Best Things to Do and See in Reykjavik

November 2, 2022 By Anne

Reykjavik is found on Iceland’s West Coast, the capital of Iceland and still its largest city. The city and its environs are exciting and fun for all age groups with its bustling life, culture, and history. Reykjavik and the surrounding area has multiple things to do and a lot to offer, including visiting the world-famous Blue Lagoon spa, just 40 minutes outside of the city.

Here are some of the best things to do and see in Reykjavik:

Reykjavík harbor

A visit along the dockside shows dependence of Iceland on the Atlantic. It has fishing trawlers that are checked and prepared for the battle against the waves. Moreover, by visiting Reykjavik harbour, you will get the chance to enjoy the whale-watching tours, which its departure point is at the harbour.

Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church

A great way to see Reykjavik city is by climbing Hallgrimskirkja Church’s tower. that offers a spectacular 360-degree view of Iceland’s capital city. Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church is dedicated to Hallgrimur Petursson, a nationally renowned poet. This church is famous for its beautiful organs, art exhibitions and its unique exterior design.

Laugavegur Street

This street is lively and cool, with many popular cafes, stores, restaurants, hotels, and bars. Laugavegur Street is one of Reykjavik’s busiest streets; you can enjoy visiting there if you are on a tight budget and cannot spend a lot of money.

Go on a Helicopter tour

Helicopter tours are one of the popular excursions in Reykjavik. They may not be cheap, but the dramatic scenery and views are unsurpassed.

Hike the Laugavegur Trail

This hiking trail is known to be among the best hiking trails worldwide. Laugavegur trail takes you through hot springs, volcanoes, mountains, and glaciers. On this trek, you will enjoy all the most beautiful landscapes of Iceland. The terrain is challenging, whereby it will push your limits, but at the same time, it is also safe even for solo travellers. The trail is usually open between June and August because of the weather. To hike the trail from the starting point to the end takes anywhere from three to five days.

Perlan Museum

Visiting a museum is a great way to learn about the culture and history of Reykjavik. Iceland is mostly chilly, so museums provide great entertainment that will allow you to enjoy your day indoors and stay warm. Perlan museum is among Iceland’s best museums: it provides an underwater exhibit, a Reykjavik observation deck, interactive exhibits related to Iceland’s geographical components and a Northern Lights planetarium. Enjoy the Perlan museum with the whole family and learn about geothermal energy, earthquakes, tectonic, and volcanoes.

Enjoy the Nightlife

Reykjavik has a unique nightlife experience with venues of a mic of cafes, bars, and dance floors. The venues are a little laid back, but it will be equally fun. People in this city enjoy bar-crawling, moving from venue to venue, which allows you to experience new scenes and meet new people. Whether you go drinking or just club soda, you will have a good time while enjoying the nightlife.

Before you leave Reykjavik, ensure you try out a few cuisines. It is a good way to know a city. Prepare your palate for Icelandic rye bread, horse, lamb, langoustine, and lobster soup. Some of the best restaurants Reykjavik offers are Sjavargrillid, Grillmarkadurinn, Fiskmarkadurinn, Saegreifinn, and Baejarins Beztu Pylsur.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

4 Ways You Can Ensure Your Health Is Looked After

November 1, 2022 By Anne

Photo by Nathan Cowley: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photography-of-woman-in-pink-tank-top-stretching-arm-634030/

Have you been experiencing any feelings that are out of the ordinary recently? It’s nothing to be concerned about; that’s entirely typical. We are not quite machines, but we are complicated beings that are comprised of a variety of interconnected systems and activities. Taking part in an activity like yoga or swimming can be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your health. Read this article to learn more about the different bodily systems and how you can keep them in good health.

Wellness Of The Mind

A human person is a complex network of interconnected systems, with each component influencing the others. Anxiety, for instance, can influence the way you think and act, and if you’re feeling nervous, you might not make the ideal decisions for your life. On the other hand, a person who is happy will make decisions that are to the good of their life in general.

Realizing this is essential to preserving the highest possible level of mental health. It may be beneficial to walk around if you are struggling to keep track of too many thoughts or if you are stuck in a particular style of thinking about a problem. You may transform the way you feel and how you think by trying out some different movement routines.

A Healthy Body

It is imperative that we take care of our bodies in order for them to take care of us. When we are younger, we give less thought to the health of the body because everything works as it should. However, as we get older, problems begin to occur, it becomes simpler to put on weight, and things start to go wrong with body organs.

Your food is one of the most crucial aspects of your health that you need to pay attention to. This does not mean that you need to go on a diet; rather, it just means that you need to make sure that you are getting all of the nutrients that your body needs in order to be healthy. You might want to add lemon garlic skillet salmon to your list of recipes as fish can be a great nutritional food to consume.

The signs of ageing can be slowed down by working out every day. It makes your eyesight better, brings your blood pressure back to normal, builds leaner muscles, lowers your cholesterol, and strengthens your bones.

Run around the block or walk to the park with your kids or a neighbour you’d like to catch up with. You can play jump rope or hopscotch, spin a hula hoop, or go for a walk. Keep a fitness journal so you can set goals and keep track of your progress.

If you also keep track of your mood, you might notice that you stay happier and more upbeat on days when you get your daily exercise.

When you work out, your body makes endorphins, which improve your mood and health as a whole. In this way, exercise not only helps you stay physically fit, but it also lowers your risk of getting depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses.

Social Well-Being

Another essential part of attaining a healthy life that is sometimes neglected is one’s social health. If we don’t have any close friends or family members in our lives, we may start to experience feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can have a negative impact on both our mental and physical health. But there are explanations for this.

It can be difficult to know if you are experiencing mental health concerns as a result of isolation, therefore it is important that you make an effort to become involved in communities and groups. Think about your interests and passions, then find some groups to join where you may meet individuals with similar interests. Keep a journal to record how you are feeling at various times.

Health On An Emotional Level

As far as we are aware, animals do not think, at least not in the same way that humans do. If animals were capable of thinking like us, then there would be some form of animal civilisation. But if there’s one thing on which we can all agree, it’s that animals have feelings and emotions just like we do. Fear, affection, and worry are all emotions that are easily recognisable in animals.

Humans, like other animals, have feelings and emotions, and these perceptual abilities originated before the ability to reason. It is essential to maintain an awareness of one’s feelings in order to realise the benefits of rational thought. The practices of mindfulness and meditation provide the most effective means of gaining awareness of one’s feelings.

Reflections To Conclude

Optimal health does not simply refer to one’s physical or mental state; rather, it is the result of a confluence of many different systems, settings, and life circumstances. There is a good chance that your total health is imbalanced to some degree; yet, you can achieve optimal health by paying attention to the areas listed above.

Anne

What Are The Best Creative Hobbies To Do With Your Family

October 30, 2022 By Anne

In a world full of screen time and video games, it might feel like an uphill battle to find something to do with your kids that is both interesting, enjoyable, and creative. But there are times when you just want to spend quality time with your loved ones, and being creative together as a family is a great way to bond in a new way. Your kids will be able to follow their own curiosities and let their imaginations run free.

If you feel like you’ve hit a creative wall, here are some fun and inventive activities for you and your loved ones to enjoy together.

Photo by Pixabay

Research Your Family Tree

Researching your family tree is a fun experience that can teach you – and the rest of your family – a lot. It’s also something that can easily be dipped in and out of, ensuring that it never takes up too much time but is always there when anyone has a spare moment or is looking for something to do.

It’s not necessary to use anything fancy to create a family tree, just a series of lines, names, and dates. You may even make a family tree out of pictures, sketches, and anything else you can think of. The whole family can get in on the fun this way. This pastime might encompass everything from online genealogy research and picture cutting to hand-drawn family trees.

Cooking And Baking

Everyone needs to learn how to cook, and once your children are fully able to understand instructions and use items of kitchen equipment safely, cooking with them can be an ideal way to enjoy a hobby together. You can teach them how to cook long-held family recipes, or you can learn together and learn how to make tikka masala in instant pot, for example.

Or perhaps baking is more your style. That’s a great hobby to do with your whole family too, and it’s very creative. Although the recipes have to be followed to the letter (which isn’t necessarily the case with cooking), the decoration aspect is where you can really shine when it comes to using your imagination.

Gardening

There are many reasons why gardening is a great hobby. One thing you can do is get help with organizing your outdoor area. You will also be able to explain to your kids how plants grow.

This is a great idea if your child doesn’t like the usual arts and crafts. When you hear the word “creative,” gardening might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But it is a great way to help your child discover their own creativity.

Make Your Own Games

This is a great way for everyone to let their imaginations run wild. Most likely, your kids will spend all their free time playing games they make up on their own. So why not use that to make something you can all do?

Your kids can come up with the game’s themes and main ideas. They can also make the board, the cards, and anything else they want. And you can show them how to do it by showing them the structure, logic, and general rules.

Anne

The Secrets Of Enjoying Miami Like A Local

October 24, 2022 By Anne

Heading to Miami with the family is undeniably one of the most exciting trips you can enjoy with the kids, thanks to its range of beaches, theme parks, and other family-friendly attractions. However, Miami is a city rich in local culture and flavor that can really get lost when you’re hitting up all those family-friendly tourist attractions. It can be all too easy to lose sight of the real city in the process. As such, here are a few tips on how to see Miami like a local.

Image – CC0 License

Hit up the cultural hub of the city

Miami is a city of beach lovers and high-life enjoyers, it’s true. However, it’s also a city of artists, creatives, and sheer inspiration. One of the areas that are most often missed during those first visits is Wynwood. It’s not just the beating cultural heart of the city, it’s one of the most thriving creative hubs in the whole country, and the best way to see it is with one of the local beer and graffiti art tours. There’s always something new going on here so be sure to ask at your hotel about what the latest happening is in Wynwood. Festivals, gallery openings, and new street art exhibitions happen all year long.

Get your boots on

The city of Miami offers plenty of attractions, eateries, and activities to keep you plenty busy for however long you are there. However, the local landscape is just as much a part of the city’s soul, and, for that reason, you should take a look at some of the hiking routes you can enjoy throughout Miami. This can include the famous Everglades trail, but there are also great coastal hiking routes through Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, as well as some unique views like a historic lighthouse standing tall over the city’s coast. A little adventure can help you see that there’s a lot more to Miami than just the city alone, so go looking for it.

Get a real mix of culinary experiences

Miami is a huge blend of different cultures, which, amongst many things, means a huge mixture of cuisines, as well. There are over five thousand restaurants in the city, and some of them can seem particularly expensive, indeed. However, there are budget-friendly meals to be found. Get out of South Beach or the other high-flying touristy areas for some of the more authentic local dining experiences. There’s nothing more authentic to the city than hitting up a food truck or a stall so be sure to check out some of the best street food in Miami, as well. There are a lot of stall vendors in the city, but these recommendations can help you find the best of the best.

Check out some of the other beaches

South Beach is one of the most popular hotspots in Miami by far, and it is a truly gorgeous beach, even if it can get pretty crowded. However, it should never be the only beach you visit, by any stretch of the imagination. Spending the day at North Beach, you can enjoy a much less stressful afternoon at the beach, with soft sands overlooked by nice vintage rows of houses. Although it’s popular with the locals, it’s not as widely visited by tourists, so you can enjoy a more laid-back and authentic experience relaxing on a Miami beach, with plenty of eateries around so you can get a taste of the local flavor, as well.

Get around a little more smartly

Like many of the great cities of the country, trying to get around by car can be a real hassle. That said, Miami is quite a walkable city, especially if you’re near South Beach or Downtown Miami. However, if you’re not too excited at the prospect of walking just about everywhere, you can take advantage of the decent cycling infrastructure throughout the city, as well. Renting a bike to get through the city gives you access to hundreds of stops and biking lanes, and it’s not very expensive to rent a bike for the entire day, either. Definitely a lot less expensive than renting a car, not to mention a lot less likely to come with the hassles of city traffic and parking.

A great trip to Miami should balance the big touristy hotspots with some of the lesser-known delights and experiences that the city has to offer. Hopefully, the tips above help you see one of the greatest cities in the country like a local would.

Anne

What To Consider If You Want To Add A New Child To Your Family

October 10, 2022 By Anne

You can add a new child to your family in many different ways. It’s always going to be both exciting and stressful for everyone involved, but you and your family should always feel more excited than anything else. Since this is the case, this article about some of the ways you can add a new child to your loving family should help you get ready and make the right decision for you. Read on to find out more.

Photo by RODNAE Productions

Pregnancy

The first way we’ll look at is through pregnancy. This is the “typical” way to add a new child to your family, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only or best way. But when you have a baby this way, your DNA and that of your partner are mixed together to make a new life that is half of each of you. When you find out you’re pregnant, you might feel a lot of different things at once, and you need to remember that your body is going to change a lot. Getting ready for this can be hard, but you can do it if you plan carefully.

Fostering

Fostering is the next way we’re going to look at. Even though this person isn’t usually a permanent part of your family, they are still a part of you for as long as they stay. Fostering is usually for kids whose parents can’t take care of them anymore, and children’s services tries to find them a temporary family. Most of the time, these youngsters have been through something terrible, so it’s important to accept them and love them as if they were your own.

We know that most foster families already do this, but it’s still important to point it out. You can’t do more for one of these children than give them a safe, loving place to stay while their parents work on their case plan or look for a family to adopt them. Foster care can be hard to do because they usually have to leave at some point, but you know you gave them something they needed, so it is always worth it.

Adoption

Adoption is the process of bringing a new child into your home and making them a permanent part of your family. This can happen through foster care or private adoption, but make no mistake, it is a hard process. It’s not as easy as finding a child you love and making them your son or daughter. Home visits, background screening, many interviews, and other similar processes can add up to significant time and effort, sometimes stretching over years. But when you find the child you love with all your heart, this whole process seems like nothing compared to the love and joy they will bring into your life.

Adoption isn’t for everyone, but for those who can make it work, it’s a great way to give a child who doesn’t have a family a new start in life. Many kids who end up in the system have had hard lives because their parents were gone, died, couldn’t take care of them, etc. Often, older kids still want to be close to their parents, which is understandable, but it doesn’t mean you love them less. Most of the time, what they need is a new start, and you need them just as much.