Many people think of Húsavík as the site of a Netflix musical comedy featuring the fictional Eurovision song Jaja Ding Dong. But Húsavík and the surrounding area offer much more. Indeed, they are jewels along the north coast of Iceland, offering numerous outdoor activities. Our morning operations showcased some of the offerings. But first, we encountered the weather: cloudy skies and a fierce wind mixed with sporadic and intense snow squalls combined with a dash of sun.
The first option offered to guests was a visit to the Hverir geyser fields to feel, hear, and smell hot steam emanating from deep magma while observing the vivid colors associated with the eruptions. Lake Mývatn was next, then we headed to the magnificent Goðafoss. A second group went to Ásbyrgi Canyon, where we walked through a dense birch forest to a pool with ducks and Arctic char. A short drive took us to Jökulsárglijúfur National Park, where we hiked Langavatnshöfði Canyon to view hexagonal basaltic columns. The hike was memorable not only for the geology, but also for the driving snow, which meant moving our planned Denttifoss excursion to Goðafoss. The third option was a hike to Skálamelur forest and an afternoon soak in the GeoSea spa. Ah…the intensity of Iceland!
