{"id":11537,"date":"2025-04-01T15:31:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T19:31:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/?p=11537"},"modified":"2025-04-01T15:31:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T19:31:39","slug":"travel-iceland-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/creekline-st-johns\/travel-iceland-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel | Iceland in Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Debi Lander
mail@floridanewsline.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Floridians enjoy some of the mildest winters in the U.S., but I grew up in Virginia, recalling snow-filled childhood memories. Craving a winter wonderland, I set off for Iceland, hoping to see snowfall and the Northern Lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surprisingly, flights from New York or Boston to Iceland take only five hours \u2014 closer than many imagine. Yet, everything in Iceland feels foreign \u2014 in the best way. The language is complex and nearly impossible to pronounce, the currency can be perplexing, but almost everyone speaks English. The highland is the dramatic range of landscapes \u2014 otherworldly in any season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As my plane landed, I glimpsed a layer of white blanketing everything, a vision of Game of Thrones\u2019 icy Wall. Unable to check into my hotel so early, I headed straight to the Blue Lagoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iceland\u2019s most famous attraction was actually formed by accident. In 1976, wastewater from the Svartsengi geothermal power plant created a mineral-rich pool. Initially deemed unsafe for bathing, it soon became a local secret as workers discovered its soothing effects. By 1981, researchers confirmed the water\u2019s healing properties, and in 1992, the Blue Lagoon officially opened as a spa retreat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After showering, I descended steps into an indoor extension of the pool before slipping through a curtain into the open air. The cold morning wind jabbed me, but the water felt silky and warm. Steam rose against the black lava fields, creating an ethereal atmosphere. I smoothed the silica mud \u2014 provided on-site \u2014 over my face letting it dry as I meandered around. I explored a small cave, the steam room, and a sauna. Fully relaxed, I finally made my way to Reykjav\u00edk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reykjav\u00edk is a blend of Nordic charm and modern energy best enjoyed on foot. I passed colorful buildings adorned with street art, visited  Hallgr\u00edmskirkja, the striking church with panoramic city views, and admired Harpa Concert Hall\u2019s shimmering glass facade. Along the waterfront, I paused at the Sun Voyager, a sleek steel rib-like sculpture reminiscent of a Viking ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next morning, I set off on a small-group tour of the Golden Circle, arriving at Thingvellir National Park just as the sun crept over the horizon (winter daylight comes late). Fresh snowfall blanketed the landscape, turning it into a magical scene A tiny church stood near the winding \u00d6xar\u00e1 River, looking like something from a fairytale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Gullfoss, a thundering two-tiered waterfall, snowflakes swirled around me as mist rose from the canyon below. The Hv\u00edt\u00e1 River plunges 105 feet into a rugged abyss. I took in the view from multiple vantage points \u2014 each more picturesque than the last, and wished I could have lingered longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next was Haukadalur, a geothermal field alive with bubbling mud pots and steaming vents. I watched Strokkur Geyser erupt, a sudden burst of scalding water rocketing skyward before vanishing just as quickly. Unlike Yellowstone\u2019s Old Faithful, Strokkur\u2019s displays are brief but frequent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another long day took me along Iceland\u2019s stunning south coast to J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rl\u00f3n Glacier Lagoon and nearby Diamond Beach. Icebergs, freshly calved from the glacier, floated across the lagoon before washing ashore, glistening like diamonds against the black sand. The surreal contrast of ice and volcanic shore is mesmerizing \u2014 I could hardly tear myself away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No winter trip to Iceland would be complete without chasing the Northern Lights. Bundled up and full of anticipation, I ventured beyond Reykjav\u00edk to escape light pollution. But luck was not on my side; only the faintest shimmer of green and purple flickered across the cloudy sky. Still, the magic of Iceland in winter left me spellbound as I returned to sunny, warm Florida. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit www.bylandersea.com to read more of local travel writer Debi Lander\u2019s stories and travel tips.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo courtesy Debi Lander
Blue Lagoon in the early morning.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Debi Landermail@floridanewsline.com Floridians enjoy some of the mildest winters in the U.S., but I grew up in Virginia, recalling snow-filled childhood memories. Craving a winter wonderland, I set off for Iceland, hoping to see snowfall and the Northern Lights. Surprisingly, flights from New York or Boston to Iceland take only five hours \u2014 closer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11519,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5,4],"tags":[9],"class_list":{"0":"post-11537","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-creekline-st-johns","8":"category-mandarin","9":"category-ponte-vedra","10":"tag-travel"},"yoast_head":"\nTravel | Iceland in Winter - Florida NewsLine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CreekLine, Mandarin NewsLine, Ponte Vedra NewsLine By Debi Landermail@floridanewsline.com Floridians enjoy some of the mildest winters in the U.S., but I grew up in Virginia, recalling snow-filled\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/creekline-st-johns\/travel-iceland-in-winter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Travel | Iceland in Winter - 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