I think of vacations as relaxing on a beach. A solo trip to Iceland changed that.

Like many travelers, when I plan a vacation, I typically envision escaping to a place with palm trees and sun-kissed temperatures, my morning coffee swapped for pina coladas, and cold gray pavement replaced with golden sand under my toes.

With more than 20 counties under my belt, I have always favored destinations with warmer weather, often skipping trips when friends suggest any destination where I might need a coat and gloves. My assumption was always that frigid temperatures would limit my overall experience, and any locale requiring a down jacket wasn’t worth the trouble.

Besides, let’s be honest: are you truly enjoying yourself when you’re fighting frostbite? Slightly dramatic, but as a Missouri girl who’s no stranger to harsh winters, paying for a flight to replicate that environment has never been on my travel moodboard.

Well, it turned out that I was wrong about the ideal vacation destination, and a solo trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, showed me why.

You don’t think about the cold when you’re seeing beautiful sights

Within hours of arriving in Iceland, I was wearing a snowsuit as temperatures dipped below 20 degrees, and off on my first adventure: chasing the northern lights, Earth’s gift of brilliant natural light that dances across the night sky. Pursuing the aurora borealis also means standing outside at night for long periods of time in low temperatures until the beautiful waves of light are spotted.

Despite the wind whipping my face, when the first excited shouts of “There they are!” were yelled, the other tourists and I were all so giddy with excitement that the cold was no longer a factor. In fact, I even took my gloves off and braved freezing fingers to capture the fleeting moments on cameras as we talked about how lucky we were to spot them.

The following day, I bundled up in warm layers to explore Iceland’s Golden Circle with a jam-packed tour. We saw beautiful sights, from the historic Thingvellir National Park to the powerful cascades of Gullfoss Falls, where it was not only blisteringly cold but also very windy. Yet, the stunning landscape, spectacular glaciers, and erupting geysers had me questioning why I would ever avoid such natural beauty, all because a few extra layers were needed.

I recharged at night and at the Blue Lagoon

Since temperatures dipped so low in the evening, it was a natural time to get quality rest. Usually, on vacation, I spend my days full of activities and am out from sun up to sun down, trying to see all the sights and get in as much beach time as I can. But in Iceland, I took advantage of the cozy fire roaring in my hotel, and having early nights helped me unwind and catch up on sleep.

The final day was a spa experience that surpassed any I’d had on other vacations. I braved chilly temperatures to submerge and relax in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. Its geothermal seawater is often hailed as healing for its rich natural elements. Between the lagoon, sauna, and massages offered, I spent hours in a thrilling state of relaxation while also being surrounded by unmatched natural beauty.

I’m already adding more cold destinations to my list

For years, I have avoided taking trips to cold locations, thinking the temperature would prevent me from truly relaxing, but my time in Reykjavik quickly discredited that theory. I learned that beauty and relaxation can be found no matter the weather report.

I’ve already started to add destinations to my list that I’d previously never been interested in, and am now looking forward to exploring. Even if it means trading in pristine beaches for snow-capped mountains, I want to see everything our world has to offer.

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