<p>S (a freshman in college right now) and I are going to Iceland this August for about 6 nights. We usually do the adventure offerings. I imagine we will do some excursion on the Icelandic ponies. </p>
<p>Any suggestions, including lodging? Also, what seems to be the best departure US city(s)? We are in Texas, so from O’Hare and cities closer to the East Coast?</p>
<p>It does not have to just be in Reykjavik.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I was looking at Iceland for a get-away for our 20th Wedding Anniversary. </p>
<p>About the only two things I know are: you can see the Northern Lights and there’s this thermal bath which uses water from a hydroelectric plant that all the locals go to. [Iceland’s</a> Blue Lagoon](<a href=“http://www.geographia.com/iceland/bluelagoon.htm]Iceland’s”>Iceland's Blue Lagoon)</p>
<p>So anybody got more thoughts?</p>
<p>I believe Iceland is the only country in the world that is powered 100% geothermally. If this is an interest of you or your son, you may want to pursue this.</p>
<p>it is close to 100% geothermal/hydropower, though not quite.</p>
<p>Jokusarlon (southeastern Iceland) is absolutely incredible, but a bit far from Reykjavik. The empty, stark interior is amazing too, but not so easily navigable. In the time you have, westmann islands and vik are both doable, but if you’re planning to stay around reykjavik you’ll probably want to do the “golden circle” trip. The west fjords are amazing, so is akureyri - any chance you can extend your trip?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, no northern lights in august, but the light will be incredible, it will never grt pitch black.</p>
<p>If you’re interested in horses, icelandic ones are very unique, beautiful, and a joy to ride (just don’t let them hear you call them ‘ponies’!) It is a truly amazing country, though perhaps the most expensive on earth. Enjoy the rotten shark!</p>
<p>My husband and I took a trip a couple of yrs ago to Iceland…we did a package deal with Icelandair ( which seems to own a lot of the hotels there )
We stayed in Reykjavic, about a 45 minute bus ride from the airport.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Nordica , which was very nice, but a littl hike to walk into the more happeniong part of the city center…not a bad thing entirely because it was quiet. I recall that there was some info about some of the downtown hotels getting some street noise from the very active night life there.
We rented a car and took our own tour, which was guided by a CD we got from the car rental…what an amazing place to see !! Parts of Iceland make you think you are on the moon…the volcanic rock formations are unbelieveable.We did go the golden circle route…
The sight of steam coming out of holes in the ground…the waterfalls, mountains. Really an incredible place to see.
We found the food to be great, but very pricey…we laugh about the most expensive meal we have ever had…it was in Iceland.
We also had the pleasure of meeting some locals who worked in an Irish Pub right in Reyjavik…making it fun . They are big on live music there and it seemed like a lot of Americans go there to get a start.
We went in November, so the weather wasn’t so nice. Still, it was one of the most memorable places we have been to and would love to go back again.
One thing we did not do and wish we had was to visit the Blue Lagoon. We went there, but not prepared to indulge in the spa and geothermal pools.</p>
<p>Sounds like an awesome, once in a lifetime experience! Who said daughters were more expensive than sons, though?</p>
<p>amazing Iceland experience - hiking through the snow to get to a 100 degree river or lake to swim in! If you are into hiking, there are amazing ones from hveragerdi (I can’t make Icelandic symbols here), only 40 minutes from Reykjavik.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone so far.</p>
<p>It may be possible to extend the time we have in Iceland up to 9 nights so keep the suggestions coming!</p>
<p>Yes, we both love to hike. I have started to look at several travel in Iceland websites.</p>
<p>I think traveling (and staying) outside of just Reykjavik sounds attractive although we probably will make the music “scene” there since my S is really into music and loves a particular Icelandic group who’s name escapes me.</p>
<p>07DAD, I forgot to mention…the Irish pub we went to was by the suggestion of the cab driver when we told him we wanted to see some live music…it was NOT Irish music though ( not a fan of that,tho I am Irish ) Check out their tourism website too, because I believe there are some great music festivals in the summer months…or maybe it was Oct ?</p>
<p>If you have nine days, I’d suggest driving south from reykjavik - hiking around hveragerdi, a few nights in vik and perhaps a trip to the westmann islands, going all the way to jokusarlon before heading back. That would still leave you with time for Reykjavik, the golden circle, and the blue lagoon, and you would see some very spectacular places.</p>
<p>Go for the nights of the pufflings! :)</p>
<p>[Icelandic</a> Kids Save Befuddled Puffins](<a href=“National Geographic”>National Geographic)</p>
<p>I am starting to get a little jealous;)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yeah. Take me.</p>
<p>Me, too. I even have distant relatives there- my Icelandic grandfather who immigrated here died when I was little, though.</p>
<p>Medieval Iceland had a very unique governmental system.
[Icelandic</a> Commonwealth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Iceland]Icelandic”>History of Iceland - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>I recall that Iceland has more newspapers per capita than any other country, an extraordinarily high literacy rate and the language is very “pure” such that over 90% of the present words would be understood back in the 1500’s.</p>
<p>I became interested in Iceland in the mid-1970’s when an Icelandic young woman worked at my restaurant in Dallas. Iceland is on my “must” do list.</p>
<p>As for taking some of you with us, well I can reactivate this thread when we get back with details. Poor second best, I know.</p>
<p>also the most books published per capita. Modern Icelanders can read the sagas! And they are very beautiful and genetically interesting people. Such a wonderful place.</p>
<p>I’d say they are arguably the freest people in the world.</p>
<p>they’re required to give their children Icelandic names!</p>
<p>LOL, nvm then. Then again, no country is free.</p>