BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG
UPDATED NOVEMBER 2024
I'M TAKING A BREAK FROM NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND TO SHARE SOME STORIES ABOUT OUR RECENT TRIP TO ICELAND; MORE CHICAGOLAND NATURE STORIES COMING SOON
A few quick answers to questions I’ve been asked since I returned from our early-April trip to Iceland:
- Was it as beautiful and mind-blowing as people say?: Yes!
- Was it cold?: Yes, but…
- Did you see the Northern Lights?: No.
- Did you see the active volcano?: Lava from the plane, and smoke plumes from Reykjavik.
- Did you see whales?: Yes.
- Would you go back?: Yes!
The Big Picture
My wife, 13-year-old son, and I visited Iceland for the first time last month. We spent six days and five nights in Iceland. I’ve traveled to many places, but I’ll especially treasure our Iceland explorations—because this island nation of 382,000 people is a nature wonderland and because it was our first international trip with our son. It was fun to show him a bit of the world outside of the U.S., and observe his reactions to new foods, different languages, unique cultural traditions, and a landscape that often looked more like the surface of the moon or Mars than the Midwest, where we live.
Our trip consisted of two distinct segments: the wild South Coast and Reykjavik.
We spent our first 2.5 days in and around Vik on the South Coast. We saw thundering waterfalls, glaciers and glacial lagoons, black sand beaches, Icelandic horses (a breed of horse that was bred to survive the challenging conditions of Iceland), many birds, and national parks, with several iconic churches thrown into the mix. The weather was cold and extremely windy much of the time, but within a day, we became used to it. But we learned to hold tightly to our car doors when opening them—and dress in multiple layers. On the Ring Road, we enjoyed bright sunshine, as well as weathered dust storms that almost blinded us as we drove and that sounded like light hail hitting the windshield, snow flurries, and the occasional drops of rain—all within multiple 30-minute stretches. We were alone on the Ring Road amidst awe-inspiring landscapes for tens of miles at a time and then turned off the road to check out a waterfall, and saw hundreds of cars and tour buses. Where did all the people come from?!, we asked. The extreme weather thwarted some of our planned hikes, but that came with the territory. I tried Skyr (a traditional Icelandic dairy product that has been eaten for almost 1,000 years), enjoyed herring and thick rye bread at breakfast, and savored Viking, Gull, Einstök, and other Icelandic beers.
On the way to Reykjavik, we saw geysers and hot springs, a few waterfalls, and traveled through a national park on the Golden Circle.
We spent three full days in Reykjavik. We’d planned more adventures out of Iceland’s capital, but fell in love with this cozy European city. We did the requisite Sky Lagoon soak (the Blue Lagoon was closed), visited the excellent Perlan Museum and Settlement Museum, enjoyed Alfred Hitchcock–level gatherings of birds at Tjörnin Pond and saw the Monument to the Unknown Bureaucrat, toured Hallgrimskirkja (the Lutheran “rocket ship church” that looms over the city), saw the Harpa Concert Hall and Sun Voyager sculpture, and checked out the Punk Rock Museum. But the remaining time, we just roamed the city—4 to 5 miles a day—visiting cafes, stores, a food hall, a bookstore, Rainbow Street (officially Skólavörðustígur), and anything else that captured our fancy (including watching an Icelandic folk dance). We took our car from its parking spot near Tjörnin Pond only twice: for trips to Sky Lagoon and the Perlan Museum. The relaxed vibe of Reykjavik was the perfect counterpoint to our demanding first few days in Iceland.
I’m not an Iceland expert, but I’d like to share my experiences to help you have a great first trip. This is not a comprehensive guide to Iceland but, rather, a story about our short time there and some tips you can follow. We made the most of our time in Iceland, which was first settled by the Vikings in 870 a.d. Our days were packed with destinations and activities, but there is so much more to see. I wish we could have stayed three or four more days, but my son’s school schedule and our job demands kept us from enjoying Iceland even longer.
This is the first of two articles about our trip to Iceland. This article spotlights the South Coast, and the second article covers Reykjavik and the Golden Circle.
12 Places We Visited on the Way to Vík and on the South Coast
We landed in Iceland at 6:23 a.m. (2:23 a.m. Central Time Zone) on Easter, worked our way through customs, stocked up on beer and treats at the duty free store, retrieved our luggage, picked up the keys to our rental car, wandered the parking lots—luggage in tow—in freezing wind looking for our car, and finally found our car. The rental car areas need better signage! We entered our car as quickly as possible, struggling with the doors in the wind, but finally we were in. Our parked car moved back and forth in the wind, the car’s dashboard looked like the cockpit of a spaceship, and we were tired and a little overwhelmed (we hadn’t slept in almost 24 hours)—so we sat there for about 10 minutes to get our bearings. But we were also excited to be on an adventure! We headed out of Reykjavik International Airport toward the Ring Road to our final destination, Vík. But, first, there were waterfalls and other things to see on the way.
Seljalandsfoss: There are countless waterfalls in Iceland. Some—both small and towering—you can see from the Ring Road, while others you have to hike to. Seljalandsfoss is the “massive, glimpse it from the road . . . wow, look at that” type of waterfall. It was our first nature stop after leaving the airport. This 210-foot waterfall contains water from the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, which sits atop the volcano that erupted in 2010 (and significantly affected air traffic in Europe). The falls are pretty, if not awe-inspiring. You can actually hike behind Seljalandsfoss in milder weather, but the path was closed and caked with about a foot of ice during our visit. There’s a pleasant trail to the left of the waterfall (when facing it) that passes several minor falls and leads to a waterfall called Gljúfrabúi. It takes about 30 minutes to hike there, but you can catch a glimpse of the top of the falls after following the trail for about 10 minutes.
Skógafoss (waterfall): Skógafoss is just east down the Ring Road from Seljalandsfoss. It was stunning, surreal, rainbow graced, and many other amazing things. Skógafoss tumbles powerfully from the melting waters of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier and empties into a rock-strewn river. The wind was howling that day. I decided to hike the six-zillion stairs (actually about 500) on a staircase that sometimes wobbled in the wind. My family stayed warm in the car while I huffed and puffed on the narrow stairs to the top. At one point, a 16-year-old sprinted past us up the stairs, and I finally knew what it feels like to be old and watching the world fly by. I finally reached the top of the cliff, where there was a perfectly fine view of the falls and river from above, as well as the ocean in the distance. A long trail begins at the top of the cliff, but I did not take it. Bottom line: 54-year-old me made it up the stairs, but perhaps the jet lag and lack of sleep made it more challenging. Unless you plan to hike the trail at the top, I don’t think a journey up the stairs is worth it.
Vík: We arrived in Vík around 3:00 p.m. Vík (population 300) is Iceland’s southernmost village. Our first stop was the Krónan supermarket (which is part of the Icewear Magasín mall) right off the Ring Road. It appears that 3:00 p.m. was the official arrival time for every tour bus and self-driving tourist because it seemed like 300 people alone were in the grocery store and mall. As we shopped, the Krónan’s shelves emptied in real time as if someone had announced the end of the world.
Hotel Vík í Mýrdal: After stocking up on groceries at Krónan, we checked into the hotel for a two-night stay. The modern Hotel Vík í Mýrdal has a restaurant, lobby bar, and small fitness center, and it offers a Northern Lights wake-up service. The buffet breakfast was both expansive and wonderful, and the hotel’s staff was friendly and professional. I’d stay there again should we ever return. I booked a two-floor family room, which allowed my son to keep his own sleep and hang-out schedule. Our room had floor-to-ceiling windows, which can be used to view the Northern Lights. We did not see the lights, but we did enjoy the view of many birds nesting on the cliff face (pictured below). The hotel is about a five-minute walk from the small downtown and perhaps a 10-minute walk from the black sand beach in town.
Lava Show: I’d booked the lava show in Vík for our first night in country. It was a perfect choice because we were tired, a little chilled from adventures in the cold all day, and we wanted to do something close to town. The presenter provided a wealth of detail about volcanoes, Vík, past eruptions, and Icelandic language and culture. According to the Lava Show website, the show “recreates a volcanic eruption by superheating real lava up to 1100°C (2000°F) and then pouring it into a showroom full of people.” It was fun to watch angry orange and red lava literally emerge from a steel shoot in the wall and make its way toward us in the audience. The room heated quickly as the lava gathered in an area right past a fenced off area. The Lava Show is a great indoor entertainment activity for kids of all ages. (Note: The Lava Show is also available in Reykjavik.)
Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon: The next morning, we headed to Jökulsárlón, which is about 120 miles (193 kilometers) east of Vík on the Ring Road. Giant blocks of ice of all shapes and size float in this massive lagoon after having broken off the nearby glacier. It’s estimated that the lagoon covers seven square miles (11.3 square kilometers) and has a maximum depth of 900 feet (274.32 meters). Jökulsárlón is a stunning sight as the newly-calved icebergs glimmer a deep blue and bob and occasionally flip in the water. You may spot seals, which swim up the Jokulsa River from the ocean to catch lunch and bask on the ice. The lagoon was beautiful, but very touristy—with some people flying drones (not allowed) above the lagoon and people climbing on ice chunks (banned) that had floated to shore. There’s a small café and very basic washroom facilities. Food trucks can be found during the warmer months. Glacial boat tours are available during the mild months, but they weren’t available when we visited. Looking for a more serene lagoon experience? If so, check out Fjallsárlón Lagoon, which is about a 10-minute drive from Jökulsárlón.
Diamond Beach: Eventually, many of the icebergs in Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon make their way down the Jokulsa River to the ocean. Many wash onto the black sand beach and glitter like diamonds (hence the beach’s name) in the sunlight. Diamond Beach is on the other side of the Ring Road from Jökulsárlón, and you can travel to and from the lagoon via a walking path along the river (walk under the striking bridge that spans the river). Icebergs of all sizes—combined with the black sand beach, waves, and vivid sky—create a stunning vista and a must-see spot before you leave the area. It was a powerful feeling to stand on the black sand beach near the Arctic Circle, the sun occasionally breaking through the hazy sky, and look south across the vast North Atlantic Ocean. If you look in a straight line (and have Superman-quality vision), the next landmass you’ll see is Africa.
Skaftafell Vatnajökull National Park: We left Diamond Beach and traveled west back toward Vík, but made a few stops on the way. Skaftafell (our first stop) is part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park, which features Hvannadalshnúkur (the highest mountain in Iceland at 6,900 feet, or 2103.12 meters) and the mountain’s Öræfajökull glacier. There are hiking trails, beautiful waterfalls and other scenery, a basic café, and a small visitor center at the park. If I was an influencer, I’d spin an elaborate story about how we spent the day there, with carefully curated photos. But I’m not, the winds that day almost knocked us off our feet, and it was very cold, so our hiking plans were thwarted and we only checked out the visitor center and some quick views of the snow-covered mountains. Skaftafell is a beautiful place that I hope to spend a full day or more at in the future.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: Reynisfjara, which is located about 6.9 miles (11.1 kilometers) by road from Vík, is considered one of the most iconic black sand beaches in Iceland. The sand consists of pulverized volcanic rock. At this beach, you’ll find enormous basalt stacks that look like church pipe organs, stunning views of the ocean and dragon’s teeth columns jutting from the water, a restaurant, and lots and lots of people (including influencers). A fee is required. Beware of sneaker waves, which roar in unexpectedly—even on calm days. They’ve been known to knock over people and drag them into the water. If don’t believe me, check out this video. People have died at Reynisfjara, so be sure to heed the warning signs before you get to the beach and maintain a safe distance of at least 100 feet (30.48 meters) from the water. After your visit, consider checking out the nearby Dyrhólaey rock arch and cliffs. This is a great place to see seabirds (especially puffins from May to August).
TIP: Check out this website to learn more about proper safety practices at the beach and its zone safety system.
Black Crust Pizzeria (in Vík): After a long day of exploring the South Coast, we enjoyed some tasty pizzas and beer at this restaurant.
TIP: Here are some dining spots in Vík that were recommended but that we did not visit: Lava Bakery and Coffee, Skool Beans Bus Café, Strondin Pub, The Soup Company, and Wok.
Víkurfjara (in-town black sand beach): On Tuesday morning, before we headed to Reykjavik, we visited the black sand beach in town. Amidst the crazy wind and blowing black sand, we had the entire beach (and its wonderful views) to ourselves. And it was free! I loved the solitude of our time on this beach and the views of Vík í Mýrdal Church perched above the hills above town.
My son has two guinea pigs, and he decided that 1) he wanted a photo of his guinea pig Peanut printed on a blanket, and 2) that he was going to take this blanket to Iceland and get photos in iconic spot. So, yes, we had a surreal moment of my son holding up the Peanut blanket as the winds nearly knocked us over. These are the times that make it fun to be a dad and a traveler.
Vík í Mýrdal Church: From the beach, we headed up to the church for a final goodbye to Vík. This iconic church was built in 1929. Its striking red roof and white exterior create a beautiful contrast if you’re above looking down at the black sand beach and blue water, or looking up at it from the beach and the green or icy hills behind it (depending on the season). It was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, the state architect of Iceland, who also designed Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church in Reykjavik, which looks like a stone rocket ship looming over the city. Vík í Mýrdal Church is a designated place of refuge for townspeople should the volcano above the town erupt and suddenly melt the glacier, which would flood the town.
We left the pretty seaside town of Vík amidst light snow and headed toward Reykjavik. More on this segment of our adventure in part two of this article, coming soon.
In the meanwhile, here are . . .
26 Things to Know About Iceland Before You Go
Planning: I began planning our trip about eight months before we left. There is so much free information—of variable quality—available on the internet. The Facebook page, Reykjavik, ICELAND Travel & Vacation, was useful and a fun way to see nearly real-time photos from places I wanted to visit. Modern travel is so strange (as compared to 25 years ago) because you can see thousands of well-known and offbeat locations in your target destination before you ever step foot in it.
I’m still a strong believer in purchasing guide books. This should be no surprise since I’m both an author and own a publishing company. I purchased Rick Steves Iceland and Lonely Planet’s Iceland. Both were excellent resources, and they are still filled with my post-it notes. Each book has a handy pull-out map (yes, I’m still a paper map person when it comes to planning). I taped a map to our kitchen wall to give us a visual aid during our planning. It’s still there today and reminds me of our great trip when I’m eating terrible American sliced bread. (11/24/24: The Iceland map is gone, and a map of Ireland has replaced it.)
It’s costly to visit: Hotels, tours, food, and car rentals are expensive, but that’s really relative to where you live back home. You can offset high prices by staying in Airbnbs or hostels; camping in the mild seasons; booking a hotel that is further from the city center or other target destinations; taking your own tours (when possible); purchasing food from supermarkets, gas stations (the food at most stations is much better than American gas station food), and hot dogs stands (hot dogs are a national treasure in Iceland); and perhaps choosing not to rent a car and taking buses instead in Reykjavik.
English friendly: Outside of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and a few other foreign countries, Iceland provides one of the softest landings for English-language speakers from the U.S. since nearly everyone speaks English. This was much different than when we traveled to Egypt and Jordan. Of course, learning some key phrases in a country’s language is highly recommended and shows respect for Iceland’s residents.
The weather: It was cold and very windy, but we got used to it. And this will also depend on the season you visit. After a low-snow winter in Chicago, it was wonderful to see the mountains coated in snow, the glaciers, and other wintry conditions in certain areas. The one thing to remember is that Iceland never really warms up. A “summer” day is typically about 60 degrees.
The wind: The wind gets a separate entry in this list because, at times, it was like a malevolent force that was hell-bent on knocking us off our feet and causing chaos. When we arrived, the rental car agent strongly warned us to hold our car doors tightly when opening and closing them because the wind blows so hard that it might bend the door frame if you lose your grip when opening it or worse yet, damage another car. We got to know the wind as soon we walked out of the airport to retrieve our rental car. The wind and cold were the fiercest I’d ever experienced.
Darkness and sunlight: Keep in mind that the number of hours of daylight vary significantly by month in Iceland. In December and January, there are only 4.5 to 5.5 hours of sunlight a day. On the other hand, June (about 21 hours) and July (about 20 hours) feature nearly endless hours of light.
Credit cards and cash: Iceland is a largely cashless country, yet cash (Króna) is appreciated in some settings. Cash is needed to use some washrooms, but we didn’t encounter this situation.
Tipping: There’s no tipping, although some travel experts suggest doing so for tour guides. It was refreshing to not be asked to tip—especially in the new American age of payment software set to 25 percent and higher tip rates. Your food and services will cost more not only because of supply chain challenges and the short growing season in Iceland, but also because many workers receive a higher salary that allows them to enjoy a better quality of life. This seems like a much better model than both shaming people to tip 25 to 30 percent on a bill and not paying workers a fair wage.
Flights: We traveled to Iceland on Icelandair. Trip length: about 5.5 hours from Chicago to Reykjavik (and about 6 hours on the way home). We paid $900/ticket, which included the option to select seats with more leg room. I think I would have paid hundreds of dollars more per ticket based on the stressed looks on many people’s faces that grew more grim as I walked to the washrooms at the back of the plane. There was a constant line, and I felt bad for the people who had other people standing next to them in the aisle much of the flight. The Icelandic crew was great and I took advantage of the 2-for-1 Icelandic beer offer (Einstök), but it’s no fun to fly these days—unless you’re wealthy.
Hotels: We stayed at two hotels: Vik Myrdal Hotel and Hotel Centrum Reykjavik. I highly recommend both hotels. The Vík Myrdal Hotel is a few minutes walk from downtown Vík, and Hotel Centrum Reykjavik seemed like no more than a 10-minute walk to almost everything in downtown Reykjavik.
Transportation options: Car rentals, taxis (no Uber-style transportation), public, buses, biking, and tour-based transportation
Rental Cars: We used Hertz and purchased additional insurance to cover wind, rock, and other damage. Do your research regarding proper insurance coverage because the rental car companies are sticklers about real (and perceived) damage to their vehicles.
TIP: Take photos of every inch of your vehicle at pickup and drop-off so that you have a visual record of the condition of your car in case the rental car company tries to charge you for damage you did not cause.
TIP: The Facebook page, Reykjavik, ICELAND Travel & Vacation, features a wealth of user feedback about the quality and honesty of various rental car companies in Iceland.
Roads. The Ring Road is the main highway in Iceland. It is a 820-mile (1322-kilometer) loop that connects the majority of the towns and villages and offers access to many of Iceland’s top destinations. Icelandic drivers drive on the same side of the road as we do in the United States. Maximum driving speeds are much lower than they are on U.S. interstates because the roads in Iceland are narrower and topography and often weather conditions can create dangerous driving conditions. The Icelandic government says that “headlights are required around the clock, while driving. Driving off-road is forbidden!”
TIP: Check road conditions, view web cameras, and learn about driving safely in Iceland on Road.is.
TIP: The Icelandic Transport Authority offers the How to drive in Iceland flyer. You can access it here.
TIP: Worried about volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, bad weather, hiking and camping challenges, and other potential calamities? If so, check out SafeTravels.is.
Roundabouts: Roundabouts are ubiquitous in Reykjavik and the South Coast. If driving, be ready to go round and round (drivers in the innermost lane have the right of way) in roundabouts until you find your turn. At first, I found the ones in less-developed areas to be fun, but the traffic-filled roundabouts in Reykjavik were downright scary at times. But, like anything challenging, I got used to it and had no issues eventually.
Emergencies: 112 is the common emergency telephone number in Iceland. This number is identical to 911 in the U.S. and 999 in the United Kingdom.
Ferries: Information on ferries can be accessed here.
Gas Stations: Outside of Reykjavik, there were fewer gas stations than one might find in many areas of the United States, so be sure to fill up when you see a gas station. We counted four gas stations between Vík and Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon. Also, there are unattended gas stations, which literally consist of pumps on the side of the road. To utilize them, you’ll need to use a credit/debit card, and no one will be available to help you should you encounter a problem with payment or fueling.
Parking: The Vík Myrdal Hotel has a large parking lot. Our hotel in Reykjavik did not have parking. Some hotels in the city did; many do not. We used the Parka app, which allowed us to add time and pay digitally from the comfort of our hotel room, restaurants, etc. Some people complain about the quality of the Parka app, but we found it to be very useful. We parked at Tjörnin Pond, which was about a five-minute walk from our hotel. Birdwatching is fun at the pond, and the view of the city across the pond at night is splendid.
Crampons: To prepare ourselves for the “ice” in the “Iceland is the land of fire and ice” moniker, we brought crampons but didn’t use them. But I recommend bringing them if you visit during wintery times.
Northern Lights: I’ve dreamt of seeing the Northern Lights my entire life; created a painting of them; and saw them poorly three times, once at Miller Beach on the Indiana shore, very briefly on the flight to Iceland, and, who would have thought, from my backyard in Chicago on May 10. But these views were not the colorful, vivid, and dancing Northern Lights of my dreams and photos, so I thought a trip to Iceland would increase my chances of seeing them. But, we had no luck because of the clouds and low solar activity. So, the chase continues. (11/24/24 UPDATE: I saw a much-better version of the Northern Lights on an Illinois beach in October; to learn more, check out my article, Thoughts On Chasing the Northern Lights and Other Celestial Phenomena in Chicagoland . . . and 30+ Tips/Resources to Help You Find Them).
The keys to seeing the lights in Iceland are dark, cloudless skies; high solar activity; and a lot of luck because the lights are elusive and mercurial. With that said, your odds of seeing the Northern Lights are immensely higher in Iceland and other Nordic countries than in many other places. The best times to see the lights are mid-September to mid-April, but sightings have occurred in August and May, too. When the solar wind is especially strong, the Northern Lights can even be seen in light-polluted Reykjavik.
TIP: The Icelandic Met Office offers detailed information on aurora activity here.
TIP: The Perlan Museum in Reykjavik offers an Aurora Forecast page, as well as a great film about the Northern Lights. The Perlan is a must-see if you visit Reykjavik. It’s also a good place to try to spots the lights in the city.
Iceland is busy in the summer!: Summer hotel accommodations in the South Coast are often fully booked by the previous spring. So, plan and book your trip early.
Trees: People love to say there are no trees in Iceland, but that’s a tree-mendous untruth. There are certainly some trees in Iceland, and I grew to appreciate the sudden sight of one or small groves of trees after traversing miles and miles of volcanic and rocky plains. Perhaps we take our lush forests for granted in the United States. The oldest tree in Reykjavik (a Swedish whitebeam) is located across the street from the Settlement Museum and Hotel Centrum Reykjavik (where we stayed). It was planted in 1884 by Georg Hans Schierbeck, the chief doctor in Reykjavík from 1884–93 and the founder of the Icelandic Horticultural Society.
Influencers: This was the first international trip I’ve taken in the age of influencers, and they were ever-present on the South Coast (and at the Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik). Life was just an endless series of repeated photographs taken in the same spot with only slightly different pouty facial expressions for the influencers. My favorite sights included influencers standing on an Oriental rug atop a camper van amidst fierce winds; influencers in sparkly dresses and others in fluffy, fur coats posing on the black sands and rock outcroppings of Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in the driving wind that was blowing black sand everywhere; and influencers perched atop fake rocks at Sky Lagoon as if they were doing a fashion shoot. I’m definitely from a generation that does not understand the world of influencers, but be aware that they will sometimes be in your photos, cut you off at destinations, and otherwise cause unapologetic mayhem all in the pursuit of influencer nirvana.
Random local vs. corporate thought: The smaller the business that you visit, the more you’re treated like a human being rather than a commodity. And the prices are often cheaper, too.
Random café thought: Icelandairs really know how to do café culture—the vibe is cozy, laid back, and you’re not getting your check till you ask for it.
Safety in Iceland: I was struck by how safe I felt in Iceland. There were two murders in Iceland (population 382,000) in 2021. That’s a morning’s tally on some days in certain American cities. You will find some type of crime wherever you travel, but in Iceland it’s not violent crime as in many cities in the United States.
What struck me as I “touristed” around Iceland is how gun violence, robberies, and other violent crime have become almost normalized in the United States. We hem and haw about murders and street robbery crews acting with impunity—sometimes in broad daylight—but I think many us believe that there is nothing that we can do to change this trend because many of our politicians are beholden to special interests or subscribe to distorted ideologies. As I walked the safe streets of Reykjavík at all hours, I thought of a painting from the painter Norman Rockwell’s famous Four Freedoms series: “Freedom from Fear.” (The other paintings are “Freedom of Speech,” “Freedom of Worship,” and “Freedom from Want.”) Americans—and every human being on Earth deserve these freedoms and many others. It’s sad that we often have to live in fear in America because of street crime, those who want to try to overthrow our government or impose their religious beliefs on us, and the actions of other bad actors. I have no solutions, other than following the Golden Rule, supporting democratic principles, and fighting against evil.
Final Thoughts: Tourism Overload
Iceland is already straining at the seams in terms of tourism. It’s expensive and cold and wintery and windy much of the year, but tourists keep coming because they’ve fallen in love with the country’s history, culture, architecture, nature, and its people. (Watch out Greenland, you’re next!) Iceland is a beautiful, mystical, and mostly peaceful place in a world that is increasingly not any of these things. But I’m not the first person to think Iceland has reached, or will soon reach, a tipping point, where the pain of a visit (and daily life for residents) exceeds the pleasure. In many areas on the South Coast, the infrastructure is not built for large numbers of tourists, and overcrowding at top spots will only get worse as Iceland becomes even more popular. I pray that Iceland’s elected officials find an equitable solution to create a balance of ecofriendly tourism (which it already emphasizes) and a healthy lifestyle for its citizens. Iceland is special, and I hope it stays that way. And I hope that you get to walk the streets of its towns and cities and savor its natural sights someday—while preferably not feeling like you’re in Venice, Italy, or tripping over gaggles of influencers.
Copyright (text): Andrew Morkes
Copyright (photos): Andrew Morkes, except puffin photo, USFWS
Looking for some great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $19.99. Nature in Chicagoland received great reviews in the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Southtown, This Week in Birding blog, and Beverly Review.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I have been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 70 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).
Here’s a list of the environmental-focused titles that I’ve written:
- Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
- Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
- Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Environment (Getting Started series)
- Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)
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