Since this was our first trip to Iceland we decided to move around southern Iceland and exploring the area around each hotel. Hotel Laki is a wonderful place to call home if you would like to be in an area close to Jökulsárlón (the iceberg lagoon), since it is only about an hour and a half to get there.  It is also a great location to explore the black sand beaches of Vik and the amazing waterfalls around the southeast coast.Â
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Iceland has so many amazing places to explore. One of our favorite days was when we drove along the southeast coast, stopping to see some of nature’s best pieces of art. We spent the day hiking into a valley to find a hidden swimming spot, climbing waterfalls, and even walking behind one. Here is my itinerary for a perfect day in Iceland:
Hotel Ranga is a gorgeous countryside hotel that is the only 4-star hotel in southern Iceland. It is an hour from Reykjavik and is close to some of the most impressive waterfalls we saw in Iceland. It was a great location to call our home base as we did the Golden Circle. We all fell in love with this hotel and were so sad to leave it. Click here to read all about our experience at Hotel Ranga…
Surrounded by glaciers and beautiful wonders of nature such as Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull, the views surrounding the Hestheimar Guesthouse will leave you in awe. When we approached the guesthouses we all kept saying how pretty the area around it was and that we felt like we were in a postcard. The Icelandic horses peering at you from the fences, the mountains in the distance, and the sun starting to turn the sky a lovely shade of pink, made the experience seem surreal. Read on to hear about our experience at the Hestheimar Guesthouse…
The land of ice and fire…talk about a packing nightmare. Since we were hopping from six hotels this week my husband told me packing light was a must. How in the world can I pack light when Iceland can have all four seasons in one hour? As a chronic over-packer, this was going to be a challenge. In addition to all the usual travel items, these were some extras I needed to bring:
I never win anything, so I’m not sure why I ever entered this drawing, but a few months later I got the news that we won four tickets to Blue Man Group in Boston! I was so excited to bring my girls and mother-in-law because we had a blast! The most interesting thing about Blue Man Group is that so many people are so confused at what exactly it is. I thought I’d try to shed some answers to those questions…
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There are some resorts that we will never forget, and the GullWing Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach, Florida is one of them. When staying at a hotel, I don’t often know much about the accommodations I will be given, so I usually prepare for the worst but keep fingers crossed for a room that has some space for my family to spread out. I had no idea what to expect and I can honestly say I was absolutely shocked when we walked into the suite. It was breathtaking and I couldn’t believe we were lucky enough to be spending the entire week here! The most nerve-wracking moment is when you place your key in the door and give it a turn. You never know what to expect. Well…this is what welcomed us as we walked in…
We continued our day trip to Naples, Florida with a trip to the Naples Botanical Garden. The easy 45-minute drive from Fort Myers Beach made it a good destination and we had such a fun time that we can’t wait to go back. This large garden consists of 170 acres open to the public daily. Often on vacation we spend too much time running around from attraction to attraction that we don’t stop to take a breath, looks around at the beauty in nature, and just enjoy being in the moment. The Naples Botanical Garden makes you literally ‘stop and smell the roses.’ At first I wondered if my kids might lose interest quickly, but they loved it and could have stayed longer if we had the time. There is something for everyone here and it would be a great trip to take with multi-generations. Here are a few of our favorite spots in the garden:
 Since we are staying in Fort Myers Beach for the week, we decided to make a day trip to beautiful Naples, Florida and explore some fun options for families. My girls are animal lovers so they really enjoy going to zoos. We decided to spend the morning at the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. The zoo is immaculately clean and easy to navigate. The staff is knowledgeable and welcoming to guests. The exhibits encourage you to ask questions and give you tips on how you can help save the environment. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon. Here are a few of our favorite moments from our day:
It’s official…I’ve got chronic beach fever. Symptoms include irritability towards snow piles, sadness brought on by having to wear a coat, and anxiety brought on by looking at my flip-flops just sitting in my closet. It’s a miserable condition brought on by a long winter and spring snowstorms. Luckily, this condition can be cured through putting your toes in the sand, swimming in salt water, and drinking a cocktail before noon. Our next trip cannot come soon enough. For now, I’m daydreaming about our top 10 family beach trips.