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JOURNEYS magazine
Volume I, 2017
DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT
fermented shark, but for more
typical freshly caught fare, try
Randul’s Sea House overlooking
the water at Eskifjördur.
NATURE IN THE NORTH
Birds flock, whales splash and seals
glide around in the north of Iceland.
The lakes, islands, wetlands and the
shores of North Iceland are happy
habitats for a wide range of wildlife.
Binocular-carrying birders can add
Barrow’s goldeneyes, harlequin
ducks, gyrfalcons, rock ptarmigans,
Great Northern Gannets and
Brunnich’s guillemots to their life
lists. Pun lovers gather at Drangey,
Grimsey, Lundey, Rauðanes and
Skoruvikurbíarg. Three birding trails
with multi-day journeys are mapped
out for the serious and the curious.
Whale-watching cruises launched
from Húsavík harbor head to the
Arctic Ocean to spot the abundant
minke whales. Known as the Whale
Capital of Iceland, adding a visit to
the Húsavík Whale Museum makes
for a whale of a day.
Naturally, wild scenery goes well
with the animal life of the North.
Just west of Hunafjordur, a stunning
rock arch known as the Hvitserkur
vaults o shore. The country’s
longest fjord, Eyiafjordur is where a
pleasant summer ferry sails to Hrisey
Island, often called “The Pearl.”
WAY OUT WEST
With a national park that rocks with
a glacier and geologic formations,
Iceland’s West is wild. Named for the
beaches and to Reynisdrangur, water-
sculpted basalt monoliths, remnants
of an ancient eroded volcano. Nesting
puns and seabirds hug the clis
above the shoreline. Drawing an
imaginary line due south, it’s the last
landmass until Antarctica. Once
heaped with ash loosed by the 2010
eruption of Eyjafjalljökull, the hillside is
a perfect sunrise viewing perch.
When you’re ready for a rest,
settle down for midday and evenings
meals at either Halldorska or
Suour-Vik Restaurant. Look for pizza
and Thai dishes on these menus.
THE EXCEPTIONAL EAST
Modern adventure seekers from
near and far hike the trails around the
Borgarfjördur fjord. Rich in scenery
and solitude even in the summer, it’s
called “Paradise of the Hiker.” Close
to Egilsstað in the deep waters of
Lake Lögurinn, the possibility of a
swimming serpent (think Nessie)
adds to centuries’ old magic in East
Iceland. Winter’s arrival means
strapping on cross country skis or
snowboards. When warm weather
returns, anglers lead the way to the
Jökla and other nearby rivers to take
advantage of the long days for trout
and salmon fishing.
Arrayed along a coast indented
with dramatic fjords, many town and
village eateries prepare fish, reindeer
and smoked lamb — a local specialty.
Traditional skyr cheese is farm-
produced using a 1,000-year-old
recipe. Foodie fans with a taste for
something vastly dierent snack on
HE GOLDEN CIRCLE
A triple crown of geologic glories is
less than an hour from Reykjavík. The
Golden Circle is a great day trip for
viewing waterfalls, geysers, boiling
mud puddles and a crack in the earth
that connects three continents.
Geysir is the spot where spouting
spray and steam remind visitors that
in 2010 one of the nation’s volcanic
eruptions grounded planes as far
away as mainland Europe. With hot
springs and bubbling pools, the
Strokkur sends a waterspout 98 feet
into the air.
Thingvellir National Park combines
history and geology. In 930 A.D.,
Icelanders established their fledgling
parliament near the creeping fissure
between the North American and
Eurasian tectonic plates. This
UNESCO World Heritage Site is
marked by a rift valley and the nation’s
largest lake.
The thundering waters turn to
mist as Gullfoss echoes like Niagara.
Considered one of this waterfall-filled
nation’s premiere natural wonders,
this glacier-fed cascade commands
respect from outlook spots upper
and lower falls. After the exhilarating
views of what locals dub the “Golden
Waterfall,” see the Gullfoss Ka,
stocked with local fare.
THE STUNNING SOUTH
On the road to Vik, photogenic
waterfalls, farm houses and sheep
meadows encourage car-stopping
camera clicks. These scenic preambles
lead to outstanding black sand
