Isafjordur, Iceland

Home to fewer than 3,000 residents, Isafjordur boasts a spectacular, unspoiled landscape that's dying to be explored. The town, located on the Westfjords peninsula in northwest Iceland, features charming shops and a maritime museum, and also is a jumping off point for excursions throughout the region. Paddle past snow-draped mountains on a kayaking adventure, take photos in front of the cascades of Dynjandi waterfall, sample traditional Viking beer and bread in Thingeyri and listen to tales of local life while enjoying fresh seafood in the village of Sudureyri. Daily cruises to Vigur island offer sightings of eiders, puffins, arctic terns, guillemoths and other birds, while a visit to the Arctic Fox Center allows you to learn about and observe the country's only native terrestrial mammal. Wildlife lovers also can cruise area waters on a whale-watching safari.

Language: Icelandic
Currency: Iceland Krona (ISK)