One Itinerary to Rule Them All, part 1

North to the Arctic Circle

This summer, the family and I will embark on an epic Family Gap Year. The trip will be divided into three different legs, punctuated by returns to the United States. Legs 1 and 2, pictured below, will bring us from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic. Planning for Leg 3 is still ongoing. I’ll share the itinerary as soon as it’s finished.

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Leg 1: New York to the Arctic Circle

Leg 1 starts in our own back yard, so to speak. Days 1-15 are a leisurely cruise from New York City to Iceland. I like the idea of a soft launch into this trip. Instead of flying overnight to Europe and arriving with jet lag, we’ll maintain our regular schedule and get to stop to explore several ports in Canada, Greenland, and Iceland along the way.

Days 15-17 will see us in Silfra, Iceland in order to experience a dive between two of the earth’s tectonic plates. It’s the only place in the world that you can do so.

Days 17-35 will be spent in Norway, our third visit to this country. We’ve rented a car and will be driving and hiking in the Lofoten Islands, visiting Tromso, and flying to the isolated island of Svalbard. There, we will cross the Arctic Circle with a guide and a team of Huskies.

Days 35-42 will bring us from Stockholm to France, with stops in the tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel, and the city of Rouen, before we fly back to New York.

Next week, I’ll lay out Leg 2. It’s longer and more complex, and will bring us to our 6th and 7th continents.

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