In 2007 Iceland won the United Nations “Best Country to Live” award. It will only take one visit to understand why. Iceland is well on it’s way to becoming more of a popular tourist destination. Visitors will be quick to discover that Iceland is a beautiful, safe country with a small friendly population.
The Capital of Iceland is Reykjavik. Nearly all of Iceland’s residents live in the Greater Reykjavik area. The city is filled with many high quality restaurants, which will be a bargain due to the exchange rate. There is a very active nightlife and no shortage of fantastic boutiques and stores selling everything from traditional Icelandic keepsakes, to designer clothes.
Outside of the city you can really experience Iceland’s stunning beauty. Volcanoes pepper the landscape. One of the most popular destinations is The Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal heated spa about 25 miles outside of Reykjavik. It is warm year round and attracts visitors from all over the world with its surreal blue water. There are even shuttles that will take you there directly from the airport if you just can’t wait.
(above)Strokkur Geyser
A car rental in Iceland is a great way to get out and experience more of the country’s natural beauty. You won’t want to miss out on Vatnajökull National Park. Opened on June 7th, 2008 this park combines the former Skaftafell and Jokulsargljufur National Parks. It is the largest national park in all of Europe, and covers roughly 12% of the surface of Iceland.
Here are five facts you may not know about Iceland:
-Over 99% of the electricity used in Iceland comes from hydropower and geothermal energy.
-One US dollar is equivalent to 120 Icelandic kronas.
-Iceland is about the Size of Cuba, and has a population of around 320,000.
-During the summer, you will experience nearly 24 hours of daylight.
-Iceland has a total of 15 active volcanoes.
Do you have an Icelandic story to share? If so leave a comment!
A lesser known fact about Germany is that it dedicates much of its land to conservation. There are currently 15 national parks, 14 biosphere reserves and more than 90 nature parks. Germany’s nature parks are large protected areas of land, where you will find access to trails you can use for hiking, great sites for camping, and other various forms of outdoor recreation. The parks range in size, can be easily accessed from major roads are always a hit and a great stop while cruising in a motor home rental across Europe. Many people choose to make this a focal point of a trip, and choose to rent motor homes in Europe.
The Bavarian Forest National Park was the country’s first national park in 1970. It covers 243 square kilometers. It is the largest area of protected forest in central Europe. Majestic mountain peaks offer views that will inspire and leave you breathless, while the crystal-clear waters of Lake Rachelsee, the park’s only glacial lake, will cool you off after a long day of hiking. Keep your eyes peeled for all kinds of wildlife when walking on the 300 km of trails. There are also 200 km dedicated to biking, and 80 km for cross country skiing. A network of over 300 km of clearly marked footpaths, almost 200 km of cycle routes and around 80 km of cross-country ski runs offers visitors plenty of opportunity to enjoy the beauties of the national park in summer and in winter. Many tours are available free of charge as well, and there is even a forest play area for children. The Bavarian Forest National Park is without a doubt one of the most beautiful forests in the world, and well worth seeing if you are a fan of the outdoors.
Situated in the north of the Eifel region, Eifel National Park provides a protected habitat where trees were once commercially cut. New wild natural forests are developed and are currently providing a safe habitat for more than 230 endangered plant and animal species. Wild cats, kingfishers and several species of bat are just some of the animals you will see. Visitors can explore the national park at their own leisure, or take a guided tour from park rangers. The visitor center offers many interesting activities and exhibitions for people of all ages.
The Jasmund National Park has very diverse landscape, in a rather small area. You can find an interesting mix of marshes, wetlands and dry grassland, as well as the chalk cliffs at the Königsstuhl. You may have seen these famous cliffs in some of the works by the painter Caspar David Friedrich. The national park also includes ancient beech tree forests that have existed since the 13th century. This park is great for all kinds of exploration on the hiking and biking trails that are scattered throughout, and will leave you satisfied after a long day of exploration.
These parks lend themselves to day trips, or even staying a little longer if you are touring around in a motor home rental in Germany. Wherever you go in Germany, keep an open mind about visiting these beautiful national parks and you will be sure to see some breathtaking landscapes.
With global temperatures rising, our environment is something that everyone should be concerned about. All over the world, massive efforts are being made to reduce greenhouse gasses, limit pollution and repair the planets delicate ecosystem. Many of us here in the United States and Canada have taken measures at home to reduce our own carbon footprint by walking, biking and driving more fuel efficient cars, eating organic foods that weren’t grown using harmful pesticides, using energy efficient lights in our homes and work places, and supporting companies who do the same. Many of us are finding that “going green” reduces costs and saves money on everyday expenses. This is good news for our planet, as well as your bottom line.
When on vacation there is no reason not to continue these practices. Here are some helpful hints designed to help you have the green vacation you’ve always wanted, without having to sacrifice the amenities you are used to.
Try to find an eco friendly hotel. There are many of them all over the world, and they generally won’t cost you more than anywhere else. Conserve resources as much as possible by turning off the lights when you’re not in the room and by limiting the use of the heat and air conditioning. Also, do you really need a fresh towel every day? Put a do not disturb sign on your door and stay with the same linens, for at least two days.
Take your digital camera along. Digital cameras are far better for the environment than a disposable camera. You can also take more photos, see them immediately, and print only the ones you want.
Eat the local food, as it does not have to travel as far to get to your plate. By eating locally, not only are you supporting the local economy, you are supporting the families of the region directly. Avoid all fast food and chain restaurants. After all, you wouldn’t go to Florida for a fresh Maine lobster would you?
When renting a car on vacation, there are little things that you can do in order to cut down on your gas consumption.
Rent the smallest car possible. If you are willing to be slightly cramped in the back seat of a compact versus renting a midsize, not only will you save money on the rental, but you will get better gas mileage. Accelerate gradually in your rental car. Acceleration uses more gas than anything else. Once the car is moving, it will use less gas to stay moving, so set the cruise control at a reasonable speed while on highways. When stopping, don’t wait till the last minute to use those breaks. Use the clutch and allow the car to stop gradually. Ease off the air conditioning if you don’t need it. Roll those windows down instead and breathe in the fresh air! Check the tire pressure, every time you fill up, even with your rental car. You can sometimes do this before you even drive it off the lot, and attendants will show you where to fill up those tires. Carry as little around with you while driving. The less weight in your car, the better it will perform. Pack light in general to save fuel while on the plane. The less baggage the plane has to carry, the better it will run.
Do you have some eco-friendly travel tips? Leave a me a comment with anything you can think of!
