A simple click can make all the difference

Black Friday has come and gone.  And it wasn't the same.  Years spent searching for the best deals in a store just doesn't compete with the effectiveness of online shopping and the ease of delivery at home.  While there were plenty of people in the stores, it just didn't have the same traditional feel of years past.

The natural guess is that most people are shopping from home, and attempting to save as much money as possible.  As cyber-Monday approaches, there is one small thing you can do that can make a big difference in the lives of many!

As you make your way across the internet, we ask that you click on the links of Amazon Associates.  Clearly marked, because Amazon requires us too, these links bring you to multiple storefronts of those of us trying to make a small difference in the world.  Amazon allows us to be a part of the online consumer community, giving us the change to share things we love and recommend.

You may see this links everywhere, from webpages to social media.  And, you may be frusterated, feeling as though those on the internet just want to sell something.  That's not the case at all.  You do not have to purchase anything from us.  Just clicking on the link helps promote our vision, and keeps us relevant within the community.  It's a really small thing you can do to help support those you follow online!

So as you get ready to shop this Cyber-Monday: start here! (Amazon Afflilate link - see below statement)  Our storefront is small, however it's only full of things we actually own and have used.  Give the gift of travel this year, or plan your own travel adventures.  If you don't love our items, find an influencer or social media person online that you do love and click on their link.  Either way, you're going to make a big difference in a small way to those online!

Waterfalls are stunning across Iceland.  Follow along as we share throughout a few posts some of the most incredible finds along the Ring Road

Four on the "Most Famous" List

Gullfoss

Located within the "Golden Circle", Gullfoss is easily the most famous waterfall in Iceland.  It's location near the capital, as well as it's well paved paths make this powerful waterfall easy to view.  There are mulitple viewing platforms.  Travel tip:  If you have a car go later in the day after busses have left for a better experience!

Godafoss

Located in the northern part of Iceland, and part of the Diamond Circle, Godafoss is easily classified as a beautiful and historic waterfall.  Legend around it's name is a part of Icelandic history, and it provides great spots to sit and view.  Located directly on the Ring Road, this waterfall is easy to get to and the paved paths make it an easy view.  There is additional hiking down to the base at your own risk.

Hraunfoss

Hraunfoss was an unexpected find.  Popular among tourists, it's one of the first waterfalls traveling east along the Ring Road outside the capital.  At first, it's a seemingly simplistic waterfall, with a variety of small falls traveling to the rive below.  It isn't until you look closely you realize the amazing geological marvel.  The waterfall comes from under the ground.  There are no above rivers feeding it.  Everything lies below the surface until meeting the wall at Hraunfosser.

Dettifoss

Dettifoss is the second most powerful waterfall in Europe, and the most powerful in Iceland.  The amount of water that pours over the cliff at a tremendous speed plays tricks on your eyes.  It feels as though you are watching a CGI from the viewing platform.  When standing next to it, it's difficult to speak, as the energy from Dettifoss pounds into the air around you, creating a deafening sound forcing you to simply stand and marvel in silence.   Featured in movies, this waterfall in north Iceland in the Diamond Cirlce off the Ring Road is well worth the drive too.  You DEFINITELY need rain gear!  CLICK HERE for ours (We are Amazon Affliates and make a small compensation from qualifying purchases)

Click Below for More Information on the Ring Road and our Travels to Iceland!

Thanksgiving comes once a year.  We get to take a moment to pause and reflect.  This year, we are extremely grateful.

We are grateful for family, friends, and friends that are family.  Travel is that much better when you get to share it with those you care about!

We are thankful for teaching and learning.  Our passion for learning has given us the opportunity to seek out places we find to experience them outside of a book.  Not only do we get to live the experience, we also are grateful for the opporunity to share it with others.

And lastly, we are grateful for you.  Those that take the time to read, share, follow, like and support us.  This journey of learning the world online as a business has been incredible.  We would not be where we are without you.  Thank you for walking this journey with us!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Not everyone has the time to travel the entire ring road in Iceland.  It takes just under two weeks which can be a lot of time to get away.  However, it doesn't mean that you can't see incredible sights.  Located just a few hours outside of Reykjavik is the incredible waterfall Seljalandsfoss, with a surprise worth waiting for.

Seljalandsfoss is a popular waterfall with some unique features.  The waterfall is located just off the road, with a paved path to walk too.  Parking is busy, however there are multiple tours that leave from Reykjavik if you do not have a car.

Take your time walking along the path.  You can move quickly along the way, as the paved path isn't difficult.  However, every stop along the way offers a different view with a different perspective.

The unique pespecptive is Seljalandfoss' pathway behind it.  Tourists will stand in line to take pictures from multiple points behind the waterfall.  The sound of the water pouring down from above fills the cavern and mixes with the voices of excitement.  It's well worth the hike.  However, wear really great raingear. (Click here for ours.  We are Amazon Affliates and we do make a small compensation.)  We got substantially wet on this trip.

The real gift is the hike to the next waterfall down the path.  Headed right after exiting Seljalandfoss, you walk along a path marked with beautiful smaller falls and dotted with rivers.  You're making your way to Gljufrabul, and it's well worth the time.

Tucked into a cavern, this was one of the last waterfalls we found along the Ring Road, and it was well worth every moment we spent here.  The line is long as you wait, and everyone tries to peek to see what we're waiting for.  We really didn't know, so we stayed and hoped for the best.

Getting in Gljufrabul is a little bit of work.  It requires stepping on rocks in order to avoid wading through water if you are not dressed appropriately.  This is all done at your own risk, and it did require helping strangers to get in and out as space is limited and patience is required.

The moment is worth it.  After spending two weeks traveling the ring road, camping in an SUV campervan, hiking for hours through all the weather we could imagine, Iceland gave us a thunderous applause.  The water poured down behind us and the sound reverberated throughout the cavern.  Looking up felt surreal, as the entire sky seemed to move.  It begged us to simply pause and be a part of the heart of Iceland.

Visit Seljalandfoss and it's hidden gem.  For everyone who visits Iceland, it's worth the trip!

Ready to visit the Ring Road?  Click Below!

Located in Northern Iceland, Godafoss carries part of Iceland's history.

Location:  Northern Iceland, Ring Road, west of Aukreyi in the Diamond Circle Height: 39 ft 4 in or 12 meters Width: 98 ft 5 in or 30 meters Parking:  Two parking lots are available.  Parking on the east side was slightly less crowded

Godafoss sits as a marvel directly on the Ring Road of Iceland.  If traveling from the east to the west, you will crest a ridge and the valley below opens to the magnificant marvel in the distance.  Due to Iceland stark and slightly barren landscape in the area, Godafoss' beauty stands out on it's own.

The hike for Godafoss can be fairly simple if you park along the east side of the river and walk the path to the viewing platform.  This allows for easy access and great pictures.

If you decided to park along the east side, you still will have a beautiful walk to the viewing platform on that side.  However, for those with the ability and desire, the hike down and across the river to the other side is well worth it.  Downriver the water crashes and moves underneath your feet as it makes it's way out to the sea.

An added hike is the climb down to the base of the waterfall.  A narrow path along stepping stones allows visitors to head to the river below.  Here sits a variety of rocks, all available for those that wonder to sit and take a moment to ponder Godafoss' place in history.

The story begins at the forming of Iceland as a country.  Settled by Vikings, the Norse Gods had found their place within the culture.  As the country began to form into one cohesive government, a decsion was needed.  Would Iceland follow the Gods of the Vikings, or would they decide to follow the Christian God.  Legend has it the clans decided on Christinaity, and the leader of the time, Porgeir made a dynamic gesture.  He returned home and took the last of his Norse relics and threw them into the waterfall.  Therefore, the waterfall of the gods, Godafoss, became it's namesake.

So, take a seat below the waterfall and allow the power thunder down around you.  Sit and marvel at the ability of a country to be formed in a land of ice and fire, by people with strength, determination, and fierce beliefs.  Remind yourself how incredible this world is, to find yourself 1000 years later at the same spot in history where Iceland has roots, knowing how incredible a country they have created. ​Godafoss is for those who want the reminder of how truly amazing this world is.

The lesser known Diamond Circle is a must see when taking the trip around the Ring Road of Iceland.

While researching what to see in Husavik, we stumbled upon a treasure in North Iceland.  While the Golden Circle draws visitors for quick trips near Reykjavik, the Diamond Circle draws those seeking true Icelandic adventure.

Both first and last on the circle is the magnificent Godafoss.  Godafoss sits on the edge of the Ring Road, and will have a post of it's own.  It's story and striking features create a strong comparison to  to Gullfoss in the south.  It's a waterfall unlike another, and well worth the visit.

Husavik sits as the next stop as you head north around the Diamond Circle.  As this was our reason for traveling north, we spent some time here. (Click to read.)  It's the perfect spot to spend the night and grab what you need.  If you do not want to spend the night in Husavik, continue north around the Diamond Circle.  There you'll find camp 66 degrees north.  Located directly on the edge of the Artic Ocean, this was the furthest spot north we stopped.  Where you stay simply depends on where you are on the circle.

We spent one night in Husavik and started for Hverir first.  Making our way toward Lake Myvatn, Hverir was the first stop.  Located on private property, Hverir is a geothermal swamp area.  The area was one of the heaviest to carry the sulfur smells that come from the heating sources within the earth.

Continue on, and you'll come to Grjotagia.  Grjotagia is a series of underground magma streams which bring heat to the area.  At various times the temperatures in the cave raise and fall depending on what the magma is doing under the earth.  At one point, this was a popular place for bathing for locals.  Now a tourist spot, it's heat is an alluring source of interest for tourists.

Back in the car, it was a short drive to the krater Hverfjall.  Hverfjall stands alone in the area and is easy to spot.  Part of a series of eruptions from thousands of years ago, the krater sits at the edge of the surrounding area.  On a good day in Iceland, it offers amazing views of the surrounding landscapes.  On a rainy day, as we had, it sits as an ominous reminder of the creation of Iceland's geography.

We then followed the maps we had picked up and found some added rosettes.  Dimmuborgir was an amazing stop we had not anticipated.  A geographical living maze, the landscape here provided some excellent hiking.  Visitors are given the option to stay on the paved paths, or make their way onto jagged hiking paths with incredible views.  We opted for the jagged hiking path and it did not disappoint.  We saw only four others along the trail, with amazing views along the way.

We then made our way to the edge of Lake Myvatn.  We found a few hikes and were pleasantly surprised with a panoramic view of the lake when we pulled off to a random site.  You could easily spend another day hiking the different paths around the lake.  It was clear Iceland was doing work to make the lake easily accessible and well equipped to handle visitors.

We then added Alderjayfoss to our list of waterfalls we went out of our way to find.  Located just off the Diamond Circle, it's about an hour drive from Godafoss.  Traveling through fields and hiking over a ridge, it was well worth the find.

Another pass at Godafoss and we were done with our first day on the Diamond Cicle.  Day 2 would prove to be another worthwhile adventure!

Start planning your trip to Iceland!