Touring Iceland’s Incredible Golden Circle

Most visitors to Iceland have come first for the amazing scenery and well over 80% start in Reykjavík the island nations capital. If you’re considering your first visit to Iceland the fastest way to hit the ground running is to take Iceland’s Golden Circle tour. Because of its popularity there are a number of tour company options to consider or you can rent a car and take the tour on your own.

Icelands roads are well maintained, marked and easy to navigate and rental cars are reasonably priced. A one day rental will usually cost less than a tours cost for one person.

The three major sites composing Iceland’s Golden Circle sightseeing route include:

  • Þingvellir National Park – The park is the location where the Earth’s crust is pulling apart creating new land in its rift valley.
  • Geysir Geothermal Area – One of Iceland’s more active geo-thermal areas with the erupting Geysir being its centerpiece.
  • Gullfoss Waterfall – Iceland’s most visited waterfall and unique as it switches direction 90ª half way down.

Most guided tours will usually include a number of additional sights on their Golden Circle circuit.

The rift valley trail

Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park – There are several places on land where the Earth’s tetonic plates are actually pulling away from each other creating new land. In Iceland it’s called a rift zone and Þingvellir is the oldest of the national parks in Iceland geologically sitting atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Þingvellir National Park is located in the southern part of the country about a 40 minute drive from Reykjavík . It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains the rift, the country’s second-largest lake, the Þingvallavatn Lake (Lake of the Parliament) and the amazing Öxarárfoss Waterfall. It also contains many hiking trails and camping grounds, and while admission to Þingvellir National Park is free there is a charge to park.

Thingvellir National Park

Geysir Geothermal Area – If the name Geysir seems a lot like geyser, the truth is that Geysir is where the name originated. While most of the geothermal area is on private land and there have been attempts to start charging, the park area is still free. The oldest accounts of Geysir in Haukadalur Valley date back to 1294, when earthquakes in Iceland caused changes in the geothermal area and created several new hot springs. Geysir is the main geyser and has been measured to reach the height of 500 feet. Seismic activity in the area has an effect on Geysir and after being dormant for a number of years, Geysir was revived by an earthquake in 2000.

Gullfoss Waterfall – Just a few miles past Geysir, on Iceland’s Golden Circle route is Gullfoss waterfall. Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s most popular attractions because of the sheer size of the falls and the ninety degree switch the falls takes half way down. There is plenty of parking and the visitor center has a nice restaurant, snack and gift shop with free restrooms.

Other attractions within the area of the Golden Circle include:

Kerið crater lake – is a beautiful volcanic crater lake on the Golden Circle route, filled with blue-green water with black and deep red slopes. It is believed to be an explosion crater formed 3,000 years ago.

Secret Lagoon Hot Spring – features a single pool supplied from hot and cold springs, keeping it at a perfect 100 to 104 °F. Spend time relaxing in the hot springs while viewing the beautiful landscape that includes a geyser spouting jets of hot water and steam every few minutes.

Blue Lagoon – Located in the heart of the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark and surrounded by moss-covered lava fields, the Blue Lagoon Iceland is a wonderland named one of the 25 Wonders of the World by National Geographic in 2012. Once perceived as little more than an unusable byproduct of Iceland’s geothermal energy production, the Blue Lagoon is now water attraction with its warm waters known for their healing, rejuvenating, and nourishing qualities.

The Sólheimajökull and Mýrdalsjökull Glaciers – Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of the mighty icecap of Mýrdalsjökull on the South Coast of Iceland. It is one of the most easily accessible glaciers to reach from Reykjavík, just 98 miles away and is a favorite spot for glacier hiking.

The Black-sand Beaches of Vik – Reynisfjara is a black sand beach in Vík and one of the most popular black sand beaches in Iceland. It is located only two and a half hours away from Reykjavík and is worthy of a stop if you are near.

The Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls – Skogafoss is a waterfall at the cliffs of the former coastline. As the coastline receded seaward the former sea cliffs remained. Skogafoss waterfall comes from two glaciers, Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull and drops almost 200 feet. From the top of Skogafoss waterfall is an inspiring view out over south Iceland’s coastline. Seljalandsfoss is another well known waterfall in Iceland. It drops almost 100 feet and is remarkably beautiful. If there is enough time add these waterfalls to a trip on south coast.

Hellisheiði Power Plant

There are also a number of good museums and culture sites in Reykjavík along with the interesting Geothermal Energy Exhibition an interactive museum on Iceland’s volcanic processes at Hellisheiði Power Plant, just a twenty-minute drive outside Reykjavík.

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Today’s Images • A World of Falling Water

There’s something about falling water that seems to attract attention and we’ve visited more than a few over the years.

The above waterfall complex in South America is considered by many to be on of the Eight Wonders of the Natural World.

They’re found almost everywhere and come in all sizes from incredible heights to amazing power and the good news is they often require a good hike to reach…

From top left to bottom right: Skagway Falls Alaska, Crabtree Falls The Blue Ridge Parkway, Lower Falls Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon ,Mystic Falls Yellowstone, Rainforest Dominica, Australia’s Blue Mountains, Upper Linvaiile Falls The Blue Ridge Parkway, Bridal Veil Falls Yosemite, Amicalola Falls Georgia, Chestnut Falls Chimney Rock North Carolina, Laurel Falls Smoky Mountains.

Iceland, A Fantastic Land Landscape of Waterfalls

Iceland has more waterfalls per square mile than any other place on Earth.

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Exploring Georgia’s Amazing Wineries

Late last summer we spent a couple of weeks driving around the north Georgia mountains, hiking and visiting wineries. Georgia wines are really worth experiencing. In general, their quality is good and the wineries were fun to visit. We had planned this trip for the spring but than had to postpone and didn’t update our information before heading out. We discovered too late that many of the wineries had reduced their hours for summer or were closed when we tried to visit, so we had to modify some of our plan. Be sure and update days and hours before you head out and also pricing, as each winery has a different charge for sampling.

We started out driving north through Atlanta stopping for lunch at the famous

Ga 1
Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville

Varsity Hot Dogs next to the campus of Georgia Tech. We had heard a lot about this institution and it turned out to be much bigger than we expected and the food was remarkably good. After lunch we left Atlanta heading for the small town of Oakwood and our first night on this roadtrip.

Amicalola Falls

Early the next morning we headed for the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville. The gardens are interesting and diverse featuring over 1,200 different plants including 80 varieties of magnolias, oaks and maples. There are some nice lily ponds and a mountain stream flowing through the garden. The gardens are also home to an impressive concert series in the summer.

From the gardens we drove to Amicalola Falls Lodge inside the state park. The lodge was great, with modern, well furnished rooms. It sits atop the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast (729 feet). The falls are paralleled by a staircase with 604 steps and the park is also crossed by The Appalachian Trail. That evening it was a treat sitting out on the deck of the lodge watching a mountain sunset. The Lodge also has a nice restaurant with reasonable prices.

Wolf Mountain Vineyards

While in the area we visited The Cottage Winery in Cleveland, and Cavendar Creek Vineyards, Montaluce Winery and Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery near Dahlonega, Georgia. Dahlonega is a quant mountain town that also offers tasting rooms for many of the areas wineries – sort of one stop shopping and tasting.

Helen, Georgia
Tubing thru Helen

From Dahlonega we traveled over to the Alpine town of Helen. The town has been a tourist destination for years. Our first stop in Helen was the Habersham Winery with a nice tasting presentation and gift shop. Years ago after a factory closing the town rebuilt itself as an Alpine village featuring Bavarian food and gifts and offers a number of interesting restaurants and accommodations. The town is also popular for the tubing stream that flows through it. We had lunch at The Old Bavaria Inn, an old-world tavern specializing in imported beers and classic German fare.

Helen, Georgia

After Helen we drove up Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia at 4,784 feet above sea level. While at the National Park Service facility at the top we got caught in a thunderstorm which brought a bit of excitement to the afternoon, with lightening, thunder and clouds rolling by. After the storm we drove to Hiawassee on Lake Chatuge, checked in to The Lake Chatuge Lodge and then visited the Crane Creek Vineyards in Young Harris for Friday happy hour. It appeared that we should have made reservations as it is a very popular evening event in the area. The staff, however, was very accommodating and we bought cheese, crackers and a bottle of their dry rosé that make a great ending to the day.

The Chatuge Lodge is within walking distance of the Fred Hamilton Gardens and the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds opened in 1978, and are home

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Crane Creek Vineyards

to several popular events throughout the year including the Georgia Mountain Fair, Georgia Mountain Moonshine Cruizin, Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Superstar concerts, and Georgia’s Official State Fiddlers’ Convention. Any of those events have impact on room availability and rates, so if you’re planning on going, check dates and make plans well in advance. In the same area we also visited Odom Springs and Paradise Hills Wineries.

We left the lake early Sunday morning and headed for brunch at Tiger Mountain Vineyards & Winery which turned out to be the high point of the trip. The wine and food were delicious. Their Red Barn Café was selected as a top-ten winery restaurant by USA Today and our wine choice, Petit Manseng won a gold medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. We would highly recommend this Sunday Brunch.

Red Barn Café

After leaving brunch we made a brief stop at “Goats on the Roof” in Tiger, a throwback tourist stop featuring gifts, food, ice cream and yes – goats on the roof. We then headed for Tallulah Gorge and another long hike. This is a beautiful and rugged area and was the setting of the Burt Reynolds movie Deliverance as well as Disney’s movie, The Great Train Chase.

Tallulah has an interesting visitors’ center and a number of trails with steps that go to Tempeste and Hurricane Falls and then further down into the gorge. To go beyond the main trail into the creek to slide on the rocks, you need to get a permit from the Visitor’s Center. Only a small number are issued each morning so you need to be there when the park opens.

Tallulah Gorge

After a day in the gorge we headed for Mark of the Potter in Clarkesville, an interesting store featuring local pottery and crafts. Then it was on to Savannah and the next part of our adventure. More on Savannah, Georgia soon…

North Georgia Wineries

  • CAVENDER CREEK VINEYARDS AND WINERY 3610 Cavender Creek Road, Dahlonega, GA 30533          Phone: 770-823-9255
  • CENITA VINEYARDS, WINERY AND TASTING ROOM     591 Dock Dorsey Road, Cleveland, GA 30528     Phone: 706-865-7478
  • CHATEAU MEICHTRY VINEYARDS . 1862 Orchard Lane, Talking Rock, GA 30175                             Phone: 706-502-1608
  • CRANE CREEK VINEYARDS 916 Crane Creek Road, Young Harris, GA 30582 Phone:                706-379-1236
  • ENGELHEIM VINEYARDS 127 Lakeview Road, Ellijay, GA 30540                               Phone: 706-635-9463
  • FAINTING GOAT VINEYARDS     201 Vineyard Way, Jasper, GA 30143
  • HABERSHAM WINERY  7025 S. Main St., Helen, GA 30545                   Phone: 706-878-9463
  • HIGHTOWER CREEK VINEYARDS, LLC           7150 Canaan Drive, Hiawassee, GA 30546                 Phone: 706-896-8963
  • MONTALUCE WINERY & ESTATES      501 Hightower Church Road, Dahlonega, GA 30533          Phone: 706-867-4060
  • ODOM SPRINGS VINEYARD      637 Odom Rd, Blairsville, GA 30512                                   Phone: 706-745-3094
  • PARADISE HILLS WINERY RESORT AND SPA       366 Paradise Road, Blairsville, GA 30512         Phone: 877-745-7483 S
  • ERENBERRY VINEYARDS                Morganton, GA 30560                                              Phone: 706-623-8463
  • SERENITY CELLARS       265 Laurel Ridge Rd, Cleveland, GA 30528                           Phone: (706) 348-1277
  • SHARP MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS         110 Rathgeb Trail, Jasper, GA 30143                Phone: 770-735-1210
  • STONEWALL CREEK VINEYARDS             323 Standing Deer Lane, Tiger, GA 30576
  • TIGER MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS & WINERY      2592 Old Hwy 44, Dahlonega, FA 30533       Phone: 706-782-4777
  • WOLF MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS       180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, GA 30533                Phone: 706-867-9862

Find More on Georgia Wineries Here

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Discovering A Boiling Waterfall In Iceland

Iceland – A Land Glaciers, Volcanos And Boiling Water

Going to Akureyri on the Eyjafjörður (a fjord) we sail past a very unusual sight – a steaming waterfall plunging into the fjord. Later when inquiring we learn that the Icelandic Highway Department was digging a highway tunnel through a hillside when they hit a boiling water under groumd stream. While there are future plans to use the find to generate electricity, for now they are simple piping it out the the side of the hill to become a boiling waterfall. There is also interest from a company that would like to build a spa on the hillside to take advantage of the free hot water.

Explore Iceland and discover a land of amazing contrasts. Frozen landscapes accented by falling water, volcanic eruptions, boiling streams and geysers.

Float in a popular hot water lagoon and visit a valley that is literally being formed before your eyes by a widening rift. This is Iceland…

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Exploring Caribbean Cruising, Part 2

One of the most popular destinations in the cruising world is the Caribbean, including the Bahamas. Taking a three, four or five day cruise out of Florida is a great way to sample cruising at a very inexpensive price (some 3 and 4 day cruises are as inexpensive as $200 to $300* per person). Royal Caribbean and Carnival have a number of these itineraries sailing out of Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Port Canaveral year round. In addition to these two cruise lines there are a number of other lines in the market with many of them sailing only seasonally.

The Bahamas cruises are the most economical and usually include a stop in Nassau or Freeport and a day at one of the “private islands”. If you are booking one of these cruises and can swim, one of the best excursions you can take is a snorkeling trip. Everyone should experience this at least once in their life because there is nothing to compare to gliding over a coral reef watching marine life swimming all around you.

If your stop is Nassau we would recommend going over to Paradise Island and visiting the Atlantis resort. There is a daily admission fee but it includes sea life exhibits, beaches, a water park, casino, restaurants and bars. (Most cruise ships offer tours.)  In addition you can walk thru Nassau town and shop for souvenirs, duty free watches, jewelry, clothes and liquor (see customs rules below). The private islands offer a day of beaches, barbecue, water sports and more.

There are also west-bound short cruises which usually include Cozumel, Grand Cayman and often Key West. Our favorite stop is Key West with its’ shops and restaurants and our favorite attraction, a small aquarium, is only a short walk from the pier. Unfortunately, cruise ships must sail well before sunset so you will miss the sunset celebration at Mallory Square which is the best show in town. (The large ships would block the view of the setting sun.)

Stopping in Cozumel offers some duty free bargains including silver, onyx and tequila (see customs rules below) and good pricing on vanilla. The cruise ships will offer tours including beach trips and snorkeling but our recommendation is to take a taxi to Chankanaab Beach Park and pay the admission. You’ll save a lot of money and can go and return when you want. There is a bar, food, snorkeling rental and beach chairs and the water is great. Reefs are a bit of a swim out though.

There are two cruise ship areas in Cozumel. One is downtown and only a short walk to shops and Senior Frogs. The other is a bit north (actually two piers) with shopping areas dedicated to cruise passengers. There is also a smaller version of Senior Frogs which actually has a good snorkeling area right next to it. If your group includes teenagers beware. one of the local pastimes is pouring tequila into young Americans, so keep a watch on how much alcohol is consumed.

Grand Cayman is the other usual stop on these itineraries and offers probably the best duty free shopping on the cruise. You tender rather then dock but the tenders drop you off right in the center of Georgetown. Grand Cayman is dotted with great beaches (one seven miles long), terrific snorkeling and diving and many American chain restaurants. Our recommendation for a great day is a tour to “stingray city”.  Pick an excursion that visits the stingrays and also a coral reef for snorkeling.  It is advisable to book the tour through your ship as the day runs long  and you can get dangerously close to missing the ship’s departure time .

A cautionary note here regards the Cayman dollar. It is permanently fixed to the US dollar with the exchange rate being one Cayman dollar equaling US$1.25 so everything is 20% more expensive than it appears. Always be sure to ask if the quoted price is in Cayman or US dollars.

Duty Free Shopping

There is a lot of confusion about bringing back duty free liquor and how much and from where. The following is from the web site of U.S. Customs:

Please note, only one liter of alcohol purchased in a cruise ship’s duty-free shop is eligible for a duty-free exemption, although if at least one bottle purchased on board is the product of an eligible Caribbean Basin country**, then you will be allowed two liters duty free. If you buy five liters of alcohol in – say – the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), and one of them is the product of the USVI, then you would have reached your duty-free limit. Any additional purchases made on board in a duty-free shop would be subject to CBP duty and IRS tax.

If you buy four bottles in the USVI, one of which is a product of the USVI, then you could purchase one additional bottle from the onboard duty-free, and it would be eligible for duty-free entry.

Additional bottles will be subject to a flat duty rate of 1.5% and subject to Internal Revenue Service taxes.

** Most Caribbean Basin countries are considered beneficiary countries for purposes of this exemption. (Anguilla, Caymen Islands, Guadeloupe, Martininque and Turks and Caicos are not eligible)

 

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Question of the Week • Which Are The Worlds Best Beaches?

The Worlds Highest Rated Beaches?

The world’s top ten best-rated beaches often feature a mix of locations, with recent lists highlighting Elafonissi Beach (Greece), Banana Beach (Thailand), Eagle Beach (Aruba), and Siesta Beach (USA) as top contenders. Other commonly cited beaches include Praia da Falésia (Portugal), Playa Varadero (Cuba), Bavaro Beach (Dominican Republic), Playa de Muro (Spain), Kelingking Beach (Indonesia), and Myrtos Beach (Greece).

There is no single list of the world’s most popular beaches, but consistently high-ranking beaches include Grace Bay (Turks & Caicos), Siesta Key Beach (Florida, USA), and Eagle Beach (Aruba). Other popular beaches often cited are Praia da Falesia (Portugal), Elafonissi Beach (Greece), and Baia do Sancho (Brazil).

Here’s a collection of best beaches calculated by how often they are rated by travel related organizations:

TripAdvisor named Elafonissi Beach in Crete, Greece, as the top beach in the world for 2025. Other beaches frequently cited by TripAdvisor as among the world’s best include Grace Bay Beach in Turks & Caicos, Baia do Sancho in Brazil, and Cala Goloritzé in Italy, which was also named #1 by a panel of beach experts in 2025. The “best” beach often depends on individual preferences for factors like sand type, water clarity, activities, or seclusion.

The following are rated by The Beach Report:

  • Cala Goloritzé, Italy: it’s known for its stunning natural monument arch and turquoise water.
  • Whitehaven Beach, Australia: Famous for its 98% pure silica sand and swirling blue and white waves.
  • Eagle Beach, Aruba: A wide, beautiful beach that has consistently ranked high in other travel awards.
  • Praia da Falesia, Portugal: Features a dramatic backdrop of 130-foot-tall red cliffs.
  • Siesta Beach, Florida, USA: Known for its fine, quartz-crystal sand.
  • Playa de Rodas, Spain: A stunning beach on the Cíes Islands, though the water is actually cold.

A Few More Beaches From Travel Publication Lists

Anse Source d’Argent is a stunning beach located on the southwest coast of La Digue, Seychelles, and is frequently celebrated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world

Navagio Beach, or Shipwreck Beach, is an exposed cove, sometimes referred to as “Smugglers Cove”, on the coast of Zakynthos, in the Ionian Islands of Greece. Navagio Beach was originally known as Agios Georgios.

Bondi BeachThe sweeping white-sand crescent of Bondi is one of Australia’s most iconic beaches. Reliable waves draw surfers while, nearby, hardy locals swim in the Icebergs ocean pool year-round.

Champagne Beach  \is a beach located on the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. The beach is famous for its crystal clear waters and powdery white sands, which make it ideal for snorkeling. 

Nissi Beach is a popular beach in the resort of Ayia Napa, Cyprus. The beach stretches for 500 metres and the water is clean enough for the beach to have been awarded the blue flag designation. The beach, which runs the length of its own cove, takes its name from the small islet of Nissi located close to the coast. 

We were also sent a list compiled by VRBO:

1. Copacabana Beach, Brazil Location: Rio de Janeir. Highlights: Famous for its 4 km stretch, lively beach culture, and iconic views of Sugarloaf Mountain.

2. Whitehaven Beach, Australia Location: Whitsunday Islands, Queensland. Highlights: Renowned for its pure white silica sand and crystal-clear waters, often ranked among the best beaches in the world.

3. Maya Bay, Thailand Location: Koh Phi Phi Leh. Highlights: Known for its stunning limestone cliffs and turquoise waters, made famous by the movie “The Beach.”

4. Anse Source d’Argent, Seychelles Location: La Digue Island. Highlights: Famous for its unique granite boulders, shallow turquoise waters, and pink sand.

5. Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, USA Location: Honolulu, Oahu. Highlights: A bustling beach with excellent surfing, vibrant nightlife, and stunning views of Diamond Head.

6. Bondi Beach, Australia Location: Sydney. Highlights: Iconic for its surf culture, golden sands, and the scenic Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.

7. Playa del Carmen, Mexico Location: Riviera Maya. Highlights: Known for its lively atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and proximity to ancient Mayan ruins.

8. Kuta Beach, Indonesia Location: Bali. Highlights: Famous for its surf breaks, vibrant nightlife, and beautiful sunsets.

9. Bora Bora, French Polynesia Location: Society Islands. Highlights: Known for its stunning lagoon, coral reefs, and luxury overwater bungalows.

10. Tulum Beach, Mexico Location: Quintana Roo, Highlights: Famous for its Mayan ruins overlooking the sea, eco-chic resorts, and pristine beaches.

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