Early in the spring,

 

Will and I packed up our warmest layers and flew to Iceland to chase the wild landscapes and quiet magic of its southern coast. We planned a six-day road trip, keeping things flexible but exciting, with a few must-see stops and a hunger for adventure.


We landed at night and stayed close to the airport, knowing we'd want an early start for our first stop — the famous Blue Lagoon. It’s dreamy in all the photos, and while the experience is totally worth it, no one quite prepares you for the incredibly strong sulfur smell (rotten egg vibes, everywhere).

Path winding between black rocks and bright blue thermal waters under cloudy sky.

Pro tip: do not get your hair wet — the mineral content will leave it feeling like straw for days. That said, the geothermal waters are so soothing, and I’d love to return to try more of the lesser-known hot springs scattered across the country.


From there, we made our way along Route 1, passing through charming coastal towns like Grindavík and Selfoss. In between exploring the landscapes, we wandered into local bookstores, warmed up in cozy cafés, and an enchanting troll cave on our way to Vik — our home base for the next few nights.

Person enjoying the milky blue waters of Iceland's Blue Lagoon geothermal spa on a cloudy day.
Scenic photo of a troll cave along Route 1 in southern Iceland, with seagulls soaring overhead and a woman in a red coat hiking a mountain t
Coastal village nestled beneath cliffs with famous Reynisdrangar sea stacks visible in the distance.
White Nordic church with tall spire and wooden door against mountainous Icelandic landscape.

 

Driving into Vík felt like...

 

entering a dream.

The road winds between cliffs until suddenly it opens to wide fields, glaciers in the distance, and the iconic Reynisdrangar sea stacks rising out of the ocean. We stayed at Hotel Kría and booked a mountain view room so we could wake up to that unreal vista each morning. The hotel included an incredible breakfast spread in a bright dining room with huge windows overlooking the mountains — the perfect way to fuel up before a day of wandering.


We explored the town by foot, visited the hilltop church, and met friendly locals over hot dogs and Icelandic beer. One of my favorite moments was walking solo to the black sand beaches, camera in hand, feeling the wind, the scale of the cliffs, the vastness of the glacier in the distance — everything felt big and grounding all at once.

The next day,

Snow-capped mountains rise behind black sand dunes covered in grass along Iceland's coast.

we ventured to the black sand beaches and then drove to Sólheimajökull glacier — my first time seeing one up close. We hiked up and photographed its stunning blue ice before heading back toward some of the waterfalls we’d passed earlier. Our favorite was Skógafoss, where we were greeted by a rainbow hovering under the falls.


Craving caffeine, we followed a sign to the Skógar Museum and found ourselves at the delightfully pink and quirky Freya Café — a hidden gem for sure. From there, we headed to Seljalandsfoss and carefully crossed slick stones to stand behind the waterfall (shout out to the kind traveler who returned my dropped wallet!). Later, we ventured to the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse — incredibly windy, but worth it for sweeping views of the coastline and black sand beaches.

Large rocks and boulders on black sand beach with distant sea stacks visible through gap.
Small village with colorful buildings beneath dramatic cliffs in the Icelandic countryside.
Hand in yellow sleeve touches dark volcanic sand on an Icelandic beach.
Figure in blue hoodie stands between rocky cliffs overlooking a dramatic coastal landscape in Iceland.
Person in yellow raincoat stands on black volcanic terrain overlooking a glacial lake in Iceland.
Hiker on moss-covered volcanic terrain with mountain views in Iceland's wilderness.
Majestic waterfall cascades down moss-covered cliffs in the Icelandic highlands.
Rugged Icelandic landscape with mountains surrounding a tranquil lake dotted with small rocky islands.
Two people taking selfie in car during road trip adventure.
A person in yellow raincoat stands near a massive waterfall cascading down rocky cliffs.
Table setting with pink notebook, purple flowers, and glass bottle in cozy interior.
Ancient rock formations and chains overlook a vast Icelandic valley with winding rivers.
Dramatic coastline view of black sand beach meeting turquoise ocean waters in Iceland.
Scenic photo of a troll cave along Route 1 in southern Iceland, with seagulls soaring overhead and a woman in a red coat hiking a mountain
White lighthouse with orange top stands solitary on grassy coastal cliff in Iceland.
Visitors standing beneath a majestic tall waterfall in Iceland's rugged landscape.
Two people in winter gear smiling against rocky natural backdrop.
Blue Merrell shoes on red ground shown from first-person perspective.
Stunning turquoise blue crater lake surrounded by volcanic rocks and rugged terrain.

While we could have explored more...


some of the best moments came from simply driving — watching the landscapes shift from lava fields to meadows to mossy cliffs. I now understand why people drive the full Ring Road loop.


On the way to Reykjavik, we stopped at Kerið Crater and hiked into its colorful depths. We continued on through small towns, catching glimpses of local life and, yes, smelling more sulfur. Once in the city, we stayed at a Hilton and spent our last day wandering shops, eating local food, and of course, visiting Whales of Iceland — a nod to our love for the whaling museum back home in New Bedford, MA.

Person observing life-size whale models in a dimly lit blue museum exhibit.

One of our favorite things about traveling is just observing

Colorful rainbow-painted street in a quaint town with historic buildings and shops.

— walking the neighborhoods, trying unexpected cafés, finding joy in the everyday... maybe even trying a Hard Rock Cafe (or Domino's) along the way! Iceland reminded us how powerful the land can be, how small we really are, and how important it is to keep exploring.


Thanks for coming along with us — next up on the blog: our weekend in Montreal!

Of light & craft