Fire, Ice, and Everything In Between: 11 Days Circling Iceland

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 Iceland had been sitting on the "someday" list for years, mostly because every video about it starts with a drone shot of a waterfall and ends with someone standing in front of a glacier looking personally victorious. So this June, we finally went and did the thing: flew in, gave ourselves three full days to settle into Reykjavík, then handed the driving over to a small-group BusTravel tour (booked through GetYourGuide) for a 7-day loop around the entire Ring Road and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, before one last night back in the capital. Here's how it went, plus the food we're still thinking about. Three Days in Reykjavík Before the Real Adventure Started Flying in a few days before the tour started was, without question, the smartest call we made. It absorbed the jet lag, gave us a proper buffer in case of flight delays, and meant we actually got to enjoy the capital instead of just passing through it. Three days sounds like a lot for one city, but Reykjavík rewa...
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Serene Sedona

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One day while i was killing time browsing internet, came across Enchantment resort and was blown away by its beauty. Even though the resort was expensive, location amazed me and started reading about it, bookmarked it and started dreaming about going here for years. Finally was able to make it and pictures cannot justify the beauty of the mountains. It is mesmerizing.

Summer gets hot and winter gets cold so plan in between months such as October to November. Sedona is at a lower elevation compared to neighboring cities such as Flagstaff so temperature tends to vary so keep a note of weather.

Food scene is also fantastic with so many beautiful and amazing places to eat and explore your way through.If you want to summary as to what is there here to watch, all i can say is Calmness.

Beautiful mountains and hundreds of trails, amazing food and different shopping experience and art, what more do we need. 

Things not to miss if you are in time crunch:

View for Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout



  • Chapel of Holy Cross


  • Shopping at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
    • Do not miss "The Chai Spot"
  • Airport Mesa Trail or Airport View Trail - 1.4 mile round trip 
    • Or Go straight to the top for Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout
    • Another one is park at Airport Mesa and Walk up to Airport Mesa Vortex
  • Bell Rock - Several trails to explore bell rock 



  • Drive your way through these roads for nice views :
    • Oak creek Canyon road 
    • Redrock Scenic Byway
    • Red rock Loop Road
  • Explore any rim tour at Pink Jeep tours - We LOVED this
  • Amitabha Stupa and Peace park


Would recommend reservations or call ahead for most of the restaurants in sedona as it gets crowded  most of the time

Some of the best places for food:

  • Hideaway House - Amazing Views - Good for Lunch or Dinner
  • Gerardos - Good Italian 
  • The Pump House - Best fir breakfast and Dinner
  • Mariposa - Sooper bar- little expensive but worth it
  • The Hudson - Good Food
  • The Vault - Good food again
  • Dellapiane - For good Burgers
  • Picazzos - Vegan options
  • Elote Cafe - Awesome food
  • Tii Gavo - Awesome Views- this is in Enchantment resort
  • Red rock Cafe - Best food
  • Indian Gardens Cafe n Market
  • Momos Kitchen
  • Jay Bird - Fried Chicken
  • Mesa Grill
  • Dahl & Diluca Ristorante italiano
  • Cowboy grill - Cactus Fries
  • Sono Kitchen and Boba - Popcorn Chicken
  • Secret Garden Cafe
  • Che ah Chi - Very Nice vibe
  • Fresh and natural  and Tara Thai- Thai
Wine n Bar:
  • Vinozona
  • Art of Wine 
  • Vino Di Sedona - Nice Wine bar with good food n Music
  • Creekside - Happy hour
  • Mooney Irish Pub - Nice bar
  • Sip Sedona Wine tour
  • DA Ranch
  • Sedona Beer Company - Good Beers
  • Javelina Cantina - Good food and margaritas
  • Oak Creek Brewery - Good beer

This is the town for trails so the best ones are these:

  • Devils Bridge Trailhead - 4 mile roundtrip
  • Cathedral Rock - Hard - 1.2 mile Hike
  • Fay Canyon Trail - 2 mile round trip - Easy with some shade
  • Birthing Cave
  • Boynton Canyon- 6 mile Hike and has Subway Cave

If you have time:
  • Exposures International Gallery of Fine art
  • Awesome train ride , but need reservations - Verde Canyon railroad
  • Broken Arrow Trail
  • Sedona Caves
  • Bear Mountain - 5 mile with Elevation
  • Baldwin Loop - close to 2 miles - Moderate with nice Views
  • Doe Mountain - close to 3 miles with nice views
  • Brins Mesa/Soldiers pass/Jordan Loop - 6 miles - Moderate with some steepness
  • West Fork Trail - Easy- 6 miles - shoes will get Wet
  • Red Rock State park 
  • Palatki Ruins
  • Herkenham to skywalker loop - 4 miles - Moderate
  • Carroll Canyon - Moderate and awesome
  • Sterline Pass - 6 miles - Moderate and amazing
  • Hot air baloon ride looking over mountains
  • Helicopter Ride

Have fun, LIFE is SHORT.



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