THE INCREDIBLE BLUE LAGOON, ICELAND

The Blue Lagoon, Geothermal Spa
Address: 240, Grindavik 420-8800, Iceland
Phone: +354 420 8800
Web: http://www.bluelagoon.com/

I had had a dream that I was swimming in the Blue Lagoon, just a few weeks ago, and I woke up the next morning and booked our trip to Iceland… because who doesn’t make big plans based on dreams they had the night before?

While this wasn’t my first visit to Iceland, I had somehow seen the country twice before without making the trip to the famous geothermal spa. This time, now with my husband and kids, it was definitely not going to be missed.

Situated in Grindavik, just forty-five minutes outside Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, The Blue Lagoon was nothing short of magical. It was magical, incredible, unbelievable and amazing-all words that I hate to see overused, but in this case are completely appropriate to describe our experience.

The Blue Lagoon was formed in 1976- a “happy accident”- that came as the result of the geothermal power plant which had been built there in the lava field. Those who first swam it in noticed improvement in their skin due to the minerals, especially silica, in the water. People with psoriasis saw a drastic improvement in their condition after repeated exposure to the lagoon and by 1981, the secret was out and it became open to the public.

From the booking to our arrival, everything was very organized. Once you get there, there is an efficient system used to check in, with different lines for those with and without reservations, as well as those distinguishing lines for people who purchased different spa packages.

We had dinner plans at the on-site upscale restaurant, Lava, which was excellent, so we ate there before taking a much, much anticipated dip in the lagoon. This was undoubtedly the best meal of our stay in Iceland, and, as our local driver told us, “it’s a good thing (we) ate there on our last night of the trip, instead of the first, as it really sets the bar high and everything after that would have been a disappointment!”

Once we finished our meal, it was time to go in the water. As it’s often required in many Northern Europe pools and spas, everyone who enter the Blue Lagoon must shower beforehand- something I found refreshing to see and wondered why we don’t see more of it at home, in the U.S. (I’m typically totally grossed out by any form of a public pool…) It was also recommended that everyone keep their hair out of the water as much as possible, and that anyone with long hair tie it up in a bun and apply conditioner, to protect it from the minerals in the water, which can be drying. The employees there also told us make sure we took off any silver or white gold jewelry before entering the lagoon, to keep it from tarnishing…good to know!

The water was everything I had, quite literally, dreamed that it would be. I have a very low threshold for swimming in what I consider to be cold water (my husband’s opinion on what’s cold differs a great deal from mine), and this, at around 100 degrees F, was just right. Upon entering the lagoon, the warm water embraces you and you’re instantly and inevitably relaxed. I was glad that we made the decision to finally visit the understandably world-renowned attraction. Because we went at nighttime when the lagoon is apparently less crowded than most other times during the day, we were always able to secure our own little wading spots and had a good deal of space to ourselves.

There was a bar where we were able to get some wine, beer and smoothies for the kids, and there was another “algae bar” where we got hydrating masks for our faces- a true spa experience. I was a little surprised at just how much the children enjoyed being at The Blue Lagoon. I knew they would have fun but they were happy to stay and swim for hours without getting antsy or wanting a change of scenery, which anyone with kids knows is a huge deal. It was also nice that we didn’t have to periodically take them out of the water to get their lip color back from blue to red- something that normally happens in regular, non-geothermal pools…!

Weather-wise, we had a cloudy, misty evening but I think that made the lagoon seem that much more magical. The contrast of the cool-blue water against the black rock and the grey skies was truly other-worldly. We spent two full hours in the lagoon itself and while I could have stayed longer, it was getting late so we packed up and headed back to our hotel around 11 pm (jet lag can actually be helpful when traveling with kids!)

While we didn’t stay overnight on the property, there is a hotel option but make sure to book ahead as the beautiful, five-star Silica Hotel fills up quickly. There is also currently construction going on as they add a second hotel which should be finished sometime in 2017– so mark your calendars!

The four of us shared a wonderful and memorable experience at The Blue Lagoon and we will definitely return. I highly, highly recommend that anyone who visits Iceland experience it for themselves and make this a must-do on their itinerary! Many people make it a stop either on their way to or from the airport, which is only twenty minutes away, and there are multiple options for transportation that can get you there… I, personally, am already thinking about our next trip back!

A traveler since childhood, Juliana Fraioli Wilson has always had a love for exploring. She is a published writer and an accomplished business owner with a background in music and art. Join Juliana, her husband Ryan, and their two kids in Wanderland! Follow along as they share tips, tricks, recipes and reviews from some of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world.