Splurging on a $200 Zodiac whale-watching tour in the bay off Reykjavik was worth every penny. We spotted whales, dolphins, and puffins furiously flying over the ocean but the highlight was an extraordinary sight: a whale feeding just below the surface, a moment that will stay with me long after the trip.

On our final day, we rented electric scooters and zipped across the city, stopping at a secondhand store and an ice cream shop beloved by the locals.

Back in the city center, we treated ourselves to vegan hamburgers and fries at the food hall before setting out on one last stroll up the Rainbow Road. We lingered in front of favorite storefronts, made a final visit to the Sands Hotel, and purchased Icelandic wool for future knitting projects and gift.

Of course, no visit to Iceland would be complete without devouring the famous hot dog that Anthony Bourdain helped make legendary among Icelandic travelers.

Overall, I loved the adventures, excursions, and abundant wildlife that made Iceland such a memorable destination. The whale watching, puffin colony, reindeer farm, feeding carrots to horses & baby lambs on side of road & dramatic landscapes were the highlights of the trip. On the other hand, I found many of the towns, hotels, and the often cold, drizzly weather rather dismal. While the people were friendly enough, few seemed to linger outdoors, and I often found myself strolling through the towns alone in the mist and rain.

Of course, others in our group felt quite differently. They relished the quiet, isolated villages, the unhurried pace of life, and the charm of the quaint hotels. What felt lonely to me felt peaceful and restorative to them. Travel is like that—each person experiences the same place through a different lens. For me, Iceland’s greatest treasures were its wild beauty, remarkable wildlife, and unforgettable adventures rather than its towns and city life.