Fresh Take on Iceland in a New Ring Road Guide

The New York-born turned Icelander Jenna Gottlieb is one of the magazine’s friends. She is a renowned freelance journalist and prolific author. She has written two articles for Stuck in Iceland devoted to Reykjavik; one is about her favorite activities in the Icelandic capital, and the other is about family-friendly activities in Reykjavik. I interviewed her two years ago about her travel guide to Iceland: Moon Iceland. Now, I am checking in with Jenna again since the fourth edition of her ring road guide has just hit the shelves, actual and virtual.

I am also excited that she will soon be my colleague. To my delight, she is about to join the Controlant marketing team.

Hey Jenna, congratulations on the fourth edition of your Ring Road book. Can you share what is new in this latest edition?

Thanks, Jón! The new edition expands on regions like the Westfjords and highlands; there are a lot of new photos, and, of course, attractions, hotels, and restaurants have been updated throughout the edition. I think this is the best edition yet.

Your Ring Road Guide first came out in 2016; what are the main changes you have seen in Iceland since then?

As you know, Iceland continues to be a popular travel destination. Tourism has changed a bit; there is a higher number of winter travelers, and I think tourists are venturing out to see more of the island, not just sticking to the south and west, which is great.

When updating this most recent edition, one of the most striking changes I realized is the number of “lagoons” that have popped up in recent years. For instance, the Sky Lagoon in Kópavogur, Hvammsvík in Hvalfjörður, and the Forest Lagoon, just outside of Akureyri, to name three. Remember when there were just the Blue Lagoon and Mývatn Nature Baths?

What Icelandic writers would you recommend to my readers?

Gosh, there are so many. Some of my favorite Icelandic writers and their books are Einar Már Guðmundson (Angels of the Universe), Hallgrímur Helgason (The Women at 1000 Degrees), Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (I Remember You), and Sjón (CoDex 1962: A Trilogy). For such a small country, there is so much talent here. And, history buffs should absolutely check out the Sagas.

You live in the town of Akranes with your Icelandic husband Björn. What activities or places do you recommend in Akranes and the region of West Iceland?

Akranes is such a charming little town, but I’m admittedly biased after living here for 11 years. Travelers love to visit the two lighthouses in town and the Guðlaug Baths on the beach at Langisandur. And one little hidden gem in Akranes is a David Bowie mural in the center of town that my husband and our friend Halldór painted. We are massive Bowie fans. I recommend a stop in Akranes before heading to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, one of my favorite regions of the island.