Fall For Iceland Where in the world is Matt Lauer, the wandering host of the NBC Today Show? Well if you tuned in a few years ago, you would have found him at the Blue Lagoon. Good Morning America also visited our island nation in the North Atlantic. Hollywood has an obvious love affair with Iceland - coming this fall, the 20th James Bond spy thriller, Die Another Day, includes a chase scene filmed in Iceland’s Joekulsarlon lagoon on the edge of Vatnajokull glacier, the world's third-largest ice cap. It’s 007’s second trip to the country. The lagoon, 240 miles from Reykjavik, is one of Iceland's most popular tourist attractions and previously appeared in A View to a Kill and last year's Tomb Raider. Hollywood producers, television broadcasters, and newspaper and magazine travel writers are discovering that Iceland offers a wide range of travel experiences year-round, from the beauty and serenity of miles and miles of majestic scenery framed by snowcapped mountains and the sea, to the scintillating beat of Reykjavik’s world renowned nightlife. From a morning stroll through the streets of the capital, to lunch at a gourmet restaurant and horseback riding through lava fields kissed with green lichen, few travel destinations offer such diversity. For many of us who know the country best, fall is perhaps the best of all times. The warm afternoon sun and Gulf Stream temperatures from 40-50°F make a variety of outdoors sports particularly enjoyable and at off-season rates as much as 50% percent lower than in summer. Active outdoor visitors are never bored in the fall. They can choose from hiking, biking, whale watching, golf, and Jeep safaris on glacial snowfields. They can tolt along on sturdy and majestic Icelandic horses, then soak their bowlegs in one of the many outdoor heated pools and spas dotting the capital city. One autumn highlight is the Sheep and Horse Round Up when farmers set off on horseback to gather their sheep and horses that have spent the summer grazing in the mountains. Visitors also travel to Iceland in the months before the holidays to enjoy the wide variety of cultural activities. Strong Icelandic traditions and international culture thrive side-by-side to weave a rich tapestry of delights and experiences. In September, there’s a Cultural Festival in Reykjavik that includes a Jazz and Film Festival. October features the Iceland Airwaves Music Festival in Reykjavik, an innovative event sponsored by Icelandair that will rock Reykjavik from October 16-20. Thousands of fans from around the globe are expected to groove to cutting-edge tunes from alternative artists from both sides of the Atlantic. (For more information: www.IcelandAirwaves.com). In the fall, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra launches its concert series, including foreign conductors and featured artists. Autumn is also when the Icelandic Opera begins its season in the world’s northernmost opera house. Theater buffs will find two full-time companies performing at the National Theater and the Reykjavik City Theater. The cultural scene also includes art museums and live music concerts spanning the whole spectrum of age and taste. Iceland is the closest European country to the U.S. and Canada and the perfect spot for a weekend getaway vacation. Just five hours from New York, it’s no wonder so many savvy travelers fall for Iceland. Einar Gustavsson, director Iceland Tourist Board in New York To learn more about Iceland in the fall, first let your fingers do the walking by logging onto: www.icelandculture.com www.icelandnaturally.com www.reykjavik.com www.icelandtouristboard.com www.bluelagoon.is www.icelandair.com