Iceland It has a way to swallow expectations and disperse them as a fine fog over its lava-rock fields, moss covered valleys, black-sand beaches. The weather has ruled the island since the ninth century when people first arrived. Back then, survival was not guaranteed, and a single hurricane could wipe out the food supply for the settlers, who had farms and livestock around the country’s perimeter. Now, the idea of chasing waterfallsEnjoy a relaxing afternoon in the hot springs. hot springs Travelers around the globe are filled with excitement. The unpredictable forecast, well, that’s an annoyance for most visitors, but an opportunity for the more curious to live a little closer to the Icelandic way—which embraces the outdoors, no matter the weather.
Erika Owen
Erika Owen, a Brooklyn-based writer, editor and content strategist, is an expert in travel writing, editing, and strategy. Erika Owen is a Brooklyn-based travel writer, editor and content strategist. She has travelled to Iceland 14 times.She is also interested in vintage design and Iceland (she has been there 14 times!) Her work was previously published in Travel + Leisure Departures and Vogue. You can find her work at GQ Magazine, Trip Advisor Magazine, Architectural Digest Magazine, Martha Stewart Living Magazine, Bustle Magazine, Rachael Ray Magazine & more.
Iceland captured me nearly a year ago and I’ve been writing ever since about its people and culture. Nearly 20 trips to Iceland have filled my memories. I’ve combined my research into the past of the country with my impressions of its current state in a book for Assouline called Iceland Epic. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that your expectations are never enough—there’s always a spontaneous summer snow, flash of Northern LightsOr, you might just be lucky enough to see the elusive Arctic Fox.
Below are some photo highlights from the book, and a little more about the stories they tell of Iceland—plus, how to tap into the culture and experiences they depict on your next visit to Iceland.
More tips on how to plan a trip in Iceland:
Icelanders are known for their ability to embrace the environment they live in. The weather is a part who they are. Many artists have captured this in paintings, photography, and design—photographer Anna Isabella Christensen This is one of those people (above left). Her work is a beautiful human portrait of Iceland’s beauty.
It’s not just the landscape that is used by creatives. The best meal I have ever had was created by Chef Thrainn Vigfusson at Óx A Michelin-starred restaurant is hidden behind a bookcase in Reykjavik (above, right). The 20(ish), course menu shows Iceland is more than the headlines that attract tourists (puffins and whales), but it was also the atmosphere of this restaurant that left an impression. In the dining area, which was designed to look like Vigfusson’s grandma’s kitchen and living space, a group of us met for dinner and drinks over the next few nights. Amelia is still in contact with me today.
To stick to the city limits is a choice—and one I recommend everyone try once or twice. You can only truly understand Iceland when you venture out into the nature of Iceland, climb its volcanoes, or explore its underground lava tubes. All of it begins as you drive along the roads lined with mountains and shoreline. Traffic thins and the weather becomes more intense. It’s like breathing in the history of your destination when you reach it.
