Iceland: a volcanic field trip

Iceland has some of the most diverse natural landscapes I have ever seen in my whole life. You could be rolling through volcanic fields at one minute and then within an hour, you could be at the top of a glacier, or on a mountainside with a sweeping waterfall, or a beach covered in black sand. And believe it or not, but this is exactly what you could expect to see in a single day trip down the south-west coast of Iceland.

Just the second day, after exploring Reykjavik, the infamous Gullfoss Falls, and some natural springs, my family and I crammed into a tiny black SUV for a road trip with a prize at the end: the black sand beaches of Vik. It was the first time, and since then, the only time, I had ever seen a black-sand beach. To start off our journey, we ventured just outside of Reykjavik to be greeted with the desolate surroundings of distant mountains and volcanic rock that almost reminded me of Death Valley, but in a more striking way. We drove through this desolate land for hours before stumbling upon the feet of some luminous mountains. Our first stop was the photogenic Seljalandsfoss. I will never forget the site of this waterfall. It may have been the mist that created a double rainbow, or the distant cotton fields and luscious grass that just swept me off of my feet, but it was the most peaceful and serene place I think I have ever been (besides underwater)! Now that I think about it, I should have just laid in the soft, tall grass when I had the chance! The waterfall is surrounded by some smaller falls and clear-water streams that line the paths you can take around the area. It is a total "must-do" and one of the highlights of my vacation!

Following this waterfall, we passed more sites of mountains, wild horses, and small red houses in the distance to find Skogafoss! This waterfall was very impressive, and a great spot for a family photo! It's also an experience, with the climb all the way to the top (don't drop your phone)! You can see so much of the green land beneath you when you reach the top!

Our final destination was Vik. Vik has a nice little port, and there is a brief hike you can take to the top of the rocks that overlook the beach. It was here that I got to see the popular puffins! When you get to the top of the rocks, you can see the entire black sand beaches, the Atlantic, and then far off in the distance, some snow capped mountains and glaciers! It was an incredible view. When you hike down to the bottom, you reach this marvelous cave that looks like it came from an art museum. I was also impressed with the quality of the beach. The pebbles were soft and round (a good size not to get in your shoes) and with every step, you would sink a little bit. When you reach the edge of the water, you can feel the salty and cold ocean breeze.

In Vik, we ate in a little white cottage restaurant called Sudur Vik. There, we were served an Icelandic specialty called Atlantic char. It was my first time ever having char, which is in the same family as salmon, and just as mom described it, a little less fishy. The fish was phenomenal and the portions of the sides were great: we were served with barley, parsnip, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. The meal was incredibly tasty and if I had the chance, I would get this meal again. In fact, it was so good that upon our arrival back home, I tried to remake this exact dish (did not taste nearly as good)!

The way home from Vik to Reykjavik was one of the most pleasant (and crammed) rides ever. I will never forget how long the road was--flat on one side, mountains on the other--and how bare it was. There were no cars in sight for miles. Around 10:30 pm, we reached a gravel road where we saw a full double rainbow. 10:30 pm--I mean seriously, what are the odds!! The sky was purple and the colors were incredibly vibrant: by far one of the best experiences ever! And when we finally reached Reykjavik by 11:00 pm, the sky was still lit and speckled with a pink and orange sunset, the kind half of the world must have been looking at from beaches or mountains! During the summer, Iceland only receives about 4-5 hours of total darkness. And by midnight, the city is still bustling!

Anyways, if you find yourself in Iceland with a day to spare, this is an amazing road trip that I would highly recommend to all! The route was easy and straight-forward, only about 2.5 hours each way. Iceland is a marvelous country with some of the greatest natural beauty ever. However, it is a lot of driving, so I recommend getting plenty of rest the night before, no matter how long the sun refuses to go to sleep! In addition to road trips like this, you can add to your bucket list snorkeling, watching the northern lights, and relaxing in the blue lagoons. These were all things that my family decided not to do, so I will definitely be visiting Iceland again on a 2-day layover to check these off of my bucket list someday!!