We Go With Kids!

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  • Iceland’s Golden Circle With Kids

    Iceland’s Golden Circle With Kids

    Iceland’s Golden Circle is a popular tourist route in southwest Iceland that consists of a 180 mile loop with several of the country’s most striking natural wonders.  Our family toured the Golden Circle on a day trip from Reykjavik at the end of our 10-day trip.  We were fortunate to pick an unusually dry day with blue skies.  While the loop takes about 3.5 hours of driving, there were plenty of amazing stops along the way, including Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and Stokkur, Gulfoss waterfall and Kerid Crater.  Our Golden Circle self drive with kids was one of the highlights of our trip to Iceland.

    Thingvellir National Park With Kids

    Our first stop on the Golden Circle was Thingvellir National Park, a beautiful national park that is also an important historical landmark near Thingvallavatn, the largest lake in  Iceland.  The country’s first Parliament convened here in 930.  Thingvellir is located in a rift valley caused by the separation of the North American and Eurasian Plates.  However, there are no obvious demarcations of the divide similar to the Bridge Between Two Continents in Reykjanes.

    Thingvellir

    After arriving at Thingvellir, we paid the 500 kr parking fee (pay and display) and headed toward the Visitor’s Center.  We picked up a free map but found it confusing at best.  So, we took a trail toward Thingvallabaer and Thingvallakirkja and enjoyed the beautiful vistas, rocky cliffs and fissures along the way. Thingvallabaer, a farm house with five gables that serves as the Prime Minister’s summer house and the park warden’s office, is a short walk. Thingvallabaer was constructed in 1930 on the 1,000th anniversary of the parliamentary assembly.  The residence is definitely not palatial by any means, but certainly charming, and the Prime Minister entertains foreign dignitaries here. We met a park ranger here who had coincidentally lived near us in Cleveland’s Little Italy during the late 1980s and early 1990s in a building where a high school friend of mine lived at the same time.  It is a small world.

    Next to Thingvallabaer is Thingvallakirkja, a tiny church that seats about 35 and coordinates with Thingvallabaer’s cream with black and green trim color scheme.  We saw many very small churches throughout Iceland, and the kids were especially excited to peek inside of this one.

    Thingvallakirkja

    The kids explored the cemetery between Thingvallabaer and Thingvallakirkja before we head back to the car. 

    Thingvellir is also the site of the Silfra fissure where divers snorkel between the North American and Eurasian continents.  This is one of the best fresh water dive spots.  Appropriate gear, included wetsuits, is necessary, and many tour companies offer snorkeling tours even to inexperienced divers.

    • Kid Facts: Thingvellir was the site of Iceland’s parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. In 1930, it became Iceland’s first national park.
    • Kid Moment: Our kids (particularly our daughter) enjoyed following a family of ducks on the trail. 

     

    Geysir Hot Spring Area With Kids

    Our next stop visiting the Golden Circle with kids was the Geysir Hot Spring Area.  Geysir, which is also known as the Great Geysir, is the geyser for which all geysers are named.  Geysir derives from the Icelandic verb meaning “to gush.”   While Geysir erupted over 500 feet in the air in the 19th century, its eruptions became infrequent.  People found that if they threw rocks into Geysir, they could force an eruption. Unfortunately, this practice ultimately led to Geysir’s demise, and Geysir is currently dormant and just bubbles steam.  64°18′39″N 20°18′14″W

    While Geysir no longer erupts, visitors looking for an active geyser will Strokkur just a short walk from Geysir. Strokkur is not as high as Geysir once was, but it a perfect tourist destination because it erupts every few minutes at varying heights up to 125 feet. We stayed for at least six or seven eruptions and really enjoyed it even though it was one of the buggiest locations on our trips. While none of us were actually bitten, but we felt constantly swarmed.

    • Kid Facts: Geyers are temporary geological features that are usually found in volcanic terrain. Geysers erupt because ground water comes into contact with hot bedrock and heats up. When the water reaches peak temperature and pressure, a tall column of superheated water and steam are sent up into the air.
    • Kid Moment: This is a good place to talk about the importance of leaving no trace when you visit nature and the destruction that human interference can cause.
    • Kid Caution: Because the erupting water is super hot, children need to be reminded to stay back behind the rope

     

    Gullfoss With Kids

    Gullfoss is my all-time was my favorite waterfall – even tops Niagara Falls. The water was crystal blue, and there were great views of both sets of falls and plenty of rainbows when we visited. While Gullfoss is not as wide, as steep or as powerful as Niagara Falls, I immediately made the comparison in terms of beauty.  What made Gullfoss so special was that it was so much more untouched than Niagara.   The tourist center, located right off the parking lot, was well developed with a restaurant and tourist shops, but it was the only building visible from the falls in any direction.  The 360 degree view was simply breathtaking.  64°19′34″N 20°07′16″W

    • Kid Facts:  Different investors in the 20th century wanted to use Gullfoss to generate electricity, but it was eventually sold to Iceland and protected.
    • Kid Moments:  Look for rainbows from every viewpoint.  Talk about protecting natural wonders.
    • Kid Caution:  Paths at Gullfoss are more developed than many other sites, but because the view is from the top, it is necessary to hold hands with little ones and keep them well back from the roped off areas or edges.

     

    Kerið With Kids

    Kerið is a volcanic crater lake on the Golden Circle route and easy for families to explore. Landowners charge an entrance fee (400 kr or $3.75). 64°02′28″N 20°53′06″W / 64.041°N 20.885°W

    On our way to Kerið, we turned too soon and ended up on an unpaved road we believed would take us to Kerið.  We did realize our mistake but found the mystery crater adjacent to Kerið pretty fascinating in the meantime.

    Why We Loved the Golden Circle With Kids

    The Golden Circle is a fantastic day trip from Reykjavik, particularly in the summer when daylight is not a scarce commodity.  We were fortunate to have several days in Reykjavik at the end of our Ring Road trip and chose to visit the Golden Circle on the day with the best weather forecast and actually had no rain whatsoever.  The Golden Circle highlights some of Iceland’s most beautiful natural wonders and a bit of history, too.

    Interested in finding out more about Iceland with kids?  Check out our listing of all Iceland posts or join our Facebook group We Go To Iceland With Kids, which is a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland.

  • Kids’ Blog: Iceland

    Kids’ Blog: Iceland

    Guest Author:  Our kid blogger, Messi Jr., is a nine year old fourth grader who loves travel and soccer.

    My Iceland trip was awesome.

    Iceland Day 1

    On day one, as soon as my family and I got to the Icelandic airport, everyone was wide awake because we slept the whole flight.  When we got out of the airport, it was very cold and rainy.  My family and I got on the bus that would take us to a place that we would get a rental car.

    On the bus, I saw two strange things.  The first thing that was strange was that out of the window I saw rocks.  Some were the size of pebbles and others were the size of cars.  The rocks were all different shapes, but many were the size of backpacks. There seemed to be millions. And, there were planes and planes of them.  But, they were covered in something.  I didn’t know what it was so I asked my dad what it was, and he said it was moss.  I thought it was very strange, but I could believe it when I saw it.  The other thing I wondered about was the rocks.  When I looked closely, there were many holes.  I recognized it as a lava rock.  I wasn’t surprised since I knew from a book I had read about Iceland that it said that Iceland was formed by volcanos.

    Once we got off the bus, we went to a place where we rented a 4×4 car, which meant it can drive through harsh conditions.  With the car, we drove to the convenience store and bought some food that we ate at the shop for breakfast.  At the store, the Cool One and I both found coins.  The Cool One found a 1 krona coin, and I found a 2 krona coin.  Next, we went to Costco.  At Costco, we bought squeezies for my sister, water bottles for the car, Nutella to put on our bread for breakfast, and rotisserie chicken for our sandwiches.

    Before we ate lunch, we went to the lava tunnel, but the noon tour was full.  For lunch, we went to a nearby town and picked up some very yummy pizza, which we ate in the car heading toward the lava tunnel.  In the lava tunnel, we had to wear headlamps so we could see around the tunnel.  We learned that before headlamps and flashlights, all people saw in the tunnel was pitch black.  The only way you could see was from small holes on the roof.  We also learned that lava once rushed through the tunnel.  My sister was the youngest person to ever go in the tunnel.

    The next thing that we did was we drove, well we tried to drive to Kerid crater, but we drove into another crater.  In that crater, there were many lava rocks. We could also see all the layers of the crater.

    The next stop was Kerid crater.  The cool thing about Kerid is that the deep crater has a lake at the bottom of it.  My dad also said that Kerid was formed 6,500 years ago.  On our way to the apartment, my brother, sister and I took a nap in the car.  I thought that I had slept for the whole night!  We watched some TV, but it was only in Icelandic, so we didn’t understand a thing.  We tried to take a shower, but the drain was plugged, so that made it pretty challenging.  The day ended with everyone having a good night sleep.

    Iceland Day 2

    Once everyone had woken up and dressed up, we went to Seljalandfoss, which is a famous waterfall because you can walk behind it.  Seljalandfoss is a very tall waterfall.  When my family and I walked behind it, we got soaked, but it was worth it because it was amazing.

    As we were driving to Skogafoss, we saw Eyjafalljokul, which is a volcano that erupted a few days after my brother was born, which delayed my grandma from flying back to England.
     
    Once we were at Skogafoss, we saw a huge waterfall, and when the water hit the river it had been forming, mist shot up and formed a huge circle.
    We also saw a huge glacier that turned out to be the biggest glacier outside of the North and South Poles.
     
    In a bird sanctuary, we saw a few puffins.
     
    At Renisjfara beach, the sand was black!  It wasn’t just normal sand, it was volcanic sand!  We also saw a lot of basalt rocks.  There were also strong waves.  My brother, my dad, and I were standing about 2 yards away from where the waves end, then suddenly, a huge wave came and everyone started running, but I tripped over a big rock.  I fell down and before the wave went back in, my dad pulled me out.  I was wet, so I had to change all of my clothes.
     
    As we drove, we passed the beautiful city of Vik, but we didn’t stop.  The next place we went was Vatnajokull, which is the biggest ice cap (other than the North and South poles).  It was a very beautiful sight.
    The next stop was Jokulsaron.  One of the reasons Dad wanted to come to Iceland was to see this site.  Jokulsaron is a lake with icebergs.  The icebergs and lake come from a glacier that was constantly melting.  The ice on the beach was my favorite sight of Iceland.  On the beach, when Dad was taking a picture of my brother and me near the iceberg, as he walked backward to get a good shot of us, he tripped over ice and fell backward.  When he put his hand down to save himself, he went down so hard he broke the thick ice and hurt his hand a lot.
     
     
     We went as fast as we could to Hofn hoping to get to Hofn before the guesthouse closed.  hoped that we would make it in time so we wouldn’t have to sleep in the car.  Luckily, we just made it in time.  For dinner, we had pasta with rotisserie chicken.  Even though we tried our best to keep my sister quiet, she was still very loud.  We eventually got her quiet watching Netflix.  We had a good night of sleep.
    Iceland Day 3
    We woke up in the morning to nice blue skies, which ended up to be a nice, blue, dry, and sunny day.  We woke up so late that by the time my family woke up, everyone else in the apartment had left for the day.  My mom lost her ring that she was very sad about, but it was a good thing she found it later in the trip.  As we drove to Netto, we had an amazing view of a glacier.
    For lunch, we stopped on the side of the road where we saw a bench that overlooked the ocean.  We ate some of the food we bought at Netto.  My sister made a rock collection, which she loved and added to during the trip.  We stopped in a tourist office, and we got even more maps!  Next, we stopped on the side of the road where we saw a stream, and there was a wonderful view of everything around us.  My brother and I skipped a few rocks into the stream.
     
    As we kept driving, near a farm we passed, we saw amazing hovering birds.  My dad took a few photos of them hovering and trying to find food.

    As we kept driving along, we went into two tunnels.  One tunnel was 5 km, and the second tunnel was 6 km!  We stopped at Kronan where we got fish, fish stew, and French fries.  We spent the night in the fishing village of Eskijfordur.  We stayed in a very nice apartment.  For dinner, we had the fish and fish stew with the French fries, and we also had peas, and for dessert, we had ice cream.  But, that still wasn’t the end of the day!

    At 9:30, there was great weather as we were driving to the mine that was famous because it had the most spar crystals in the world.  We saw many animals running across the road.  Some were so close, the car could have ran over them.  Once we got to the walking path, we walked up a big hill seeing thousands and thousands of spar crystals.  The mine shaft was blocked off by the rocks, but there were still many spar crystals.  My sister, brother, and I made a huge spar crystal collection and left it on a rock.

    As we headed to our apartment, we saw the most amazing midnight sun we had seen on the whole vacation.  At end the day, we had a good night sleep.

    Iceland Day 4

    We woke up in the morning and had a quick breakfast.  We had a very quick breakfast because we wanted the maximum time at our first hot pot in Iceland.  It was a very cold day, which is the best pool weather in Iceland because every single pool is heated by natural magma and lava.  My family and I were the only people in the pool.  We all had fun on the slides, and when it was time to go, my sister didn’t want to get out.  The rest of the day all my sister wanted to do was go back in the pool.

    We had lunch in the apartment.  It was raining very heavily, and the sky was very ugly white and gray.  It was still raining, but we drove to Dettifoss, which is a popular waterfall.  On the way, we got gas and looked for reindeer, but we didn’t see a single reindeer.  Dettifoss was one of the best sites we saw in Iceland.  It is amazing how much water comes down.  My sister nearly walked the whole hike by herself to the waterfall.

    The first four days in Iceland were lots of fun.
  • The Final Frontier Part III: Wrangell-St.Elias With Kids!

    The Final Frontier Part III: Wrangell-St.Elias With Kids!

    Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest area managed by the Park Service with an area totaling over 13,000,000 acres.  It is 25% bigger than the entire country of Switzerland and can encompass six Yellowstone National Parks. The second tallest mountain in the United States is Mount St. Elias and Mount Wrangell is an active volcano. The Park also has a number of glacial features. Source.

    Although it was initially on the radar as a possible place to visit, after a neighbor, who had recently returned from a trip to Alaska, identified Wrangell-St. Elias as a must visit, it quickly shot up the list and became a priority. My husband, son, and my in-laws ended up spending two nights in Wrangell-St. Elias and, by all accounts, it exceeded expectations.

    How did they get there?

    The night before Wrangell, they stayed in Tok, Alaska at an RV camp. It wasn’t the nicest of places, but it was sufficient and they were able to get in a long bike ride on the way to dinner – a nice break from riding in the RV.

    biking to dinner in Tok, AK

    The next day, it was a four hour drive from Tok to Chitina, where they boarded a small air taxi for a 20 minute flight to Kennicott Glacier Lodge. The decision to fly into Wrangell was made entirely due to the fact that there are only two roads into Wrangell-St. Elias and both are dirt/gravel roads maintained by the state of Alaska, not the Park Service. There are no fuel options within the Park or services along either road, so the decision was made to leave the RV parked in Chitina and fly into Wrangell, instead of possibly risking a vehicle incident that would impact the rest of the trip. The road that they would have taken into Wrangell is only about 60 miles, but would have taken hours had they driven the RV.

    Both my husband and my father-in-law loved the flight into Wrangell. The views from the air were incredible and had my husband, who was a private pilot in a former pre-kid life, dreaming of giving up the nine-to-five workday for a bush pilot gig in Alaska. Predictably, my son slept through most of the flight and my mother-in-law, who is not a fan of flying in general, said it was “tolerable.”

    “The flight in is spectacular, giving you a great view of the Wrangell Mountains and views of Mt. Blackburn and the Kennecott Glacier as well as big horn sheep and the occasional moose wading in small ponds.” – Charles

    Where did they stay?

    Kennicott Glacier Lodge, located right in the middle of Wrangell-St.Elias was their home for three days and two nights. Due to the remoteness of the location (and thus, lack of competing options), the decision was made to book one of the special packages that included three meals a day, lodging, and the flights in and out of Wrangell. The Lodge itself was nice, but unremarkable. The views, however, were incredible. The lodge sits several hundred feet above the valley floor and my father-in-law recommends getting a glacier facing room with private bath. He also recommends the meal plan as there is not anywhere else to eat in Kennicott.

    What did they do?

    There are two vendors that provide guided activities in Wrangell – St. Elias Alpine Guides and Kennicott Guides.  Both outfitters offer similar activities and my father-in-law decided to sign my husband up for a day of ice climbing while he, my mother-in-law, and my son went on a half day hike on Root Glacier with St. Elias Alpine Guides. Since the ice climbing was also taking place on Root Glacier, my son was able to see his dad hang on the ice both coming and going from his hike. All activities were booked and confirmed via the internet well before their arrival. Unless you are experienced in ice hiking yourself, my father-in-law would not recommend going on the ice without a guide. The guides make it easy and safe to explore with kids.

    chatting with the guide about glacial ice
    Crampons on and ready to go!
    my ice-climbing husband

    My husband really enjoyed his ice climbing experience and the hike on Root Glacier was a great experience for my son. They provided him with (the required) crampons to walk safely on the ice and he managed the approximately 5 mile hike without incident. The guide was also nice and enjoyed conversing with my son, instead of dismissing him as “just” a kid. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience for everyone’s full day in Wrangell-St. Elias.

    What did they eat?

    All dining took place at the Lodge as they had booked the plane ride + lodging + food package. The food itself was unremarkable.  It was perfectly suitable but as my husband reports, “you weren’t there for the food.” The meals were served largely buffet/family style and one night was salmon, the other night was steak. Although my son is not the most adventurous eater, my husband was able to get enough to accommodate his taste buds.

    Is Wrangell-St. Elias a good experience for kids? 

    My son really enjoyed hiking on the glacier with crampons. The guide did a really good job of engaging with him and he was just old enough to experience, remember, and enjoy it. My husband also enjoyed his ice climbing experience. The days they spent in Wrangell-St. Elias ended up being unseasonably warm, so they found themselves quite hot, despite being surrounded by ice. Nonetheless, the views and the experiences made the trip into Wrangell-St. Elias worthwhile and my husband can’t wait to go back. He’s already said, however, that he would like to wait until the boys are older so we can do some back country hiking and camping – which may very well mean that it will be a guys’ trip!

    Return to The Final Frontier Part I: Five Days in Seward, Alaska

    Return to The Final Frontier Part II: Talkeetna and Denali National/State Park

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  • Best Things to Do in Reykjavik With Kids

    Best Things to Do in Reykjavik With Kids

    Reykjavík is the northernmost capital of the world, and is tiny compared with other European capital cities.  With a population of about 120,000 in the city limits and 215,000 in the region, a significant portion of Iceland’s 335,000 residents live in this area.  But, there is a marked difference from London’s 8.8 million residents.  These are our recommendations for the best things to do in Reykjavik with kids.

    A large concentration of Iceland’s shopping, restaurants and tourist sites are in Reykjavík.  There are also significantly more accommodation options than other parts of the country, and our three bedroom AirBNB about 10 minutes from the city centre provided our least expensive nights of the entire trip.  The Blue Lagoon, the most popular tourist site, is located between the Keflavik Airport and Reykjavík, and the Golden Circle and thermal pools were fabulous, but the city center itself was not as exciting as most other parts of our trips.

    We spent part of the first day in the Reykjavík area and then had about three full days at the end of our trip.  We thought we would take a day trip to the Snæfellsnes peninsula but decided to limit driving at the end of the trip and stay closer to our accommodations.  Looking back, we probably would have preferred to spend an extra day in the Southwest, but Reykjavík certainly has lot to offer visiting families with kids within a 90 minute radius.

    Central Reykjavik

    • Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran Church in Reykjavik that is visible throughout the city center.  The statute of Norse explore Leif Erikson in the front of the church was a gift from the US on Iceland’s 1,000th parliamentary anniversary in 1930.  Erikson was the first European explorer to discover the continental North America around 1000, almost 500 years before Christopher Columbus’ journey.   64°08′30″N 21°55′36″W
      • Kid Facts:  Hallgrímskirkja is the final work of State Architect Guðjón Samuelsson, who also designed Akureyrarkirkja.  It was commissioned in 1937, and construction lasted from 1945 to 1986.  The church houses a 50 foot pipe organ that has 5,275 pipes.
      • Kid Moment:  Kids enjoy the view from above.  The church doubles as an observation tower that you can access via elevator (2,000 kr or about $19 for our entire family).  Most cathedrals I visited were built well before elevators were invented, and if you want to get to the tower, you need to climb many flights of stairs.  There is not as much adventure in riding an elevator, but it is definitely convenient.

    Hallgrímskirkja and view from the observation deck

    • Harpa is a beautiful concert hall and conference center on the harbor that was completed in 2011. There are a variety of shops and a Sterna Travel office that offers day trips on the main level. 64°9′1″N 21°55′57″W
      • Kid Facts:  Construction of Harpa was delayed by the 2008 Icelandic financial crisis.  For several years, it was the only construction project in Iceland.  Both the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera perform here.
      • Kid Moments:  Our kids enjoyed the exploring the souvenir shops but actually preferred building rock towers across the street even more.
    View of harbor from Harpa
    Harpa exterior
    Building rock towers across from Harpa
    • The Sun Voyager is a stainless steel sculture by Jón Gunnar Árnason located on the sea front near Harpa.
      • Kid Facts:  The Sun Voyager was completed in 1990 and was not intended to symbolize a Viking Ship but a dream boat as an ode to the Sun.

    • Baejarins Beztu Pylsur is a very famous hot dog stand. Lines are regularly long for 400 kr ($3.75) hot dogs, but we were there at about 9 pm and had almost no wait. My husband and boys ate two each.  64°08′53″N 21°56′16″W
      • Kid Facts:  Baejarins opened in 1937.  Bill Clinton visited in 2004.  The name translates to “The Town’s Best Sausages.”
      • Kid Moments:  Eat at the picnic tables and use the hot dog holders.
    • Thermal Pools:   There are four thermal pools in Reykjavík.  We visited Laugardalslaug and Salalaug Kopavogur.  Laugardalslaug is Iceland’s largest thermal pool and extremely popular. It was the only thermal pool we visited where there were more tourists than locals. Please make sure to review our post on pool etiquette before you visit.  64°08′46″N 21°52′48″W

    Near Reykjavik

    • Blue Lagoon is the most popular tourist attraction in Iceland located on the Reykjanes Peninsula about 20 minutes from the airport and 50 minutes from Reykjavik. The man-made geothermal pool is rich in minerals such as silica and sulfur that are supposed to improve the skin.  We chose a 9 pm entry because it was available, gave us a full day to spend in Reykjavik and meant we would not have to eat a meal while we were there and our kids never fully adjusted to the Icelandic time zone and regularly stayed up past 11 pm during our trip.  It turned out to be a relatively quiet time, and we were the only family with young children as usual.  The water is approximately 100° F, and visitors bathe rather than swim.  Pool rules are slightly different at the Blue Lagoon than other thermal pools around the country.
      • Kid Facts:  The water in the Lagoon comes from a nearby geothermal power plant and is replaced every other day.  Silica creates the water’s milky blue coloring.
      • Reservations:  It is absolutely necessary to book in advance during the summer months and likely all year.  Reservations can be made directly on the website.  You book a specific hour of entry (but can stay until close after you enter), and admission cost varies based on how far in advance you book and which entry hour you select.  I thought I would book after getting a better idea of weather, but when I logged onto the website about a week in advance, I found very few options.
      • Lagoon Etiquette:  While it is required to shower before entering, there are individual shower stalls rather than communal showers.  Also, visitors bring their towel, bath robes and flip flops outside with them rather than leaving them on racks near the showers.  If you have long hair, make sure it is wet before you enter the lagoon and leave conditioner in while you bathe (it is not recommended that you go under water) to protect your hair from the silica.  Use conditioner again multiple times when you are done and use plenty of lotion.  Also, make sure you are dry before entering the change rooms.
      • Kid Rules:  There is no charge for children at the Blue Lagoon, but children under age two are not permitted.  No proof of age was required for our petite almost three-year-old.  There was no visible prohibition regarding use of swimming diapers, but I did not see anyone using them, either.   Additionally, all children under aged eight must wear arm bands.  Everyone receives a wrist band at check-in to wear throughout the visit.  The band is used to lock and unlock the lockers, and the color indicates a child’s age or adult’s package.  The adjustable band kept expanding.  Helpful guards periodically pointed out to me that mine needed to be tightened, and we ended up putting the kids’ on their legs.
      • Kid Moment:  Make sure to get silica masks for the whole family!
    • Lava Tunnel Raudfarholshellir is located about 30 minutes from Reykjavik and started offering a family-friendly one hour Standard Lava Tunnel Tour in June 2017. I used my Beco carrier for my two year old and learned at the end of the tour that she was their youngest visitor yet. A four year old in our tour walked on her own with no issues. N.63º 56.407 / W. 021º 23.742
      • Kid Facts:  A lava tube is a natural tunnel formerly occupied by flowing lava.  This tunnel was formed after the Leitahraun eruption about 5,200 years ago.
      • Kid Moments:  Notice all the step marks on the cave walls that mark the various depths at which the lava flowed.  Also, enjoy the moment of darkness when the tour guide switches off the lights inside the cave.

     

    Golden Circle – Check out our post on the Golden Circle in southwest Iceland.

     

    Continue to Iceland Part V – Southwest Iceland.  Interested in finding out more about visiting Iceland with kids?  Check out our listing of all Iceland blog posts or join our Facebook group We Go To Iceland With Kids, which is a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland.