Cory Lee is an experienced traveler who was born with spinal muscular atrophy. He documents his travels on his blog Curb Free with Cory Lee. Cory visited Iceland in 2015. He gives his readers 17 reasons why you should visit Iceland if you are a wheelchair user. Read some of his reasons below.
“Iceland is one of my favorite destinations to visit as a wheelchair user because it’s a safe, friendly environment with spectacular scenery and plenty of accessible things to do.”
Swim in the Blue Lagoon
The first destination Cory decided to visit on his trip was the Blue Lagoon. “The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa located 15 minutes from Keflavik International Airport,” he says, “I chose to stop first thing during my September 2015 trip and it was a great way to relax and get rid of some of the jet lag I was carrying from my day of air travel.”
Cory states the pools in the Blue Lagoon are heated to upwards of 115 degrees Fahrenheit, but usually, stay around 102. You can get a white silica mud facial and turn the day into an Icelandic spa day!
The Blue Lagoon is wheelchair accessible complete with ramps to access the pools and accessible washrooms with roll-in showers.
Icelandic Horses
Cory writes, “Iceland has a unique history in terms of horses. No horses can be imported into Iceland, which means all of the horses currently in the country were bred and raised in Iceland.”
“This has led to a very unique and interesting breed of horse that can walk, trot, and gallop, as well as move at a flying pace.”
Cory recommends visiting horses at Sólvangur Icelandic Horse Center, which offers a stable tour, a gift shop, and a cafe.
Waterfalls
Waterfalls are one of Cory’s favorite attractions to see while traveling. He recommends two waterfalls in Iceland, the Seljalandsfoss waterfall and the Skogafoss waterfall.
Northern Lights
“Seeing the Northern Lights is a magical experience. I luckily got to see them on my trip, even though we pulled over on the side of the road in order to take them in. The entire sky was lit in a way I’ve never seen before. It really is almost indescribable,” says Cory.
Icebergs at Jökulsárlón
Cory states icebergs at Jökulsárlón is a must-see. “Jökulsárlón is a glacier lagoon that is literally full of icebergs. This is also the home of Iceland’s deepest lake, and getting to see the collection of icebergs in this lake was an amazing opportunity. This is a rare experience, so take advantage if you can,” he says.
Black Sand Beach
Iceland has black sand beaches. Cory states, “The sand is black because it is from eroded volcanic rock. Iceland is a location of more volcanoes than other islands, which gives Iceland’s shores black sand.”
It’s important to note that Icelandic beaches do not offer beach wheelchairs.
Hallgrímskirkja - Iceland’s Tallest Church
Cory writes, “A visit to Reykjavik wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the main landmark, the tallest church in Iceland, Hallgrímskirkja. The church can be seen from pretty much everywhere in the city and it’s definitely exciting to see it up close and explore inside.” The architecture of the church was inspired by the shapes lava takes when it cools and forms into rock.
Be sure to check out the original article to see Cory’s full list of things to do while in Iceland.
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