April 15// Off to Iceland

Now we are traveling to Iceland! Iceland is a Nordic Island nation and has a vast geographic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields; it is also known as the land of fire and ice. The capital is Reykjavik and is also the largest city, the surrounding area is the southwest of the country and is home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is a generally a cold location and doesn’t ever have temperatures go above fifty degrees Fahrenheit, the best time to travel to Iceland if you prefer warmer temperatures is in June, July and August; the colder temperatures are during December, January and February. The long summer days have a near 24 hours of sunshine and are offset by short winter days with only a few hours of daylight. While walking around the streets or nature trails of Iceland you will be sure to see Icelandic sheep, arctic fox, Icelandic horses and sheepdog. If you are flying into the capital city from New York it will be a nonstop flight for 9 hours and 10 mins , but other places could endure two stops and almost 20 hours and 10 minutes on the plane. Iceland also currently ranks as the third most expensive country in the world.

Now on to some sights to see and things to do during your trip. Iceland is definitely a place for outdoor enthusiasts so I really only encourage you to spend your money on this if you will participate in these activities. One of the most talked about, relaxing activities tourists love to take part in are geothermal pools and spas in Iceland. Geothermal pools are a local natural wonder that are heated on its own. The most famous of these is the Blue Lagoon, located in the lava field of Reykjanes Peninsula, with a geothermal beach of white sands and warm ocean water. Another noteworthy sight to see are The Northern Lights, the phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis is shown between September and April, even though those are some of the coldest months. There is no ideal location to see this, it all depends on weather conditions. Another more energetic activity is the horses of Iceland, they are a unique breed of small horses and is a great way to explore unspoiled nature and is a few minutes outside of Reykjavik. More active activities to take part in are caving, cycling, helicopter tours and motorized adventure. Some national parks to also take a look at are Vatnajokull, which holds beautiful glaciers and Pingvellir which has beautiful canyons and foliage.

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