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Destinations

The Most Unforgettable Hot Springs in Iceland

Author Mary Beth Keane recalls her most surreal travel experience.

MOST READ TRAVEL

Guides

A Guide to Copenhagen’s Architecture and Design

Mette and Rolf Hay, co-founders and creative directors of Danish design brand Hay,...

Stays

A Sight to Behold in Big Sur

Post Ranch Inn sits among the country’s most otherworldly views, but it never...

Destinations

The American West Is Wide Open

A road trip through Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana reveals the astounding majesty of...

Highly subjective takes on life's most interesting experiences.

What was your most surreal travel experience?

I went to Iceland with a few friends in 2018 and we hiked to Reykjadalur Hot Springs, in a town called Hveragerði. It was only about 30 degrees out, so we were well bundled, but we'd read that after about an hour of hiking we'd end up at a river so warm that people swim no matter how cold. Feeling a little ridiculous, we wore our bathing suits under our winter clothes, not sure we'd actually be brave enough to peel off if we found the spot. Sure enough we got there and the water was so hot we had to be careful not to boil ourselves. Surreal to be in the middle of the wilderness, in cold weather, peeling down to bikinis. We packed wine and snacks and had one of the best afternoons of our lives. The only difficult part was eventually drying off in the cold with a towel the size of a face cloth.

MOST READ TRAVEL

Destinations

Finding Our Way in Maui

Top female Hawaiian navigator Kala Baybayan Tanaka uses ancient Polynesian...

Guides

A Manhattanite’s Guide to Dining in New York City

Raised around the city's tables, our editor shares her most beloved spots to eat...

Guides

Sublime Stays in Japan's Capital City

Navigating the art of Japanese hospitality among the finest hotels and ryokans in...


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Our Contributors

Mary Beth Keane

Mary Beth Keane was awarded a John S. Guggenheim fellowship for fiction writing, and has received citations from the National Book Foundation, PEN America, and the Hemingway Society. She is the author of “The Walking People,” “Fever,” and most recently, the New York Times bestseller “Ask Again, Yes.”

Victoria Rosselli Illustrator

Victoria Rosselli is a multidisciplinary creative and consultant based in Brooklyn, New York, operating in media. She specializes in art direction and design for brand, film and editorial.

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