Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The next big honeymoon destination is...

I don't know if anyone has officially predicted it yet, but Iceland is going to be the next big honeymoon destination.

I haven't met anyone who has been to Iceland who hasn't become enamoured with its vastness and wilderness and weirdness. 

Sure, there are no palm trees or colourful drinks (unless you count the many caramel-coloured beers, which I do). But there are ponies! And the sweetest woolly sheep. And the world's best hot dogs. Ever. Hands down.

There are lakes and waterfalls, and rocky landscapes covered in glowy green moss. There are glaciers and black sand beaches, fields and fjords. There's rain and sun and whisps of fog. There are milky blue geothermal pools and mountainous landscapes. Road trips that last for hours without seeing another human. Hills that are home to faeries.

There's Reykjavik: The hipsterest, cutest city you've ever seen, full of art galleries and design shops and stores stocked to the ceiling with wool sweaters. And the best sushi I've ever eaten.

There's waking up from a nap in your hotel room, perched up on top of the city, to the sounds of seagulls and sight of the sun breaking through storm clouds.

There are friendly locals, with impeccable English and impeccable style.

There are pubs where Icelanders of all ages drink and play card games all night (seriously.).

There's the best tap water you'll ever taste in the world. It's scientifically proven or something. Most restaurants and cafes serve it free from big, communal pitchers.

It also has excellent coffee (maybe it's the water?) and a healthy coffee culture. 

Even if you're an East Coast Canadian and you find its coastlines strangely familiar, and even if you're fairly well travelled, Iceland feels somehow exotic. It's romantic and dreamy and intoxicating.

It's the kind of destination you buy a guide book for, sit in an Icelandic coffee shop to read (planning before you arrive somewhere is overrated) and then realize that you could quite easily travel for an entire month and never get bored, never tire of the landscapes, or the people. 

It's the kind of place that has you looking at return tickets before you even leave. 

And isn't that the kind of place you want to spend your honeymoon?

CenterHotel Thingholt
pretty, centrally located boutique hotel

Fish Market - incredible tasting menu!
Baeharins Beztu Pylsur
best hot dog in the world!
LAVA Restaurant
at the Blue Lagoon

The Laundromat Cafe
quirky and fun

on the street by the hotel, overnight. free of charge


  1. I'm hoping to get to Iceland for New Year's! Didn't know about the hot dogs :)

    1. Oh gosh, get thee to Iceland! Apparently they do New Year's right. And the hot dogs are incredible. I think they are made of lamb, and they somehow melt in your mouth. I loved them. And I'm a (bad) vegetarian.

  2. You are so right...we LOVED Iceland! Went roadtrippin this summer and it was absolutely incredible. We stopped counting how many hot dogs we ate ;)

    1. It is THE perfect place to road trip, right? Did you stay in hotels or take a camper van/RV? The next time we go to Iceland (there will be a next time!) I think we'll rent one of these. They look so fun!

  3. Iceland is most definitely the next honeymoon destination, and it's becoming more popular in the realm of other trips, too! I feel so ahead of the trend having gone last summer ;) what a magical place. Glad you were able to enjoy it as well.

    1. You WERE ahead of the trend! I flew through in 2007 but wasn't wise enough to stop. It's incredible to think what Icelandair's presence has done for the country's tourism industry.

  4. Wow, look at those weird rock formations. Even the horses look a bit weird! But looks like it was well worth it!

    1. Weird in the best way :)

      But Icelandic horses are, technically, weird! They have two extra gaits that no other horses in the world do.

  5. I loved Iceland, but I didn't find it to be that romantic of a place, but maybe that's because my husband and I LOVE tropical places. Awesome pics!!!

    1. I think it was the solitude I found most romantic. Knowing that, as we drove through the Icelandic landscapes, we were probably the only two humans within a hundred miles.

      But of course, there's something to be said for a white sand beach or a private island for two, too :)

  6. Amazing! I've been wanting to visit Iceland for the past couple of years and as I see more and more photos, the more I want to go. It looks incredible. End.of.story. xxx

  7. We have really, really good water in Stavanger too and Norwegians are pretty proud of it. The communal jugs are common in cafes and we only drink water straight from the taps.

    Iceland often sounds pretty similar to Norway from the hot dogs to the landscapes (minus the geothermal pools) but I'm still interested in visiting some day. Everyone tends to rave about it and the photos are always stunning.


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