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The Date in Iceland
It started like this:
In elementary school, I learned that an explorer went to two undiscovered lands. One was lush and green and beautiful. The other was covered in ice.
To confuse future voyagers and ensure he could keep paradise all for himself, he named the glacier-ridden tundra Greenland. And, naturally, the placed he wished to keep a secret was named Iceland.
I refuse to fact-check this origin story. If it’s not true, don’t tell me. All I know for sure is that, in 2023, the myth was enough to get me to visit a part of the world that felt almost out of reach.
Hype Level: 10
There was a lot of pressure on Iceland to deliver, and deliver it did.
My 10-year-old self was thoroughly transfixed by a country that:
Has some of the lowest crime rates in the world
Has one of the oldest languages in the world (Icelandic)
Is a leader in geothermal energy
Is formed entirely of volcanic rock
I didn’t learn any of those facts until I was IN ICELAND. Which, by the way, was made 1,000% better by traveling with some spectacular women.
The Ultimate Girls’ Trip
True to form, I started this post way too late to text said friends and ask if I could use photos of the four of us. Maybe I’ll edit this later and add those pics.
Iceland lent itself perfectly to a getaway for ladies who need (and dare I say, deserve!) a trip as special as this one. What brought us together were our kids (future graduates of the Class of 2028) and our sincere bucket-list desire to conquer The Land of Fire and Ice.
What made the trip so easy, relaxed, and fun was… everything about the 18th largest island in the world.
The food (I mean, the FOOD!), the sights, the shopping, the live music, the natural beauty, the feeling of being on another planet… it all made for a trip none of us will ever forget. And one we still can’t get over.
Maybe some photos will explain it better?
Like Cheers, but Better
The bookstore/bar beneath our apartment had a band called the Honky Tonks every night. They played a fixed set list of American music, some of it wildly popular with the Iceland crowd. Sweet Caroline, and so on.
What we loved about this place, and why we visited it several times, was the palpable joy of everyone there. Were they natives? Tourists? Who knows? The vibe, for people of every age, was free-wheeling and fun.
We sang:
We danced:
No Regrets, YOLO, etc.
You get the idea. It was the trip of a lifetime.
I’m the last person to be hit over the head with this insight: the beauty of travel is that you get so much more from it than just the days you’re on vacation. You get the excitement leading up to the trip, and then, for the rest of your life, you have the memories to look back on.
If I never traveled out of the country again, I’d always have Iceland.
There are worse ways to spend money.
Notes from Our Trip
Below are actual notes I sent to a friend before her own trip to Iceland. I hope these notes are useful to YOU as you plan your getaway!
Reykjavik
We stayed at A Room with a View apartments. Great location.
Sandholt - An amazing breakfast place, get there early. The line does move quickly if you get there later.
Sjavargrillio - A seafood restaurant that was so insanely good we went multiple times. It’s a must.
Rublan Bokakaffi - The fun, casual, lively bookstore/bar. Live music every night with The Honky Tonks.
SKY bar - The rooftop bar at water’s edge downtown. A little fancy.
Downtown has a lot of nice shops, easily walkable.
The South
We took a bus tour one day which was really nice. Got to hear about Icelandic history. They took us to some waterfalls and a glacier and a sheep farm.
Another day we drove and visited additional waterfalls and Vik Black Sand Beach. Very cute and yummy soup restaurant for lunch nearby, you’d see signs for it.
Iceland’s geothermal energy plants were not on my radar when we planned the trip, but I wish we’d planned a tour of one.
Pants
Last, these fleece pants were great for the trip - and I’ve used them since in cold weather!
Recreate This Date
How: Pick a date. Price your flight to Rejykavik (airport code RKV). Now flying direct out of Nashville! Then start saving your pennies.
Travel Time: The flight from New York is only about 5 hours. You could pack a lot into a 5-day trip, but truly could fill a 7-, 10-, or 14-day trip with incredible things to do.
Date: Summer season has the best weather and is peak tourist season, and prices reflect that. We went in late April, when it was still a little cold, but not unpleasant in the least.
Cost: Prices vary. This trip can be done on a budget, or you can spare no expense.
What’s Next?
I’m looking for some new places to dream about. Which destinations have you checked off your bucket list? Do tell!
Love this post, Ann! Thanks for sharing your notes. Iceland is on my list!
Iceland is on my list! Another new nonstop flight (or coming soon, anyway) from Nashville is Dublin. I highly recommend a few days in Dublin before venturing North or traveling the southern coast. 7, 10, or 14 days could easily be filled!!