Our 10-year anniversary was coming up, and we wanted to do something out of the ordinary. We have been so fortunate to travel to different countries together over the years, but were craving a new kind of adventure!

Seeing the Northern Lights was on Collin’s bucket list and we decided Iceland would be the perfect kid-free getaway. We decided to celebrate our anniversary early and head to Iceland at the end of April, which was the beginning of their Summer season. The flights to Iceland were reasonable, and it only took 5 hours to get there, flying with Iceland Air. That is about the same

amount of time we spend driving to our family home in Harbor Springs, MI and less expensive than flying to Florida!

To be honest, Iceland was not on my bucket list. I am not as outdoorsy as my husband, Collin, but it didn’t take long to fall in love with the country, the culture, and the people.

Little did I know, Iceland is quite an amazing country that would satisfy both of our interests. Iceland won over our hearts and here’s why…

From shimmering Northern Lights. Luxury spa resorts and hot springs. Puffins, whales, Icelandic horses and lamb. Glaciers, geysers and volcanoes. Vibrant culture, culinary scene and Viking history. Volcanic landscapes and black sand beaches.

We spent a total of 6 days in Iceland and began our trip in Reykjavik. We stayed at the beautiful Reykjavik EDITION Hotel (a Marriott Bonvoy Hotel). This was a 5-star luxury hotel located on the Old Harbour and in the city center. And to our surprise, the on-site restaurant, Tides, is known for its Michelin-worthy dining experience. We enjoyed breakfast there daily and enjoyed one of the best lamb and seafood meals we have ever had!

 Having an eye for interior design myself, I always appreciate the details and absolutely loved the vibe of this hotel. I would describe the style as otherworldly, and we loved the natural features. The hotel design blended modern minimalism with natural elements and has a strong connection to the surrounding landscape of Iceland. When you walk into the lobby, there is a

lava rock structure and a quaint fireplace with a sitting area and a lovely bar. We also enjoyed relaxing after our days of exploring at the beautiful spa on-site.

On our first day, we visited the world-famous Blue Lagoon, a geo-thermal spa which is renowned for its milky blue, mineral-rich waters and stunning volcanic surroundings. In fact, in the beginning of April, a volcano erupted nearby, and the Blue Lagoon had to be evacuated. We were so happy we were still able to visit and enjoy the lagoon but could see the destruction in the surrounding areas. The spa service we chose included three different face

masks and cocktails of course!

We rented a car from the Airport and that was our mode of transportation throughout our trip. We planned an itinerary ahead of time and purchased a backup GPS through the car rental company in case we ran into an issue with our cell phone service. Driving throughout Iceland was surprisingly navigable, and the landscapes changed drastically from north to south. We truly felt like we were on the planet Mars! It was just incredible!

Our next few days were filled with adventuring through Iceland on our own. We drove the popular sightseeing route called The Golden Circle and visited many natural and historical attractions along the way. Our favorites were Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and the beautiful Gullfoss waterfall. We also visited two other lagoons along the way, Secret Lagoon and our favorite, Hvammsvik, which was heaven on earth! This is a must-visit!

We learned there are very few animals that live in Iceland due to the climate and the terrain makes it very hard to farm, so greenhouses are the only way to grow crops. During our trip through the Golden Circle, we visited the Fridheimar Tomato Farm. You dine in a warm greenhouse, surrounded by rows of thriving tomato plants in the middle of the Icelandic countryside. They serve all-you-can-eat homemade tomato soup and freshly made bread, which is heavenly! They even have tomato beer, tomato cheesecake, and many other delicacies.

We also spent a morning horseback riding through Icelandic trails and Collin chose the “adventure course,” which was for experienced riders! I was a little apprehensive, but all turned out well, and no one fell off or was injured. It was pure fun, and Icelandic horses are so beautiful. 

Whale watching was another amazing adventure! We purchased a whale watching tour, which did not disappoint. We saw so many humpbacks and minke whales that day (a lucky occurrence considering not many whales have been seen on previous tours). We also saw those adorable puffin birds! Surprisingly and sadly, we learned that Iceland still permits whaling, despite a global moratorium.

Another adventure was driving through northwest Iceland near the famous glacier/volcano called Snaefellsjokull. There, we had an 8,000-year-old lava cave (lava tube) tour. An experienced guide took us 115 feet underground, where we saw the aftermath of a volcanic eruption where lava traveled both above and underground, creating this “tube”. We also

experienced total and complete darkness, which was an eerie feeling. 

The culinary scene was outstanding but very, very pricey. We also enjoyed the famous hot dog (made from lamb), which has a delicious sauce and crunchy topping. I may have to try to recreate this for you all soon!

Overall, we had quite the adventure in Iceland and had a romantic and rejuvenating trip. We highly recommend visiting Iceland. We can’t wait to return with our three boys in the future.