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Iceland: Heaven on Earth

When my sister suggested we visit Iceland, I initially wondered what we would do there. Our sister trips traditionally involved beaches, cocktails, and dressing up. However, after booking our tickets and planning our itinerary, I was pleasantly surprised by what Iceland had to offer. The country is about the size of Ohio, making it easy to navigate (they even drive on the right side of the road!). With several itineraries reviewed on TripAdvisor, we planned a 5-6 day summer trip, which is doable. Since it was nearly 24 hours of daylight, we didn’t see the Northern Lights, so my itinerary doesn’t include tips for that, but I found this post helpful for those interested.

Most itineraries recommend 70% of the same attractions, and here’s the list I chose from. Many suggest staying in Reykjavik and taking day trips, as most attractions are within 2-3 hours of the city. This approach allows you to experience the country without too much redundancy.

1. The Blue Lagoon
Iceland’s #1 tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon, is a must-see. The architecture, connection with nature, and origins of the geothermal seawater create a unique experience. Day passes start at $90+, so budget 3-4 hours for a visit. If possible, stay a night at the Silica Hotel on the property. You’ll have access to both the Blue Lagoon and private lagoons. The contemporary hotel, nestled among volcanic rock formations, offers amazing rooms. See more photos and reviews here.

2. South Coast Tour
Tourism is Iceland’s greatest economic driver, resulting in excellent tour packages. Our South Coast Tour included a comfortable bus with Wi-Fi, well-timed stops, and a variety of sights. Highlights included breathtaking waterfalls, the black sand beach, and a glacier visit. Tour guides are well-versed in history and folklore, making the journey interesting and fun.

3. Downtown Reykjavik
While many food tours are available, I’d skip them unless you’re a foodie. Downtown Reykjavik is small and easily walkable by American standards. Popular stops include Rainbow Street, Hallgrimskirkja (the largest church in the country), Harpa Concert Hall, and more. The food scene is surprisingly progressive, with vegan/vegetarian options at every restaurant. One must-visit spot is The Bookstore, a bar that doubles as a bookstore with a great house band performing 3-hour sets from 8-11 PM.

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4. Glacier Tours
There are various glacier tours available—by boat, foot, super jeep, or snowmobile. The weather in Iceland can change quickly, so our initial glacier and ice cave walk was canceled. We rescheduled for a snowmobile tour, which offered fun and amazing views.

5. Friðheimar Tomato Farm
A popular tourist stop, Friðheimar Tomato Farm, is easy to visit if you’ve rented a car. This unique restaurant is housed in a greenhouse that grows tomatoes year-round. The food is delicious; they even offer tomato beer and ice cream! It’s a short stop but worth it.

Hotels
After much research, we stayed at the Reykjavik Edition Hotel. With water on one side and the city on the other, it’s centrally located for downtown sites. The rooms are spacious, the on-site restaurant is excellent, and the overall experience is luxurious (it is so nice we stayed here for multiple nights). We also spent a night at the ION Adventure Hotel, which was designed to view the Northern Lights. Located in a remote area, it’s ideal for adventure-based tours like glacier hikes and biking. We stayed at the Silica Hotel (pictures below) on our last night and ate dinner at the famous LAVA Restaurant located on the Blue Lagoon property (the best meal I ate in Iceland). The Silica hotel is just simply magical, 10/10 recommend.

There were several activities we didn’t get to do, such as snorkeling between tectonic plates and boating among glaciers. However, I plan to return someday to see the Northern Lights anyway.

All in all, Iceland is an easy-to-visit country rich in culture and beautiful landscapes. I was truly surprised by how much I loved our trip (we were there during an active volcano eruption, just wow!). I hope this post was helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected].

See some of my other travel posts here.

Your Chick,

Rina

Fashion, Lifestyle, Travel

Visit Atlanta // Stay at Hotel Clermont

When I had the opportunity to stay at a boutique hotel within walking distance of Ponce City Market, I had to say yes! Not only is that part of Atlanta one of my favorite places (see my other favorites here), but boutique hotels also offer a unique experience that you don’t find at some bigger chains.

Shop my look from Revolve here.

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Here are five reasons to visit and/or stay at Hotel Clermont:

The Rooftop– with top shelf views, #goldenhour from the rooftop of the Hotel Clermont was so scenic.
Location– The property is a short 5-minute walk to @poncecitymarket and the super fun #atlantabeltline.
Great Service and Staff– Hello, complimentary cocktails when you check in; need I say more?!?
Comfortable Beds– Getting a good night’s rest is important to me on my weekend getaways, and I was not disappointed!
VIBES– This boutique property hits all the vintage vibes from its lobby to its bar, lounges, and rooms! I loved every single corner.
I will be back! Check out @hotelclermont in Atlanta for your next weekend spot. 

Check out my gallery, a picture is worth a thousand words!

If you are looking for a higher-end, trendy dining experience, check out my review of STK Atlanta.

Add this one to your list.
Your Chick,
Rina

food, Lifestyle, Travel

STK Atlanta Power Lunch Experience

In the middle of a workday in the heart of Buckhead, I stopped into STK Atlanta between meetings for a Power Lunch with my friends.  STK Atlanta “artfully blends the modern steakhouse and a chic lounge into one, offering a dynamic, fine dining experience with the superior quality of a traditional steakhouse.”

As soon as you walk in, you instantly feel like you are someone special.

Check out my review on Trip Advisor here.

With a combination of a stylish dining space and signature menu, STK does not disappoint and is sure to impress.

Check out this beautiful gallery of photos, and then, of course, there is the FOOD!

The Power Lunch menu is genuinely an experience designed for working lunches as well as business meetings.  $45 for a 45-minute 3-course dining experience is such a great deal and also so delicious.  Check out the menu below.

Our bartender carefully crafted some of the most divine cocktails.  I highly recommend the Fever-Tree Gin and Tonic infused with botanicals; it is a one-of-a-kind twist on a traditional drink.

Thank you so much to STK Manager Neal Alves and the team at Caren West for the opportunity to dine and share my experience at STK Atlanta.  I will be back!  Check out their full menu online here and also their special events spaces for parties and meetings.

Your Chick,

Rina

Travel

Travel Guide for Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

When the opportunity to go to Costa Rica came about, my husband and I couldn’t resist!  Known as a great family-friendly destination, we decided to go with our kids and four other families.  

Instead of trying to do a hotel with different rooms, we got a house together in Manuel Antonio. The home was a purchase from a gala that one family had recently attended.  

The Villa Mariana (our home away from home for the week) was a beautiful property located right in the middle of the Costa Rican jungle. While there was enough room for us all to sleep, it didn’t prove to be the most kid-friendly property. As an important note, I would highly recommend this property for adults only!  Keep in mind many of the properties in Costa Rica do not have central air conditioning in the common areas, so make sure to inquire before booking your stay. We only had air-conditioning in our bedrooms, so you can imagine how hot it felt in the main hangout areas when it hit 90 degrees!  Thankfully we had two pools to cool off in, so it didn’t ruin the trip (but something noteworthy to consider when booking your next trip to Costa Rica).  The main home in the Villa Mariana has four bedrooms with a guest house boasting two additional rooms to make for enough space to accommodate 5 families. Aside from the home, I wanted to share my top 5 things to do in and around Manuel Antonio.

Playa Espadilla

This beach was a short 10-minute drive from the Villa Mariana. Make sure to book umbrellas and chairs ahead of time.  The Costa Rican sun gets very hot midday.  Consider bringing a cooler (they allow them!) with cocktails, water, and snacks…. it will make things easier especially with kids. For a proper lunch, we headed to a neighboring hotel which you might want to consider when deciding where to have your umbrellas set up.  Make sure to pack a portable speaker and some beach toys.  This is a great way to experience the Costa Rican beach and dip in the Pacific Ocean!

Catamaran

Since we were traveling with 20 people, we decided to book our own private Catamaran. If you are traveling with a smaller group, they have group charters.  We opted for the sunset cruise.  Aboard the boat, we had two chefs and two helpers.  Our outing included a late afternoon meal with rice, beans, chicken, and veggies as well as snorkel gear, and dolphin watching. This was a great way to dip in the water, bond as a group, and watch to a beautiful sunset on the water!  A must-do activity!

Manuel Antonio National Park

At this park, we saw some extraordinary animals including sloths in their natural habitats.  With some small stops along the way, including some food, it makes for a nice outing with the family.  Midway in the national park, there is a beach with the option to take a dip (pack a swimsuit or wear one under your shorts).  
*Something noteworthy* If you plan to include this in your travel plans make sure to pick a temperate or cloudy day so it can be more enjoyable.  On the day we had planned the national park it was VERY hot!  There was not a lot of solace from the sun along the walking path and doesn’t make for easy transport of infants.  The walkways are rough at the beginning so not ideal for strollers. If you catch a nice day, this is a must-see stop!  

Zip Lining: Canopy Tarzan

We picked Canopy Tarzan for our zip lining.  To be honest, it wasn’t the closest to our house in Manuel Antonio, but we heard it was the best one.  It did NOT disappoint!  With a multitude of LONG runs, it made for a perfect way to experience the jungle from the treetops.  The last jump in this excursion, was a quick dip in a pool and waterfall, make sure you wear your swimwear under your shorts!  *If you have a fear of heights this might not be your best bet.*  Lunch was included.  Make sure to mention any dietary restrictions when booking.  

White Water Rafting: Savegre River

The location for white water rafting was a total of an hour and half away in the middle of the rainforest and mountains of Costa Rica.  It was simply breathtaking!  Kids ages 6 and over are allowed to partake in a class 1 rafting trip.  Equipped with proper gear and a guide, you are taken down the Savegre River’s rapids and taught fun facts along the way! There are safe places for you to take a dip so make sure you are in your swim gear.  I would highly recommend this as a fun-filled family excursion!

I hope this guide helps plan your next trip to Manuel Antonio!  Costa Rica is filled with beautiful customs, food, scenery and most of all beautiful and friendly people!

Happy traveling!

Your Chick,

Sonia

Visit Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica