Play. Shop. Eat. Iceland

Iceland has one thing in common with Kentucky. They are similar in size. A fact locals love to tell Americans. The Land of Fire and Ice is an island of treasures. If a trip to Reykjavik (the Capitol), Iceland is in your future this list will help you discover how to play, shop and eat in a city with colorful buildings, English language speakers and trend setting designers. Just keep in mind that taxis in Iceland are very expensive, so is the whole country for that matter. But if you are looking for an honest taxi driver we adored: Trausti Hannesson, (pronounced "Trossty") you can hire him by calling: +354-660-4252 or emailing him at: trausti.h@simnet.is.

Play
Two words: Blue Lagoon. To soak in this aqua-colored geothermal pool is considered one of the top 10 things to do before you die. It is breathtaking in person. And the water really is blue! The best part is you can sip on beer or wine while soaking in silky smooth water. If you venture to Iceland in the winter months there are several excursions you can book. Reykjavik Excursions offers a Northern Lights Tour, but be sure you do your homework before going as they will take you out in cloudy conditions (we heard stories of sitting on a bus driving into the mountains for three hours one way - no bathrooms). And I can promise you, you won't see anything if it is cloudy, the conditions need to be clear and dry. We relied on this Northern Lights predictor to help us gauge which night would be best (turned out while we were there the lights were covered with clouds, there's always Alaska!). And for adventurous types check out Gulfoss Falls of the Gods, an eye-opening waterfall just outside Reykjavik. Art goers will enjoy The National Museum of Iceland, there are a lot of hands-on activities for kids toward the back of the first floor, and you can learn a lot about Iceland history.

Shop
Local designers are abundant in Reykjavik. My favorite stores include: Kirsuberjatred (the locals call it The Cherry Tree) it's a design store in City Centre run by 12, local, female artists. Gorgeous handmade clothes for children, innovative kitchenware (including handmade ceramics, we bought a pair of handmade mugs that your hand fits around with perfect indentations by artist Kristín Sigfríð Garðarsdóttir) and handmade accessories. Also adored Andersen and Lauth (very Anthropology-inspired local clothing designs for women; also in City Centre). And for the more mainstream shopper the Kringlan Shopping Centre is near the Center Centre with stores like Zara and Top Shop. And my sister loved the vintage clothing store: Gyllti Kootturinn located in City Centre. Note: If you shop in Iceland the sales tax is very high, be sure to take advantage of the Iceland Refund, you essentially get your tax money back, which can add up, in our case we got close to a $150 back.

Eat
Every taxi driver and local we encountered talked about the Perlan (the Pearl). Why? Because it was recently chosen as one of the best restaurants in the world. It revolves with views of the city (just like the Space Needle). If you want a true, local, home cooked meal dine at Gardurinnn (Klappastígur 37, Reykjavík, Iceland 101; +354 561 2345). It's a vegetarian restaurant with tea and cakes with a revolving daily menu. We enjoyed veggie lasagna the day we went and it melted in our mouths. The owner even told us that they "have a sister cafe in Seattle" (in the Fremont neighborhood): Silence Heart-Nest. Small world!

Photos of our trip to Iceland on Flickr.

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Photo: CopyStrands