Wow what a great experience! Iceland has so much to offer and your experience can differ depending on the time of year you go! We chose October because it is not cold enough to be unpleasant (low 40s/high 30s) and you can still see the famous Aurora! Being from the Sunshine State, we were not about to attempt the full Ring Road circling the entire island because we are not comfortable driving on ice. So instead we stayed on the south part of the island. There are numerous ways to get around the island, we chose to rent a camper van. We booked with KuKu Campers. The camper van was a great choice for us because we had a ton of flexibility in our schedule and weren't tied to expensive hotels.
Reykjavik
This city is filled with attractions and museums that are a must see while you are in Iceland. Reykjavik is right on a bay which makes for a nice walk along the water. Only downside of Reykjavik is that it can get expensive very quickly, so they less time you spend there the cheaper your trip will be. We will post soon with a full list of things to do in Reykjavik! Stay tuned
Golden Circle
While there are countless attractions along this loop, it is important to pick the ones that are most interesting to your group! One tip is to get out early before the tours start. Since the Golden Circle is only a quick drive from Reykjavik, by 10 am tourists will start arriving by the bus load and crowding many of the popular spots. We were able to get to the Geysir bright and early with just a handful of other people in the park. From there we went to Gulfoss and marveled in its size and power. Our next stop was Burafoss. Make sure you bring your hiking boots for this because the two mile hike (each way) can be a bit rough at parts. We stopped at the Skjòl Campgrounds for the night and enjoyed a beer at their restaurant.
One of the can't miss spots on the Golden Circle is þingvellir national park. This park is located at the divide between the European and the American continental plates. You can see the actual end of the plates as cliffs on either side of the park. The park is huge and full of many fantastic hikes, but the best can be found at Parking lot 5 next to the Silfra Fissure. From there, you will be able to walk along a boardwalk that walks along the continental plate cliff and up to a viewpoint over a lake. The boardwalk then winds past the spot of the original parliament meeting and down to a waterfall. Game of Thrones fans will love that this park is one of the many filming locations for the show on the island.
South Coast
Do go chasing waterfalls! The south coast is a beautiful drive across a contrasting landscape. You will drive through lava fields over grown with hundreds of year old moss next to giant glaciers and down to black sand beaches. A trip across the south coast would not be complete without stopping by Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, and Skogafoss. The black sand beache at Reynisdrangar was one of our favorite stops along the drive along with the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. If you are looking for a great hike head to Skaftafell national park.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Another incredible place where you could enjoy natural sites and is just a short drive from Reykjavik. If you are a Game of Thrones fan you may recognize Kirkjufell (featured in the cover image of the blog). On the west side of the peninsula, you can find many old craters that are surrounded by lava rock. Along the south side of the peninsula, you will see big cliffs right on the water. Is is also a popular spot for seals! so keep your eyes open.
Overall, Iceland was very tourist friendly with many of the attractions being only a short walk from parking! This made it a family affair with everybody in our group able to enjoy the natural wonders of Iceland without their boots getting too muddy.
