Why We Chose Iceland
Walking behind Seljalandsfoss, a 200‑ft waterfall fed by glacier melt on Iceland’s Ring Road.
People have asked us over the past year why we chose Iceland. The answer is actually pretty simple.
While several friends and acquaintances had recommended it and told us how amazing it was, the biggest reason we ended up there was Becca.
For years, she had wanted to visit Iceland. Believe it or not, part of that interest came from watching the “Pioneers” music video by For King & Country. The video was filmed in Iceland, and something about the rugged landscapes, waterfalls, and wide-open spaces captured her imagination. She would occasionally mention how beautiful it looked and how she would love to visit someday. (more about that here)
Discovering Íráfoss, one of the waterfalls featured in the previously mentioned music video “Pioneers'“
Looking back now, there is a bit of irony in that. At the time, neither of us had any idea that one of the most meaningful moments of the entire trip would involve stumbling upon Íráfoss, one of the waterfalls featured in that very video. What started as a passing interest years earlier eventually became one of our favorite memories from the trip.
The more I researched Iceland, the more intrigued I became. At first glance, it seems like an epic adventure, but it’s actually a very approachable destination. Nearly everyone speaks English, it’s extremely safe, and there is very little culture shock compared to many places around the world.
What’s interesting is that this trip was planned before the Epic Travel Plan ever existed. In many ways, Iceland accidentally became the starting point. We didn’t realize it at the time, but this trip would become the first chapter in a much larger story.
Looking back now, I think Iceland represented a transition for our family. Up until then, most of our vacations involved warm weather, beaches, shorts, T-shirts, and a slower pace of life. Iceland was the polar opposite. There were no beach chairs, infinity pools, Mai Tais, or Piña Coladas waiting for us. Instead there were glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, caves, natural hot springs, puffins, mountain roads, and nearly twenty-four hours of daylight.
We weren’t looking for a vacation from life. We were looking for an adventure together.
Part of Iceland’s appeal was that it felt remote without being difficult. It offered rugged landscapes and incredible natural beauty without many of the challenges that often come with remote international travel. It seemed like the perfect place to step outside our comfort zone without feeling completely overwhelmed.
The truth is we’ve only recently been able to afford an adventure like this. For many years, a trip of this size and cost simply wasn’t possible. I feel incredibly grateful and blessed that we were able to go. As I get older, I appreciate opportunities like this more than ever.
There was another reason Iceland appealed to us. It felt different. We wanted to experience something beyond the typical vacation. We wanted to see things we had never seen before, experience a different culture, and create memories that would last long after the trip was over.
What I didn’t fully appreciate when we booked the trip was how quickly time was passing. James and Brock were growing up. Family trips like this would not always be possible. I wanted us to have shared experiences that would become part of our family story for years to come.
Family photo before exploring Thingvellir National Park. I can’t remember why we were laughing, but I’m glad we were.
At the time, we thought we were planning a trip to Iceland.
What we didn’t realize was that we were laying the foundation for something much bigger.
That trip became the beginning of the Epic Travel Plan, a vision to intentionally use travel to experience God’s creation, strengthen our family relationships, visit remote and often unheard-of corners of the world, and build memories that would last long after the suitcases were unpacked.
When I look back now, Iceland was more than a destination.
It was the starting line.
