RSS
Why It's Good:
If you love nature, and good clean living, Iceland is the destination for you. Nothing is cheap here, though, so stick with the outdoor activities and not to the shopping!
Why It's Green:
Iceland's almost primeval beauty is matched by its future-forward energy generation: 95% of the heating is hydroelectric and geothermal thanks to the multitude of natural geysers and springs. By experimenting with hydrogen technology, Iceland aims to be 100% oil-free in our lifetime, using water to power the greenest transportation around.
Where To Get It:
For more info on the Blue Lagoon, click here. For more information on Icelandic Fish & Chips, click here. For more information on the Reyjavik City Hostel, click here.
Otherworldly and Earth-Friendly Delights in Iceland
To break up a long, expensive flight to a London wedding, my boyfriend and I decided to take advantage of the great rate on Iceland Air—where the flight attendants remind me of Tippi Hedren in The Birds with perfect blonde coifs and little hats—and spend a few days in Iceland. As soon as we arrived, we took a taxi to Reykjavik (about a 45-minute ride from the airport), which is situated right next to the steaming Blue Lagoon in Keflavik. The geothermally heated Lagoon is a spa situated in a large lava field formed in 1226 and filled with seawater coming from holes as deep as 6500 feet. The water's minerals, silica, and algae have been known to cure many ailments including psoriasis. Neither of us suffers from that, but the soothing soak certainly cured our jetlag. We spent the following day galloping on the mossy covered volcanic moonscape on Icelandic Horses—brought over by the Vikings, these horses are small but strong with fabulous thick manes. After this amazingly surreal ride, we were famished so we hit the local Icelandic Fish & Chips, an organic bistro near a scenic fishing dock, where we indulged in the crispiest, most scrumptious beer battered onion rings I've ever had. Be warned: Not much is cheap in Iceland, but you can save some serious cash by staying at the Reyjavik City Hostel, which promotes energy conservation and recycling services. It's got great facilities, including fully equipped kitchens, laundry, and high-speed Internet access, and rates start at $25 a night—which leaves you with more to spend on onion rings.—Monica Patel
