Dead Horse State Park is well known in Utah for its breathtaking overviews of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. The main view is somewhat similar to the Horse Shoe Bend in Arizona but from a higher elevation. Other views rival those in the Grand Canyon. The park was well maintained and in great condition. During our visit, the number of people also was very reasonable. No big lines to get to the main overlooks etc. The park covers 5,362 acres (2,170 ha) of high desert at an altitude of 5,900 feet (1,800 m).

The legend of Dead Horse Point states that in the late 1800’s the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck was then fenced off with branches and brush. One time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River 2,000 feet below.

Getting There

The park is about 40 miles from the city of Moab. This was our “base” during the first phase of our Utah exploration trip. We highly recommend visiting Moab. It is a city full of offroad adventurers and nature-loving travelers. Also, the food was very good. The city is strategically located right next to the Arches National Park and driving distance to the Canyonlands National Park. Amazing destination if you want to park hop and explore what Utah is all about. However room availability in the hotels there is scarce and you need to book way in advance. In our case, we booked more than 4 months ahead.

Overlooks

The views of the Colorado River and the Canyonlands National Park are breathtaking. You could also drive down right next to the river bend but we decided not to due to time constraints. However, you would need a 4×4 off-road-ready vehicle for that trip. Photo opportunities are everywhere. We loved every single view and spend most of the day walking between the different overlooks. Getting to the main viewpoints is very easy. They are within walking distance of the parking in most cases. Parking also was not an issue.

Other Highlights

The park is also a desirable destination for mountain biking. The Intrepid Trail System has three hiking and biking loops ranging from one to nine miles with varying degrees of difficulty. In general Utah’s parks were packed with mountain bikers and everywhere we went we noticed at least a few of them. We even witnessed a biking movie being shot in the park with a photo crew, big cameras, etc. Park is also pet-friendly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, visiting Dead Horse State Park is a no-brainer especially if you are staying in Moab. It offers unique views of the Colorado River and the Canyonlands National Park. f you enjoyed the Horse Shoe Bend you definitely would enjoy the Dead Horse State Park.

Book Similar Top Rated Adventures

The post Dead Horse State Park, UT appeared first on Alexiev Arts.

Arches National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the United States. It is also the most popular (some would also argue most beautiful) one in Utah. So popular that the Delicate Arch is on the official license plate for the state of Utah. So busy that finding parking during the busy season is close to impossible. Our visit was during the month of April. The weather was perfect for hiking and sightseeing. Never before we have witnessed arches created by nature in such a fashion and we were amazed by their sheer size and beauty. It is hard to describe them since words or pictures hardly do justice in cases like these. You just have to witness this absolutely unique place. One of the most beautiful national parks we have ever visited in the USA.

Lodging

We stayed in Moab. We have heard of the city before but never in our lives, we thought it would be such a colorful and busy “base” for offroad enthusiasts and adventure seekers. An amazing little town with tons of things to do and see. It is also so conveniently located near the Arches National Park that you can walk to it from Moab. Food-wise we Yelped as usual and loved the Trailhead Public House & Eatery (their wings were to die for), Antica Forma Pizza, and the Indo Grill Indian Cuisine. Those were the places where we really liked the food and the wait times were not in hours but minutes.

Things to See

It is also not just the arches that make the park unique. There are tons of other rock formations that just seem impossible to be formed or created without some sort of intelligent design or human interference. Here are some of the most famous attractions that we thought are must-see:

Delicate Arch

The most iconic arch in the park. Its location and access are tricky since you do have to hike for few hours to get to it. The total trail length round trip is 3.2 miles from the parking lot. It is moderate difficulty. There are also few places where you have to be careful in terms of walking and not be afraid of heights. Once there you need to be careful as well since as you can see from the photos there are areas where it is not super safe to run and jump. You can find more details about the trail here.

Double Arch

This one is interesting because of its double-arch formation. Getting to it is very easy just a few minutes walking from the parking lot. That also contributes to the number of people you would see there and the need to remove them from your photos in post-production. It was also interesting to know that the Double Arch was used as a backdrop for portions of the 1988 movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.

North Window & South Window Arches

North Window & South Window, or the Spectacles, as some people call them, are the first major arches you see upon entering the Park. Though they are easy to view from a distance, these arches are much more impressive if you take a short walk to stand inside them. Both are easily accessible from the parking lot via a short hike. You can actually see the Turret Arch from the North Window Arch.

Just around the South Window Arch is the North Window Arch. If you climb close enough you can see through it the Turret Arch as well. All three are in close proximity accessible from the same parking lot. Not much hiking required to see them at all.

Turret Arch

This one is quite interesting in terms of the rock formation right next to it. It is visible through the North Window Arch and photographed from there quite a lot. It is also very busy since it is easily accessible and kids love climbing it. Ours did so as well 🙂

Landscape Arch

Toward the back of the park, in the Devil’s Garden area, you can find the Landscape Arch. With a span of 306 feet, it is the longest arch in the United States and 4th longest in the world. It is mindblowing how something like this can form through the years. Nature and time are amazing architects!

Balanced Rock

The total height of Balanced Rock is 128 feet (39 m), with the balancing rock rising 55 feet (16.75 m) above the base. This rock is the largest of its kind in the park, weighing approximately the same as an icebreaker ship or 27 blue whales.

Three Gossips, Sheep Rock, and Courthouse Towers

Just on the side of the main road, there is a stop with a great overview of some of the other park attractions. The three Gossips is quite interesting since it is a rock formation that literally looks like three people very close to each other “gossiping”. The Sheep Rock and the Courthouse Towers are also part of this landscape. Definitely worth the stop.

Conclusion

Arches National Park is a must-see for any explorer and nature lover. There are not many places on planet Earth where you can witness arches like these. There are not many places where you can get so close to them and take a photo. Amazing park and very much worth its popularity and ranking as one of the best parks in the United States. We absolutely recommend it!

Book Similar Top Rated Adventures

The post Arches National Park, UT appeared first on Alexiev Arts.

Bonneville Salt Flats is a unique destination in the vicinity of Salt Lake City. It was on our radar for a long time and finally, we made it there during our Utah exploration trip. There are so many amazing things to see in this state that this gets overlooked for some reason. In our opinion, it is a must-see. It is so much fun for kids and an amazing place for pictures.

The Bonneville Salt Flats are a densely packed salt pan in Tooele County in northwestern Utah. The area is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville and is the largest of many salt flats located west of the Great Salt Lake. The property is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is known for land speed records at the “Bonneville Speedway“. Access to the flats is open to the public.

The salt flats are about 12 miles long and 5 miles wide with total area coverage of just over 46 square miles. Motor vehicle use is limited by seasonal closure during the spring when the salt is moist or has standing water on the surface. We did drive for a short time on one of the sides for few pictures. Coming from Salt Lake City you first see the dry side and many people just turn back after that. You have to remember that few more miles down you actually get to see the side with the water. It is definitely worth the drive. Essentially you drive until you reach this sign:

The Bonneville Salt Flats are quite famous also for the last speed events held there. Since 1914 at the part of the salt flats known as the Bonneville Speedway. We had no idea about these events really. Next time we will plan so that we can experience at least one of them.

There are five major land speed events that take place at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Bonneville “Speed Week” takes place mid-August followed by “World of Speed” in September and the “World Finals” take place early October.

Lodging

We stayed in Salt Lake City and drove to the Salt Flats and back. It was an awesome opportunity to experience the capitol of Utah. We loved the city. The view of the mountains surrounding it is hard to beat. Lovely city. Great food as well. If you are Utah Jazz fan then you do not want to miss taking a photo next to the arena or even go to one of their games! The restaurants in the downtown were quite booked and for some there was 2 hours wait time for takeout! Plan accordingly.

Things to have in mind

There are few things to have in mind before going. During the day it is quite hot and sunny. Sunscreen and hats are a must. You need a lot of water not only for drinking but to wash the salt from your clothes and skin. Our son was completely soaked and had salt on his arms and feet. You would need to wash sooner rather than later. Wet napkins help a lot! Shoes soaked with this salt are quite hard to wash. It would take a few wash cycles to get them back to normal. It goes without saying but be mindful of others and keep your eyes salt-free.

There are bathrooms at the first stop but not where the sign is so have that in mind. Be careful driving, only do off-roading if your car can take it. It is not uncommon for cars to get stuck and deal with roadside assistance. Car rentals do not like off-roading with their cars.

Conclusion

Must see destination. Plan for 1 full day and bring lots of water and some food if you do not want to drive back and forth for food. It is a common practice to buy a temp cooler and store sandwiches for the trip there. The drive is not that much overall and the views on the way are also worth seeing. Since this is not national park drones are allowed. You can also walk as much and as far as you want on the salts.

Book Similar Top Rated Adventures

The post Bonneville Salt Flats, UT appeared first on Alexiev Arts.

The city of Temecula is approximately 58 miles (93 km) north of downtown San Diego and 85 miles (137 km) southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Temecula is bordered by the city of Murrieta to the north and the Pechanga Indian Reservation and San Diego County to the south. Temecula had a population of 100,097 during the 2010 census and an estimated population of 114,761 as of July 1, 2019. It was incorporated on December 1, 1989

Lodging

We wanted to make sure we stayed at the wine county close to the wineries and the old town. We chose the South Coast Winery Resort and Spa and we loved the location. Great views as well not to mention the close proximity to more than a few other wineries as well. Right at the entrance of the resort, there is also a large grapefruit tree nursery which looked amazing. The hotel (and the wine county itself) during the winter season is not as beautiful as during the summer so have that in mind when planning. You definitely want to come and visit when everything is green! The resort looks great. They also offer balloon rides and various other unique experiences.

The resort is also about 15 minutes from Old Town and about 10 from various shopping plazas etc. Since we made our first visit during the winter season we are now planning another trip during the summer for that balloon ride and the green vistas :).

The resort food was not great during our stay. We did not like most of the dishes we tried. Their filet mignon was the only thing we actually liked. For breakfast, we did the Le Coffee Shop in the old town which was awesome. Great food and coffee. We did try the recommended Toast breakfast place but it was not nearly as good as Le Coffee in our opinion. For dinner, we loved the Hana Sushi #6. Probably one of the best sushi we have had in a long time. Here is a list of the resturants and breweries in the region.

Things To See

The main destinations for us in Temecula were the Old Town, the wine country wineries, and the Ricardo Breceda Gallery & Sculpture Garden. We did want to also do the balloon ride but postponed it for our next visit during the summer. We would do breakfast and lunch chilling in the Old Town and then spend some time in the wineries. Our stay felt short since we really enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere and the beautiful views.

Wine Country

You can spend a few days wine tasting at the various beautiful wineries. A good amount of them have “transformed” to resorts and offer lodging and various other amenities as well. We visited during the winter season and all the great views were brown and dull vs green and beautiful. During the summer the wine country looks completely different. The wines we tried were pretty good and the atmosphere is very relaxing and great for a family getaway. For a list of the wineries and local shops click here.

The Old Town

We loved this place. Every breakfast during out stay at Temecula was in there. It gets very busy in the afternoon and the main street gets packed. Various old school bikers and classic rides can also be found traversing the city. Many buildings have that wild wild west look which we loved. You can walk across the town in about 30 mins. Overall it is a great to see place and we loved our time there.

Ricardo Breceda Gallery & Sculpture Garden

During our travels in California we started noticing these scrap metal statues at various locations. We found quite a few of them during our road trip to Anza Borego. It turns out in Temecula Ricardo Breceda (the sculptor) has his main gallery and office. That was an awesome surprise for us since we are big fans of his work. His gallery was about twenty minutes from our resort so it was no brainer to explore it. We also met him there. Very nice and humble artist. If you have a chance to visit his gallery do so you wound not be disappointed. It is an awesome place for kids as well.

Overall we truly enjoyed our stay in Temecula. The old town and the wine country are great places to relax and enjoy some time with family and loved ones. With the number of wineries there, it is certain you will find the right cup of wine for any occasion. Don’t forget also to try the balloon ride which this region is also known for.

Book Similar Top Rated Adventures

The post Temecula, CA appeared first on Alexiev Arts.

The only long drive part of the trip is the initial drive to the Napa Valley which is ~ six hours. We did it in this way since we are familiar with that drive already and we really wanted to get to Napa quickly. It just feels you are on a vacation once you are in Napa for some reason :). After that things are smooth and the ride is enjoyable to Lake Tahoe and Big Sur. So lets breakdown the stops.

LA to Napa Valley, CA ~6-hour drive

As I mentioned already this is the longest drive. It is also not the most interesting one. The main reason for us to want to get through it as quick as possible and start the next day fresh in Napa Valley. You can of course stay at a hotel somewhere in the middle and make it easier from the driving perspective. Once in Napa life is good and with a good meal and a glass of wine, your vacation has officially begun. At least it always feels that way for us when in that place. You can read more about our Napa Valley experience here as well as recommended places to stay.

Day 3 – Nappa Valley to Lake Tahoe, CA ~3-hour drive

Now that drive is a whole different story. Not very long and filled with great landscapes and vista points. It might take you more than three hours if you stop frequently (like we do) so have that in mind. Lake Tahoe was the main goal of our trip so we spend about five days there. You can read more about our Lake Tahoe experience here.

Day 7 – Lake Tahoe to Monterey, CA ~5-hour drive

You have tons of options here. Monterey, Carmel By The Sea, or even Napa Valley (again) are all great stops for the night. We were already familiar with Carmel so we decided to explore Monterey for a day. Also, we chose to drive more that day so we could have extra time the next one when driving through the Big Sur. You almost never have enough time to truly enjoy the Pacific Coast Highway. So many awesome vista points, trails, and beaches to visit. Anyway, before we get there here are a few of the shots we took from Monterey.

Day 8 – Monterey, Big Sur & San Luis Obispo, CA ~3-hour drive

After having a great breakfast in Monterey at the amazing Crapes of Brittany we drove through the one and only Big Sur. Although the Pacific Highway is one road, how you go about driving through it and where you stop is all up to you. We practically stop and almost every vista point and trail looking for another breathtaking view. One thing we found out is that the vista points at the beginning have more accessible coastal views than those closer to LA. They also have more interesting rock formations and less beach area. Just something to have in mind.

We stopped at the Rugged Point for lunch and then ended up spending the night and the most unusual hotel we have visited in CA. The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. The hotel is quite difficult to be described in one word.

So many colors and different styles. Each room has a different story and decor. Overall good place for one night and for the experience. The service was good overall. Food-wise we were not impressed at all. Few options close by that we could also recommend are Morro Bay and Pismo Beach. Both we have visited before and we liked as destinations and for things to see and explore.

Day 9 – San Luis Obispo to LA ~3-hour drive

Driving back depending on where you stayed you can either take your time or just get home and get ready for whatever is next on your schedule. We were not impressed that much by the Madonna Inn and since we have already been to Pismo Beach and Morro Bay decided to just get home and get ready for the next week.

Overall this was one of the better road trips we have done and by far the best in 2020 (so far). Great landscapes, awesome food, wine, and relaxation. Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe are hard to beat as a vacation destinations. Big Sur never disappoints with its beautiful coastal views. We absolutely had a blast. Hope you would too if you decide to use the same itinerary.

Book Similar Top Rated Adventures

The post LA, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe & Big Sur Round Trip appeared first on Alexiev Arts.

We did this trip at the beginning of 2019 with the goal of five weekdays and two weekends to visit as many national parks and major attractions as possible. The entire adventure is a round trip that starts at Los Angeles and goes through Joshua Tree and Grand Canyon National Parks, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Bryce, and Zion National Parks, Las Vegas, and back to LA again.

This trip was designed mainly for families with children and not so much for experienced hikers. For example in Zion most if not all must-see attractions require more than a few hours of hiking. That with small children is somewhat problematic. Our son was four and a half when we did this trip and we had zero issues enjoying it. The trip ends in Las Vegas by design since after all that walking and nature you need a little bit of Las Vegas 🙂

Breakdown

Now each day you have plenty of options where to go and what to do. What we did is one example but you should not be afraid to deviate. For example, you might want to spend fewer days in Grand Canyon and more in Zion or Las Vegas. Also, note that since it is a family-based trip almost all drives from and to the parks and hotels are to be less than a four-hour drive. The exception is the last day’s return from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.

Day 1 – LA to Joshua Tree National Park, CA ~3 ½ hour drive

We left LA quite early in the morning so we can have more time in Joshua Tree National Park. The idea was to get to the park spend the majority of the day there and around 5-6 PM to start driving to the hotel, which is in the middle of the way between Joshua Tree and Grand Canyon (~3-hour drive). In this case that is the city of Laughlin, Nevada (hotels in Laughlin, NV via Booking.com). Here is a more detailed blog post about our Joshua Tree visit.

You can also book your hotel closer to Joshua Tree park but the day after you would have to drive more and we wanted to spend as much time as we can in the Grand Canyon. Since we were visiting it during the winter season it really was the crown jewel of the trip. We also did not plan to climb any rocks at Joshua Tree so about six hours were plenty to see most of the attractions/viewpoints.

Day 2 – Laughlin, NV to Grand Canyon, AZ ~3 ½ hour drive

We centered our trip around the Grand Canyon. Because of that, we had two half days there and one full (Day 3). The first half was coming from Joshua Tree after which we spend the next day and half of the following one in the park. That was also needed since we visited the park during the winter season. You really never know what would be the weather there around that period. Half of the time we spend at the canyon we had fog and mist. Only after the second half of the second day, we started to get clear views. However, it was absolutely worth it!

The hotel we booked was The Grand Hotel. Ten minutes drive to the park entrance and located in the grand canyon village just before the park. We loved our stay there! The “Plaza Bonita” restaurant across the street also made the best breakfast & lunch we had on the entire trip.

Here is a more detailed blog post about our Grand Canyon visit and some tours you might like while there.

Day 4 – Grand Canyon, AZ to Page, AZ ~3 hour drive

The city of Page, AZ (hotels in Page, AZ via Booking.com) is the best location to stay for the Horseshoe Bend & Antelope Canyon. The parking lot for the Antelope Canyon was 15 mins from the hotel. The Antelope Canyon can only be visited via a tour booked months in advance. It is not possible to drive there by yourself and just walk around. We booked our tour at noon and there were quite a few other tours there with us.

Here is a more detailed blog post about our visit to the Antelope Canyon. The canyon is an absolute must-see! Tour lasts about one hour and after that (or before based on your tour booking) is the Horseshoe Bend.
The drive between them is approximately fifteen minutes. Another choice you have here is to go explore Lake Powell. Something we decided to do on future trips.

If you want to know more about the Horseshoe Bend check out our blog post about it. Although these two places are so close to each other the Antelope Canyon is only accessible via guided tour where the Horseshoe Bend is completely open. Here are some guided tours you might like while in that area.

Day 5 – Page, AZ to Bryce Canyon, UT ~3 hour drive

The drive from Page, Arizona to Utah, and the Bryce Canyon is very picturesque. Lots of hills and mountains around you. Just beautiful. We got another very conveniently located hotel right next to the park. The Best Western PLUS Ruby’s Inn is practically outside the park entrance and right next to a gas station as well as various small stores.

Bryce Canyon did not disappoint. As we said in our detailed blog post about it, it was as beautiful as the Grand Canyon. Just amazing views and “molding” by mother nature!

Day 6 – Bryce Canyon to Zion, UT ~1 ½ hour drive

The thing about Zion National Park is that it is absolutely insane in terms of the views and hikes. So this to me would be the biggest deviation from this trip and plan. Zion is absolutely worth the trouble to see the Angels Landing and the other viewpoints. Just the hikes there take hours. So plan accordingly. The hotel we stayed at in close vicinity to the park was The Majestic View Lodge in Springdale, UT. There are other hotels there as well.

Since we were with our 4-year-old son we drove through Zion and stoped at a few of the stops on the road. We did not hike much there and just admired the views from the bottom. However, we absolutely are coming back to hike and to experience the park to the fullest. If you are into hiking you should consider having an extra day or two in Zion.

Day 7 – Zion, UT To Las Vegas, NV ~3 hour drive

After all those amazing views and scenery our senses were overwhelmed and we needed some rest. Ironically we were headed to the place where rest is not exactly what you want to do there 🙂 We did our best, however! Enjoyed the crazy lights at the Strip as well as the fountains of Bellagio. Explored the many great places to eat and just chilled for one and a half days there. We stayed at The Cosmopolitan since luckily for us around that time of the year they have amazing deals for a five-star hotel.

Day 9 – Las Vegas, NV to Los Angeles, CA ~4 ½ hour drive

After the end of day eight which was spend entirely enjoying Las Vegas, we headed back to the one and only Los Angeles. Overall we think the trip has everything you would want from a family adventure. Plenty of national parks each with its own unique views and attractions. You get to explore nature and relax at the end in one of the craziest cities in the world – Las Vegas.

If you think we missed or should add something to this trip let us know in the comments. Hope you enjoyed our adventure and thank you for reading.

Explore Similar Adventures

The post LA to Bryce Canyon 9 Day Round Trip, USA appeared first on Alexiev Arts.

Iceland was a dream for us. A dream which was in the form of a checkbox in a travel wish list for a very long time. Even now after we spend more than ten days there it feels like one. Maybe because it is one of those countries that once you been there you want to be back that much more. It is up to this day by far the most amazing travel experience we ever had. No other country felt as pure and virgin nature wise and as beautiful to us. It is like Hawaii and Alaska had a baby together and named it Iceland.

The Ring Road

To us the only way to truly experience a country is to drive/travel through it. Iceland has a perfect road going through most of its “treasures” called “The Ring Road”. Quite famous and popular among experienced and novice travelers alike. It is about 1,332 kilometers (828 mi) in length. We drove on it for the majority of the time we spend in Iceland. You can find tons of various itineraries online suggesting different attractions based on the number of days you want to drive on the Ring Road etc. We did our own since we traveled with our 3-year-old son and we loved everything about it.

Food, water, and supplies we got from the super-markets next to the airport and in the few cities we passed by. We stayed in a different hotel every night on our road trip. If you are not traveling with a small child camping is a big thing in Iceland. We were just not that brave back then, next time however most likely we would be 🙂

Needless to say, a 4×4 car would be preferred if you plan to go on the Ring Road and especially if you want to go on the gravel roads (which most insurances tell you not to). We rented a Kia SUV 4×4 and went everywhere we wanted to without any issues.

Things to See

The list of things to see in Iceland is enormous. It is not just the main attractions but everywhere you go you want to stop and enjoy the views and pause for a few moments. Experienced hikers would probably have an even larger list and I can not even imagine the beauty you would find at those known and unknown trails. Here are things we were able to see and experience:

Hallgrimskirkja church & Reykjavík (Iceland capital)

Our trip started and ended in Reykjavik and we spend about three days there. A beautiful and clean city with colorful streets and buildings. We walked around the city exploring the many cafes and restaurants there.
The main part of the city where the famous Hallgrimskirkja church is located was especially nice.

The Blue Lagoon, Grindavík

Not sure how much of an introduction is needed here really. The iconic Blue Lagoon is as world-famous and it is as amazing as everyone says it is. A very unique experience and extremely relaxing. It was packed however so those of you who think it would be just you (like in most advertising materials) … think again. Regardless it is an absolute must-see/experience.

Other Geothermal Spas

Just like Blue Lagoon, there are plenty others similar geothermal spas spread around the populated areas. We went to every chance we had.

Langjokull, Iceland’s second largest glacier

We started our trip with a crazy tour into the Langjokull glacier. They basically carefully dug an entire tunnel under the glacier and via these enormous trucks, you get to it. Then you get to explore it inside for about two hours. The experience is amazing. Click on the link above to learn more.

Jökulsárlón / Glacier Lagoon

Another unbelievable place. Also, world-famous and surprisingly not as packed as we though it would be. My heart still hurts thinking about how our drone crashed the day before we got to the Glacier Lagoon!

There are various boat tours that we now wish we did in the Glacier Lagoon. Do yourself a favor and book one of them before you head that way. You would not be sorry you did!

Goðafoss Waterfall 

Another world-famous attraction in Iceland. Not sure how to adequately describe it so I would let the photos bellow do the “talking” (although they hardly do any justice). You can see more in the video in the post header.
There was a large parking lot as well as a restaurant and a gift shop. The place was quite busy but if you are there in the late afternoon it gets better. We loved this place so much that we came back again to see it the next day.

Dettifoss Waterfall

In Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland, you find another amazing waterfall. Dettifoss was by far the largest waterfall we witnessed and the most impressive in terms of size and amount of water that was running through.

Skógafoss Waterfall

Situated on the Skógá River in the south of Iceland at the cliffs of the former coastline lies the Skógafoss waterfall. Definitely worth stopping by and admiring the view.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss is located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland. We were surprised by somewhat of bad weather while visiting this awesome waterfall and the fact that was so extremely wet around the viewpoint made it very difficult to take good pictures.

Kirkjufell Mountain, Grundarfjördur

Mt. Kirkjufell is another landmark made famous by various movies and shows (Game of Thrones among them).

The Arctic Henge, Raufarhöfn

Located in one of Iceland’s most remote northern villages, the Arctic Henge is a colossal monument inspired by the mythical world of the Eddic poem Völuspá. Getting to it was a dangerous experience for us. There was not anything even remotely resembling life around us during the 3+ hours we drove. Everything around us looked like it was left for dead for centuries. You start to visualize yourself traveling on the road and looking from a bird’s view and thinking “Where are we going!?”. But in the end was worth it. How many people can say that they crossed the Arctic Circle and were inside the Arctic Henge? 🙂

Kerið, Golden Circle

A volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area in south Iceland. One of the attractions along the famous Golden Circle route.

Geysir Hot Springs, Golden Circle

Another must-see if you are on the Golden Circle route. Quite fascinating and popular. There is plenty of parking and various restaurants and places to rest.

Reynisdrangar & Reynisfjara Black Beach

Reynisdrangar are basalt sea stacks situated under the mountain Reynisfjall near the village Vík í Mýrdal, southern Iceland which is framed by a black sand beach that was ranked in 1991 as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world.

The Mossy Lava Fields

Moss is a common plant in Iceland. It grows abundantly and in many places, it would not be an attraction. Here however it covers entire lava fields and it looks out of this world. One of the most spectacular moss blankets is located on the southern coast of Iceland, over the Eldraun Lava Field.

Lóndrangar Pillars

We really did not plan to visit Lóndrangar but it was a stop right on the Ring Road and we noticed cars and busses stopping. Se we did as well 🙂

Turf Houses

Among the road you can see few of these. Quite fascinating.

Icelandic Sheep

Wild horses and Icelandic sheep were among the few living beings we met during our trip.

Links

Here are some useful links to have in mind when planning your trip:

1. Iceland Official Web Site
2. Hotels in Iceland

Book Similar Adventure in Iceland

The post Ring Road Trip, Iceland appeared first on Alexiev Arts.