Djúpivogur, Iceland

Djúpivogur is a tiny town of about 480 people that fully embraces the art of slow living. Its name means "Deep Bay," which is a bit ironic since the bay itself isn't particularly deep. Located on Iceland's east coast, the town was once an important trading post and remains a charming, close-knit community.

Despite its small size, Djúpivogur has most of the essentials, including shops, cafés, a grocery store, a church, a school through age 16, and both a doctor and nurse. The nearest towns are more than 40 miles away, which is where students attend high school. One ongoing challenge is a lack of housing. It seems surprising given the amount of open land, but apparently government regulations play a role.

We spent the day hiking and soaking in the stunning scenery, fresh air, sunshine, and, of course, Iceland's ever-present wind. We also made a few memorable stops around town.

Our first stop was the Museum of Stones, which showcases Iceland's incredible geological diversity. The collection includes volcanic rocks, minerals formed in different geological environments, and fossils from various periods of Earth's history. It was surprisingly beautiful.

Next, we visited a former herring storage bin—thankfully long since cleaned out—where a local woman serenaded us with a traditional Icelandic folk song. The acoustics were remarkable and made for a unique experience.

Before leaving, we checked out Djúpivogur's famous Eggs of Merry Bay, a public art installation featuring 34 oversized granite eggs. Each one is an exact representation of the shape, size, and color of a local bird species that nests in the area.Read more