Golden Circle Itinerary in Iceland: How to Plan the Perfect Trip
The entire country of Iceland is packed with incredible sites, from steaming hot springs to massive glaciers and dramatic black sand beaches. Thankfully, though, some of its most famous attractions are concentrated together outside of the capital city of Reykjavik along a 190 mile route, known as the Golden Circle. There are three main stops along the Golden Circle—Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and the Gullfoss Waterfall. However, there are TONS of incredible other places to explore along the way, from the bluest waterfall in Iceland to a farm where you can feed lots of adorable Icelandic horses. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your perfect Golden Circle itinerary for your Iceland getaway.
Silfra Snorkeling: How to Snorkel Between Two Continents in Iceland
There are lots of cool things to do in Iceland—soak in steamy hot springs, hike to epic waterfalls, and scale ancient glaciers. But one of the most unique activities is to snorkel through crystal clear glacial melt water that’s between 2–4 °C at Silfra, a fissure that’s located between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park. Sounds pretty crazy? It is! It’s also one of the most beautiful, unique, and memorable experiences from my husband, Justin’s and my two week road trip around Iceland—it’s one of the only places in the world where you can actually snorkel between two tectonic plates. So if you want to experience this otherworldly adventure for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about Silfra snorkeling in Iceland.
Glymur Waterfall Hike: The Second Tallest Waterfall in Iceland
In a country that’s FULL of waterfalls, like Iceland, it’s hard to stand out for your natural beauty—but Glymur Waterfall does! In fact, towering at almost 200 meters, it was actually the tallest waterfall in the country until 2007, when another slightly taller waterfall, Morsafoss, was uncovered, due to glacial melt. While it may have lost its impressive title, Glymur Waterfall is still absolutely worth a visit—but, in order to see this stunning waterfall and the impossibly green canyon it sits in for yourself, you’re going to have to work for it, climbing along a challenging trail to reach it. If you want to experience this beautiful spectacle for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about the Glymur Waterfall hike in Iceland.
8 Incredible Hikes in New River Gorge National Park for All Skill Levels
New River Gorge, located in southern West Virginia, is the newest U.S. National Park. The park protects the New River and the surrounding gorge that its waters have carved over the millennia, with fascinating geology and several different microclimates, where unique plant and animal life thrive. If you want to explore this incredible landscape for yourself, the park offers nearly 100 miles of trails, with lots of old growth forests, rugged sandstone walls, and overlooks that provide dramatic views of the impossibly deep gorge waiting to be explored on foot. So here are the 8 best hikes in New River Gorge National Park that you need to add to your bucket list. After my husband, Justin, and I spent a week here, tackling as many trails as we could, here are the 8 best hikes in New River Gorge National Park that you need to add to your bucket list.
11 Incredible Things to do in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
New River Gorge, located in West Virginia, is the newest in the beloved U.S. National Park system. The park protects the New River and the gorge that it's cut through the surrounding limestone, which is home to unique wildlife and plant species and a fascinating history of Native Americans, European settlers, and the coal industry. If you want to experience this unique corner of the United States, here’s 11 incredible things to do in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Long Point Trail in New River Gorge National Park: Everything You Need to Know
New River Gorge National Park is known for a number of things, including rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and the spectacular New River Gorge Bridge, which holds the impressive title of being the longest single-span steel arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere! There are some incredible viewpoints of this bridge in the park, but the best one is found along the Long Point Trail, which provides unobstructed views over the gorge below. So if you want to experience one of the most stunning views in West Virginia, here’s everything you need to know about hiking the Long Point Trail in New River Gorge National Park.
Endless Wall Trail in New River Gorge National Park: Everything You Need to Know
New River Gorge, located in West Virginia, is one of the U.S.’s newest national parks, but already has incredible infrastructure, including viewpoints, campsites, and hiking trails. One of the most famous hikes in New River Gorge is the Endless Wall Trail, which offers tons of dramatic viewpoints over the Gorge. If you want to experience this incredible hike for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about the Endless Wall Trail.
8 Incredible Things to do in Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida
Dry Tortugas National Park offers a slice of pristine tropical paradise, located 70 miles off Key West, Florida. This definitely isn’t the easiest national park to get to—the only way to reach this isolated place is via boat or sea plane. So if you’re going through the time, effort, and expense to reach this remote park, you might be wondering exactly what there is to do here. Here’s 8 awesome things to do in Dry Tortugas National Park, one of the best hidden gems in the United States.
How to Get to Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida: Everything You Need to Know
Key West, Florida is a popular destination for bachelorette parties and winter getaways, but did you know that it’s also home to the most remote national park in the contiguous United States? Dry Tortugas National Park, which lies 70 miles off the coast of Key West, offers a vibrant coral reef that’s teeming with life, white sandy beaches, and Fort Jefferson, which holds the impressive title of being the largest brick structure in the entire Western Hemisphere. If you want to experience one of Florida’s best hidden gems, here’s exactly how to get to Dry Tortugas National Park, one of the most remote places in the United States.
Camping in Dry Tortugas National Park: Everything You Need to Know
Dry Tortugas National Park, located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida, is the most remote national park in the Lower 48. The park consists of seven isolated islands in the Gulf of Mexico, only a few of which travelers are allowed to visit. Most people visit the park as a day trip from Key West, but, for a lucky few adventurous travelers, you can actually camp in Dry Tortugas National Park, allowing you to take in the punchy sunsets, starry skies, and pristine beaches—essentially all to yourself. My husband, Justin, and I have visited over 40 U.S. National Parks and camping at Dry Tortugas is easily one of our favorite experiences in our beautiful public lands. So if you want to experience one of the most unique and remote places that the contiguous United States has to offer, here’s everything you need to know about camping in Dry Tortugas National Park.