Atlantica - 01.06.2011, Qupperneq 63

a t l a n t i c a 61
FAmiLy AcTiviTiES
A pleasant 30-minute walk from down-town you will find the
nauthólsvíK heated beach. This miniature beach opened in 2000
when the municipality cordoned off a section of the bay and proceeded
to pump vast amounts of naturally occurring geothermal water into
the 3,500 square meter area. The effect is to take a considerable edge
off the icy Atlantic. if the water is still just too cold, let the kids brave
the sea water while mom and dad relax in the hot tubs, with showers
and changing rooms installed at the edge of the beach, free of charge.
or simply visit Reykjavík’s numerous public swiMMing pools,
complete with hot tubs and saunas. The admission fee for adults is iSK
450 (2.7 Euros / USD 3.4). For children, it is considerably lower: iSK
100 (0.6 Euros / USD 0.85).
Another great family outing place is heidMörK, proclaimed a
municipal conservation area in 1950. Just six kilometers from the capi-
tal, the area is a treasure of flora, fauna and wildlife. When the weather
permits there is no better place for a pleasant family day out, all for the
price of a municipal bus ride.
Another enjoyable and educational family outing at a low cost is
ÁrBaejarsaFn, the open air museum, established to preserve a piece
of old Reykjavík. most of the houses there were transferred piece by
piece from the city center, the oldest dating back as far as 1820. The
employees also dress in traditional icelandic costumes.
Adventure Land at Kringlan, iceland’s largest shopping mall,
allows you to shop while the children pass the time playing. To ensure
their whereabouts, simply take a ticket, pay a small fee and leave your
phone number. kringlan.is
Located at Laugardalur, the reyKjavíK Zoo & FaMily parK is
a favorite with kids of all ages, home to icelandic domestic animals as
well as some wild native breeds, including fox, mink, reindeer and firm
favorite, the fish guzzling seals. Adjacent is a mini fair-ground offering
boat rides on the lake, train rides, go carts and a rifle range.
DAy TRipS
A mere 50 minute bus ride away from the Reykjavík bus Terminal BSÍ
is the pretty town of hveragerdi. in the hills behind it are volcanic
streams that eventually join to form the river varmá that runs through
the town. A 40-minute hike through the hills along a well-marked trail
leads you into a lush, grassy valley. At this point, you can simply sink
into soothing, warm stream water and soak the afternoon away for
free!
The coastal town of stoKKseyri is less than an hour away from
the capital. its renowned black beaches attract visitors in substantial
numbers in the summer months. After a brisk stroll on its wide, drift-
wood laden beach, a hearty bowl of lobster soup at nearby restaurant
Fjörubordid is a must. it will set you back iSK 1.980 (11.8 Euros / USD
17) but is worth every finger-licking cent. you can also fill up on their
delicious bread and home-made sauces that go with it.
The more energetic might like to tackle one of the most iconic
mountain peaks in iceland. Rising to 2900 feet, esja is the pride of
Reykjavík. A 25 kilometer drive from the center of town, climbing it
makes for the perfect day trip and costs no more than the price of a
local bus ticket, a bottle of water and a sandwich. Take bus no.15 to
Háholt, and from there the no.57 to the parking lot at the foot of the
mountain. The most popular climbing route is towards Thverfellshorn,
a trek that can take between 90 minutes and three hours depending
on your agility. When about two thirds up, experienced climbers can
switch to a more direct and challenging route to the summit.
For a more relaxing afternoon activity, a short bus ride away from
down-town is the picturesque coastal town of haFnarFjördur,
just ten kilometers from Reykjavík. Known as the lava town, it is
largely built in and around volcanic formations and huge boulders, in
which, legend has it, elves reside. a