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National Post

7 things to do in Iceland that are just as cool as the Blue Lagoon

Article content The second is the processing plant — think a steampunk environment. You can explore the machines and check out the second floor filled with photos and historical facts. There's a performance space in the middle that was one of the raddest music venues I've seen. Article content Article content Relax in a beer bath at Bjórböðin Spa in Árskógssandur. I don't like beer, and I enjoyed the experience, so I would imagine an actual beer-lover would be in heaven. The bath is filled with warm water, local beer made at Kaldi (a microbrewery next door), hops and other soothing and fragrant additives like oils. Go solo or with another person. The baths are in a private room, so you can opt to wear a bathing suit or your birthday suit. Article content Best of all, for beer lovers, there's a private tap to enjoy pints of Kaldi. The spa also has outside hot tubs with a beautiful backdrop of the Krossahnjukur mountain range. Article content Drink in the flavours of Helgi Cafe. The quirky cafe, which serves homemade baked goods and coffee, is owned by a couple, Heiða and Bjarni Gunnarsson. They offer a delicious and popular soup served in a shallow antique bowl that's very cute and very difficult to carry without spilling. It's all part of the atmosphere. The place is filled with bits and bobs, cultural pieces and even a theatre. It's a unique space that was brilliantly procured by the location manager for True Detective: Night Country. Parts of the series, starring Jodie Foster, were filmed at the cafe — you can still see remnants from when the cafe was turned into 'Mocha Moose.' Article content There is so much to see and discover inside the cafe, including an artistic nod to Huldufólk (hidden people), Icelandic elves of folklore. Though these elves are rooted in mythology, they're deeply woven into the fabric of Icelandic culture, and you can feel that as you look over the depictions painted on the cafe's walls. Article content Hop on a day tour with Saga Travel to visit locations around the Lake Mývatn area. The Saga Travel van picks you up from your hotel in Akureyri and brings you around to areas over an hour away. We started with the Godafoss waterfall, a place where I learned about the power of cold wind. I've been to windy areas, but not cold windy areas. My coat was windproof, acting like a sail and calling the shots on where I went. The waterfall is beautiful, but the highlight for me was the comically strong and chilly winds. Article content Article content Article content The Grjótagjá cave is filled with geothermal water that's hot to the accidental foot-in-water touch. We went on a sunny day and my eyes could not compute the beauty. However, they could fully understand the massive crack in the earth above the cave, and so I minded the gap. Article content Iceland winters are truly magical, and my experience was not only full of adventure and wonder, but a surprising symphony of colours I never saw coming. Article content Best time to visit Iceland Article content Visit Iceland in the cooler months (November to March) for fewer tourists and crowds. There are plenty of winter activities to enjoy and your chances of seeing the northern lights increase when you have extended hours of darkness. Although the warmer months (April to October), also known as Iceland's high season, are a great time for whale watching. Article content Visiting the island nation can get expensive. Many of their products need to be imported, so prices run high. You could do Iceland with a more conservative budget, but the taxis (there aren't any Ubers) and car rentals can add up, and there aren't too many public transportation options. But you can save by shopping at lower-cost grocery stores like Bónus.