Flat Stanley Brayden 2025 in Paris Normandy Iceland

Thursday, June 19, 2025

June 13 – Flat Stanley Brayden’s Adventure Blog: Waterfalls, Black Sand, Glaciers, and Rock ‘n’ Roll!

Bless bless, explorers! Flat Stanley Brayden here, and today was one of the most exciting days ever—Iceland’s South Shore tour with Arctic Adventures! We saw huge waterfalls, a glacier, a black sand beach, and a cute seaside village. Then we ended the day with a rockin’ dinner at Hard Rock Café Reykjavik. Ready for the story?

Morning: Skógafoss Waterfall – The Roaring Giant

Our day started with a drive to Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s biggest and most famous waterfalls. The water thunders down from 60 meters high, and when you get close, you can feel the spray and hear the roar! I tried to climb up the stairs beside the falls for an even better view—my legs got a workout, but it was worth it.

Fun Fact:
Skógafoss is so powerful, it often creates a rainbow on sunny days. Have you ever seen a waterfall rainbow?

Vík Seaside Village – Icelandic Charm

Next, we visited Vík, a tiny village by the sea. The houses are painted in bright colors, and the cliffs are home to thousands of puffins (though we didn’t see any today). Vík is famous for its dramatic coastline and friendly people.

Learning Moment:

Vík is the southernmost village in Iceland and has only about 300 people, but it’s a favorite stop for travelers!

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – Nature’s Artwork

Then came Reynisfjara, the famous black sand beach. The sand is made from volcanic rock, and the beach is lined with towering basalt columns and huge sea stacks. The waves are strong, so we had to stay safe and not get too close to the water.

Fun Fact:

Reynisfjara was ranked one of the best beaches in Europe—even though it’s not for swimming!

Sólheimajökull Glacier – Ice in the Sun

After the beach, we visited Sólheimajökull Glacier. We walked right up to the edge of the glacier and saw its blue ice and deep cracks. Our guide told us how glaciers are shrinking because of climate change, and it made me think about how important it is to protect our planet.

Travel Tip:

Always stay with your guide near glaciers—they can be dangerous if you don’t know where to walk!

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall – Walk Behind the Water!

Our last stop was Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall you can walk behind! The path is wet and misty, but it’s so cool to see the water rushing down in front of you. I got a little wet, but my raincoat kept me dry.

Fun Fact:

Seljalandsfoss is about 65 meters tall and comes from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano glacier.

Evening: Hard Rock Café Reykjavik – Rock ‘n’ Roll Dinner

After a long day of adventure, we returned to Reykjavik and went to Hard Rock Café for dinner. The restaurant is full of music memorabilia—guitars, posters, and even Elvis’s jacket! I had a big burger and fries, and we listened to classic rock while we ate.

Fun Fact:

Hard Rock Café Reykjavik is right in the heart of the city and is a fun place to relax after a busy day.

Cartoon Fun: Flat Stanley Brayden’s South Shore Day

Question for You

If you could visit a waterfall, a glacier, or a famous restaurant, which would you choose? What would you want to see or eat first?

That’s all for today, fellow travelers! Tomorrow is our last day in Iceland, but I’ll never forget the South Shore’s wonders and the rockin’ dinner we had. Stay tuned for more adventures with Flat Stanley Brayden!

Bless bless (that’s “bye bye” in Icelandic) for now!

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

June 15- Flat Stanley Brayden Explores the Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Berserkjahraun Lava Field: Walking Through a Viking Saga

Flat Stanley Brayden started his day with a wild walk across the Berserkjahraun Lava Field. He learned that this field was formed over 4,000 years ago and that there’s a real Viking saga about two strong “berserkers” who made a path through the lava for love! Stanley pretended he was a Viking explorer, hopping from one mossy rock to the next.

Kirkjufell: The Arrowhead Mountain

Next, Stanley visited Kirkjufell, the famous “Arrowhead Mountain.” He thought it looked just like a giant’s hat and loved seeing the pretty Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall nearby. Stanley took lots of pictures and even tried to pose like a mountain himself!

Ingjaldshólskirkja: The Red Roof Church

Stanley’s next stop was Ingjaldshólskirkja, a little white church with a bright red roof. It sits all alone with big mountains and glaciers behind it. Stanley thought it looked like something from a storybook and made sure to get a photo in front.

Arnarstapi & Búðakirkja: Seaside Village and the Black Church

Stanley explored the fishing village of Arnarstapi, where he watched birds swoop over the cliffs and saw cool lava rock formations. Not far away, he visited the famous Búðakirkja (Black Church). It was so different from other churches—painted all black and standing out against the green and rocky landscape. Stanley thought it was mysterious and cool!

Ytri-Tunga Beach: Seal Watching

At Ytri-Tunga Beach, Stanley spotted real Icelandic seals lounging on the golden sand and rocks. He waved at the seals and watched them flop around and swim in the chilly water. It was one of his favorite animal encounters in Iceland!

Italian Dinner in Reykjavik

After a long day of exploring, Stanley went back to Reykjavik and had dinner at the Hafnartorg Gallery Food Hall. The bar with the fun bartender was closed, but Stanley enjoyed delicious Italian food—pasta isalways a win!

Cartoon Fun: Flat Stanley Brayden’s Snaefellsnes Peninsula Day

Stanley had an amazing Icelandic adventure—full of stories, scenery, and seals! Where will he go next?

June 12 – Flat Stanley Brayden’s Adventure Blog: Perlan, Reykjavik History, and Tasty Icelandic Treats!

Bless bless, explorers! Flat Stanley Brayden here, and today was all about discovering Reykjavik’s wonders—from a magical nature museum to cool history and delicious Icelandic food. Let’s dive into the day’s adventures!

Morning: Perlan – The Pearl of Reykjavik

Our day started at Perlan, one of the most famous buildings in Iceland! Perlan sits on top of a hill and looks like a giant glass pearl. Inside, it’s a super fun museum all about Iceland’s nature.

Volcano Show:

We also saw a show about Iceland’s volcanoes, including the big eruption at Geldingadalir in 2021. It felt like we were right there as the lava flowed!

Ice Cave Adventure:

We walked through a real ice cave made of 350 tons of snow and ice—right inside the museum! It was chilly (about −10°C), but so cool to see what a real glacier cave feels like. There was even a special monument inside made from a piece of Ok glacier, which melted away and lost its glacier status because of climate change.

Northern Lights Show:

In a special planetarium, we watched a film about the northern lights. The colors danced across the ceiling, and I learned how the lights are made by energy from the sun hitting Earth’s atmosphere.

Observation Deck:

At the very top, there’s a 360° observation deck. We could see all of Reykjavik, the ocean, and even some mountains in the distance. The view was amazing

Afternoon: Exploring Reykjavik’s History

After Perlan, we headed around town to learn more about Iceland’s history.

Hallgrímskirkja Church:

We saw the tallest church in Iceland, Hallgrímskirkja, with its unique design inspired by Iceland’s volcanic rocks. There’s a big statue of Leif Eriksson (the Viking explorer who sailed to North America) right outside.

Tasting Icelandic Flavors

No trip to Iceland is complete without trying some local food! And the best way to do it is with a food expert on a food tour (even had an classic car parade come through). The hot dog and cake with ice cream was great but only Rob tried the shark, lamb and horse meat. YUK!!!

Cartoon Fun: Flat Stanley Brayden’s Reykjavik Day