I have always dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights. The idea of sky lighting up in a kaleidoscope of colors is such an alien concept. There is nothing else like it in nature, and I just had to witness it once in my lifetime. There are lots of places in the world to see the Aurora Borealis, but one place kept drawing me to it. A place with never-ending waterfalls, a place of ice and fire, a culture founded by some of the most feared warriors in history; Iceland. Iceland screams adventure. The countries stunning scenery and ancient history hit all the right notes with me. Even if the Northern lights never lit up the sky during our trip, it would still be one of the most memorable trips in my lifetime.
Here is how we spent 8 days exploring Iceland’s wild landscapes and hunting for the greatest light show on Earth.
Day One: Skol!
Spend the day learning about Vikings and how the country of Iceland came into existence.
First things first: Pick Up A Rental Car. The public transportation in Iceland is lacking, but not to worry, renting a car is a fantastic option to get around. Iceland is the only European country I have been comfortable driving in. Icelanders drive on the same side of the road as in America. The car steering wheel is also on the same side as the US. The only real difference is paying attention to kilometers instead of miles, one-lane bridges, and lots of roundabouts. You get used to everything pretty quickly. When in doubt, just do as the locals do.
Viking World
To understand Iceland, you need to know its Viking roots. It was so much more than just pillaging and violence. Vikings were some of the most celebrated explorers and shipbuilding societies the world has ever seen. They also grew some of the best beards the world has ever seen.
So naturally, after getting off the plane, your first objective should be making your way to Viking World. It’s also right by the airport, so it’s not too taxing after your long plane ride and gives you a good intro into driving on foreign soil.
If you arrive early in the morning, Viking World offers a unique chance to eat breakfast under a full-size Viking ship that hangs from the ceiling. You can also step foot on that ship, which is a unique experience that that should not be missed. That alone is worth the price of admission.
The rest of the museum will give you a proper perspective of the Viking’s lives and some history and discovery of their first settlements in Iceland.
Sun Voyager Statue
After filling your brain with Viking knowledge (and possibly your bellies), its time to head downtown and get a feel for modern Iceland. As a nice transition from old lore to the new age, stop by and look at the most photographed spot in Reykavik, The Sun Voyager statue. The neat thing about this contemporary Viking tribute is that the sunset lines up perfectly with the bow of the ship. If you can make any comparison between Vikings and Cowboys, its that both enjoyed riding off into the sunset.
Harpa Hall
Harpa Hall was Iceland’s attempt to enter the competition of Europe’s great concert halls. It is a futuristic building, so I don’t think it belongs in such company as the Hungarian State Opera House, but it is unique and is worth the attention of your eyeballs.
Bernhoftsbakari
Take a break and grab a snack at Icelands oldest bakery, which is located right across the street from the Sun Voyager and Harpa Hall. There is a reason this place has been open since 1834.
Saga Museum
You explored the documented history of the Viking people at Viking World. Now it’s time to learn about the Icelandic Vikings legends. The Icelandic Sagas provided an essential glimpse into the settling of Iceland. It’s one of the oldest documents we have that talks about Vikings in Iceland. The Saga Museum takes those written stories and turns them into a full-scale scene with amazingly life-like figures. It’s fascinating and also creepy. I loved it! What made it even more fun is only one of the mannequins moves, but only ever so slightly. Good luck finding it and congrats on the nightmares.
Click here for Day 2 where we explore the Fire and Folklore of Iceland
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
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