5 Must-Do Activities in Iceland (Especially if Traveling With Kids)

5 Must-DO Activities in Iceland
(especially if traveling with kids)

September 27, 2018

Oh Iceland, you have my heart! I’ve never seen something so mesmerizing and untouched. It’s such an amazing place to visit for a little R&R, listen to Episode 4 of the Free To Be Podcast for more on this, and a great place to visit with kids.

I wanted to share my top 5 must-do activities in Iceland, how we book our accommodations and my #1 suggest for all traveling mothers. It’s important to note that we traveled the second week of September, which is considered Winter in Iceland, but the weather was amazing.

With six full travel days we opted to not do the entire Ring Road and rather split our time between the North and South of Iceland, traveling through the East (feels like a description of Game of Thrones). It is possible to do the Ring Road in that amount of time, but to really enjoy your time and take advantage of that R&R I mentioned before, I recommend picking some main focuses.

I hope this post inspires you to plan your own trip to Iceland.

1. GeoSea Geothermal Sea Baths

I am so glad we found this little gem tucked away in Husavik. It had only been open about a month, when we visited in September 2018 and as a result, we truly had a one of a lifetime experience. Visiting a geothermal bath is a must do in Iceland, but it can feel overwhelming thinking of the Blue Lagoon (major tourist destination) especially when kids.

Ben and I are true believers that you can do, almost anything, traveling with kids that you would do without. The GeoSea Baths were amazing, and entry for kids was completely free and they offered us floaters for Cal at no extra charge.

My top 3 favorite things about the GeoSea Geothermal Sea Baths were:

• The view: Seriously I loved that I could look out over the ledge and see the water, it was such a beautiful view, watching the ships come in and out of the harbor and seeing the endless sea (made it feel like a true infinity pool).

• Swim-up bar: Need I say more? There was a smaller bath with a window to the bar, we didn’t even need to get out of the water. It was definitely a nice perk since we spent almost 3 hours there and girl needs a refreshment.

• Private: While we did visit pretty early on after they opened, we loved that it wasn’t crowded. It felt like our private little secret

2. Thingvellir National Park

BEAUTY - There is no better way to describe this National Park then just that, beauty. We loved our drive through Thingvellir, which is part of the Golden Circle, taking breaks along the way and enjoying brief walks for some amazing photos. One of the things about Iceland is the driving, and with views like this, it’s so freaking worth it.

I highly recommend carving out about 2 hours to drive through the National Park, giving yourself time to fully explore the beautiful landscape that is Iceland. We did this on Day 2 of our trip, after staying near Vik.

3. Seljalandsfoss

Waterfalls are a major obsession of mine. I fulfilled my dream of swimming beneath a waterfall in Costa Rica back in 2015 and while visiting Iceland I was able to walk behind a waterfall! It was so beautiful to see it from every angle and even get to stand near the base (something I highly recommend).

Some things to note:

• If traveling with kids, I highly recommend a carrier of some kind, as a stroller is basically impossible. More on my top recommendation below.

• Wear boots, as the ground is slippery and you want some traction. In fact, I highly recommend just wearing boots EVERYWHERE in Iceland.

• Have a jacket or coat. When we visited Iceland in September it was pretty warm, compared to the temperatures they typically have, so a light windbreaker worked great for Ben and I added an extra fleece layer to feel a little more comfortable. What you definitely want is something waterproof to protect your clothes while viewing the waterfall up close and personal.

4. Godafoss

We also visited Gullfoss Falls, but Ben and I both agree that Godafoss has our vote because of its accessibility. This was a great stop on our way back to Akureyri and allowed for a beautiful walk up the right side of the falls. It’s super picturesque and gives you such a beautiful view of a powerful natural wonder. Overall, we really loved the North of Iceland, an area not visited by many if not doing the full Ring Road.

5. Hverfjall

Ben and I visited Oregon in 2014 and fell in love with Crater Lake, seriously guys if you haven’t been it’s also a must-see! When visiting Iceland we had the opportunity to visit another crater minus the lake and it did not disappoint. Hverfjall is located near Lake Myvtan, while you’re there just make a day of it, and the hike to the top of the crater provides a beautiful view of the area.

It is definitely a hike, so plan on at least 20 minutes to get up, longer if you’ve got a 36-pound toddler on your back, what can I say I love a good challenge.

#1 THING TO BRING AS A TRAVELING MOMMA

Speaking of a toddler on my back one of my must-have travel necessities as a parent is a baby carrier. We said bye bye to a stroller while traveling and in Iceland, it’s just going to be a hassle as most places you want to visit aren’t stroller friendly. We always bring our Lillebaby All Seasons to accommodate Cal and make traveling a little easier. This is most likely his last trip in this carrier, but it still my #1 recommendation for traveling mommas.

BOOKING ACCOMODATIONS

We are big fans of Airbnb and typically use it for the majority of our rentals. We love the space it provides, another must for traveling with kids. Use our code to save $40 off your first rental

Bonus Tip #1: If you can stay on a working farm in Iceland, I highly recommend!

Bonus Tip #2: Find a rental with a hot tub, it will not disappoint.

I want to know, have you recently visited Iceland or planning a trip?

What are your must-sees in Iceland. Head to my Instagram and leave a comment on my photo!

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The Free To Be Podcast With Michelle Knight

THE FREE TO BE PODCAST WITH MICHELLE KNIGHT

I’m so excited to bring you Free To Be a brand new podcast by Michelle Knight founder of Brandmerry.com and the membership community Free To Be U - hey that’s me!

The Free To Be podcast was created to empower more women to own their story and write their own ending. I truly believe that we are Free To Be anyone, anywhere at anytime and can do so with true authenticity.

The Free To Be podcast will be your go-to podcast for inspiration, real-life authentic stories and tips for running your own business that gives you the time, financial and location freedom you crave.

You’ll hear from women and the occasional man about their own journey into a life of freedom, their struggles, biggest triumphs and what they’ve credited to their biggest successes.

You’ll learn from me about what it’s really like to run a business with a toddler, should be fun, and how I find harmony in my own life. You’ll gain incredible knowledge, tools and strategies for communicating your own story and brand with the world.

If you have a desire for more freedom in your life and don’t believe in sacrifice to get it you lady and I’m excited to introduce you to the ultimate podcast for your deepest desires. Get ready for some laughs, some swearing and a ton of insightful humans empowering you to write your own ending.

Free To Be by Michelle Knight will be available September 4 on Apple podcast, Spotify, I Heart Radio and Stitcher. Subscribe and listen now for free.

CONNECT WITH ME

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LOVE THE FREE TO BE PODCAST?

I kinda secretly hoped you'd say yes! I love you right back lady and I'm so honored you tune in every week for massive inspiration. I've got a favor to ask. Would you be so kind as to leave a review of the podcast on iTunes (if you haven't already)? It means so much to me to read your reviews + it allows more people to get their hands on the amazing interviews and content. Let's spread the love, shall we? REVIEW ON ITUNES ↠

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What I Learned in Amsterdam

#DREAMMERRY

Ok, let me begin with the disclaimer that this is not going to be that kind of email. I’m sure Amsterdam is one hell of a city without children ;) Or visit was a little more mild, but oh so impactful.

While visiting Amsterdam for a day during our 10-Day European Adventure, my husband insisted on visiting the Van Gogh Museum. To say I was not really excited is kind of an understatement. I’m really not an art freak, my husband is an artist, but besides his art work, which is totally free to me, I have never purchased or acquired art for my home.

However, our life is all about compromise so I strapped in my little guy and prepared to mindlessly wander through the Van Gogh Museum. Boy was I in for a rude awakening.

I found such joy in reading about this complex man’s life - he was so much more than just a revolutionary artist, he was a man with so many levels. WHAT TRULY STOOD OUT TO ME AND WHAT I REALLY CAN'T STROP TALKING ABOUT IS THAT VAN GOGH DECIDED HE WANTED TO BECOME A PAINTER AT 27!! Yeah you read that right, one of the most acclaimed painters in the world, decided that at age 27, well into his adult life, that he had a passion for art and was going to pursue it.

I was seriously blown away reading this within the first few minutes of entering the museum. The rest of the time I spent reading as much as I could about this man, studying his work, reading about his personal demons and leaving a different person than I came in.

I have always believed that it is never too late to change your life, it is something I preach on a regular basis. I mean I became a mother and started my own business at 28, so I definitely know it is possible. But what really stood out to me was that a person, could follow their passion and impact the world in such a small window of time.

Now I don’t know him personally and honestly don’t know much aside from what I learned during my time at the museum, but I truly believe that Van Gogh made a decision - he wasn’t going to keep doing what didn’t inspire him and was going to make his future exactly what he wanted.

We all have this power, the power to achieve greatness, paint our own future, rewrite our own ending. What we have to do is make the decision and not believe that it is too late for us, because it isn’t. I don’t care how old or young you are, if you have the passions and the purpose you can do anything!

BE MERRY!

Michelle Knight

P.S. It is a new month, yes November is here and there are only a few months left before we jump head first into 2017. I’m offering the phenomenal women on my email list the opportunity to get a head start to 2017 by offering custom, affordable coaching. Schedule a call with my this week to learn about this special opportunity. Don’t wait another minute to make major changes in your life and get the support and accountability to make it happen quickly >> bit.ly//BrandmerryChat