We left Minneapolis on an evening flight to Keflavik, full of hope but not much sleep. Jon and I didn’t catch a wink — our seats were far from comfortable, and to make matters worse, I had a front-row view of first class. Specifically, one older gentleman who managed to eat (and drink champagne) for what felt like the entire six-hour flight. Needless to say, I was not impressed… or rested. When we landed at 6:30 AM Iceland time, we grabbed our rental upgrade — a “Duster.” I was so excited at first… until I realized that in Iceland, a white Duster basically screams tourist. Every parking lot was filled with them. Think of it like the official uniform of visiting foreigners.

Running on fumes, we decided to head straight to the Sky Lagoon. With about an hour to spare before opening, we parked, tossed our suitcases in the front seat, and took the world’s most uncomfortable one-hour nap with the back seat lying flat.

Sky Lagoon: A Much-Needed Reset

The lagoon itself was gorgeous — an infinity-edge pool overlooking the ocean, with people swirling around, drinks in hand, and a relaxed, friendly vibe. Slipping into the warm, mineral-rich water was pure relief. Within minutes, I felt like all the tension I’ve been carrying (hello, school schedules, grocery runs, endless laundry) started to melt away. The infinity edge stretched into the Atlantic, and for a moment, it was just me, the water, and a view that made my everyday chaos feel far, far away.

Then came 7 step Ritual. After the scrub, sauna, and steam, I braved the cold plunge. And let me tell you—it was a shock. The kind of shock that makes you forget how tired you are and instantly wakes you up in a way no amount of coffee ever could. Science says cold water triggers endorphins, and I believe it. It felt like my body was being rebooted—flooded with a fresh burst of energy I hadn’t felt in ages. Honestly, it was better than a solid night of sleep and that is saying a lot!

And while we’re on the subject of water… yes, there’s a swim-up bar. Sounds glamorous, right? But Jon and I had the same thought: that section of the lagoon just might have been a little warmer than the rest, if you catch my drift. Let’s just say we happily admired the bar from a distance and stuck with the Atlantic view instead.

By the end, I didn’t just feel relaxed—I felt renewed. My body was lighter, my mind calmer, and for the first time in a long while, I had real energy to give. Not “running-on-coffee” energy, but that deep, steady kind you need to handle life with kids.

After hours of soaking, plunging, and wandering between hot and cold, we capped it off with a carb-heavy breakfast platter that tasted like pure heaven on no sleep.

Sky Lagoon wasn’t just a beautiful stop on my trip; it was a reset button for my mom-life exhaustion. Sometimes, what we really need isn’t another latte—it’s hot water, cold water, and a chance to remember we’re more than just tired.

If you’re heading to Iceland, don’t skip the Sky Lagoon—especially The Ritual. Bring a swimsuit you love, consider water shoes for the stone paths, and book ahead. It’s not just a spa day; it’s an experience that leaves you feeling like yourself again, ready to go back to mom duty with a little more energy (and maybe even a glow).

Day 1 (continued): Costco Chaos and Stick-Shift Drama

After our rejuvenating soak at Sky Lagoon, we thought we had a little time before our walking foodie tour. And where do travelers go when they have just an hour to spare? Costco, of course! We check out every Costco on our trips — it’s a weird hobby, but a shared one.

Spoiler: Sunday Costco in Iceland is just as chaotic as at home. The store was packed, and we carefully picked a few snacks to last us a few days: apples, peanut butter, sourdough bread, marinated olives, and the makings of a charcuterie board. But when we tried to head to the checkout, we were confronted with a line that snaked all the way to the back. Time was ticking, so we abandoned our cart and ran out… empty-handed. :(

That’s when the real comedy began. Jon had chosen a stick shift for our trip. The problem? We couldn’t get the Duster into reverse. Cue two jet-lagged Americans, sweating in the Costco parking lot, trying to move a car that refused to cooperate. Without saying a word, a few Icelanders calmly walked over and started pushing our car out of the spot. No questions, no judgment — just silent teamwork, like they do this every Sunday for tourists who can’t figure out reverse.

We plugged the address of our foodie tour into Google Maps and followed along… only to find ourselves in a quiet suburb, at an old apartment complex, utterly confused. Turns out, Iceland has some locations with very similar names, and we were a little off from our actual destination: the iconic Harpa Concert Hall.

Later, our young, hip food tour guide showed us the trick: apparently, Dusters have a special move you need to know to shift into reverse. He learned it from TikTok. (Lesson of the day: TikTok may just save your vacation.)

Reykjavik Foodie Tour

After the parking lot fiasco, I called our guide and explained the situation. He kindly directed us to the first restaurant, asked if we’d prefer lamb or horse (only in Iceland does your tour begin with that question), and gave us the correct parking garage. We even arrived before the group at the restaurant.

Here’s where our culinary adventure began:

Forréttabarinn (Nýlendugata 14)

• Horse fillet with broccolini, mashed potatoes, wine sauce, sweet bacon, and caramelized onion

• OR lamb ribeye with mashed potatoes, béarnaise sauce, broccoli, and wine sauce

Tapas Barinn (Vesturgata 3B)

• Marinated lamb tartare “cooked” in soy sauce (basically raw lamb, tender but a little intimidating)

• Icelandic lobster tails baked in garlic

Matbar (Hverfisgata 26)

• Arctic char from Breiðarfjörður with mashed potatoes and homemade mustard-onion butter (my favorite dish of the day — buttery, tangy, and unforgettable)

• Icelandic fermented shark with a shot of Brennivín. Fermented shark (hákarl) is a traditional survival food from the old days when Greenland shark, toxic when fresh, had to be buried and fermented for months to become edible. The result is safe… but smells strongly of ammonia. I tried it once, immediately followed it with the schnapps nicknamed “Black Death,” and can now officially say: been there, done that, never again.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (Tryggvagata 1)

• The famous Icelandic hot dog, ordered “ein með öllu” — with everything. That means ketchup, mustard, remoulade, fried onions, and raw onions. The hot dog itself is made with lamb and has a snap when you bite it. Messy, but completely worth it. (Fun fact: Bill Clinton ate here, and you can even order celebrity-inspired versions like “The Clinton” or “The Bieber.”)

Hótel Borg (Pósthússtræti 9–11)

• Hjónabandssæla, or Icelandic happy marriage cake, served with ice cream — a sweet, cozy ending to a long, wild day.

The Reykjavík Foodie Tour was such a blast! It was the only way I was ever going to try fermented shark, lamb, or even horse—and honestly, it made the adventure so much fun. Every stop had something new and well, sometimes delicious, mixed with just the right amount of culture and storytelling. Our tour guide was young, hip, born and raised in Iceland and it was fun to get her take on Icelandic life. She was funny and sometimes would really surprise us with what she would say- funny stories about her life which may have bordered inappropriate but entertaining! Such a fun way to taste Iceland!

Wrapping Up Day 1

By the end of the food tour, we were stuffed, exhausted, and maybe a little proud of ourselves for trying horse, lamb tartare, and fermented shark all in one day. Between the Sky Lagoon, the Costco chaos, the mysterious reverse gear, and the foodie tour, Iceland had already delivered a full adventure in less than 24 hours.

Day 1: Running on No Sleep, Champagne Envy & Sky Lagoon Bliss

The front of the Sky Lagoon: a traditional turf house!

Our breakfast platter: Skyr with granola, sourdough bread, delicious Icelandic butter, fruit jam, pastries, any tiny coffees...

This is the aerial view of the sky lagoon with no one in the lagoon... The cool part is it doesnt even look like there is any buildings there but it is just because it is covered with turf and rock. The views out to the ocean are amazing!