off the list, while getting our final selife of the trip! 

Unfortunately we ran out of time to stop at these last few spots, but instead did a quick drive by and noted them as “things we will see next time!!”

Keflavík Stone Trolls
From the Silent Sentinels to the Traveling Twins, the stone trolls of Keflavik have picked up a number of monikers over the years. No matter what they are called, these stone structures make for an excellent photo opportunity, as they overlook the ocean and are centered around a convenient viewing platform.

Keflavik Stekkjarkot Turf Houses
Turf houses known as Stekkjarkot were very common in Iceland between the 17th and the 19th centuries. Constructed from turf, stone and timber, these structures were typically inhabited by the families of fishermen. In Keflavik, one of these turf homes has been reconstructed and is now open to the public. Inside the home is a open hearth built sometime during the 19th century.

The Giantess in the Mountain
Icelandic children’s author Herdis Egilsdottir has writen over a dozen books about a giantess and her human friend, Sigga. The giantess from these tales is portrayed in a large sculpture that sits in a rocking chair at the edge of the Keflavik Marina. Her cave home features an array of giant-sized furniture, including a bed, chairs and a table. The giantess can often be heard snoring in her sleep and making other unflattering, yet amusing noises.

Are you a museum or nature person?

Have you rented a car in a foreign country?

Blue Lagoon: What to Expect
Driving the Golden Circle Day 1: Snowmobiling
Driving the Golden Circle Day 2: Geyser’s and Waterfalls
Iceland Overview: The Land of Fire and Ice
Iceland Volcano Hike to Fimmvörðuháls

Other ways to connect with Amanda
Instagram: TheAmandaCBrooks

Facebook: RunToTheFinish

If  I can make one recommendation for your trip to Iceland, it’s to hit the Blue Lagoon as soon as you exit the plane! After an overnight flight, nothing has ever felt better to me than falling in to the warm embrace of the 100 degree Celsius waters in the Blue Lagoon.

Yes this is my HELLO ICELAND I’m here pose as I take in the first of the bizarre ever changing landscape that would fascinate and delight for the next week.After picking up our little Yaris, we took off to being learning how to navigate Iceland. Luckily, it’s just a short 30 minutes to the Lagoon which meant my less than fully alert brain didn’t need to think too much! There is one main road out of the airport and following it will give you signs straight to this oasis.

Driving up to the Blue Lagoon, you’ll already be whisking out the camera to capture a landscape that defies logic. It looks like lava, but it’s covered in brilliant emerald green moss…you’d think the Wizard of Oz stopped by to pump up the color!

Grab your coffee and settle in, you’ll find that there are many posts here about Iceland and you won’t want to miss a single one if you are planning a trip or simply need to escape your current day!

Iceland has been on my travel radar for a few years, but moving and lots of other trips kept pushing it off. Then I found direct flights from our current home in Orlando that were during “shoulder season” and I hit buy before we had a chance to rethink it.

“Shoulder season” in travel terms is that time right after/before peak travel where things are cheaper because the chance of bad weather (hot or cold) or other less than ideal conditions are possible.

Which means, yup it’s a bit of a chance…especially in Iceland as tours often stop on August 31st or by Sept 15th for many hikes to ensure you don’t wind up in the mountains after dark or in a wicked storm.As luck would have it we arrived on Sept 12th and enjoyed amazing weather for the entire week, which leads to one of your most popular questions!

What’s the weather like?
Iceland is warmer than you think with an oceanic climate that means mild winters, which reminds me a great deal of visiting the coastline of Alaska. 2°C in January {35°F}, however it can be very windy.

While we were there the temperature during the day was always above 50, so at times during our hike we were down to short sleeves…then if the wind picked up, often over 20MPH, while walking around town you’d find us on the same day with winter coats, gloves and hats!