Who: Richard and Cheryl Pilatzke of Littleton.
Where: Eirikstadir, the farm of Eric the Red, and the birthplace of Leif Eriksson. Eric’s farm has been reconstructed and has interpreters dressed in period Icelandic costume to explain the lifestyle in the 11th century.
Best meal: Any traditional Icelandic lunch of soup, homemade bread and coffee available all over the island. Also be sure to try Skyr, an Icelandic form of yogurt. The seafood in Iceland is terrific and plentiful.
Best deal: The traditional lunch of soup, bread and coffee. This is usually available for about $7-$10. Simple dinners generally run $25-30 per person. Hotels and farms will typically provide a bountiful breakfast.
Best time to go: We visited in May the first time; it rained every day (11 days). Lambs are born in spring, and it is fun watching them cavort. Our second trip was in September; it rained on and off, but we had several sunny days. We recommend the fall. Both times of the year the temperatures were in the high 30s to low 50s, so dress in layers and be prepared for rain.
Best travel tip: Bring an umbrella and raincoat. For the adventurous, a network of farms provides lodging less expensive than hotels but more rustic. Check out Icelandic Farm Holidays for information (farmholidays.is).
