Chasing Waterfalls and Wonder: Iceland Day 1

Our Family Trip to Iceland: Day 1

When my husband first floated the idea of taking the kids to Iceland, plenty of people, including myself, raised an eyebrow. Iceland? With a seven-year-old and a four-year-old? I clearly lost the vote but I reminded my nervous self that travel has always been on our hearts, so we went for it—my husband, me, our curious seven-year-old Micah, our fearless four-year-old Millie, and my sister's family of five!

First Stop: The Bridge Between Continents

After getting our rental car and asking "what time does the sun even rise here?!", we drove to a local bakery to get some local bread, butter, and Icelandic lattes that did not disappoint. Our first stop was the Bridge Between Continents on the Reykjanes Peninsula—a quiet stretch of black sand and volcanic rock where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates slowly drift apart. So cool to walk from one continent to the other and will definitely be using this in upcoming homeschool lessons!

The bridge itself is simple, but the symbolism is powerful. Standing there with the wind whipping our hair, it felt like the perfect beginning to our Iceland adventure—an invitation to step into something new, wild, and a little bit magical.

Second Stop: Blue Lagoon

Our second stop was the Blue Lagoon, a surreal welcome to the country. Micah and Millie were both amazed at how warm the water was since in most places in the U.S., children are not allowed in hot tubs. Many say this is a "tourist trap" but it was one of the only hot springs that allowed children in under the age of 8 and let's be honest, it was the perfect antidote to jet lag on our first day. We spent a blissful couple of hours swimming, laughing, and smearing the famous silica masks on each other’s faces.

One way to save at the Blue Lagoon is to book prior to arrival and as early as you know you want to visit. It not only ensures a slot because it can sell out, but it also is cheaper to book online than at the desk. We arrived at a time that had many slots available and would have been several dollars more per person if we bought at the counter (typically 12-15% more per person), so they allowed us to book on our phone as we stood there to check in. Looking back, we could have saved more if we booked several weeks in advance because it becomes more expensive as it gets closer to your arrival date.

We purchased the premium package, which included a robe and three face masks. However, new towels are provided every time you exit the water and you receive a single mask with the basic package so the extra fee could have been avoided as I reflect back. I did enjoy the algae mask the most, which you could always pay for out of pocket if you decide to. It was the most hydrating mask and I considered purchasing it in the gift store after.

One thing I realized after the fact was that the silica in the water can ruin your hair and if you have half Asian hair like me, it will in fact dry out your hair beyond reason. I have been using hair mask after hair mask for the last week in attempt to bring my hair back to life, but the only thing that has helped is Castor oil and coconut oil, which I will link below. [Make sure you find castor oil that is cold pressed, hexane free, organic, 100% pure, and extra virgin.]

But hey, at least my skin feels nice from the masks! You can't win them all!

Third Stop: Selfoss & the Legendary Bónus Grocery Store Run

By the time we rolled into Selfoss, everyone was hungry, tired, and in dire need of snacks — which meant only one thing: a family pilgrimage to Bónus, Iceland’s famously budget-friendly grocery store with the iconic pink pig logo that somehow manages to look both happy and mildly confused.

We stocked up on bread, butter, pasta/sauce, bananas, breakfast items, McVitie's cookies, and chocolate (because… Icelandic chocolate). The Bonus was clean, organized, and the most price savvy. We had packed a ton of small snacks in our carry-ons for the week as well as ramen and mac and cheese in case the kids were hungry at night.

Final Stop: The Blue Viking Luxury Cabin

We finally made our way to our last stop: the 9.7/10 star, Blue Viking Luxury Cabin my sister found online. Tucked away in quiet Icelandic countryside, it felt like the perfect place for our little family to slow down and soak in everything we’d seen.

The moment we arrived, the kids burst out of the car scrambling to explore our new home for the next few days. The house was incredibly warm and inviting with plenty of toiletries, towels, espresso coffee pods, and even small food items, like pasta, any visitor would have wanted during their stay. It included a hot tub and a sauna that we would definitely be enjoying during our stay, but for now, our bodies are exhausted on less than 3 hours of sleep and it was time to cozy up in our beds with the warmest down comforters I will ever experience. I have the worst circulation and was worried about being cold with ONE blanket on the bed, but I realized quickly that we would be buying a nice down comforter when we got home. I found a goose feathered all season down comforter on Black Friday sale and each night I'm reminded of our cozy stay at the Blue Viking Luxury Cabin.

Would 100% recommend the Blue Viking Luxury Cabin and would return again!

Thankful for a safe and exciting first day in Iceland!