If your friend asks you to go to Iceland with her family after she’s already planned it out, you take approximately five minutes to freak out and then you book it. Does it matter that you’re both pregnant and will be toting around their 18 month old older siblings? Hell no. That was actually the point. It is the point. Life doesn’t stop – take the trip.

That’s how we found ourselves in this breathtaking country in 2018, swimming in the Blue Lagoon, walking behind waterfalls, and experiencing all that the land of fire and ice has to offer.

Best Time To Visit

This is a country I want to see in every season, but the season does matter!

Tourist season

Iceland’s peak tourist season is from June through August where you can experience the “midnight sun” with nearly 24 hours of daylight. The temperature is generally between 45-56°F and there is an abundance of outdoor activities to choose from with the weather not being a big factor. This is also the best time to go for anyone wanting to experience whale watching.

For Nothern Lights

The best time to see the northern lights are from September to April, keeping in mind that as the months go on, the weather gets much colder and unpredictable, making outdoor activities more of a challenge. A great time to get the best of both worlds (temperature and fewer crowds) is exploring in September and October! The average temperature in September is anywhere from 41-50°F, then it drops a few degrees in October, averaging 36-45°F. It does tend to be a little windy and rainy which makes it feel a little cooler as well, so dressing in layers is KEY!

We went at the beginning of September and although we didn’t see the Northern Lights, we got the best of everything else. We were also pregnant with toddlers so we struggled to make it to “night time” without crashing.

What to See

Iceland is a country that will leave you wanting more with its otherworldly landscapes and breathtaking views. Below is our four-day Iceland adventure itinerary that is a great beginners guide to seeing as much of the island as possible – and remember, this is kid-friendly!

Day 1 – Blue Lagoon & Reykjavik

After landing in Reykjavik early in the morning and securing our rental cars, we headed straight to the Blue Lagoon for some spa time and breakfast! We had booked reservations ahead of time so we were able to get right in! We changed into our bathing suits and headed straight to the lagoon.

The girls loved getting to swim around the warm water. I kept my toddler and pregnant body away from the “hot” spots in the lagoon, but the rest of the water was lovely to be in. They had a in-water mask bar where you could get a complimentary mud face mask which could be washed off in the water when ready. This felt like a perfect start to a vacation after experiencing our longest flight to date with a squirming toddler!

After our time at the Blue Lagoon we checked in to our hotel in Reykjavik and walked around the area, grabbing lunch, ice cream and exploring a museum.

Iceland is considered the most peaceful country in the world and I heard stories before going of people leaving their babies outside restaurants to take a nap and I couldn’t believe it, but sure enough, while walking around Reykjavik, I got to see it for myself, a sweet bundled up baby taking the best nap outside. Another reason why this is such a great family-friendly vacation!

Day 2 – The Golden Circle

This is one of the most popular tourist routes in Iceland and I can confirm that it is doable in a day! We started at Þingvellir National Park. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can see the rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It’s also historically significant as the site of Iceland’s ancient parliament. History aside; the views are worth the stop!

Next, we grabbed lunch then we headed to the Geysir Hot Springs where you will spend 30-45 minutes walking around and experiencing one of Iceland’s most iconic hot springs!

And if you needed another reason to add it to your list…

To complete the Golden Circle, we headed to the Gullfoss Waterfall! The water plummets down 32 meters in two stages into a rugged canyon which walls reach up to 70 meters in height. At this point in our day, we were cold, damp and had a hungry one year old, which is never a good combination! We got all the pictures of this majestic natural wonder and were ready to call it a day! DO NOT MISS IT!

After Gullfoss, we headed to Fludir for the night and hit a secret lagoon – highly recommend!

Day 3 – South Coast

TLC, I disagree… chase those waterfalls, baby! The first stop we made was the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall which is a short trail where you got to walk behind the waterfall, which was a first for me! If I remember correctly, we had to do a complete outfit change for Rowan after this stop which thankfully we were en-route to our next place we were staying so had all our stuff with us.

The next location carries many memories for us! The Skogafoss Waterfall makes you WORK for it, honey! The Skogafoss hike includes 527 steps to get to the top. Did I tell you I was 17 weeks pregnant? I remember this being physically hard but also, my husband was carrying our one year old in a hiking backpack the whole way, so we were each with child. One of my favorite memories of this hike is my husband trying to keep her entertained by singing the ABCs and any other Sesame Street type song he could think of. They had a great time.

While this was a tougher hike, it was worth every single step and ranks as one of the top sights of the entire trip for me!

Our final stop of the day was to check out the Dyrhólaey views which gives you a panoramic view of Iceland’s south coast, including the iconic Reynisfjara black sand beach, the dramatic Reynisdrangar sea stacks and Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The road you take to get to the top is steep, bumpy and windy – just so you’re prepared! Get yourself an off-roading rental!

Another day of adventure, friendship and appreciating the natural wonder of our world we so often take advantage of. The next collection of pictures are all pictures I was able to take driving from place to place before we got two little munchkins to bed.

Day 4 – Diamond Beach & Jökulsárlón Glacier Boat Tour

The last two nights of our time in Iceland we stayed in Vik, which was my favorite place we stayed. The views were unbelievable and we were walking distance to a playground and a brewery, both were necessary for both nights after lots of exploring during the day!

For our final full day we drove two hours north to Svartifoss where we explored the iconic Diamond Beach, googled where to eat lunch, and then got on a scheduled glacier boat tour!

When I reflect back on this trip, it reminds me how adventurous the spirit of our family is. The willingness to change diapers in the trunk, drag car seats and strollers all in the name of seeing something new and giving her the chance to see the world at a young age. This trip has yet to be topped for me personally. The memories of the two girls in hiking backpacks, chasing my best friend around a foreign country with our husbands supporting all the crazy is the dream that I never want to wake up from.

Iceland Packing List

Iceland’s weather deserves the respect of layers. It can be beautiful and sunny, raining or misting, windy and cloudy all within a very short period of time. The list below is a list of staple layering pieces and other items that kept us moving all day!

• Smartwool Socks – these are a MUST to keep your feet warm and dry!
• Hiking Boots – do NOT go to Iceland in your favorite workout sneakers. Unless you plan on actually running, you can wear your hiking boots for everything! Make sure they are waterproof and have good traction!
• Waterproof Gloves – I bought a pair of wool ones while I was there that keep my hands really warm on non-wet days!
• Hot Hands Hand Warmers
• Winter Headbands/Hats – bring a few so that you can rotate them out each day!
• Waterproof Pants – I would wear leggings under my waterproof pants to keep me warm, but also having a backup if the first layer got too wet without having to fully change. I would bring two so while one pair is drying you can wear the other pair the next day!
• Base Layers – Linked one example of one of my layers, but also have long sleeve or short sleeve (depending on the time of year) base layers that are quick dry underneath.
• Waterproof Jacket – I had a Columbia rain jacket that was the best outer shell during this trip. I didn’t wear a big winter coat, I wore many layers and it is what I would recommend for you unless you go in the cold winter time!
• Hiking Backpack – if traveling with toddlers, this was the best investment we made and we were so sad when our kids outgrew it. Make sure to buy the rain cover – that came in handy for waterfall or rainy days!

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Travel Tips

• There is so much ground to cover in Iceland you almost need a rental car to see and do it all! I recommend getting a car that can get you around to all that you want to do!
• Make sure you have an international plan on your phone so you can use Google Maps to get around. We used a GPS from the rental car and it was terrible.
• Make reservations ahead of time for places like the Blue Lagoon or any tours you want to attend, even if the day before because they do sell out.
• Look at the weather before you go out for the day, and then pack your rain jacket and layers anyway!

Iceland is an otherworldly land that will keep surprising you over and over again. You’ll be driving by landscape that looks like mars, to lush green fields, churches sitting on mountains, to glaciers and icebergs. The people of this country are kind and look after one another. Iceland makes you appreciate the beauty of nature and leaves you craving to be outside more. I ate the best burger of my life (TWICE!) here and the yogurt is divine. Going to Iceland made me a better person, it gifted me the confidence of including our kids in our adventures and to never turn down a trip if you can make it work for your family.

Is Iceland on your list? What questions do you have? Lets chat!

Thanks for stopping in! Let’s stay connected and see the world together!