Iceland has recently stolen the hearts of people across the globe, as the country’s soccer team has become the underdog sensation of the 2016 Euro Cup. The country first stole my heart in March 2015 when my family and I spent our spring break there. We didn’t know what to expect from the trip; there’s no amount of Google Images that can really prepare a person for the breathtaking landscape of Iceland. We ended up being frustrated and surprised and blown away—at times, literally. Iceland feels like a total different world that’s great for both exciting soccer games and adventures.

1. The Northern Lights.

Photo by Olivia Barrows.

One of the reasons my family decided to venture to Iceland was to see the Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights. These are one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and more than deserving of this title. We spent practically every night of the trip chasing those wonders all over the countryside. Literally, there were several nights where we piled into our rental car to drive miles in the freezing cold after those elusive green tails.

2. Touching folklore.

The view from the top of Hellgafell. Photo by Olivia Barrows.

Iceland is rich with tradition. Everywhere you go, there will be some wonderful ancient story to explain what you’re seeing. For example, rock formations that are vaguely human-shaped are believed to be trolls. Near Stykkisholmur on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, sits one of the holiest sites in Iceland called Hellgafell. It’s the burial place of Gudrum Osvifursdottir of the Laxdoela Saga, and the site of an old Christian church. It’s believed that if you climb to the top of this mountain while being completely silent and not looking back, you will be granted three wishes.

3. Snow!

Photo by Olivia Barrows.

Although my family and I visited in late March, there was still plenty of snow. While staying on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, we experienced several blizzards with snow so heavy driving was impossible and wind so powerful it was difficult to even walk outside. We loved this sense of being shut in, but it’s definitely not for everyone. If you want to be able to drive around the entire island on the Ring Road, see the fjords in the north, and have more hours of sunlight, I suggest going in the summer months.

4. Reykjavik’s awesome vibe.

Photo by Janelle Carsten.

Reykjavik is one of the safest cities in the world, especially for women. Iceland, in fact, is one of the most gender equitable countries in the world. Its capital city is full of young hipster-types, gourmet restaurants, and bustling bars. My favorite part of the city is how residents have made it their personal canvas, and many of the buildings are painting with everything from words of inspiration to giant polar bears.

5. The cleanest water on Earth.

Photo by Olivia Barrows.

Iceland is a nation built on volcanic rock that filters the water naturally as it flows. There’s also plenty of snow and ice runoff that’s equally pure. The beaches, while you can’t lay out on them, are still pristine with some of the bluest water you will ever see. If you’re brave like my brothers and I, you can stand on the shore while the waves crash against the rocks and experience nature’s best shower.

6. The Icelandic horse.

Photo by Olivia Barrows.

These cuties are all over the countryside. Not only are they fluffy and adorable, they are some of the toughest animals on earth, having to put up with extreme wind, snow, and rocky terrain. I begged my dad to pull of the narrow countryside road a thousand times so I could try to pet one, and when he finally did, we were in for a treat. The horses let us pet their noses, and one even rubbed his butt on a fence post so hard it almost fell over.

7. Geysers and glaciers galore.

Gulfoss Waterfall. Photo by Olivia Barrows.

Iceland is known as the Land of Fire and Ice. Volcanoes are right next to glaciers, and geysers spray up into the snowy skies. The countryside is the definition of juxtaposition, and it plays out beautifully. To get the full effect, I recommend driving the entire Golden Circle in the south where you’ll pass by Gulfoss Waterfall, Pingvellir, and plenty of geysers.

Follow me on Instagram @olivia4theworld for lots more adventure photos.