Iceland Beyond Reykjavik

• Waterfalls: The sheer number of waterfalls is mind-boggling. And some of these are massive—several stories tall and extremely wide. Two of my favorites are located close to one another on the south coast: Skogafoss and Gljufrabui. Skogafoss is a towering waterfall that has steps beside it, letting you climb to the top and walking along the river that leads into it, where you will find even more waterfalls. Gljufrabui sits behind a crevice in the rocks; you climb a very short distance through it to experience this power of nature. Just make sure to wear waterproofs.

• The east coast: There are lovely small villages on this coast, along with the ice lagoon and the most accessible glaciers. One of my favorite small villages here is Seydisfjordur, which is mostly known for its small blue church, but the surrounding mountains and the fjord it sits in are absolutely beautiful. When we were there in the summer, it was full of violet flowers. The Jokulsarlon Lagoon and Diamond Beach are also must-visits for their icebergs.

• The Myvatn area: This area, located on the north side of the island, has the Myvatn lake as its central attraction, but, close by, you will find a geothermal area along with a beautiful distinct volcano called Krafla that has been filled with blue water. In fact, this area has a lot of volcanic attractions to enjoy. Bring your bathing suit so you can experience an outdoor hot-spring shower powered by the thermo-activity just beside the road leading to the Krafla.

• Hot springs/baths: And you cannot go to Iceland and not experience these. The Blue Lagoon gets most of the attention, but there are baths located across the island. One of my favorites is the Myvatn Nature Baths, located in the Myvatn region. Like the Blue Lagoon, it also has blue water, but it is less crowded, less expensive, and has nice views over the area. I enjoyed the several hours spent here at the end of a long day of exploring the area.

• North Iceland: This really shouldn’t be missed, but so many people do as they only stay in the south. It is definitely worth the effort to get to. Akureyri is a beautiful small town that sits at the bottom of a long fjord. One of the lovely surprises in this town was the botanical gardens, which are free to visit. I personally prefer Akureyri to Reykjavik when it comes to Icelandic cities.

• Whale watching in North Iceland: This is the best place in Iceland for this activity. Many go from Husavik, but these tours can be cancelled depending on weather. If you go from the west side of the fjord, just north of Akureyri, there is less of a chance for them to be canceled. This can also be better for those prone to sea sickness, as the water is calmer in the fjord.

• Drive between Akureyri and Siglufjordur: This was my favorite drive on our entire trip around the Ring Road. Going up the coast of the fjord, you will encounter a loverly waterfall into the sea, beautiful scenery along the coast, and a peaceful valley, Hedinsfjordur, that requires going through a long, one-way tunnel. I love the sense of isolation it affords those willing to make the journey.

While Iceland is not generally known for their food, we were surprised by the quality and diversity we found. It is expensive as they have to ship in most things, but what we had tended to be very good quality. Some of my favorite places are:

• Fridheimar: This is a tomato farm located inside the Golden Circle. If you stay at the Blue Hotel, you are right around the corner. It is difficult to get into the actual restaurant during high season so book early, but they have a bistro that is open later, does not require reservations, and has nice options. If you happen to have good weather, they have a great outside seating area.

• Black Crust Pizzeria: Located in Vik, this makes for a nice stop on the south coast for a bite to eat. They have this delicious black-crust pizza that you will only find here.

• Hafid Bistro: This bistro sits by the bay in Djupivogur on the east coast. It offers very generous portions of excellent fish and chips—very thick fish without all the oil you sometimes find with fried fish. You order at the counter and they bring it to your table. As a side note, there is usually a street food van close by that is run by a husband and wife team. They make their own herbal tea from the flora located in the area, which was lovely.

• Gisli Eirikur Helgi Kaffihus: This is worth a stop for lunch in Dalvik as you drive up the coast from Akureyri to Siglufjordur. It specializes in all-you-can-eat fish soup and salad with homemade bread. It is rustic with very happy and friendly service.

• Siglunes: In Siglufjordur in the far north sits this Moroccan restaurant that one wouldn’t expect. We had a three-course meal here during our stay and found all of the items excellent. It is chef-owned and -operated and they specialize in tagines.

• Matarlist: This restaurant in the small village of Olafsvik on the west coast of Iceland had the best fish and chips I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. And that is saying something from someone who has lived in England for over 20 years. The other seafood options were also excellent, but if you go, you must have the fish and chips.