To see the country’s major highlights we booked a “Golden Circle Tour” with the first stop, Thingvellir National Park. Although it was a blinding snowstorm that April day, our trilingual guide (he spoke French, English and Icelandic) pointed out the valley rift where the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart from each other, adding 2 centimeters to the landmass every year. Because of its precarious geologic position on a major fault line, Iceland is literally seething with constant volcanic activity. That’s not all bad news since the resulting geothermal activity provides 96 % of the country’s energy needs. From the National Park we visited Gullfoss, a spectacular, 2-tiered waterfall. Next up was a warm drenching from Geysir hot spring, as we hadn’t timed its eruption to our casual stroll around the area.

The following day we headed off to the Blue Lagoon—a geothermal spa set in a bleak, lava-strewn landscape. We whiled away the grey afternoon happily floating in the powder blue, 99 degree saltwater. We also popped in and out of saunas, and got our backs massaged by the force of the spa’s waterfall. For good measure we slathered on the white mud lining the pool— It’s a concoction of minerals that are great for your skin, although you look a little odd while it dries to a bright pastiness.

Even though Icelanders speak perfect English you may want to try your hand at Icelandic—a language that resembles the Old Norse spoken by the Viking immigrants over 1100 years ago. Try Teach Yourself Icelandic.

Curious as to why that modest looking lunch costs so much? You might be interested in Michael Lewis’s latest book Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World. The first chapter describes what led up to Iceland’s banking collapse in 2008.

Where should you stay? Start with the Icelandair website for special package deals. Or get a few ideas from  Frommer’s Iceland 2011. We stayed at the Hilton Nordica, a 4 star hotel of sleek design with a complimentary full breakfast buffet that included all manner of smoked fish and meats that you wash down with shots of fish oil for good health.

Iceland is intriguing on so many levels—for one thing, its people are all related. Descended from Vikings and their Celtic slaves, this isolated and homogenous population is lately the subject of several genetic studies. Then there is their unflappable belief in “Hidden People”—elves, dwarves, gnomes who inhabit deserted regions—which means that they are pretty much everywhere.

And according to author Eric Weiner in The Geography of Bliss it is one of the happiest places on earth. “There’s no one on the island telling them they’re not good enough, so they just go ahead and sing and paint and write.”  If only we all had their confident yet playful perspective on life. Spend a few days on this unusual island and that quality may rub off on you.

Mary O.

With over 7,000 kilometers of well-marked trails, hikers and mountain climbers with of any level of expertise can criss-cross this country with ease. Be sure to check out Triglav, the highest peak at 9,396 feet, located in one of Europe’s first national parks. For those so inclined, there is even a glacier below its summit to explore. But don’t wait too long – scientists predict it will completely disappear within the next 5 to 10 years!

For anyone familiar with the Spanish Riding School located in Vienna, Austria, a trip to Lipica is a must. The famous performing horses were originally bred back in 1580 in this small village in southwestern Slovenia. Fearful that the talented animals would be harmed at the end of World War II, General George Patton helped sneak them out of the country and to safety in Austria and Italy. After the war, the two countries were reluctant to return them to what was the newly formed country of Yugoslavia. Receiving back only eleven of the animals, Lipica now owns a herd 400 strong. Watch as the magnificent creatures perform their famous “Airs Above the Ground” – the signature move performed only by the Royal Lippizan Stallions.

Even Ernest Hemingway found the country inspirational – he used the Soca Valley as the setting for his novel A Farewell to Arms. Semi-autobiographical, the novel is based on Hemingway’s personal experiences as a driver with the Red Cross Ambulance Corps along the Italian Front during the First World War. Once the site of many bloody battles between the Axis and Allies, the area is now home to “The Walks of Peace” – a foundation set up to preserve and restore the cultural and historical heritage of the region.

And what trip would be complete without a visit to the country’s capital, Ljubljana. Legend has it that Ljubljana (pronounced lyoob-lyee-AH-nah) was originally founded by the mythological Jason and his Argonauts as they were searching for the Golden Fleece. Located in the center of Slovenia, it is now the largest city with some 280,000 inhabitants. Shop the open air market, take a boat ride on the river, explore the Ljubljana Castle and the various museums, or just sit at an outdoor café and soak up the ambiance.

Whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll find it somewhere in this small European nation. And, as the tourist bureau encourages: Feel the love in Slovenia!

The W Hotel on Lexington Avenue in Midtown Manhattan is only a few blocks away from some of the city’s best art museums. Just off beautiful Central Park where dogs and daffodils abound, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is currently offering some fascinating exhibits. So even if you can’t make it to NYC to see Renaissance manuscripts from the 15th century you can borrow The Art of Illumination from the Art Room. Another Met exhibit which we missed but which may pique your interest is: Playing with Pictures: The Art of Victorian Photocollage.

From the vastness of the Metropolitan, the following day we headed for the much smaller and quirkier American Museum of Folk Art. One of the major exhibits there features the work of Henry Darger, an eccentric character who depicted his interior world through collage, drawing and tracing.

We saved a visit to the Guggenheim Museum for our last full day. A dramatic contrast to its stately 5th Avenue neighbors, this striking building was architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s last major work (1959). The museum showcases works of modern/contemporary art which are viewed on a ramp that spirals down 6 flights. I have to admit that I was more interested in the awesome space than in the rather perplexing pieces displayed there.

When you picture New York City you automatically think of spectacular skyscrapers. Check out Rise of the New York Skyscraper, 1865-1913 for a historical perspective. In the daylight they look like stoic steel and glass rectangles. But at night, they can take on a theatrical, otherworldly aspect. So at midnight, when I saw the pale yellow fog cascading over the crown of the Chrysler Building, lit up from behind, it wasn’t hard to imagine why Batman called this Gotham-like city home.

Still intrigued by those exotic locales?  Wish there was a way to go without all the hassle and costs?  Try armchair travel!  Pick up Under the Tuscan Sun to experience life as an American living in Tuscany.  Or how about spending A Year in Provence?  For those that prefer colder climates, try The Last Imaginary Place for a look at the Arctic or The Raven’s Gift for a journey through the Siberian wilderness.  Is a nautical voyage more your style?  Look into The Mystery of the Nile or get introduced to The River at the Center of the World – the Yangtze.

Want to stay a big closer to home?  Come along for Horatio’s Drive – the first cross-country automobile trip in the U.S., written by New Hampshire’s own Dayton Duncan.  Or better yet, watch the 6-part PBS series he and Ken Burns produced on The National Parks.  How about taking a ride down the Connecticut River with Two Coots in a Canoe or discovering Boston’s Secret Spaces?

As the warm weather approaches and you’re looking for inexpensive travel destinations, don’t forget the joy of armchair travel.  See the world from the comfort of your own home!  Bon voyage!