All tagged Iceland

At home in Iceland

At home in Iceland

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Travel

If you have not heard, Iceland has been gaining tremendous popularity over the last several years. And if I am being completely honest about it, I am a little sad. Iceland is such a fantastic place I really hoped it would stay a secret for as long as possible. However, I will have to admit I am partly to blame for the explosion of tourists. Ever since our first visit in 2010, I have been singing the praises of this beautiful country. From its rugged beauty to its colorful little city, it really is a country bursting with both charm and diversity. 

As We Grow

As We Grow

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Seattle, Parenting, Kid Style

One of my favorite parts of having a little one is being able to dress him each day. If you know me, then you know a whole lot of thought and effort goes into building and maintaining Jasper's wardrobe. I find it very important for him to be dressed appropriately either for the weather or the outing we are going on. My first priority always is for him to be comfortable, but I also want him to be able to easily wear a variety of clothes.

Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Travel

Reykjavik will always be one of those places that feels like a friend; familiar and yet endlessly interesting. While we were in Iceland we spent a couple of days exploring the city. We enjoyed shopping in the brightest and cheeriest children's store called Iglo + Indi as they were incessantly patient with our enthusiastic little shopper, enjoying some of the best fish soup and fish and ships we have ever had in our lives at Reykjavik Fish and Chips, visiting Hallgrímskirkja, and enjoying an ice cream break amidst all our wandering.  

#mystopover

#mystopover

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Travel

People are always a bit intrigued when we tell them we are going to visit Iceland again. And up until recently, Iceland has not been on the radar of most people as a tourist destination. The reason we continue to return to this beautiful place is also the quality I most appreciate about Iceland and that is: diversity. In one day, you are able to see glaciers, lava fields, bubbling sulfur pits, red rock hiking, icebergs, epic waterfalls, sandy beaches and one of the most adorable colorful little cities in Europe.

In my opinion, it is worth it to take advantage of the free stop over in Iceland from IcelandAir and check it out for a few days for yourself. The flight from Seattle to Iceland is a mere six and a half hours and gets you to Europe the fastest way I know how. On our flight to Iceland we even had the opportunity to fly there in Helka Aurora which is their new aircraft dressed up in the beautiful colors of an Icelandic winter landscape. Not only is the Boeing 757 wrapped, but the interior is illuminated with one-of-a-kind mood lighting to recreate the Aurora Borealis. 

A modern home in South Iceland

A modern home in South Iceland

Lisette Wolter-McKinley
Travel

When planning our third trip to Iceland we knew we wanted to do things a little differently this time around. On our first trip to Iceland we spent ten days driving around the entire country. On our second trip, we made a quick stop over in Iceland before heading onto Amsterdam and Paris. This time we knew we wanted a home base to spend several days in one place. Since we were traveling abroad with a toddler for the first time we were uncertain how jet lag would treat him. The thought of a small hotel room while a toddler adjusted to a new time zone was not appealing. During my search for houses to stay in, I came across this beautifully modern home. At first glance, the covered outdoor space, idyllic location and wrap around deck immediately grabbed my attention. In addition, the house had three bedrooms which meant Jasper would be able to nap or go to bed early while we stayed up and enjoyed the sauna, hot tub or just relaxed.

Shopping in Reykjavik, Iceland

Shopping in Reykjavik, Iceland

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Reykjavik is one of those charming little cities I wish I could fold up and put in my pocket. I would love to be able to pull it out and transport myself there whenever I am feeling blue. Although two thirds of the Icelandic population live in Reykjavik it has never felt busy or frantic like other cities we have visited. Reykjavik is a very walkable city full of interesting things to stop and take a look at. I am drawn to the rows of brightly colored buildings and I have found so many amazing places to shop while I am there. 

Iceland

Iceland

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Even though our stop over to Iceland was brief, we were still able to enjoy beautiful scenery, open roads and all four seasons in two days. Oh how I love Iceland, the combination of a subtle color palette, wide open spaces and the dynamic, unpredictable weather. Iceland will always be the place of my dreams. 

A European adventure

A European adventure

Lisette Wolter-McKinley

Hello again!

I must apologize for the silence this past week on the blog. We just returned from a two week trip around Europe. Preparing for a trip is a time consuming endeavor. Between making certain all my plants were watered, the refrigerator was emptied and trying to tie up loose ends this blog ended up being neglected. But I am back, reenergized (despite jet lag) and ready to share with you all the many places we went, experiences we had and of course many, many photos. Over the past two weeks we have spent time in Iceland, Amsterdam and Paris. Each place was so unique and our time there will have a special place in my heart.