Seljalandsfoss is easily visible from the road. It is known for it’s size and the ability to walk behind the falls.

Gljúfrabúi, sits a 10 minute walk from Seljalandsfoss, and is considered “hidden” because the 130-foot waterfall drops inside a narrow, moss-covered rock canyon, making it almost completely invisible from the outside. But thanks to the internet and social media, it is no longer a hidden gem and we had to wait our turn to access, the well worth the wait, small rock canyon.

Skógafoss

Dyrhólaey

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Diamond Beach is where the glacier lagoon connects to the Atlantic Ocean and where huge, crystal-clear icebergs that break off the Vatnajökull glacier float through the lagoon, flow out to sea, and wash back up onto the volcanic sand. We hiked Falljökull, a stunning outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap. It was stunning to experience the size and scope, see the ice striped with volcanic ash and witness the receding footprint of the glacier. A push up earns you a refreshing taste of the glacier waters. Svínafellsjökull Glacier Tongue is a stunning site. This location also served as one of the planets in Interstellar. Our last excursion was a Super Jeep Tour into Thórsmörk. Thórsmörk is considered part of the Icelandic Highlands however it differs from the vast, barren, volcanic deserts typically associated with the rest of the country’s interior. Because it is deeply cradled and shielded by three massive glaciers—Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, and Tindfjallajökull—Thórsmörk enjoys a unique, sheltered microclimate. It can only be accessed via highland F-roads or completing a multi-day hike. We went the easy way. A 45 min hike gets you to the top of Mount Valahnúkur and grants you incredible views of moss-covered mountains, intertwining streams of the glacial Krossá River, and the surrounding glaciers like Eyjafjallajökull.

Stakkholtsgjá is a dramatic 2-kilometer gorge featuring 100-meter-high mossy cliffs and ends at a hidden waterfall. It also served as the backdrop for a pivotal scene in Game of Thrones. We enjoyed our last day exploring Reykjavík.

We ended our vacation with a midnight hike. After a day in Reykjavík we craved the outdoors. Luckily we didn’t have to drive far to find volcanic craters and Mount Esja.

Every vacation is defined by the time at which you visit and the people you visit with. It is singular in it’s experience. I saw a glacier for the first time, I ate horse and shark for the first time, I did hard things at extreme temperatures, I saw places that were otherworldly, beautiful and dramatic at 7 am and at 1am. I witnessed my children seeing, feeling and experiencing all the same things in their own way; awe struck, exhausted, exhilarated. Five people with shared memories and uniquely different experiences. Singular.