You all know how much I love outdoor living spaces and today I’m joining a group of blog friends and we are all sharing our ideas on how to make the most of your porch or patio. If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know how much I enjoy being Read More
The post 5 Ways to Cozy up a Porch or Patio appeared first on Southern Hospitality.
I don’t normally take the time to watch videos… but now is the best time, right? And I found this topic fascinating.
This guy, 50 years ago, built an entire living complex for himself, his wife and two sons that is self sustaining. 50 YEARS AGO he did this! The man takes you on a video tour of his beautiful house nestled in the CA redwoods… just amazing.
Click here to watch the video.
Click to watch video
Click to read original article.
In 1968, Charles Bello and his wife, Vanna Rae, moved onto 240 acres of redwood forest looking to live a simpler life off the land. They had spent their savings to purchase the land so they got to work building their home themselves. Their first structure was a panelized A-frame that they erected in 5 days (with help from a couple family members). Total cost was $2,800.
The property is a half-hour drive down a dirt road and it was bare land when they arrived so Charles and Vanna Rae built their own infrastructure: roads, bridges and went decades without refrigeration nor phone (they eventually installed PV panels and cabling for phone lines).
After 15 years in the A-frame, they built a cabin in the woods and there they lived for a decade until the trees began to block out their views. In 1991 Charles (who once apprenticed under famed architect Richard Neutra) designed the Parabolic Glass House. With a curvilinear wood roof and two curved walls of windows, the home feels enveloped in trees.
Charles and Vanna Rae built it for $8,500 with timber they milled themselves, using salvaged materials for everything from doorknobs to stoves. The couple relied on photovoltaics, solar thermal and gas for power and a dug-in greenhouse attached to the home provided much of their food. By canning and preserving, they could go for months without going to a grocery store. Their two boys were homeschooled. The couple supported themselves selling Christmas trees.
Nearly all the old growth trees on the property were logged in the early 20th century, but Charles has spent the past half century restoring the land. He and his wife set up the Redwood Forest Institute in 1997 to manage and preserve the forest. He has carefully selected 1,000 trees to be preserved for 2 millenia as the next generation of old growth.
The post Man Has Lived Off-the-Grid in the NorCal Redwoods for 50 Years. (Amazing video of what he has created!) appeared first on Horse and Man.
HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
Your purchase with R.W. through this link helps the Bucket Fund!
When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Horse And Man Inc.
Supporting The Bucket Fund through Amazon Smile is HUGE for the horses. Please choose HORSE AND MAN when you make your Amazon purchase through this link. THANK YOU!
I hope you all are enjoying this nice weather if you’re here in the Atlanta area particularly. It’s been so spring like for several weeks and it’s so nice to have a long spring instead of jumping right into hot weather. Mark and I are finishing up our patio project, getting lattice on the stairs, painting and staining all the back side of the shutter wall I shared with you last week and I was hoping to have the big reveal of the new screen porch/patio space this weekend, but I’m waiting for a couple more things to come and then I have to clean it all up, decorate, take pics and write the post, so I will need an extra week for all of that. I promise it will be the following weekend.
In the meantime, enjoy all these great shares from my blog friends. You can get inspired for fixing up your deck or patio space, container gardening which is so big this time of year, organizing, hanging plates and gardening tips. It’s that time of year, so hope you enjoy!
The post Home Style Saturday 188 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.
I’ve put up the lowest prices possible to boost the Bucket Fund and maybe find a treasure for your Mother for Mother’s Day (or yourself or a friend… )!
Oscar and Goliath.
–All pieces here were artisan crafted for the the needy horses featured in the HORSE AND MAN BUCKET FUND!
To follow us on our beautiful, updated often, FaceBook page, click here! 
TAHITIAN SEAS NECKLACE! Only $38!
Start Spring with this lovely POP of color! Czech glass beads in warm sea tones with varied sizes and Tahitian colors. So pretty! Crystal closure. 19″.
To purchase, click here!
SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! 40-50% OFF! CREAMY GOODNESS was $42, NOW $28! SOLD!
I love these simple pieces because they look so elegant alone – or layered! Creamy translucent Czech glass beads with a sterling silver heart charm at crystal closure. 16″
ROSY LAVENDERS necklace was $48, NOW $30! SOLD!
Such a soft and pretty colorway Czech glass beads in rose and lavender tone and graduated sizes with a sterling silver heart charm at crystal closure. 17″
To purchase, click here!
SANGRIA WINE necklace! Was $48, now $30! SOLD!
Czech glass beads in Sangria and amethyst with copper heart charm at crystal closure. 19″
To purchase, click here!
SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! CLASSIC WHITE PEARL 8MM necklace was $48, now $32!
Czech glass beads in white (8mm) with sterling silver flower charm at crystal closure. You will wear these every day! I do! 17″
To purchase, click here!
SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! 40-50% OFF! ROMAN COIN necklace! was $58 NOW $40!
ROMAN COIN with Czech glass beads in neutrals with agate nugget closure. Necklace is 18″ Pendant an additional 1″
To purchase, click here!
SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! 40-50% OFF! AVENTURINE NUGGETS was $85 NOW $44!!
GRAB THIS if you are a rock hound like me! Healing Aventurine nuggets with crystal closure. 19″
To purchase, click here!
JUST IN FROM POLAND! Lovely mini daisy! Only $48. NOW $34!
Gorgeous mini daisy encased in glass and bronze. Dainty, delicate, lovely. LOVE THESE! Pendant is 1″ long and .5″ wide. Chain is 32″.
To purchase, click here!
SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! 40-50% OFF! ASIAN TURQUOISE NECKLACE! was $90, NOW $48!
Gorgeous Asian Turquoise nuggets with larger turquoise nugget at closure and Sterling Silver flower charm. Really Pretty! 17″
To purchase, click here!
LOOK WHAT CAME IN?!! PERIWINKLE FLOWER ONLY $58! NOW $46
Large Periwinkle flower pendant encased in glass with a bronze bezel. One of a kind! Pendant is 2″ long and 1″ wide. LOVELY! Chain is 32″
To purchase, click here!
SHELTER IN PLACE SALE! GEMSTONE AMETHYST ROUNDS!! was $110, NOW $55!
Gemstone amethyst rounds in varied colors with handmade Sterling silver flower charm at amethyst nugget closure. Wow! 21″
To purchase, click here!
NEW FROM POLAND! Large Captured Dandelion pendant! Only $68! NOW $48
Gorgeous, one of a kind, captured dandelions in glass with a bronze bezel. So pretty! Pendant is 2.3″ long and 1.5″ wide. This is a robust and lovely item you will wear all the time!
To purchase, click here!
LEARN AND MOVE ON pendant necklace! Was $425, NOW $215!! WOW! SOLD!
AMAZING handmade turquoise, garnet and sterling pendant from Sweetbird Studio that says “Learn and Move On”…Necklace is an assortment of Czech glass beads, sterling chain and turquoise nuggets with turquoise nugget at closure. Sterling silver handmade heart charm dangle. 16″. Pendant is an additional 2”.
THE MOST IMPRESSIVE STERLING NUGGET PIECE! was $550, NOW $295. WOWOWOW
You will love this piece – such a DEAL! This is a handmade sterling silver heavy nugget bead necklace. Gorgeous. You can see in the pic that I wear my similar piece all the time! Unique and one of a kind! Constant compliments. Wear alone or layered. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME BEING STUCK IN THE HOUSE! 17″
To purchase, click here!
The post One extra day to help the babies…and maybe get a gift for your Mother! appeared first on Horse and Man.
HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
Your purchase with R.W. through this link helps the Bucket Fund!
When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Horse And Man Inc.
Supporting The Bucket Fund through Amazon Smile is HUGE for the horses. Please choose HORSE AND MAN when you make your Amazon purchase through this link. THANK YOU!
You all loved this feature of Loren’s cute cottage home, so I’m sharing it again today!
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Today’s Feature Friday is a fun share. I met Loren on Instagram, she doesn’t have a blog, but she has a pretty page on Instagram called Blue Barn and Cottage. I just love her story and her cute ranch home that she’s completely renovated and I knew you all would too. I’ve asked Loren to introduce herself, so here she is!
The post Feature Friday: Blue Barn and Cottage appeared first on Southern Hospitality.
Posted: 4/30/2020
It takes a village to keep this website going. From tech and coding to design to fixing bugs getting readers books when downloads fail to scheduling social media or running the forums, I have a lot of help. I simply couldn’t run the website, write, travel, eat, sleep, or anything in between if I didn’t have the support and help of an amazing group of people.
It’s not just me writing and posting about my travels. I have a big group of full-time staff helping juggle everything.
I realized a lot of you don’t realize that so, today, I wanted to introduce the team to you.
So, without further ado, here’s they are:
Erica has been working for me for almost six and a half years and is the events director of The Nomadic Network, our travel community. She keeps this community thriving. In her own words:
I grew up in Connecticut and went to school in Virginia. During a quarter-life crisis at age 21, I chose to finish my last year of college on an adventure in Qatar! From that moment on, my life revolved around traveling cheaply with the money I earned from waitressing. That budget got me to teach English in Isaan, Thailand, and South Korea; farm on St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean and Costa Rica; and volunteer in rural Zambia. At age 26, I returned home to Connecticut, determined to get a job in travel. Soon after, I met Nomadic Matt at a travel meet-up in NYC, and the rest is history.
I whole-heartedly believe that traveling makes friends of strangers, and the more friends there are in the world, the more peace there is in the world.
13 Facts about Me
Chris joined the team as the part-time manager of the forums back in 2015. Since then, he’s transitioned to full-time and has branched out into the Superstar Blogging program and helps me with all of our various admin tasks. In his own words:
I grew up in a small town in Ontario, Canada, and spent my formative years listening to punk rock, reading Star Wars novels, and generally getting up to no good. After ditching my lifelong plan to be a lawyer, I decided to give travel a try. I headed to Costa Rica on a whim and have never looked back! It wasn’t long after that trip that I took a break from university (where I was studying history and theatre) to move to a monastery in Japan in 2007. I’ve more or less been wandering around ever since. Some notable adventures include taking the Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia and Mongolia, walking the Camino de Santiago twice, and going on a 10-day road trip around Iceland with complete strangers.
When I’m not traveling, I live in Sweden and can be found reading, writing, or hanging out with my rescue dog, Grimo.
13 Facts about Me
Chris, aka The Aussie Nomad, is a (kinda) former blogger who does all the tech and development work for the website. He keeps it running, fixes any errors you find, and deals with my constantly changing design desires. In his own words:
I’m living the good life in Western Australia by the beach with my amazing family. I got into the world of blogging after quitting my job, backpacking around Europe and, as all Aussies do, undertaking a working holiday in the UK. Like all of us who travel and fall in love with it, nobody wants to go home afterwards.
That adventure got me into creating a travel blog many years ago, which is how I first came to know Matt. I have since repurposed my IT skills from my old life and formed my own business to help out other bloggers with their websites.
13 Facts about Me
Raimee does all of our social media and content marketing. She schedules posts, tweaks my terrible photos so they look good on Instagram, builds out our content calendar, analyzes data, edits video, creates digital marketing campaigns, and designs our social media graphics! In her own words:
When I was just 14 years old, I took my first international trip to Honduras and Belize with my family. Ever since then, I’ve been hooked on experiencing new cultures, connecting with people from all walks of life, and learning about myself and the world through the power of travel! After graduating with a degree in advertising and marketing from Michigan State University and four years as a digital marketing specialist, I realized that corporate life was not for me. My insatiable need to experience the world beyond a desk led me to search for a job-related to travel. I’ve followed this blog for many years, and now I get to work for it remotely while I strategize, manage, and report on the social media accounts — and I love every second of it!
13 Facts about Me
Carmela is the Executive Director of our non-profit FLYTE that makes travel accessible to underserved youth from across the country. She handles anything and everything from fundraising, working with our partner schools to plan student trips abroad, connecting with our incredible donor community, and managing our volunteer team.
Born and raised in New Jersey, I had the privilege of taking my first international trip when I was 3 to visit my family in the Philippines where I refused to ride the local jeepneys because they didn’t have seatbelts! Since then, my love for travel has evolved. In 2012, my husband, Raymund, and I took a round the world honeymoon that was supposed to scratch the travel itch (lol). We came back home to NYC for a few years before taking the leap to become full-time remote workers, and have lived all over the world ever since.
When I’m not running FLYTE, I love planning trips (even if they’re not my own), practicing yoga, hiking, rock climbing, reading, eating, and eating cookies (which are their own food group, in my opinion).
And, finally, there’s me. You probably know a lot about me after twelve years of blogging (sometimes I forget how long it’s been), but here’s a quick refresh:
Growing up in Boston, I was never a big traveler. I didn’t take my first trip overseas until 2004. That trip changed my life and opened me up to the possibilities the world had to offer. One year later, I went to Thailand, where I met five backpackers who inspired me to quit my job and travel the world. In 2006, I left for a yearlong backpacking trip — and have been “nomadic” ever since.
13 Facts about Me
***
So there you have it! The Nomadic Matt team! It’s weird to think this blog I started to simply be online résumé for freelance jobs now requires eleven people to run. I always thought the more systems, automation, products, and passive income I set up, the easier it would be. I could just sit on a beach. But it seems the more we do, the more we create, the more projects I tell the team we’re taking on, the more help we require. I guess that is the nature of the beast but I would have it no other way. I love what we do here. We help a lot of people realize their dreams.
And a guy couldn’t ask for better co-workers to help make that happen.
P.S. – We’ve launched a new Patreon where you can get stories and tips I don’t share on this blog, a private Facebook group, phone calls with me and the team, live Q&As, postcards from the road, signed copies of my books, and much more! Click here to get access!
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines, because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com, as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. I use them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all those I use — and they’ll save you time and money too!
The post Meet the Team: The Many Faces of Nomadic Matt appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.
Today’s Fashion over 50 is a compilation of leopard! I know I’m not the only one who likes a little leopard or animal print in their wardrobe, am I? I’ve got plenty of this fun print to mix in with shoes, belts, tops and even a raincoat. I think everyone needs a little leopard or animal print in their closet, so I hope you enjoy these fun finds. The sales out there online are really great and I keep seeing more and more good clothing sales every week.
I hope we will be able to get out and about more in the coming weeks and the stores start to open back up again. I miss Homegoods! I’m working on that porch this whole week and hope to share it with you next weekend when I get it all photographed to share. We’ve had some absolutely gorgeous spring weather this week!
The post Fashion Over 50: Animal Print Fashion Finds appeared first on Southern Hospitality.
I hope you all enjoyed the patio post and all that’s going on in our backyard this week. I’ll be finishing up the backyard and getting ready to share all of that with you very soon, so can’t wait to share it all. We are so enjoying that space on the new screened porch so much. It’s going to be our favorite summer spot for sure.
Today I’m sharing more home decor inspiration with you on Style Showcase, so I hope you enjoy all these great ideas from my friends. Now is a great time for projects!
The post Style Showcase 27 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.
Norma lived with Slick and Dodger for many, many years. Slick, 21 years, Dodger, 25 years.
Norma is a very loyal donkey. She loves who she loves.
Mo was not one of them.
I mean, Norma would show affection to the geldings when Spring sprung. But she really never loved any other equines except her ponies.
But now, all of her ponies are gone. And Norma is alone.
Dodger and Norma. 25 years together.
I’ve noticed that she likes BG. She doesn’t love BG, but she stands close to her and likes to graze with her.
Norma still doesn’t like Gwen, which is a bummer because they are both the same age and could be put together to get special feeds, etc… but Norma would prefer not.
Norma continues to love Dalton and Finn, but only for a short time, then she wants her space.
BG and Norma grazing – using social distancing.
Yesterday, I noticed that Norma was standing right near the gate, and Mo was on the other side. Norma didn’t run away, which she usually did. From all previous interactions, Mo disgusted her.
But yesterday, she allowed him to stand near her, albeit on the other side of the fence.
And then… AND THEN, I saw him reach through and kiss her!
Norma didn’t bite him or run away. She just flattened her ears in feigned distaste.
Mo and Norma at the gate together. (In the back, you can see Mo’s girlfriend, Missy Miss, look on…)
Mo sizes up the situation.
And BAM! He goes in for the kiss. Norma didn’t run away, which is huge.
And today, I saw a share.
Norma wanted to eat near the fence so I put a little dish out for her. Mo came over… and stuck his neck through the fence to eat with Norma.
THAT was unbelievable.
Stay tuned…
Mo sticks his head through the fence…in a very daring move… and SHARES. Norma let him share!
I apologized to Mo for the intrusion on this very delicate moment…
APRIL DROP IN THE BUCKET FUND: Virginia Ranch wild foals Goliath, Sinclair and Oscar!
We are $245 from our goal! We can do this!! All donations are 100% tax deductible. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
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The post Norma and Mo, sittin’ in a tree… K-i-s-s-i-n-g… (Well, maybe not yet… but close.) appeared first on Horse and Man.
HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
Your purchase with R.W. through this link helps the Bucket Fund!
When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Horse And Man Inc.
Supporting The Bucket Fund through Amazon Smile is HUGE for the horses. Please choose HORSE AND MAN when you make your Amazon purchase through this link. THANK YOU!
The city of Reykjavik Iceland is known for it’s colorful homes, unique architecture, and wild nightlife. Here are some of the best things to do in Reykjavik during your visit!
Reykjavík may be one of Europe’s most remote capital cities, but it has been known to surprise most new visitors, with a little something for everyone.
Iceland’s capital is famous for its unique architecture, wild nightlife, strange museums, smelly traditional cuisine, and a few hidden attractions as well.
There are many quirky, unique, unusual, and secret spots to discover in Reykjavik!
I’ve traveled to the city many times on different Iceland photography trips, often using it as a base for a few days before a big Icelandic road trip. There’s a lot to do!
Because most travelers visiting Iceland spend some time in the capital, I wanted to recommend a few fun and unusual things to do in Reykjavik, no matter what time of year you visit.
Above you’ll find a map of highlights in Reykjavik. Click on the top left of the map to find separate layers marking a route or points of interest. You can hide and show different layers, or click icons on the map to see the names of places I mention in this travel guide. “Star” the map to save it to your own Google Maps, or open the map in a new window for a larger version. Enjoy!
One of the most prominent buildings in Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja Church is pretty hard to miss. This very unique looking architectural masterpiece boasts a 74 meter tower that you can go up for excellent 360 degree views of the city.
The church is itself a monument to the famous Icelandic poet Hallgrímur Pétursson. You can visit most days, except during Sunday services or if there happens to be a special event/concert going on. The elevator to the top costs 900 ISK ($6 USD) for adults or 100 ISK ($0.70 USD) for children.
One of my favorite free things to do in Reykjavik is walk along the waterfront to this beautiful metal sculpture that resembles a viking war ship (even though its not). The famous ‘Solfar’ or Sun Voyager sculpture.
This remarkable piece of art built by Icelandic sculptor Jon Gunnar Arnason is an “ode to the sun” symbolizing light and hope. One of the best times to view it is around sunset. You can reach it on foot heading East from Harpa Concert Hall.
One of the coolest looking buildings I’ve ever visited, Harpa Concert Hall is completely made of glass — reflecting the Icelandic landscape, sea, and sky off its wild geometric design. This impressive structure is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.
At night there are moving multicolored lights, making the building seem alive! Try to see a concert there, but if not, it’s still worth going in and having a look around (which is free). Harpa is open from 8:00a to midnight. Make sure to walk around the backside by the docks too!
Icelanders LOVE their hot dogs. In fact, the hot dog has been called the National Food Of Iceland. And if you want to give it a try, you need to check out the best hot dog stand in Europe — Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur.
This unassuming Reykjavik hot dog stand near the harbor produces some tasty ones. I make it a point to stop in and eat three on every trip to Iceland! Order “the works” which includes ketchup, sweet mustard, fried onion, raw onion and remolaði, a mayonnaise-like sauce with relish.
Iceland is a mystical and magical place with dramatic landscapes, active volcanoes, icy glaciers, and steaming mud pots. A perfect home for Huldufólk, or “hidden people” like elves & trolls.
Magnus Skarphedinsson has spent 30 years studying these mythical creatures in Iceland. Attending his Elf School in Reykjavik will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about wee folk. For example: there are 13 kinds of elf, 4 types of gnome, two varieties of troll and three species of fairy!
Elf school is in session on Friday afternoons in Reykjavik, classes last 3 hours, and cost $64 per person (with tea & pancakes included).
Yes, it’s a penis museum. An odd attraction in Reykjavik for sure, but totally worth a stop if you enjoy eccentric places (like me)! Iceland’s Phallological Museum boasts 282 penises from 93 different species of animals, including humans. A fun stop for a rainy day in the city.
The largest ones are from whales, the smallest ones are from elves of course. The museum is a mix of serious scientific study, and tongue-in-check humor. While there are specimens of all shapes and sizes sitting in glass cases, there’s also a robot dude in a trench coat with a motion sensor who flashes you.
For such a small city, Reykjavik has awesome nightlife. The downtown area’s nightclubs and bars are open late (until 5:00am) on weekends. Everything is based in a central location, so it’s easy to bar hop from one place to the next on foot. My favorite bars in Reykjavik are Kaffibarinn, Kaldi, and the fancier B5.
Iceland is also one of the safest countries in the world, so you can relax and party safely without worrying as much as you might when traveling to other countries. Reykjavik is home to a bunch of cool music festivals too, like the annual Iceland Airwaves in November.
Want to learn more about Iceland’s fascinating viking history? Stop into the Viking Saga Museum located in Reykjavik’s Grandi neighborhood. They’ve recreated some of Iceland’s most important moments in history using life-like wax figures.
You get to learn what life was like for the first settlers here, through the use of a self-guided audio tour. At the end, you can dress up in some viking clothing for photos too! It’s pretty fun and gives you a glimpse into Icelandic history. For example, did you know Iceland was discovered by lost sailors trying to reach the Faroe Islands?
This quiet pond in central Reykjavik is a hangout for people who want to relax and feed the local birds. Reykjavíkurtjörn Pond, or Tjörnin for short, is used by locals for taking a stroll along the shore or walking their dogs. A kind of park in the middle of the city.
The pond is surrounded by Scandinavian style homes, giving it fishing village feel in the heart of the city. There are over 40 species of birds who stop by the pond on a regular basis, including Arctic Tern, ducks, geese, and even Whooper Swans. In the winter Tjörnin freezes over and because a giant ice-skating rink!
Downtown Reykjavík is covered in street art murals and graffiti, most of it part of a project called Wall Poetry where artists & musicians collaborate together.
On of my favorite things to do in Reykjavik was just wander the streets, looking for these cool murals. I’ve included the location of a few of the best ones on my Reykjavik city map at the top of this article, but you can also find even more here.
Icelanders have a very strange and stinky traditional food called Hákarl — fermented shark meat. There was a time when food was hard to come by on this island, so people ate whatever was available. Fresh Greenland shark meat is poisonous. However after fermenting underground for 6–12 weeks, it’s edible.
I use the term “edible” lightly though, as the meat stinks like ammonia, and is very difficult for foreigners to keep down! A popular activity in Reykjavik is attempting and try some Icelandic fermented shark meat at one of the many local cafes that serve it, like Islenski Barinn or Café Loki.
And you can’t eat your piss-tasting shark pieces without washing them down with a strong glass of Brennivín — Iceland’s traditional unsweetened alcoholic schnapps often called “The Black Death”. Good luck!
Another great museum to check out in Reykjavik is the National Museum of Iceland (or Thjodminjasafn in Icelandic). They have 2 floors filled with over 2,000 artifacts discovered around the country.
See how the first settlers in Iceland lived, from a typical home to what full-size reconstructions of the boats they used. It’s usually not very crowded, and has interesting exhibitions from medieval Viking settlements to the present day. They also offer a self-guided audio tour of the museum.
Swimming is a big deal in Iceland. The country is full of geothermal heated swimming pools, indoors and out. Some are hot springs set in scenic locations, others are just regular swimming pool complexes.
Reykjavik has a bunch of heated swimming pools, but two of the most popular are probably Laugardalslaug and Sundhöll Reykjavíkur. Laugardalslaug is the largest, with all kinds of different pools, slides, steam baths, and other activities.
Another option is to take a dip at Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach, where hot water is pumped into a couple of large jacuzzis, as well as part of the ocean bay itself. This keeps the water at a comfortable 68 degrees, allowing a “tropical” beach experience in Iceland!
I’m sure you’re already aware that parts of Iceland were used as a filming location for the wildly successful Game Of Thrones TV series. Well why not get your photo taken dressed up in the same style as the characters while you’re there?
On my first trip to Reykjavik with my friend Kiersten, we stopped into MINK Studio for a professional viking photo shoot. It was super fun! Photographer Guðmann Þór Bjargmundsson (who actually worked on the Game Of Thrones series) gave us life-like viking clothing & weapons for amazing shots.
A single photo session takes about 45 minutes for one person, or 1-2 hours for a group. The photo props are super realistic, including their weight! Putting on chain-mail and lifting a broadsword was quite an experience…
Sitting on top of Öskjuhlíð Hill in Reykjavik you’ll find the very cool glass-domed Perlan Museum. Not only does the museum boast one of the best viewpoints of the city, it also has Iceland’s largest nature exhibition.
Feel the power of Iceland’s earthquakes and volcanoes, or walk through a 100 meter long man-made ice cave (with real ice!) within the building. Another highlight of the museum is Áróra — a special 8K resolution northern lights planetarium visual experience.
If you’re looking to get out of the city, but maybe don’t have a lot of time, I recommend jumping on a ferry boat to visit Viðey Island. It’s home to over 30 species of birds, including Iceland’s famous Puffins. There are also hiking trails and the historic Viðey House, one of the country’s oldest homes.
Along with all the birds, the island is also where Yoko Ono built a dramatic light memorial to her late husband, John Lennon. The Imagine Peace Tower is lit up during certain times of year and is quite a sight to see if you’re lucky.
You can catch the ferry from Ægisgarður Harbor and the Skarfabakki Pier during the summer, and it’s free if you bought the Reykjavik City Card.
Ok, Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon is not actually located in Reykjavik, even though many first-time visitors think it is. This popular man-made heated lagoon is closer to the airport, about an hour away.
But a good time to visit the Blue Lagoon is when you’re leaving Reykjavik to head to the airport before your international flight out of the country — just leave a few hours earlier than normal. So I thought I’d mention it!
Kolaportid Flea Market is an old warehouse located in the harbor area of Reykjavik. Packed with all kinds of odds & ends, cheap souvenirs, and used books. If you want to buy a classic Icelandic wool sweater, this is the place to find a deal.
It’s fun to wander looking for a bargain, or to just people-watch and hang out with regular Icelanders. You can also get food here, like dried fish, flatbread, fresh licorice, and Iceland’s famous fermented shark too. It’s usually open on weekends, and all week during the summer months.
Ready to see some wildlife? Faxaflói Bay next to Reykjavík is home to minke whales, humpbacks, porpoises and dolphins too. It’s possible to book a whale watching tour that leaves from the city’s Old Harbour area. Trips take about 3 hours.
While the whale watching tours run year-round, high season for whales in Iceland is during the summer months between April and October — when the whales swim up from the equator to feed. It’s not impossible to see whales in the winter, but much less likely.
The Rauðhólar (aka The Red Hills) is an area in Heiðmörk Nature Reserve made up of lava fields and red pseudo-craters on the edge of Iceland’s capital city. The craters were formed 5000 years ago when lava flowed over ponds, causing the them to boil and explode.
It’s a cool place to go for a walk, take photos, and some companies offer horseback riding tours through the unique landscape too. It feels like you’re walking around on Mars. Rauðhólar is located only about 15 minutes drive from Reykjavik, just off the Ring Road (Route 1).
One of my favorite things to do in any new city is go on a free walking tour to get my bearings — and Reykjavik has a great one. This two hour stroll is guided by the awesome team at City Walk Reykjavik as they discuss the history of the island.
You’ll start on Reykjavik’s main shopping street, Laugavegur. Learn about the evolution of the city and quirky details about local culture. While the tour is free, keep in mind guides are compensated by tips, so make sure to tip what you think the experience is worth!
If you’re looking to get some fresh air and exercise, a good free thing to do in Reykjavik is to hike the nearby Mount Esja, located only 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the city. This flat-topped mountain gives great views of Reykjavik. The hike is 5 miles and about 3 hours round-trip.
You can get to the trailhead by bus if you don’t have a car. Just make sure to check the weather before you go, because Icelandic weather can get pretty brutal, especially the wind. The summit section involves some scrambling and cables, but you don’t have to go to the very top.
Icelanders love to read, and Reykjavik has a large assortment of cool bookshops to explore. Probably my favorite is the historic Eymundsson book shop, the city’s oldest and largest one. There’s a nice outdoor patio to enjoy reading on a sunny day.
Eymundsson has a large selection of books in Icelandic as well as many foreign languages too. Don’t forget to grab a cup of coffee at one of Iceland’s most popular coffee shops too — Te & Kaffi. As a digital nomad, it’s a wonderful place to get a little work done too!
After the construction of Harpa Concert Hall along the water, Reykjavik’s Old Harbour area has quickly become a hip spot to hang out. Stroll along the boardwalks enjoying the view of Mount Esja in the distance, grab lunch at Iceland’s oldest restaurant, or stop into the Víkin Maritime Museum.
This is also where the local marina is, a docking spot for fishing boats, yachts, and whale-watching tours. Colorful old sheds have been turned into little shops, where you can browse for souvenirs or grab a cup of freshly roasted coffee.
Because I’ve only visited the city a few times, I asked a local for some additional advice on what to do in Reykjavik. Ernir Eyjólfsson is a photographer for Iceland’s largest daily newspaper, Fréttablaðið. He also has a side-gig shooting photos of tourists with Flytographer.
One of Ernir’s favorite spots in the city is this interesting man-made outdoor art piece called Þúfa Hill (TH-OO-FHA) located in the Grandi area of Reykjavik. Built by artist Ólöf Nordal, you can walk up for nice views of Harpa Concert Hall and the harbor. There’s even a small traditional shack for air-drying fish at the top.
Discover Cars searches all the big car rental companies and finds the best price. This is probably the easiest way to rent a car and drive in Iceland.
Iceland does have a public bus system, and the yellow city buses in Reykjavik are called Strætó. A single ticket costs about 350 ISK ($2 USD), but they also offer discount cards if you happen to be using it a lot. For example, a 72 hour card for 1700 ISK ($11 USD).
There are taxis in Iceland, but you don’t hail them from the road like you might in other countires. You need to book a taxi on the phone, and there are no ride service apps like Uber or Lyft (yet). However there are some taxi stands in key downtown locations. The main taxi services are Hreyfill (+354-588-5522) and BSR (+354-561-0000).
Accommodation in Reykjavik is expensive. There’s just no way around it. Reykjavik is a small city, so hotels within the center charge a premium. Here are suggestions for good places to stay during your trip to Reykjavik, Iceland…
Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip.
Ready to fly? Here’s how I find the cheapest airline flights.
Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find a deal.
Learn how I save money booking hotels & vacation apartments.
Don’t forget travel insurance! Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read why you should always carry travel insurance.
I hope you enjoyed my guide on what to do in Reykjavik! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
Any questions about things to do in Reykjavik? Do you have other suggestions? Drop me a message in the comments below!
This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.
