Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.09.2017, Qupperneq 49

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Best museum
Árbæjarsafn
Kistuhylur 4
This living museum to Iceland’s past wins once again. It offers direct
exposure to the way life in Iceland used to be. You can visit a croft
house and a farm house, and imagine yourself transported back in
time to old Iceland. They often host events related to the display. “It’s
also great for kids,” said the panel. “There’s a big place for kids to play
with Super Mario—my childhood is in the museum.”
Runners Up
The Settlement Exhibition
Aðalstræti 16
The settlement exhibition, located in
a hotel basement right in the heart of
downtown Reykjavík, charts the lives
of the first people to inhabit Iceland.
“It pumps in smell,” said the panel,
“and they play sounds like waves and
seabirds—it’s a sensory experience.”
The National Museum of Iceland
Suðurgata 41
The national museum has a sprawling
display of artefacts from Iceland’s
history, from cloth and metalwork to
religious artefacts. “They have a gallery
space that always has something
different happening,” said the panel, “as
well as the excellent permanent collec-
tion.” It’s the best place to connect with
Icelandic history.
Previous winners
2015: Árbæjarsafn
2014: National Museum of Iceland
2013: National Museum of Iceland
2012: National Museum of Iceland
2011: National Museum of Iceland
Best place to watch
the sunset
Grótta
Seltjarnarnes peninsula
Located on the very end of the Greater
Reykjavík peninsula, Grótta is a beauti-
ful vantage point that’s home to a light-
house with a tidal pedestrian causeway.
There are views out over the ocean, and
sometimes all the way to Snæfellsnes.
There’s a tucked-away little hot pot to
bathe your feet—if you can find it—and
despite being in the city, the area
hasn’t really been developed. There
are swamps, a bird spotting sanctuary,
and a windswept black beach. It’s a
wonderfully preserved part of nature
with minimal light pollution, so it’s also
a great spot for checking out one of
those blazing summer sunsets.
Runners Up
Laugarnes
Laugarnestangi
Reykjavík’s old harbour area is perfect
for a seaside sunset stroll. You can
watch the boats coming in and out, visit
the little lighthouses behind Harpa, or
follow the painted lines to a bustling
district of cafes and restaurants,
perhaps finishing with a cocktail at
Slippbarinn.
Seaside footpath
Öskjuhlíð & Ægisíða
Reykjavík, Vesturbær and Seltjarnarnes
all sit on a long peninsula that has a
footpath pretty much around the whole
thing. Starting at Öskjuhlíð—the for-
ested hill topped by the Perlan visitor
centre—you can walk or cycle past
the manmade beach of Nauthólsvík to
Ægisíða for an unencumbered sunset.
Previous winners
2015: Öskjuhlíð
2014: Grótta
2013: Grótta
2012: Grótta
2011: Grasagarðurinn
Best place to take the
kids
Laugardalur
Laugardalur
The Laugardalur area is full of fun
activities for kids. There’s a skate
park, playing fields and botanical
gardens, but the star of the show is
Húsdýragarðurinn, which translates
to "farm animal zoo”—a petting zoo
with farm animals, foxes, seals and
reindeer. A footbridge takes you over
to the Fjölskyldugarðurinn (“The Family
Garden”), which has fairground rides
and a boating lake during summer. The
greenhouse coffee shop, Cafe Flóra, is
also open during summer, and on a hot
day, you've the option of Laugardal-
slaug—it’s the best pool for kids, with
plenty of play pools and water slides.
Runners Up
Whales Of Iceland
Fiskislóð 23-25
This one was more of a hit with kids
than the parents. Whales Of Iceland is a
cavernous, hangar-sized space popu-
lated by life-sized plastic whales, with
information plaques and flat-screen
devices containing information about
the different species. “Once you’ve
seen this place, you’ve seen it,” said the
panel, “but our kids keep demanding
we go back.”.
Reykjavík City Library
Tryggvagata 15
For some free and wholesome family
time, the parents on our panel also
enjoyed the Reykjavík City Library. “There’s
an excellent play area for younger chil-
dren between one and three,” they said,
“and—you guessed it—there are books
for kids of all ages to look at.” Don’t miss
the photography gallery on the top floor.
Previous winners
2015: Húsdýragarðurinn
2014: Húsdýragarðurinn
2013: Fjölskyldugarðurinn
2012: Lynghagaróló Playground