Gullfoss

Iceland's most visited waterfall. Two massive drops cascade into a rugged canyon, with the river seeming to disappear into the earth. Part of the Golden Circle, and honestly, deserves its fame.

The ground shakes. The mist soaks you. On sunny days, golden rainbows arc over the falls — that's how it got the name. Stand on the viewing platform and feel humbled by the raw power of glacial water.

Saved from becoming a hydropower dam by Sigríður Tómasdóttir, a farmer's daughter who threatened to throw herself into the falls. She won. Her dedication made her an icon of Iceland's conservation movement. There's a memorial to her at the site.

Two viewing platforms — upper and lower. Lower gets you closer but wetter. Come in morning or evening to avoid Golden Circle tour buses. The cafe at the visitor center has good lamb soup. Winter views are spectacular when the falls partially freeze.