golden triangle tour iceland

The Ultimate Guide to Iceland's Golden Circle

Why Should You Visit the Golden Circle?

What is the golden circle in iceland.

• Thingvellir National Park
• The Geysir Geothermal Area

Gullfoss Waterfall

When is the best time to see the golden circle, the classic golden circle route map, how far is the golden circle from reykjavik, where to stay near the golden circle, the top 5 best golden circle itineraries and tours, the best way to see the golden circle, top 9 detours on the golden circle route, 9. skalholt, 8. thjorsardalur valley, 7. solheimar eco-village, 6. helgufoss and thorufoss waterfalls, 5. fridheimar tomato and horse farm, 4. snowmobiling on langjokull glacier, 3. secret lagoon in fludir, 2. kerid crater, 1. fontana geothermal baths.

Learn everything you need to know about Iceland's amazing Golden Circle route. Discover spectacular natural sights, such as bursting geysers, roaring waterfalls, and a fissure between two tectonic plates.

The Golden Circle is Iceland's most popular sightseeing trail. You can combine it with a number of other activities and excursions, and should browse the largest selection of  Golden Circle tours  in Iceland before you plan your trip there.

Driving to the Golden Circle from Reykjavik is also easy and here you can find the cheapest car rental in Iceland . Most  self-drive tours in Iceland visit the Golden Circle as it is one of the premier attractions in the country. You can easily book accommodation in Iceland near the Golden Circle route so you don't have to worry about getting back to Reykjavik while in the countryside.

Continue reading this article to learn more about the best route to the Golden Circle, worthy stops along the way, main highlights, and must-see attractions. You can also save a number of Golden Circle maps and itineraries to your travel plan.

The Golden Circle itinerary is an easy and efficient way to see three of Iceland's top attractions in a day, whether you take a group tour or opt for driving yourself .  Each stop offers insight into Iceland's geologic history, not to mention excellent photo opportunities.

The Golden Circle consists of three equally stunning locations in Southwest Iceland: 

• The Geysir Geothermal Area

Only the city of Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon compete with these destinations in terms of popularity, and the reasons for the Golden Circle's fame are numerous. 

In this article, we'll cover all three attractions.

  Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park is a unique site in Iceland as its both historically significant as well as being a geological wonder. 

It has the honor of being the first of Iceland's three national parks to be established. It's also the only one that has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status. 

Considered the first stop on the Golden Circle, the park is only 29 miles (47 kilometers) from Reykjavik.

It's a place where dramatic geology meets a millennium of fascinating history. Here, visitors to Thingvellir can discover the roots of this island's formation and how the Icelandic settlers formed their leaderless society.

The park's unique geology comes from its location between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, which create the rift valley that runs through Iceland.

Iceland is the only country where this valley, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, can be seen above sea level. Nowhere is it more visible than in Thingvellir National Park.

When you enter the park from Reykjavik, you'll drive towards a sheer cliff that is, in fact, a corner of the North American continent. The Eurasian continent is several miles away, on the far side of the park, and is equally dramatic to look at once you reach it.

A magma pocket formed between these plates, rising as they moved apart. This venting was responsible for creating Iceland millions of years ago.

Their continued separation is the reason that Iceland has such fascinating volcanic activity. The island as a landmass is still very young and still in its formation, which is why the land feels very much alive.

Visitors can find evidence of this process all across Thingvellir. The area consists of long stretches of lava rock, and many volcanoes surround the park, rising above Thingvallavatn , Iceland's largest natural lake.

The park has grown over with vegetation since the last eruption, over 2,000 years ago. 

The beautiful, tender moss that creeps over the Icelandic landscape now covers the lava fields, while many parts of the area are forested with native birch trees and imported pines.

The ravines opened by these quakes are filled with fresh water that melts from the Langjokull glacier and travels underground through the porous lava rock toward Thingvallavatn lake.

This long filtration process means that when the water emerges from springs in these cracks, it's devoid of any sediment and crystal clear. 

Visibility exceeds 330 feet (100 meters), which makes walking through the area that much more scenic and makes for some magical diving and snorkeling  opportunities.

While these activities do not seem to befit Iceland's climate, dry-suit technology advancements mean that the 36 F (2 C) water is more than accessible, even during the winter.

Qualified guides take groups multiple times a day on this increasingly popular adventure through the most beautiful of these ravines, the Silfra fissure.

Snorkeling in Silfra is available to almost everyone over the age of sixteen who knows how to swim. 

The dry suits are buoyant enough to act as a life jacket, and Silfra has a gentle current that helps guests move through the fissure.

Diving tours, however, require you to be a qualified PADI Open Water Scuba Diver and experienced in dry suit diving.

The underwater world here is incredibly beautiful, and the fact that guides conduct the Silfra diving tour between the tectonic plates makes it all the more exciting.

Silfra has been voted one of the top ten dive sites in the world. You can read more about diving and snorkeling in Iceland in this article.

If you wish to see where the earth is tearing apart but want to stay fully dry, it's possible to walk in the Almannagja gorge . This stunning valley displays how the area's geological processes work and leads to a lovely waterfall called Oxararfoss . 

However, Thingvellir's incredible location and fascinating geology have nothing to do with why it received National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site status. 

It received that title due to its compelling history. To learn Thingvellir's history is to understand the history of the Icelandic people . The first permanent settlers to Iceland came in the late 800s and were largely vagabond clans who refused to bend the knee to the first King of Norway, Harald Fairhair. 

In 930 AD, they decided that some sort of collective government could ease disputes on the island, and each of the thirty or so groups present sent someone to represent them.  

They deemed their meeting place 'the fields of assembly,' which translates to Thingvellir. 

This first assembly was so successful that the tradition continued year after year, decade after decade, and century after century, eventually evolving into a parliament.

The institution endured after Norway took over the Icelandic Commonwealth in 1262 and transferred into the clutches of the Danish crown in 1380. Since its establishment over a millennium ago, the parliament was only interrupted for one period, from 1799 to 1844.  

After that, it was relocated to Reykjavik, but its function remained the same.

This history makes the Icelandic Althingi (parliament) the world's oldest representative parliament that's still in session.

While the populations of Europe endured feudalism without a thought to any democratic process, the 'heathens' of Iceland created a representative system that would act as a model to many who followed it. 

Because of these roots, Iceland declared Thingvellir a National Park in 1930, precisely 1,000 years after the assembly there.

UNESCO eventually declared it a World Heritage Site in 2004. Not just for its natural beauty, but because it was the most important site in Icelandic history for centuries, Thingvellir witnessed many significant changes as the nation developed.

Even after the parliament site moved to Reykjavik, the area remained relevant to Icelanders. It was the ceremonial site of Iceland's declaration of independence in 1944 and where the parliament appointed the country's first president, Sveinn Bjornsson.

Thingvellir's history, combined with its beauty and geology, demonstrates why the park is such a popular destination. It is, however, only one of three iconic sites on the classic Golden Circle route.

The Geysir Geothermal Area

The second stop on the Golden Circle is the Geysir Geothermal Area, located within the Haukadalur valley . 

It's a 37-mile (60-kilometer) drive from Thingvellir. Steaming vents and chimneys are visible along the way and notably concentrated in the village of Laugarvatn , located halfway between Thingvellir and Geysir. 

This settlement has a spa heated by hot water currents beneath the ground's surface. Its steam rooms sit on top of bubbling hot pots that reach a sweltering 140 F (60 C). 

However, at Haukadalur valley, this geothermal activity becomes even more intense. Visitors can see the steam rising from miles away. Many hot pools, clay pots, and fumaroles dot the area. Minerals vividly color the hills and soil.

It would be a fascinating enough site even without the two geysers that make it famous.

The first of these is the one that gave all others their name: the Great Geysir . 

Geysir is the earliest documented geyser in European literature, and its name comes from the Old Norse verb 'to gush.'

Geysir rarely erupts, but its neighbor, Strokkur geyser, goes off every ten minutes, throwing water from 66 to 132 feet (20 to 40 meters) into the air.

The original Geysir is primarily inactive these days because of local tectonic activity and intrusive human intervention. Studies show that it has existed for about 10,000 years and tends to erupt in cycles. Usually, an earthquake will trigger it, and it will then slowly peter out over time. 

However, even when it's erupting, it's unpredictable in both timing and consistency. For example, in the early 1910s, it was known to erupt every half-hour, yet its activity had almost ceased by 1916.

Tired of the fact that their country's most famous landmark was so inconsistent, Icelanders dug a channel into the silica rim around Geysir's vent in 1935 to lower the water table and encourage it to go off again. 

Although it worked for a short time, the channel became clogged, and activity ceased once more. The channel was cleared in 1981, and it was found that Geysir could be made to erupt on occasion by pumping soap into it. There were many concerns about this activity's environmental impact, and it was stopped in the 1990s.

Geysir has been mostly dormant since then, though it still goes off occasionally, giving the lucky a chance to catch sight of it. When it does erupt, it's much larger than Strokkur.

In 2000, it spewed water 400 feet (122 meters) in the air. The only time it was recorded blasting higher was in 1845, when it reached an estimated 558 feet (170 meters).

The reliability of the highly active Strokkur in such an accessible location is part of what makes the Golden Circle so incredible. Geysers are a rare natural phenomenon. Their rarity is due to the specific conditions required for their formation. 

For a geyser to exist, it requires the following circumstances:

• An intense heat source: For geysers to erupt, magma must be close to the earth's surface to heat rocks hot enough to boil water.
• Water flow: There must be a source of flowing underground water. In this case, the water is runoff that melted from the Langjokull glacier and traveled through porous lava rock into the area.
• A natural plumbing system: There must be an underground reservoir for water to gather and a vent lined with silica so that the water cannot seep out of it before rising from the reservoir to the surface.

Walking around the Geysir Geothermal Area is a fascinating and rewarding experience, but its appeal goes further than these exploding hot springs.

The Haukadalur valley is an incredible place to stop and marvel at nature. Be sure to respect the area and do not throw anything into the hot springs or geysers.

The third and final stop on the route of the Golden Circle is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland: Gullfoss. This is the landmark from which the Golden Circle draws its name, as Gullfoss directly translates to "Golden Falls".

This powerful waterfall is located in a plunging, ancient valley and tumbles down two drops from an overall height of 105 feet (32 meters). During its heaviest flow in the summer, it pours an average of 4,944 cubic feet (140 cubic meters) of water every second.

Gullfoss is not only known for its breathtaking power but also for the rainbows that appear above the falls like a multicolor crown on a sunny day.

These only add to an already beautiful sight. In addition to the dramatic valley and falls, the area looks over rolling fields right up to the magnificent ice sheet of Langjokull glacier. 

Like the springs in Thingvellir and the water at the Geysir Geothermal Area, the river flows down Gullfoss from Langjokull. The river is called Hvita , and it was once a popular spot for river rafting in Iceland . 

Summer is arguably the best season to visit Gullfoss. When there's no ice on the ground, a walkway takes you right up to the edge of the falls, close enough to feel the waterfall's mist on your face.

The photo opportunities here are incredible, and one could spend hours marveling over the awe-inspiring power of the water.

While you cannot get as close, seeing it partially frozen and carrying chunks of ice into the abyss is mesmerizing. If you visit in winter, be sure to wrap up in warm layers. The winds coming over the glacier are notoriously sharp and the mist spraying off the waterfall is icy cold.

• See also: Top 11 Waterfalls to See in Winter in Iceland

Gullfoss today is an attraction that captivates people from across the world, and without it, Iceland's tourism industry would not be the same.

Therefore, it's incredibly fortunate that it's well-preserved and has not been meddled with in any way. 

After all, protecting nature in Iceland has not always been everybody's intention.

In the early 20th century, foreign investors saw a huge opportunity to add a dam to Gullfoss and turn it into a hydroelectric plant. 

The owner of the land adjacent to the falls, Tomas Tomasson, had allowed British investors to explore building a dam there. These plans started to go ahead against his wishes but became incredibly difficult to enforce when Tomas's daughter entered the picture.

This great environmentalist, named Sigridur Tomasdottir, refused to allow the destruction of the natural wonder she loved so much. 

She did everything she could to preserve it, from threatening to throw herself into the falls to walking the 134 miles (200 kilometers) of unpaved road to Reykjavik and back again multiple times to build a legal case in Gullfoss's defense.

Although her actions did not directly save the waterfall, they drew attention to the case. This awareness led to national criticism of the plans and ensured that the dam-building process was delayed.

Eventually, the lawyer Sigridur enlisted in her protests, managed to work with the investors (who lacked the money to take action), and persuaded them to annul the contract. 

The lawyer's name, Sveinn Bjornsson, may sound familiar. In 1944 he became Iceland's first president.

Today, Sigridur is immortalized in a stone memorial on top of the cliff overlooking the waterfall. Icelanders remember her for bringing awareness to the importance of preserving Iceland's nature and not being tempted by foreign investments. Her actions eventually helped preserve Gullfoss for all of us to marvel at its beauty to this day.

The Golden Circle can be visited at any time of year. Spring, summer, and fall offer milder temperatures, and the landscape is free of snow. If you decide to spend a night near the Golden Circle during the summer, you'll have the opportunity to see these places under the midnight sun  with its hues of pink and orange.

In winter, snow blankets the region, offering a unique experience. The water at Gullfoss waterfall continues to run, but parts of the waterfall get frozen, making it seem like glass. This is also a great time to look for the northern lights . Just make sure to step carefully as the platform at the waterfall can be slippery.

Snow is regularly cleared from the roads. However, sudden storms can cause delays. Be sure to follow the road conditions so you can travel safely. 

Choosing when to visit the Golden Circle is more a matter of personal preference than accessibility.

There are a number of ways to explore the Golden Circle. This map details the fastest and simplest Golden Circle route. Below, you can find more notable attractions along the way.

It's a fast and easy drive to Iceland's Golden Circle, just 25 miles (47 kilometers) east of Reykjavik. This is the distance to the closest attraction, Thingvellir National Park. 

The furthest of the three attractions is the Gullfoss waterfall, 72 miles (116 kilometers) east of Reykjavik. As you can see from the map of the Golden Circle, the entire route can be traversed in one day, with a return to Reykjavik in the evening. Read this article to find out how to drive the Golden Circle .

If you'd like to get a head-start on seeing the Golden Circle without the day-trippers from Reykjavik, then consider an overnight stay nearby. 

There is a wide range of hotels and accommodation within the Golden Circle , plus there are campgrounds at Thingvellir National Park and Geysir if you prefer to camp.

Some of the most popular hotels on the Golden Circle Include: 

• Torfhus Retreat
• Hotel Grimsborgir
• Hotel Geysir
• Efstidalur Farm Hotel
• Sel Guesthouse

Go to this article to read more about where to stay in Iceland or here to find the best prices for hotels in Iceland .

The Golden Circle route is one of the most popular trails in Iceland, and over the years, we've helped thousands of people explore it. These are our top 5 Golden Circle itineraries based on customer feedback. 

5. Affordable 10-Hour Golden Circle ​Tour with Snowmobiling on Langjokull and Transfer from Reykjavik  

If you're looking for adventure on a budget, this affordable tour stops at all the best Golden Circle attractions. This tour includes a stop for a snowmobile trip across the majestic Langjokull glacier , the second-largest glacier in Iceland.

4. 3-Day Northern Lights Tour of Iceland's Golden Circle & South Coast with Ice Caving & Glacier Hiking

This 3-day tour is the best way for you to make all of the must-see Golden Circle stops and fit in two of Iceland's most iconic activities: exploring the famous ice caves and hiking across expansive glaciers.

3. Small-Group Golden Circle Tour with a Visit to an Ice Cream Farm and Transfer from Reykjavik

This intimate small-group tour will take you to all of the most popular Golden Circle attractions with an added leisurely stop for a tasty treat at a local ice cream farm in Efstidalur valley.

2. Afternoon 6-Hour Golden Circle Tour to Gullfoss, Geysir & Thingvellir with Transfer from Reykjavik

This short, affordable tour is perfect if you want to see all the most popular Golden Circle highlights in a single afternoon and be back in Reykjavik by nightfall. 

1. 4-Day Northern Lights Winter Vacation Package with the Golden Circle, South Coast & Blue Lagoon  

Our most popular Golden Circle tour takes you through the attractions at a leisurely pace, giving you plenty of time to take in the sights and explore the areas fully. The tour starts at the famous Blue Lagoon Spa , where you can soak in the warm geothermal waters and get yourself ready for your journey in Iceland. The next day you'll explore the Golden Circle along with snowmobiling on the nearby Langjokull glacier. The following day you'll go to Iceland's dramatic South Coast  to see majestic waterfalls and Reynisfjara black sand beach  with an option of walking on Solheimajokull glacier .

As Iceland's most popular tourist trail, there are many different ways to see the Golden Circle. 

Despite the Golden Circle having three main sites, it's way more than just a Golden Triangle. You can find hundreds of different tours from dozens of providers that combine your Golden Circle with extra activities or more sightseeing locations.

Some tours allow you to see it in a unique way, such as on a helicopter tour or on an evening excursion  under the midnight sun .

Of course, renting a car and driving from one attraction to another is enjoyed without the time and itinerary restrictions that come with a guided tour.

Doing it this way allows you to explore the route at your own pace and take as many detours to lesser-known locations nearby as you like.

For those who would rather avoid the pressure of driving in Iceland, there's a vast array of guided tours from which you can choose as well. 

Some of the tours are very straightforward, simply  visiting the Golden Circle's three attractions , then returning you to your accommodation.

Others make more of the day by taking you to popular sites like the beautiful crater lake Kerid and the Blue Lagoon .

Many combination tours have cropped up since visitors can complete the Golden Circle in around six hours, including driving to and from Reykjavik. 

For example,  the Golden Circle and Snowmobiling Tour  whisks you around all three sites. From Gullfoss, the tour drives you up to Langjokull glacier for an exhilarating blast across the glacial ice.

Combining the Golden Circle and Snorkelling in Silfra or lava caving on the Reykjanes Peninsula is also possible.

It's even possible to combine this excursion with a rich cultural experience . For example, you can enjoy sightseeing for the day, then complete the tour with a taste of traditional Icelandic cuisine in the evening .

There are even multi-day tours, both guided and self-drive, centered around, or featuring, a trip along the Golden Circle stops.

Those with a short amount of time may enjoy the guided three-day South Coast tour . This tour takes you along the Golden Circle trail, along the South Coast to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, and into a glistening ice cave inside of a glacier that is sure to leave you breathless.

Meanwhile, those here for several weeks have plenty of options from which to choose. A 14-day self-drive package that encircles the whole Ring Road , taking in the stunning Westfjords area, is highly recommended.

Regardless of your time in this country, budget, or travel plan, it's nearly always possible to fit in a trip around the Golden Circle.

The incredible diversity of scenery available within a simple drive makes it an essential Icelandic experience for any traveler. Therefore it's advisable to rent a car in Iceland and explore the area near the Golden Circle.

If you elect to drive the circle yourself, there are many detours you can take to fascinating sites along the way. Most of these are lesser-known, so you can combine the classic Golden Circle route with visits to these off-the-beaten-track attractions.

Below are the top nine lesser-known Golden Circle highlights you should consider.

Skalholt is a remarkable historical town in Iceland. It was the seat of Iceland's bishop from 1056 and remained so until the 19th century. To put that in context, the bishop of Iceland was the most powerful position in the country when Iceland was ruled by foreign kingdoms in Scandinavia. The position of bishop far exceeded just attending to religious matters. Therefore Skalholt was a very important seat of power for centuries in Iceland.

By the year 1200, it was considered Iceland's first town, with a population of 120 people. Skalholt was also the site of Iceland's first school, established in the 12th century. Today it has an ordained bishop and hosts many cultural events, including its famous Skalholt Summer Concerts .

You can find Skalholt on Route 31, just off Route 35, from the Geyser geothermal area to Reykjavik.

If you are driving through Skalholt, its cathedral alone is worth a stop.

If you wish to explore some more hidden gems and do not mind a bit of extra driving, a detour to Thjorsardalur valley only takes a couple of hours. 

Thjorsardalur valley is part of the southern Highlands of Iceland. It boasts a wide range of incredible natural sites.

Here, you can find a wealth of beautiful waterfalls that most never get to visit, such as Haifoss, Granni, and Hjalparfoss .

Burfell woods is another natural attraction, being an unusually large forest for Iceland.

Thjorsardalur is quite the botanist's paradise, with many wildflower species, grass, and moss growing in the area.

To get there, drive south on Route 30 from Gullfoss, then take a left turn onto Route 32.

The unique  Solheimar eco-village has a population of approximately 100 people. 

Formed in 1930 by Sesselja Sigmundsdottir as a self-sustaining settlement for orphans and children with learning disabilities. It has always been a unique place with a distinct philosophy of maximizing every person's potential, irrespective of age or ability.

Over the past few years, its charm and quirky vibe have drawn more and more visitors. Now over 30,000 people stop by every year to see what it's all about.

The settlement - nestled seamlessly in nature - has everything visitors could need, with a bakery, cafe, guesthouse, and art gallery, all operated by the town's residents.

The gift shop at Solheimar has hand-made souvenirs made in the town's art workshop, where residents can engage in candle-making, weaving, and ceramics.

It's also home to the Sesselja House. An educational exhibition center focused on ecology and sustainable development.

Solheimar is a 13-mile (21-kilometer) drive south of Laugarvatn, so it's ideally located to visit as part of an extended Golden Circle self-drive tour. It is a different type of attraction with an atmosphere of positivity and freedom that's truly unique.

Some of Iceland's most incredible waterfalls are close to the Golden Circle.

The classic route takes you to Gulfoss waterfall, though other lesser-known waterfalls nearby are well worth visiting.

Two stand-out options are Helgufoss waterfall and Thorufoss waterfall , both named after Icelandic female names, Helga and Thora.

Helgufoss waterfall is located just off Route 36, on the way to Thingvellir from Reykjavik.

Meanwhile, Thorufoss waterfall forms part of the river Laxa i Kjos and can be visited by following Route 48 after Helgufoss before reaching Thingvellir National Park. 

The waterfall is signposted, and there's a small area on the side of the road where you can park your car.

You'll need access to a car to visit both waterfalls, as Golden Circle tours don't typically visit these remote locations.

Top Waterfall Tours

Fridheimar is a tomato, cucumber, and horse farm located on Route 35, close to Reykholt .

The farm is the perfect place to stop for lunch between noon and 4 PM. Here you can enjoy some delicious tomato soup with home-baked bread.

You can sometimes drop in if you're in a small group, but it's usually better to call ahead and reserve your place, as it can get quite busy. 

You'll need to book in advance if you would like to enjoy a farm tour or go to a horse show. Fridheimar is one of Iceland's most underrated locations, and it's well worth a visit.

The most popular option is to combine a Golden Circle tour with snowmobiling on the Langjokull glacier . 

It's also possible to just book a snowmobiling tour at Langjokull glacier or upgrade to a tour that also visits a stunning ice cave .

Langjokull isn't far from Gullfoss waterfall, where the tour operators will pick you up for the snowmobiling excursion. On a clear day, you'll have a fantastic view from the glacier, and the ride up to the glacier in a giant customized super-jeep is an adventure in itself. This excursion is not to be missed by adventurous travelers.

Top Snowmobile Tours

The Secret Lagoon , or Gamla Laugin, at Fludir is a great place to relax and renew your energy after a busy day of sightseeing. 

It's the oldest swimming pool in Iceland and was built in 1891. The pool's temperature is 100-104 F (38-40 C) year-round, sustained by the water entering it from the surrounding natural hot springs.

There's a also walking path around the swimming pool for guests to admire this geothermal area.

The pool hosted swimming classes from 1909 until 1947, but it fell into disrepair as new pools opened around the country. However, it has recently been renovated and modernized, with new changing facilities and a cafe. It reopened in June 2014.

Be aware that if you wish to visit this location, it's always best to book in advance, as it's growing in popularity.

Fludir is on Route 30. It can be easily visited by car or on a guided tour of the Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon .

Top Hot Spring Tours in Iceland

Many full-day Golden Circle tours make a stop at Kerid crater , so if you're driving, you shouldn't miss out on this natural wonder either. The crater was formed about 6,500 years ago and is oval-shaped, with a lake at its bottom.

Due to its shape, Kerid is renowned for its acoustics, and artists sometimes hold concerts there, floating on a boat in the middle of the lake. This crater is situated on Route 5, close to the town of Selfoss. It also has a small parking lot next to it.

Please note that there's a small fee to be paid on entry to Kerid.

Fontana Geothermal Baths are the name of a spa in the town of Laugarvatn, on the way from Thingvellir National Park to Geysir. 

Laugarvatn is a picturesque village perched on the edge of a vast lake renowned for its geothermal activity. Locals have enjoyed this area since 1929, though the current spa was opened in 2011.

Fontana features three steam rooms and a traditional wooden Finnish sauna with fantastic views of the lake and surrounding nature. There are also plenty of shallow pools that vary in heat, allowing kids to enjoy the water while the adults can relax.

The Fontana Geothermal Baths open out onto the lake, where it's possible to feel warm water rising from the earth between your toes. 

If you stop here, make sure to try the rye bread that the spa bakes for 24 hours in the hot sand. Hot, freshly baked rye bread with butter is as traditionally Icelandic as it is delicious.

You can enjoy both this site and the Golden Circle on the Golden Circle and Fontana Geothermal Baths day tour.

Whether you're planning on joining a guided tour or opting for a self-drive, we hope you find our recommended list of the Golden Circle's top 9 detours helpful in making your visit to Iceland that extra special. Log in to Facebook to see or add to the comment section below!

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The landscapes of Þingvellir National Park create a beautiful and rare scenery

What is the Golden Circle?

The Golden Circle is the most famous of all scenic routes in Iceland and combines stunning landmarks and historically significant places in a circular sightseeing tour.

Its proximity to Reykjavík and the airport area, as well as the short drive between the sights make it convenient for everyone, to include the Golden Circle tour into their itinerary.

Whether you take only one or more days to explore the Golden Circle, you’ll experience some of the most stunning geological wonders, Iceland has to offer!

The Golden Circle and its highlights

• Distance: appr. 250 km from and back to Reykjavík
• Travel Days:  1-3 days
• Combinations:   South Coast , Þingvellir , Ring Road
• Best travel time: all year-round
• 4 & 4 required?: no

The stunning Gullfoss waterfall Photo: Páll Jökull Pétursson

During the summer, Gullfoss waterfall bedazzles on average more than 2000 people per day. The popularity and attraction of the 'Golden Waterfall' lie in its unusual, cascading shape and in its being extremely photogenic from every angle and in every season.

On average 100.000 liters of glacial water from the river Hvítá plunge 31 meters into the Gullfossgljúfur canyon every second. Since the cold spray water does not stop for tourists, we recommend raincoats!

Gullfoss is open the whole year-round. In the winter, the trails to the lower viewing platforms are sometimes closed due to icy and snowy conditions. Check the road and conditions map on safetravel.is

Strokkur gushing up fountains of hot water @Ívar Sæland

Equally popular but significantly higher in temperature is the water in the geothermal area in Haukadalur. This is one of the very few places on earth, where one can closely observe active geysers. The famous Great Geysir, the geyser Strokkur and various kinds of hot springs, steam vents, and sulfurous mud pots can be explored.

While the Great Geysir barely spouts, the smaller geyser Strokkur reliably gushes its fountains of boiling hot water every 8-10 minutes up to 30 meters in the air. Have your camera ready and stay on the windside of the geyser!

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir - the historical and geological treasure of Iceland

Þingvellir is the historical and geological treasure of Iceland, wrapped in scenic beauty.

From the age of settlement 930 AD until 1789 the Icelandic parliament Alþingi met here, and on the 17th of June 1944, Iceland proclaimed its independence from Denmark at this significant place. Since 2004, Þingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In Þingvellir, the tectonic plates drift apart, the crevasses being visible in Almannagjá canyon as well as in Silfra, where it is possible to dive and snorkel between the continents .

The biggest natural lake in Iceland, Þingvallavatn, and the Öxaráfoss waterfall add to the scenic beauty of Þingvellir National Park.

More highlights along the way

The Golden Circle is mounted with big and small highlights and can be extended at will. More wonderful sights in the Golden Circle include the volcanic crater Kerið and the historic Bishop’s see Skálholt. The high amount of geothermal energy also supplies the numerous geothermal pools and greenhouses in the area. Find out more on Visit South Iceland

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SMALL GROUP GOLDEN CIRCLE

Tour highlights.

• Explore the most unique & incredible gems of Icelandic nature - all in one day
• Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall)
• Thingvellir National Park
• Geysir Erupting Geothermal area
• Kerið Volcanic Crater
• Friðheimar Icelandic Tomato Farm

Tour Details

• Duration : 8-9 hours (Full Day of Fun!)
• Price Adults : 17,990 ISK per person
• Price Children : 13,990 ISK (ages 2-13)
• Departures : Daily, all year round
• Tour start time : 9:00am
• Pick Up Start Time : Arrives between 8.30-9:00am. Please be ready at 8:30 :)

Tour description

The Golden Circle route in Iceland is the absolute best ‘see it all, do it all’ highlight tour of Icelandic nature from Reykjavik. In only a few hours you will discover the most unique gems of Icelandic nature, from powerful waterfalls, erupting geothermal areas to beautiful national parks.

Why I think you'll love this tour! 🧡

If you're looking for an unforgettable Icelandic adventure, look no further than this small group, 5-star rated Golden Circle tour.

With expert guides, you'll explore some of Iceland's most stunning natural wonders, including the famous Geysir hot spring, the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall, and the awe-inspiring Thingvellir National Park. Along the way, you'll learn about Iceland's unique geology, history, and culture, and enjoy the comfort and convenience of a small group tour.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience the best of Iceland's Golden Circle – book your tour today!

What can I say? It was fantastic the whole way through. We were picked up on time, the minibus was comfortable, our guide was fun and informative. She didn't just give us facts, she told us interesting stories about Icelandic culture.. In one day, we saw a volcano, a waterfall, a geyser and a national park. What a fun day! Loved this tour so much that we booked on to the south coast tour the day after.

Fascinating 8 hour tour of several beautiful Icelandic sights. This tour is a small group tour of no more than about 19 people. Some other tours have buses carrying 40 - 50 people. There were frequent stops, so you’re only driving for about 45 minutes at most between stops. Plenty of time provided to explore at each stop. Our guide was Baldwin, the best tour guide during our time in Iceland. He explained each sight we visited, and welcomed questions from the group. The experience was great. In the winter, dress warmly. Warm water-proof foot wear is a big plus. In winter, do not try to drive this tour route on your own. Go with a highly rated tour company for safety reasons

The Golden Circle Day Tour was a great experience! Berglind was a very funny, knowledgeable and enthusiastic -but very safe and smooth- driver and tour guide. She showered us with interesting stories about the politics, history, and geology of the island.. But best of all were the stories of her and the people's life on the island. My trip to the island would not have been the same without this experience. Looking for a tour? Look no further!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Full Refund / Cancellation Policy If there are any changes to your trip to Iceland, it's always possible to either put your booking on hold (bookings never expire) or reschedule to your new travel dates. We also offer full refunds if you cancel your booking with more than 24 hours prior to your tour :)
• Does this tour still work during winter with limited daylight? During the winter months in Iceland, we experience shorter daylight hours. However, this tour is remarkably well-timed. You'll depart from the city in the dark, reach the attractions just as daylight begins, and start your journey back to Reykjavik as dusk approaches.
• How long are the stops on the tour? The stops on the Golden Circle tour range from 30 minutes up to an hour! We also have some stops along the way that are only to stretch our legs and go to the restrooms (they would last 15-20 minutes). Most stops are 45 minutes – 1 hour apart!
• How many travellers are in each Golden Circle tour? The South Coast tour offers a personal and small group experience aboard a 19-seater minibus. Each tour accommodates a maximum of 19 guests, though the actual number of participants may be lower.
• I can't find my hotel on the pickup list? No worries at all! Simply send us the name of your hotel/airbnb location via email (either through the contact form on our website or directly at [email protected]) and we'll get back to you right away with the best possible pick up choice for you :)
• Do we stop for lunch on the tour? During tour we visit Friðheimar Tomato Farm where guess are able to enjoy lunch. Lunch or refreshments are not included in the tour price and you are of course more than welcome to bring snacks/food with you :)
• Are there bathrooms stops during the tour? Yes! There are several restroom stops while being on the Golden Circle tour 😊
• What should I wear for my Golden Circle tour? Iceland can get a bit chilly, especially during our winter season. So we recommend wearing warm outdoor clothing, to fully enjoy the experience without getting cold 😊
• Do you have free WiFi in your vehicles? Yes, you can brag to your friends in real time on Instagram with the free WiFi included in all vehicles!
• What type of vehicle is used for this tour? The vehicle for this experience is a comfortable Mercedes-Benz Sprinters CDI 519 with 19 seats and free WI-FI.
• Ok, I'm in. Now what? Fantastic! 🥳 We have a feeling that you'll love our foodie adventure here in Reykjavik. To secure your tickets, you'd simply press the orange 'Book Now / Check Availability' button: Select how many are in your group, choose your dates and fill in the details to complete the booking - super simple! (We recommend booking with as much notice as possible) ❤️

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Iceland Golden Circle Guide: Route Map & Tour Itinerary

The Golden Circle is a popular 300-kilometer tourist route in Southern Iceland, offering a mesmerizing journey through some of the country's most stunning natural wonders. The term "Golden Circle" is symbolic of the golden opportunities to explore Iceland's geothermal marvels, historical sites, and breathtaking landscapes.

As per data from the Icelandic Tourist Board , more than 80% of all visitors to Iceland choose this route, underscoring its appeal and importance. This 300-kilometer loop, starting and ending in Reykjavik, encompasses three primary attractions: Thingvellir National Park, the geothermal area of Geysir, and the stunning Gullfoss waterfall.

Beyond these major attractions, the Golden Circle also includes other natural wonders and activities such as the volcanic crater Kerið , the Faxi waterfall, and traditional Icelandic farms like Efstidalur and Friðheimar. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the heart of Iceland's Golden Circle, exploring its key attractions, hidden gems, and the best ways to navigate this popular route.

Golden Circle Iceland Map With Highlighted Attractions

Major Attractions on the Golden Circle Route

The Golden Circle Route in Iceland is a journey through some of the most iconic and mesmerizing natural attractions the country has to offer. Among these, Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and the Gullfoss Waterfall stand out as must-visit landmarks.

Thingvellir National Park

Location: About 40 kilometers northeast of Reykjavik.

Significance: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thingvellir is the site of Iceland's first parliament, the Althing, established in 930 AD. The park lies in a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, offering unique geological features.

Highlights: Visitors can walk through the Almannagjá gorge, witness the Silfra fissure's crystal-clear waters, and explore historical sites such as the Law Rock (Lögberg).

Read More: Hiking in Thingvellir National Park

Geysir Geothermal Area

• Location : Approximately 60 kilometers from Thingvellir.
• Significance : Home to the original geyser, Geysir, after which all other geysers are named. While Geysir is now mostly dormant, the area remains geothermally active.
• Highlights : The main attraction is Strokkur, an active geyser that erupts every 5-10 minutes, shooting water up to 20-30 meters in the air. The area also features boiling mud pits, hot springs, and fumaroles.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Location: About 10 kilometers from the Geysir Geothermal Area.

Significance: Known as the "Golden Falls," Gullfoss is one of Iceland's most iconic waterfalls. It is fed by the glacial river Hvítá.

Highlights: Gullfoss features a two-tiered cascade with a total drop of 32 meters. The waterfall plunges into a narrow canyon, creating a powerful spectacle. On sunny days, rainbows often form in the mist.

Also See: Complete Guide To Gullfoss Waterfall

• Kerid Crater

Location: Approximately 15 kilometers from Gullfoss, slightly off the main Golden Circle route.

Significance: A volcanic crater lake formed around 3,000 years ago, notable for its vivid blue water and the striking red volcanic rock surrounding it.

Highlights: Visitors can hike around the rim or descend to the water’s edge. The crater’s vibrant colors and unique geology make it a must-see stop.

• Secret Lagoon

Location: Near the village of Flúðir, about 30 kilometers from Geysir.

Significance: One of Iceland's oldest natural hot springs, providing a relaxing geothermal bathing experience.

Highlights: The lagoon is surrounded by geothermal features, including a small geyser that erupts every few minutes. It's a more intimate alternative to the Blue Lagoon, offering a quieter and more authentic experience.

Best Golden Circle Tour Itinerary for Travelers

One-Day Golden Circle Itinerary

A one-day tour of the Golden Circle is a popular choice for many visitors to Iceland. Starting your day early, you can begin with a visit to the Þingvellir National Park. Spend a couple of hours here exploring the walking paths and soaking in the natural beauty. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is known for its historical significance and geological wonders.

Next, head to the Geysir geothermal area, which is about a 50-minute drive from Þingvellir. Here, you can marvel at the hot springs and watch the Strokkur geyser erupt every few minutes. After lunch, make your way to the majestic Gullfoss waterfall, just a 10-minute drive from Geysir. Spend an hour or so here, enjoying the views and taking photographs. Finally, end your day with a relaxing dip in the Secret Lagoon or the Blue Lagoon before heading back.

Book Now: Full-Day Best Golden Circle Tour From Reykjavik

Two-Day Golden Circle Itinerary

If you have more time to spare, a two-day itinerary allows you to explore the Golden Circle at a more leisurely pace. On the first day, visit Þingvellir National Park and the Geysir geothermal area, spending more time at each location to fully appreciate their beauty. Consider having lunch at one of the local restaurants near Geysir for a taste of traditional Icelandic cuisine.

On the second day, start with a visit to the Gullfoss waterfall, taking the time to hike the surrounding trails and enjoy the stunning views. Next, drive towards the South Coast, exploring other attractions along the Ring Road.

Consider staying overnight at one of the charming guesthouses or hotels in the area. For dinner, try a local restaurant and savor some fresh Icelandic seafood. The next morning, conclude your tour with a visit to the Blue Lagoon or Secret Lagoon, where you can relax and reflect on your Icelandic adventure.

Choose Your Golden Circle Driving Route

The Golden Circle is not a clearly defined route as we previously thought. Although the three main attractions driving the golden circle are widely recognized, the rest of the route is subject to variation. Although there is a "Classic" route, the specifics of it can vary depending on interpretation.

When you check Google Maps, you'll notice that the three tourist spots on the Golden Circle are not arranged in a circular pattern. Instead, they're situated mostly in a straight line to the east of Reykjavik.

There are three primary choices for planning your driving route.

• Classic Golden Circle Route | Drive the full loop route and visit the three main attractions in the traditional order.
• Out-and-Back “Golden Line” Route | Please visit the three main attractions in the traditional order and then follow the same route back to your starting point.

Reverse Golden Circle Route | Typically, start the golden circle adventure with the last attraction and visit the other two in reverse order. Avoid driving a full loop.

We should examine these three route choices more closely.

Classic Golden Circle Route

• Attraction Order :

Thingvellir National Park > Geysir Hot Spring Area > Gullfoss waterfall

• Link to Route in Google Maps : Here
• Route Shape : Loop
• Total Driving Miles : 150

We recommend following the classic Golden Circle route which begins and ends in Reykjavik. The route includes three attractions that are visited in order from closest to furthest before returning to Reykjavik on a different road, creating a complete golden circle guided tour. This order is commonly used by travelers and tour groups for its convenience and efficiency.

Firstly, consider the timing of your three day trip. Among the three attractions, Thingvellir will probably take the most time. Visiting it first will allow you to have a more leisurely afternoon at the remaining two attractions without feeling the need to rush to include Thingvellir later.

A benefit of taking this route is that it creates a loop, giving you the opportunity to view different sights on the way back that you may not have seen on the way out. You have the option to make extra stops on the return trip based on your available time or desired travel duration.

After visiting the three main attractions, there are no officially planned stops on the journey back to Reykjavik. However, there are many fascinating sights to see on the way. Here are some recommended stops you can consider adding to your Golden Circle road trip:

• Faxi Waterfall
• Skálholt Cathedral

Here's an example of what the extended route might look like. It includes additional stops, but will only increase the driving distance by approximately 15 miles.

Out-and-Back “Golden Line” Route

• Attraction Order : Thingvellir National Park > Geysir Hot Spring Area > Gullfoss waterfall
• Route Shape : Line
• Total Driving Miles : 145

To easily visit all three Golden Circle attractions from Reykjavik, you can use a straightforward route instead of following the circular path. This route is called the "Golden Line" and involves visiting the attractions in the golden circle in order and returning on the same path.

This alternative route is suitable for travelers who only want to visit the three main sites and continue with their other plans. It's a good option for those who don't need to see additional sites or sceneries on their way back.

In truth, after completing the three main attractions of the Golden Circle and departing from Gullfoss, the route you choose to return doesn't have a significant impact. Whether you follow the classic loop or retrace your original route, the difference in distance is only six miles. Your decision should be based on personal preference and whether you prefer to stick with a familiar route or explore something new on the way back.

I want to highlight the "Golden Line" route which Google maps suggests by default. However, you should be careful because if you don't pay attention, you might end up taking this route instead of the loop route that you intended to take.

Reverse Golden Circle Route

• Attraction Order : Gullfoss waterfall > Geysir Hot Spring Area > Thingvellir National Park  
• Route Shape : Line (loop optional)

A suggestion is to consider visiting the Golden Circle attractions in reverse order to reduce the crowds.

You can avoid the crowds by visiting Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir Hot Spring Area before heading to Thingvellir. Although you may encounter more people at Thingvellir, you'll still get to enjoy some peaceful moments earlier in the day.

Although there are some advantages to seeing the various Golden Circle tours in reverse, it is not a foolproof solution. While you may get lucky and avoid crowds, there is no guarantee. During the peak tourist season from May to August, you may encounter crowds no matter which order you choose to visit the Golden Circle.

If you don't intend to spend much time at the attractions or take extra stops, then we suggest the reverse Golden Circle route. It is ideal for travelers who want to see many places quickly, capture great photos, or avoid crowds.

To avoid crowds at Gullfoss, it's best to arrive as early as possible. The shortest route from Reykjavik passes through Thingvellir and Geysir, so you'll be taking the same route there and back. However, if you prefer to see something different on your way there, you could take the longer loop route, which only adds about 6 miles to your drive and doesn't require any extra stops.

To get to Gullfoss using the loop route, drive on Route 1 from Reykjavik and keep going north on Route 35.

Here is a link to that route.

Embarking on Your Golden Circle Tour: Self-Drive vs Guided Tours

Whether you're visiting Iceland for the famous waterfalls, geothermal hot springs, or the chance to drive around the Golden Circle, choosing the right tour option can significantly enhance your experience. Travelers generally opt for either self-drive tours or guided tours, each offering its unique advantages.

Self-Drive Golden Circle Tours

A self-drive tour allows you to explore all the highlights of the Golden Circle at your own pace. You have the freedom to visit the main attractions when you wish, stay for as long as you like, and even deviate from the standard route to discover lesser-known sights. This option is ideal for those who prefer having control over their itinerary and enjoy the adventure of driving in a new country.

Planning Your Self-Drive Tour

When planning your self-drive tour, several factors should be taken into consideration:

• Car Rental: Renting your own car is a crucial part of a self-drive tour. Ensure you choose a vehicle that suits the terrain and weather conditions. In winter, a 4x4 is recommended due to icy roads. Also, make sure to familiarize yourself with Iceland's driving laws before embarking on your journey. ‍
• Golden Circle Map: Having a detailed Golden Circle map will help you navigate the route more efficiently. This map should highlight all the main attractions, including Þingvellir National Park (where you can see the North American tectonic plates and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge), the Geysir geothermal area, and the Gullfoss waterfall. ‍
• Time of Visit: The best time to visit the Golden Circle depends on what you want to see. If you're interested in witnessing Iceland's famous golden circle under the midnight sun, summer is the ideal season. Long daylight hours allow for extended exploration. However, visiting the Golden Circle in winter offers a completely different experience, with the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights. ‍
• Itinerary Planning: Plan your itinerary carefully to make sure you can cover all the attractions within your available time. A typical self-drive tour might take half a day, but if you want to spend more time at each location or explore additional sights, consider spreading your tour over two stages or even two days. ‍
• Prepare for the Weather: Icelandic weather can be unpredictable. Dress warmly and in layers, even in the summer. Always check the weather forecast and road conditions before heading out.

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Other Things to Do in the Golden Circle, Iceland

Apart from its iconic attractions like Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall, the Golden Circle also offers a variety of other exciting activities. From exploring volcanic craters to relaxing in geothermal baths, here are some additional experiences you might want to add to your itinerary.

1. Snowmobiling on Langjökull Glacier

Boost your Golden Circle adventure by adding a snowmobiling experience on Langjökull Glacier. As Iceland's second-largest glacier, Langjökull provides an ideal terrain for this thrilling activity.

Guided tours usually include all necessary equipment and safety instructions, ensuring a fun and safe experience even for beginners. As you zoom across the icy landscape, take a moment to appreciate the sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

2. Relax in the Secret Lagoon

Add a touch of relaxation to your Golden Circle tour with a dip in the Secret Lagoon. Located in the village of Flúðir, this geothermal pool is one of the oldest in Iceland.

The warm waters of the Secret Lagoon offer a tranquil spot to unwind and soak in the stunning scenery. With temperatures staying around 38-40°C year-round, this natural hot spring is a delightful stop regardless of the season.

3. Horseback Riding

Experience the Golden Circle from a different perspective by going on a horseback riding tour. Icelandic horses are small, sturdy, and known for their unique gait called the tölt, which provides a smooth ride over various landscapes.

Riding tours generally cater to all experience levels, making this a fun activity whether you're an expert rider or trying it out for the first time. As you trot through fields, along rivers, and past geological wonders, you'll gain a deeper connection with Iceland's spectacular nature.

4. Snorkeling or Diving in Silfra

For a truly unique experience, consider snorkeling or diving in the Silfra fissure. Located within Þingvellir National Park, Silfra is a rift formed between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

The glacial water that fills Silfra is incredibly clear, with visibility often exceeding 100 meters. This allows you to see the stunning underwater landscapes in vivid detail. Whether you choose to snorkel on the surface or dive deeper into the fissure, exploring Silfra is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

5. Hiking and Bird Watching

The Golden Circle offers ample opportunities for hiking and bird watching. The diverse landscapes, from lava fields to lush valleys, provide a variety of trails for all fitness levels.

Bird enthusiasts will be delighted with the variety of species found in the area, particularly during the summer months. Bring your binoculars and keep an eye out for birds like the Arctic Tern, the Red-Throated Loon, and the White-Tailed Eagle. Always remember to respect the wildlife and keep a safe distance.

6. Northern Lights Hunting

A visit to the Golden Circle in winter could give you a chance to witness the spectacular Northern Lights. The area's remote location away from city lights provides ideal conditions for viewing this natural phenomenon.

However, sightings are never guaranteed, as they depend on solar activity and clear weather. It's recommended to check the forecast and plan your Northern Lights hunt on a night with little to no cloud cover. Despite the unpredictability, the potential reward of seeing the aurora borealis makes the hunt worthwhile.

Plan Your Golden Circle Adventure with Us

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Iceland with a meticulously planned tour through the iconic Golden Circle. At " Golden Circle Day Tour ," we ensure you don't miss out on any of the must-see sights; from the geological wonders of Kerið Crater Lake and Silfra fissure to thrilling adventures like snowmobiling on Langjökull Glacier, your adventure is our priority.

Ready to create unforgettable memories in the heart of Iceland? Start planning your Golden Circle adventure with us today. Visit our website or contact us to book your tour. Let's embark together on a journey that will stay with you forever!

How long does it take to do the Golden Circle in Iceland?

Completing the Golden Circle in Iceland can vary depending on how much time you spend at each location. The driving distance itself is around 186 miles (300km), and if you were to drive non-stop, it would take approximately three to four hours. However, considering the various attractions along the route, visitors typically spend anywhere from 6 to 8 hours to fully experience the Golden Circle.

What is special about the Golden Circle in Iceland?

The Golden Circle is one of Iceland's most popular tourist routes, renowned for its unique and diverse natural beauty. It covers three primary attractions: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall. Each site offers a distinctive glimpse into Iceland's stunning landscapes, from geysers and waterfalls to historic sites and geological wonders.

Is Golden Circle Iceland worth it?

Absolutely! The Golden Circle is considered a must-visit for anyone traveling to Iceland. It offers a unique blend of history, culture, and awe-inspiring natural beauty. Plus, its proximity to Reykjavik makes it an accessible day trip for those based in the city.

Why is it called Golden Circle?

The name "Golden Circle" refers to the circular route that covers some of Iceland's most iconic attractions. It is not known exactly why the term "Golden" was chosen, but it might be due to the golden hue of the grass surrounding the Gullfoss waterfall, one of the main stops on the route.

Is Iceland very expensive?

Yes, Iceland is often considered one of the more expensive countries to visit. The cost of living and services, including food, accommodation, and activities, can be higher compared to other destinations. However, the unique experiences and natural beauty that Iceland offers make it a worthwhile destination.

How cold is it at the Golden Circle?

The temperature at the Golden Circle can vary greatly depending on the season. In winter (December to February), temperatures can drop below freezing, while in summer (June to August), they can rise to around 10-15°C (50-59°F). It's always recommended to check the weather forecast before your trip and dress appropriately.

How far is Reykjavik from the Golden Circle?

The starting point of the Golden Circle, Þingvellir National Park, is approximately 49 kilometers (30 miles) away from Reykjavik, making it an easily accessible day trip for those staying in the city.

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Iceland’s Golden Circle: A Detailed Guide, Itinerary and Map for Your Trip!

Last updated: March 6, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 11 Comments

One of the most popular scenic routes in Iceland is the Golden Circle. This is a fantastic introduction to the country, and it lets you see many of the natural wonders that Iceland has to offer.

These include waterfalls, geothermal activity, spas, volcano craters and even a UNESCO world heritage site!

Even better, Iceland’s Golden Circle is an easy day trip from Reykjavik , making it accessible even if you’re on a short trip to Iceland.

In this post, we’re going to share with everything you need to know about Iceland’s Golden Circle, based on our time travelling in the country in both summer and winter.

This post includes what to see on the Golden Circle, the best ways to travel around the Golden Circle, other nearby attractions and lots more besides! Let’s get straight into it.

Table of Contents:

What is the Golden Circle in Iceland?

The Golden Circle is a circular route in southern Iceland that stretches for around 300 km / 186 miles and starts and ends in Reykjavik.

The route is popular, either as a day trip from the city, or as a precursor to exploring Iceland’s south coast. Often, instead of returning to the city, travellers continue along the south coast and then on around Iceland’s Ring Road .

The popularity is largely down to the easy accessibility of the route from the capital, and the fact that many of Iceland’s top attractions can be found along the route. We definitely recommend the Golden Circle to anyone visiting Iceland.

Why is it called the Golden Circle?

The Golden Circle gets its name from Gullfoss, one of the major waterfalls on the route. Gullfoss means Golden Falls in Icelandic. The circle part of the name is simply down to the route that you follow being roughly circular.

The name is also a clever bit of marketing as it sounds pretty cool. In the north of Iceland you can also find the Diamond Circle, another circular driving route which visits a number of popular attractions.

How Long Does it Take to Drive the Golden Circle?

The total driving time for the Golden Circle is just under four hours if you start and end in Reykjavik. Of course, this doesn’t include any stopping time or sightseeing.

For most visitors to Iceland, the Golden Circle is done either as a full day trip or a half day trip from Reykjavik, and we suggest allocating between 6 and 10 hours to the circuit.

Can I do the Golden Circle as a Day Tour from Reykjavik?

The Golden Circle is one of the most popular day tours from Reykjavik, so yes, you absolutely can.

We recommend some more tours at the end of the post, but here are a few quick examples to give you an idea of what’s available.

• An 8 hour tour of the Golden Circle which includes the major highlights plus Kerid Crater.
• A full day tour of all the highlights of the Golden Circle , which includes the option to visit the Blue Lagoon as well.
• A private full day tour of the Golden Circle which includes all the highlights as well as Kerid Crater, Faxi waterfall, and time for ice cream at Efstidalur II.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of choice, whether you want a private tour or a group tour.

When to Visit Iceland’s Golden Circle?

The Golden Circle can be visited year round. Most of the attractions here are open year-round and the roads are open and well-maintained in both summer and winter.

It’s also one of the most popular day trips from Reykjavik, meaning it can get quite busy.

Most of the tours from Reykjavik depart in the morning between 8am and 10am. Some half-day tours also depart in the afternoon, between midday and 2pm. The majority of all the tours are back in Reykjavik in the early evening.

The three most popular stops for tours are of course the highlights, which are Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss. Expect these locations to be busy from 10am until 6pm. In winter, due to the reduced hours of daylight, these locations will likely be busy from 10am until around 4pm.

If you want to avoid the crowds on the Golden Circle, the best option is to drive yourself, and to visit outside of the busy times. If you are visiting Iceland in summer, you will have almost unlimited hours of daylight at your disposal, so if you toured the highlights before 9am or after 6pm, you are likely to be visiting with fewer people.

However, we would say that you shouldn’t let the possibility of crowds put you off. The attractions are all fairly large with plenty of space, and are all worth seeing even if they are a bit busy when you visit.

Highlights of the Golden Circle in Iceland

The Golden Circle has three major highlights that you should visit, as well as a number of other attractions. We’re going to go through the three major highlights in the order you might visit them, and then share an example itinerary for visiting the Golden Circle.

Almost all Golden Circle day tours will include all three of these sites.

Þingvellir National Park

The first attraction you will come to on the Golden Circle, assuming you are driving it in a clockwise direction, is Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir in English).

This is a UNESCO world heritage site, and was Iceland’s first national park. It’s important from both a cultural point of view, and also from a geological point of view.

Suffice to say, you won’t want to skip it!

Thingvellir was the location for Iceland’s first parliament, known as the Althing, which first met on this site in 930 AD. This was around fifty years after Iceland was first settled. Thingvellir continued to be used as the parliament’s meeting location until 1798.

Thingvellir was chosen as the location for the parliament as it was deemed to be relatively easy to reach from all the different regions of Iceland. Parliamentary meetings were held over the warmer summer months, and it was a major focal point for the Icelandic people.

Laws were passed, judicial hearings took place, and the basis for Iceland’s present day cultural roots and heritage were essentially formed.

This would make Thingvellir National Park worth visiting alone, but there’s more to see here.

As you may know, Iceland sits right on the middle of two continental plates, the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate. These plates are slowly drifting apart from each other, and Thingvellir is found in the rift valley of these two plates.

This means that you can see and even walk in the cracks that have opened up in the earth as these massive plates move apart from each other. You can even go snorkelling or diving in these fissures , for a truly unique experience.

Fans of Game of Thrones will also be excited to visit Thingvellir, as a number of scenes from the show were filmed in the park.

Most recognisably, the so called Bloody Gate, which forms a part of the path to the Eyrie, was filmed here for Season 4 of the show. More on this, and lots more other locations for the show, in our guide to Game of Thrones locations in Iceland .

Thingvellir National Park is also home to a lovely waterfall, Oxararfoss. This is a ten minute walk from the parking lot, and is a gorgeous waterfall that is well worth the visit.

As you can see, there is plenty to see and do at Thingvellir, so expect to spend at least an hour to 90 minutes here. There are also more walking trails and sights to see if you want to extend your visit.

Visiting Thingvellir is free, however if you are driving yourself there is a small parking charge. This is valid for all the parking lots for the day, and payment is accepted by credit or debit card. Read more on the fees and how to pay here .

Haukadalur Geothermal Field

The next major highlight after Thingvellir National Park on the Golden Circle is the Haukadalur Geothermal Field,  also referred to as the Geysir Geothermal Area.

This is around an hours drive from Thingvellir, and is home to a range of geothermal wonders. These include mud pots, fumaroles and hot springs, as well as two of Iceland’s most famous geysers – Strokkur and Geysir.

Geysir (the name means “to gush”) is where our modern day word geyser comes from, and Geysir was the first geyser ever to be described in print.

If you want to see geothermal activity in Iceland, then the Haukadalur Geothermal field is a must-stop on the Golden Circle.

The two main geysers are Strokkur and Geysir. Of late, Geysir has been fairly dormant, although as he’s believed to have been erupting for at least 10,000 years, we think taking a break from time to time is only natural. When he does go off though it’s spectacular, with eruptions of boiling water and steam reaching over 400ft.

The good news though is that Strokkur, which is around fifty metres from Geysir, is far more reliable, usually erupting every five to ten minutes. This eruption is not quite as big as Geysir, generally averaging around 50ft in height, but it is still very impressive.

It’s free to visit Haukadalur Geothermal Field, and there’s free parking on site too.

Just be aware that this is an active geothermal area with thousands of gallons of boiling water pouring out of the ground, so take care when visiting and stay to the marked paths. Keep a close watch on children.

Gullfoss Waterfall

The last of the three major highlights of the Golden Circle is Gullfoss waterfall. Gullfoss, which means golden falls, is where the name of the Golden Circle comes from.

Gullfoss is a truly spectacular waterfall, and is one of our favourite waterfalls in Iceland .

The waterfall, which is on the Hvítá river, is found around ten minutes drive from Haukadalur. There are two main parking areas which offer different views of the falls, one at a lower elevation, and one at a higher elevation.

The views from both locations are worth seeing, and a set of steps links the two. It’s also possible to walk along the edge of the river above the falls for different views.

The falls themselves are across two stages, with the first around 36 feet in height, and the second around 70 feet in height. Before these stages there’s a wide three-step drop that spans the width of the river. The falls are impressive due to their large volume of water, with approximately 4,900 cubic feet of water passing over the falls each second in summer.

Gullfoss is beautiful in both summer and winter. In summer, it’s surrounded by lush green vegetation, and there’s a good chance of seeing rainbows in the spray if you visit in the afternoon, as we did. In the winter, it’s a whole different scene, with snow covered landscapes stretching off into the distance.

The Falls have a visitor centre, shop, and cafe on site. It is free to visit and park here.

As well as being an impressive sight in of itself, Gulfoss is also the starting point for a number of experiences that many visitors to Iceland are interested in doing.

For example, you can book a tour to an ice cave and glacier , or you can take a snowmobiling tour on a glacier . These are seasonal tours, but might be worth considering if these activities are on your wishlist.

Other Attractions On or Near the Golden Circle

As well as the three major attractions along the Golden Circle, there are a number of other stops that you might consider. Some tours will include some of these locations, whilst others will require you to drive your own car, and even to do a short hike.

These attractions are listed in the order that you would encounter them if you depart from Reykjavik and drive the Golden Circle in a clockwise direction. Some of them do require taking a small detour from the main Golden Circle route.

þórufoss, or Thorufoss, is just a five minute detour from the Golden Circle route, and we think is a detour that is very much worth doing.

The waterfall is just off Route 48, and there’s a small parking lot off the road. Note that you can’t see the falls from the roads, and there’s not much in the way of a sign, meaning many visitors miss it.

From the small parking area, it’s a five minute walk across flat ground to a viewpoint, where you can see the falls. You can also descend down the fairly steep path to the pool at the base if you are so inclined, but we thought the view was just fine from the viewing area.

The falls are not huge, but they are very picturesque. They have around a 54ft drop and are around 100 ft wide. They were also used as a Game of Thrones filming location . A good stop if you have an extra 15 minutes or so.

Laugarvatn Fontana

When you visit Iceland, the chances are high that you will want to take a soak in some sort of geothermal spring. Iceland has no shortage of these, from the famous Blue Lagoon , to hot rivers, and everything in between.

On (or near) the Golden Circle, there are at least three places for you to stop off for a refreshing soak, and the first of these is Laugarvatn Fontana .

The natural geothermal springs here have been a popular attraction since 1929. There are a series of experiences you can have here, including steam rooms, and warm pools that overlook the lake. There’s also a hot tub and sauna.

Those of you feeling brave can even take a refreshing dip in the lake itself, which is accessible from the bathing area.

Another reason to visit Laugarvatn Fontana, even if you aren’t planning on using their spa facilities, is for their famous lava bread. They bake their own bread using geothermal heat (a process that takes around 24 hours) and the end result is delicious.

Laugarvatn Fontana is in the town of Laugarvatn, which is on the Golden Circle between Thingvellir National Park and Haukadalur Geothermal Field. There’s free parking on site, but entry to the spa itself does have a fee, which you can see on their website here .

Towels are available for hire, so we recommend packing a travel towel like this to save on that fee.

They also have a nice on-site cafe which serves traditional Icelandic fare and snacks, including that delicious lava bread.

If you’re looking for a tour that includes time at Laugarvatn Fontana, this is a good option .

Faxi (also known as Vatnsleysufoss) is another beautiful waterfall on the Golden Circle, found on the Tungufljót river. It’s not a very high waterfall at around 22 ft, but it is 300ft wide, and is unusual enough to warrant a visit we think.

You can either view the falls from the road above them, or drive down to the parking lot at the base. It’s a popular place for salmon fishing, so expect to see fishermen during the fishing season.

The falls are around a five minute detour off the Golden Circle route, and if you have the time are worth visiting for some photos. There’s also a restaurant on-site here, Vid Faxa, which offers meals with nice views.

This private tour includes a stop at Faxi.

Secret Lagoon Hot Spring

The Secret Lagoon Hot Spring is the second of the geothermal baths you can visit whilst travelling the Golden Circle. Despite the name, it must be said that the secret is definitely out on this one.

The Secret Lagoon dates from 1891, making it the oldest man-made swimming pool in the country. However, it fell into disuse until around 2005, when the present owner started to use it himself as a private pool, and hence it got its name.

Today the pool is open to all for a fee, and offers a lovely bathing experience. It’s part of a larger geothermal area, so you can also see a baby geyser (Litli Geysir) as well as boiling pools.

It’s around a 10 minute detour from the main Golden Circle route to get to the Secret Lagoon, which is found in the town of Flúðir. There’s a fee to use it, and you can opening hours and prices on the official website here . You can also buy your tickets in advance online here .

Your entry ticket includes access to the segregated changing rooms, lockers and showers. Towel and swimsuit hire is available as an extra charge, so we recommend bringing your own .

Note that in Iceland it is required to shower fully naked prior to bathing, and whilst the changing rooms and showers are normally segregated, there are not usually private shower cubicles. So do keep this in mind prior to booking any spa experience.

The Secret Lagoon can be visited on a self-drive trip.

Kerið Crater

Kerið Crater, also called Kerid Crater, is a lovely volcano crater and crater lake just off the Golden Circle as you return to Reykjavik.

The crater is one of the best examples of its type in Iceland. It only formed around 3,000 years ago, so weathering and erosion have not had too great an impact, meaning it’s very visually recognisable.

When you visit, you have the option of walking around the crater, and you can also descend the approximately 200 feet down to the lake itself if you wish. It’s a lovely colourful red color with a fairly circular lake inside it, and makes for a great stop.

There’s a small entry fee of 400 ISK (as of June 2019) to visit the crater and park here. It’s also included on this tour , or this private tour .

Bobby Fischer Center

Those of you with an interest in chess will likely be interested in visiting the Bobby Fischer Center , one of the few museums in the world dedicated to a world champion chess player!

This is found in the town of Selfoss, and would be around a five minute detour from your Golden Circle route.

Here you can learn all about Bobby Fischer, often regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time. Bobby was originally from Chicago in the USA, but lived the last years of his live in Iceland, largely as a way to avoid deportation to the USA following his violation of US sanctions in Yugoslavia.

There’s a small entry fee, and the museum is open from mid-May to mid-September. See the official website for opening times.

Horse Riding

Iceland is home to the beautiful Icelandic horse, a tough breed which has a wonderful flowing mane.

Many people want to meet, take photography with, learn about, and of course, ride, an Icelandic Horse when in Iceland.

When driving the Golden Circle, one option is to visit Friðheimar . You can pre-book a visit to the stables, and in the summer months they also run a horse show.

It’s also possible to take a tour of the Golden Circle which includes visiting a horse stable , or a tour of the Golden Circle which includes horse riding .

Reykjadalur Hot Spring

Last, but by no means least, on our list of attractions near the Golden Circle, is the Reykjadalur Hot Spring. Unlike the other geothermal springs in this guide, this one is entirely free to visit, and is also a largely natural feature.

This one is just off the Golden Circle, with the parking lot for the hike around a five minute detour through the town of Hveragerði.

Hot water bubbles out of the ground and joins a natural river, and you can get into the river at different points and relax in the pools. To adjust the temperature, you’ll just want to go up or downstream!

There are of course a few caveats to this natural attraction. First, it’s about a 1 hour walk each way from the parking area to the bathing area. The path is well marked and fairly easy to follow, but it does go uphill for quite a while.

Second, there are no formal changing areas, showers, toilets, or anything like that. There is just a wooden boardwalk area with wooden modesty panels, but they are not enclosed.

So if you are nervous about getting undressed in public, you may want to put your swimsuit on underneath your clothing before you start the hike.

There’s also no shelter here for your or your stuff. So if it’s raining, you’ll want to be sure to have some sort of waterproof cover for your gear.

We advise against visiting in winter or when there is a lot of snow or ice on path as it can be more difficult to follow the path and to distinguish safe and unsafe areas.

All that said, this is a really wonderful natural bathing experience, especially in nice weather. If you are driving the Golden Circle in the summer months when you have lots of light, it would make a great last stop on your adventure!

Itinerary for Iceland’s Golden Circle

If you are planning on hiring a car and driving the Golden Circle, we’ve put together this quick suggested 1 day Golden Circle itinerary that departs from Reykjavik in the morning and returns to Reykjavik in the afternoon / evening.

It could also be used as the starting point for a longer trip in Iceland, and for some inspiration in that department, see our itineraries for 3 days in Iceland , 7 days in Iceland , and the Iceland ring road .

Stop 1: þórufoss

Our first suggested stop on your Golden Circle trip is þórufoss. It’s a pretty waterfall and it’s not usually too crowded. Depending on the traffic out of the city and where you are leaving from, expect this to take you around 40 minutes of driving. You shouldn’t need more than 10 – 15 minutes here.

Stop 2: Thingvellir

From þórufoss it’s about a 20 minute drive to Thingvellir National park. There’s a lot to see and do here. Don’t forget to pay for your parking! Highlights include Þingvallakirkja (the church), Lögberg (rock formations), the various fissures, and the Öxarárfoss waterfall.

You can also book snorkelling here . You’ll want to book this in advance and expect to allocate at least 2 – 3 hours to them if you choose to do those, which will impact how much you can see over the rest of the day.

Otherwise, we’d suggest scheduling around 90 minutes for Thingvellir.

Stop 3: Lunch at Efstidalur II.

By now you might be getting hungry. Our suggestion for lunch is the restaurants and farm shop at Efstidalur II, which is around a 40 minute drive from Thingvellir.

They have delicious food made from locally sourced ingredients, and we really enjoyed their burger. They are also famous for their ice cream, so even if you are travelling on more of a budget and are rocking a packed lunch, we highly recommend indulging in some ice cream anyway!

Expect to spend 45 – 90 minutes here if you have the full lunch, or a 15 minute break for ice cream.

Stop 4: Haukadalur Geothermal Field

After lunch, it’s a 15 minute drive to Haukadalur Geothermal field where you can see the bubbling mud points, steaming fumaroles, and erupting geysers.

This is a wonderfully photogenic location and is a lot of fun to visit. Expect to spend around 30 minutes – 45 minutes on site.

Stop 5: Gullfoss Waterfall

From Haukadalur it’s just a short 10 minute drive to Gullfoss, which is often the major highlight for most visitors touring the Golden Circle.

It’s not hard to see why, and this waterfall is truly impressive. There are a plethora of photo opportunities here, so expect to spend at least 30 – 45 minutes on site. There’s also a gift shop, cafe and restrooms here.

Stop 6: Faxi waterfall

It’s time to turn around and start heading back to Reykjavik. If you’re still keen on seeing some waterfalls, then a stop at the quieter Faxi waterfall, 20 minutes drive from Gullfoss, is worth it.

It’s just off the road, and shouldn’t take up more than 10 – 15 minutes of your time.

Stop 7: Kerið Crater

From Faxi, continue on Route 35 for around half an hour until you come to Kerid Crater. This is another very worthwhile stop on the Golden Circle, giving you the opportunity to explore a real volcano crater up close.

You can spend a fair amount of time here if you choose to hike around the crater and go down to the crater floor, or you can just swing by and take a few photos. We’d suggest allocating between 15 minutes and an hour here, depending on your interest level.

Stop 8:  Choose a Hot Spring

If you are interested in visiting a hot spring in Iceland, the Golden Circle provides three options for you.

The two hot springs on the way around the Golden Circle, Laugarvatn Fontana and the Secret Lagoon, are very easy to visit as you travel round, and there are tours available which stop at one or the other.

See this tour which includes Laugarvatn Fontana..

Another option, if you are driving the Golden Circle over the summer months and want a bit of a hike to end out your day, then we definitely recommend taking the time to visit Reykjadalur Hot Spring.

It will take you around 25 minutes to drive to the parking lot here from Kerid Crater, after which you’re looking at at least an hours hike each way to reach the bathing area.

After all that hiking, you’ll likely want to enjoy the pools, so expect to spend around an hour lazing around. We’d not recommend doing this in winter, or if you need to get back to Reykjavik to return your hire car by a certain time.

From Reykjadalur to Reykjavik it’s about a 45 minute drive.

Another option is to add on a visit to the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon at the end of your trip. The Blue Lagoon is closer to the airport, whilst the Sky Lagoon is closer to Reyjkavik city centre. If you are driving yourself, neither are too great of a detour.

The Blue Lagoon makes for a good option if you are flying out the following day as the Blue Lagoon is close to the airport, and there are hotels in this area you can overnight at.

It’s also possible to take a Golden Circle tour which includes a trip to the Blue Lagoon at the end of the trip.

Total driving time on the Golden Circle: ~ 4 hours Total sightseeing time on the Golden Circle: 3 – 8 hours, depending on sights and activities

Overall time for the Golden Circle 7 – 12 hours.

Map of Iceland’s Golden Circle

To help you visualise the Golden Circle and plan your route, we’ve put together this map. This has the standard Golden Circle Driving Route, as well as the major highlights and other attractions marked. You can see also see this on Google Maps here .

Where to Stay on the Golden Circle

The majority of travellers driving the Golden Circle do it either as a day trip from Reykjavik , day tour, or as the start of larger trip around the country.

However, you can also stay on the Golden Circle too, and thus not feel rushed to get back to the city.

If you have more time in Iceland, you can easily split it up into 2 much more manageable days and have more time to explore this route, with plenty of time for side attractions, day-hikes and thermal baths!

We’ve stayed at a few properties on the Golden Circle itself, as well as in Reykjavik, and wanted to share some options to help you plan.

Accommodation on the Golden Circle

• Héradsskólinn Guesthouse – A great value and well reviewed hostel close to the Laugarvatn Spa. There’s an on-site restaurant, and rooms range from dorms to private accommodation.
• Efstidalur Farm hotel – A lovely option that is close to both Haukadalur Geothermal Field and Gullfoss. There’s an on-site restaurant and bar, a geothermal outdoor hot tub, and they offer Icelandic horse riding in the summer
• Fludir Icelandair Hotel – We stayed here once during a trip around the Golden Circle and it was very comfortable, with an on-site restaurant.
• Garður Stay Inn by the Secret Lagoon – This is a well reviewed property which is very handy for the “Secret Lagoon”
• River Hotel – Located by the Ranga River next to the town of Hella, this hotel offers dining, an open-air hot tub, bar and free wifi.
• Midgard basecamp – Found in Hvolsvöllur, this highly rated hostel is a great budget option with a hot tub
• Skyr Guesthouse – An excellent option just a couple of minutes drive from the Reykjadalur Hot Spring hike start point. We stayed here for a night and enjoyed the comfortable rooms and delicious food in the on-site restaurant

Accommodation in Reykjavik

• Galaxy Pod Hostel – A well located hostel offering dormitory accommodation with a twist – each bed is in a self-contained pod, offering more privacy than a normal hostel. Pods vary in standard, but most come with TV’s, power and WiFi.
• Reyjkavik Natura Icelandair Hotel , this hotel offers free parking, a free city bus pass to all guests, on-site restaurant and spa facilities. We stayed here on our first visit to Reykjavik.
• Guesthouse Galtafell  – A good value option around ten minutes walk from the city center and quick walk from the BSI bus station. Offers both guest rooms in the main house as well as apartments that come with a small kitchenette. We’ve also stayed here.
• Grand Hotel, around 1.2 miles from the city center, offering four star accommodation, free wifi, spa & fitness center and free parking. We’ve also stayed here.
• Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina – a very central 4* hotel right on the Marina within a short walking distance of the highlights of the city. Rooms are all en-suite, some have balconies, and there’s a gym and restaurant on site.

Options for Visiting the Golden Circle

You have two main options for visiting the Golden Circle – you can drive yourself, or you can take a guided tour.

Guided tours are a very popular option, and because so many companies offer them, prices are competitive so you can get a full day tour at a good rate. See the next section for some of the tours and companies we suggest you look into for touring the Golden Circle, which includes both group and private tours.

The closest guided tour we found to the itinerary we put together is this full day tour .

The other option is to rent a car and drive yourself. There are a number of options for car rental in Iceland, but we recommend you check either Discover Cars here or on Northbound here .

Discover Cars compare a number of providers in the country so you can find the best price for you.

Northbound is based in Iceland, and they also search a range of providers with the added advantage that you can add the various insurances that are unique to the country should you so choose. This can help avoid the hard sell that you will otherwise likely get for these insurances at the checkout counter when you pick up your car.

See more on insurance in Iceland, plus general advice for driving in the country, in our tips for driving in Iceland post .

The Golden Circle follows good paved roads, so you won’t need a 4×4 for the Golden Circle. However, if you are doing it as part of a longer trip and are driving in winter, or are planning any time in the highlands in summer, you might consider a 4×4 vehicle.

At around 300 kms, the Golden Circle is easily driveable as a day trip from the city. Whilst gas is expensive in Iceland, you won’t need more than a tank to drive the whole distance.

That said, if you are travelling on your own or even as a couple, and budget is a consideration, you might find that a tour works out to be more cost effective than the cost of vehicle rental, insurance, and gas. This is because Golden Circle tours are really well priced in Iceland.

For budget tips, see our guide to travelling Iceland on a budget for more lots of tips on saving money in the country.

Best Tours of the Golden Circle

As already mentioned in the post, one of the most popular ways to experience the Golden Circle is on a tour. There’s a wide variety of Golden Circle tours to choose from, and taking a tour means you can just enjoy the sight-seeing without having to worry about the driving or other logistics.

Here are some suggested tours of the Golden Circle to consider, all of which depart from Reykjavik.

• An 8 hour tour which includes the three highlights of the Golden Circle plus Kerid Crater. One of the lower cost Golden Circle tours.
• A year round 9 hour tour which covers all the Golden Circle highlights and also includes time at the Laugarvatn Fontana.
• A 10 hour full day tour of the Golden Circle which also includes snorkelling in the Silfra Fissure
• An 11 hour tour of the Golden Circle which includes all the highlights, as well as an Icelandic Horse Riding experience

See many more tour options on  GetYourGuide here and Viator here .

Further Reading

That summarises our guide to Iceland’s Golden Circle. We’ve visited Iceland a number of times in both summer and winter, and have put together a number of detailed guides to help you plan your own trip. Here are some we think you will find useful:

• We have a detailed guide to the best day trips from Reykjavik , if you choose to base yourself in the city and explore from there
• We also have a guide to the best group tours of Iceland , if you want a longer guided experience. These range from a few days to a few weeks and cover all budgets
• For overall planning, see our guide to planning a trip to Iceland
• If you are looking for a self guided road trip in Iceland, we have some suggested itineraries. These include a 3 day stopover itinerary , a 5 day Iceland itinerary , a 7 day Iceland winter itinerary , and an Iceland ring road itinerary
• Iceland has lot of attractions to suit different types of traveller! For some specific advice on different sights, see our guides to finding puffins in Iceland , Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland , and waterfalls in Iceland
• If you’re visiting Iceland in winter, we have a winter packing list for Iceland , suggested winter activities in Iceland , and tips for driving in Iceland in winter
• A popular attraction in Iceland is the Blue Lagoon – we wrote a whole guide to visiting the Blue Lagoon to help you plan your visit and make the most of your time there
• Iceland is a fairly expensive country to visit. To help you save money, we put together a guide to visiting Iceland on a budget
• If you’re lucky, you might see the northern lights in Iceland if visiting in winter. See our guide to photographing the Northern Lights for some tips on getting great shots
• Speaking of photography, we have a guide to the best photography locations in Iceland , as well as a guide to finding the Iceland plane crash , which is a popular photography location

And that’s it for our post on visiting Iceland’s Golden Circle! As always, we’re happy to hear your feedback and answer any questions – just use the comments section below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

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Anne Campbell says

11th February 2023 at 1:01 pm

Thank you so much for this excellent post about the Golden Circle! I haven’t found anything else online that compares to it. My husband, 15 year old son and I are going to be visiting Iceland on a 2-day layover to London in May and we have the Golden Circle planned for our second day in Iceland. With this post, I feel confident that I know what we will see and do, and we can’t wait!

Laurence Norah says

12th February 2023 at 10:32 am

Thanks very much Anne! Have a great time in Iceland and let me know if you have any questions!

Roy Hays says

23rd July 2022 at 2:58 pm

When is the best time to visit the golden circle?

24th July 2022 at 7:25 pm

If you mean by time of the year then honestly it depends! Summer you get lovely long days and green landscapes, whilst in winter you get shorter days but lovely snow covered landscapes. We’ve been at both times of year and they are both lovely, but it really just depends on whether you prefer a summery experience or a wintry experience!

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Neil Swinyard-Jordan says

12th August 2021 at 8:33 am

Good morning, I’ve just finished reading your website pages and so far it’s the best I’ve come across for details and things to do in Iceland and I’ve sent the address to several friends who are also planning trips to Iceland. Personally, I’ve booked a trip with my wife and two older parents in October, for 9 days. Keen to see the Golden Circle, our first 2.5 days will be staying to the south west of the circle at the Fire and Ice Hotel. I’d love to do the snorkelling at Silfra, perhaps the afternoon after we arrive in the morning but then wondered what you recommend for the best route to see the areas you write about above (clockwide /anti-clockwise, half one day, half the next)? We want to do the hot river soak, get to the far north for Gullfoss and see the main sights. Is it all doable in the time we have? Many thanks Neil.

12th August 2021 at 12:50 pm

Thanks very much, it’s great to hear from you.

So the hotel you have picked, (which I think is the Frost & Fire hotel in Hveragerði), is definitely well located, and just a four minute drive or 30 minute walk to the start of the Thermal River walk. It is definitely all possible in the time you have. I’d suggest:

The hot spring soak on the day you arrive. This isn’t time sensitive and doesn’t need a booking, so you don’t need to feel rushed about getting here should you have a flight delay. It’s about an hour’s walk each way from the start point, plus however long you choose to stay, so this could easily take up most of that afternoon if you choose.

The following day I would recommend the Silfra snorkelling experience and time exploring Thingvellir, including þórufoss. On the way back you could stop at Kerid Crater.

For your third day you could do the highlights around Gulfoss, including Faxi and Geysir.

This will give you plenty of time to see everything without being rushed at all. You could in theory do everything quicker (many people do the Golden Circle in a day), but going at a more leisurely pace will let you really enjoy everything.

I hope I’ve interpreted your request correctly in terms of the number of days you have, but do let me know if not and I can offer a revision 🙂

Have a great trip!

12th August 2021 at 6:18 pm

Laurence, That’s great and you interpreted everything exactly as I’d hoped. Your ‘programme’ will work for us and to do it at a leisurely pace will be ideal for the two parents… Many thanks, Neil

Kelly Brennan says

8th August 2021 at 2:08 am

Wonderful and very helpful article. I was wondering if you could give some advice? We are travelling with our kids (21&18) on the Disney cruise. (August 2022) We plan on renting a car. We would like to see the Golden Circle, Hike the Steamy Valley to the river hot-springs and go to the Blue Lagoon. We would like to see a bit of Reykjavik as well. We arrive at 1:00 pm and depart the next day at 5:00 pm. We can leave/return to the ship at anytime. Is this possible?? Thank you in advance. Kelly.

8th August 2021 at 12:39 pm

Great to hear from you and thanks for your kind words. I’d be happy to help. Sounds like you have an awesome trip coming up. So I would say that your plan might be pushing it a little in terms of getting everything in, although it depends on how fast you move and how early / late you are willing to travel. As you are visiting in August and the sun doesn’t set until around 10pm, you do have lots of daylight time to play with!

The drive out to Reykjadalur Hot Spring (I’m assuming this is what you mean for the steamy valley) is about 45 minutes each way from the city, and then it’s about a 1hr walk each way to the bathing area, plus however long you want to spend in the river itself.

The drive out to the Blue Lagoon from Reyjkavik is about 40 minutes each way.

I think you might have to decide between the Blue Lagoon and the Reykjadalur Hot Spring, unless you are planning some early starts or a late night.

An itinerary could look as follows:

Day 1: Spend a couple of hours sightseeing in Reykjavik on Head out to the Reykjadalur Hot Spring OR the Blue Lagoon between 3pm and 4pm.

Day 2, focus on the Golden Circle.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to be out too late, you could do the hot spring or the Blue Lagoon on day 1, then do the Golden Circle in the morning of day 2, followed by spending the remainder of your time sight seeing in Reyjkavik.

I hope this helps!

8th August 2021 at 3:27 pm

Thank you! I thought we were pushing it. The plan looks great. Have a fantastic day. Kelly.

8th August 2021 at 3:30 pm

My pleasure! Have a great trip 😀

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Price: kr. 7.990

• Location: Pick up
• Length: 8.5 Hours
• Availability: All Year

Grand Golden Circle Tour

A grand day tour to all of the major Golden Circle attractions makes for an exciting trip exploring Iceland’s history, culture, and nature. Experience Þingvellir National Park, Strokkur and the Great Geysir, Gullfoss Waterfall, and Kerið Crater, all mesmerizing scenes within a day

Description

The Golden Circle day tour is one of the most popular trips in Iceland, as it covers the most iconic and diverse attractions that the land of fire and ice has to offer.

The Golden Circle in Iceland refers to the three primary sights along a 300-kilometer (186.4 miles) route, with many other delightful, smaller-scale attractions scattered in between.

On our day tour, we will visit all of the main sights, and if time allows, we will make a few extra stops along the way, so you can see even more of Iceland. The historic  Thingvellir National Park , the geothermal wonders of  Geysir , the golden  Gullfoss waterfall , and an additional stop at the  Kerið Volcanic Crater Lake . It’s an exciting day packed with adventure!

We offer several Golden Circle Tours. You will love them: Visit

• Golden Circle Classic Tours
• Golden C. Day Tours Tours
• Golden Circle Private Tours
• Golden Circle Combo Tours 

Highlights:

Thingvellir national park.

• Geysir geothermal area

Gullfoss Waterfall

• Kerið Volcanic Crater Lake (entrance fee included in the tour)

The Grand Golden Circle full-day tour begins with our efficient pick-up service. You only need to be on time at one of the designated pick-up stops in central Reykjavik, so we can come and collect you. Once we have everyone on board we will head out to our first point of interest.

Kerið Volcanic Crater Lake

We will first make a stop at the Kerid Crater in the Golden Circle, a volcanic crater lake that formed around 3000 years ago. It’s famous for the stark contrast in colors – maroon mineral sediment, dark lava rocks , and blueish lake water – forming a naturally eye-pleasing sight. You can also take a walk along the crater rim or follow the paved path down to the bottom of the crater to get a better view.

The origin of Kerið began almost 3000 years ago during an eruption that was said to be grand, but when the magma emptied the chamber collapsed in on itself, leaving the crater as the shape we see today.

Want to visit Golden Circle Classis

Gullfoss Waterfall, aka the Golden Falls, is a must-visit attraction of the Golden Circle tours in Iceland. It is an astonishing waterfall originating from Iceland’s second-largest glacier  Langjökull . Its roaring cascade first runs down a gradual slope for 11 meters (36.01 ft) and then tumbles down deep into the canyon with a 21-meter (68.9 ft) magnificent, wide drop, creating impressive, beautiful mist to splash up in the air, reflecting a giant rainbow in the sunlight.

Well-paved pathways are available with different viewpoints to admire the Gullfoss waterfall. The first viewpoint is the upper deck next to the visitor center, from which you have a panoramic view of the waterfall in its entirety.

Following the path, you can walk down to the lower deck, to view another side of the thunderous drop that vanishes into the depth of the earth. Then you can see the first plunge of the waterfall from a closer distance on the lower deck. Please be aware that the path can be closed if it’s icy and conditions are not ideal.

Geysir Geothermal Area

Next up, we head out to the dynamic geothermal area Geysir, which is named after the original geyser, the  Great Geysir , which is no longer active. The area is filled with steam vents, bubbling pits, and sizzling ponds, with multicolored patches dotted here and there. The main show of the site is the active  Strokkur Geyser  that gushes 20 meters up in the air every 5 to 10 minutes. The spectacular, lively sight is the highlight of the Geysir geothermal field.

Another feature of the area is the bubbling hot springs and the steamy muddy fields, creating a sulfuric smell. The geysers create a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Iceland’s wonder.

There’s a visitor center close by, selling souvenirs, and local products, and offering many lunch options.

As one of the most famous sites and must-visits in Iceland, Thingvellir National Park has great significance in both the history and geology of Iceland. In 930 AD, the world’s first parliament was established here in Thingvellir by Vikings, making it the oldest parliament. Most surprisingly the parliament is still active and fully functioning!

Thingvellir sits right on the only visible section of the  Mid-Atlantic Ridge , which is mostly submerged in the ocean. As you walk along the pathway, you are walking in between the rift valley between two diverging tectonic plates that are home to North America  and  Eurasia , respectively.

Thingvellir National Park is home to a diverse range of scenery which includes the  Öxaráfoss waterfall ,  Almannagjá gorge ,  Hakið panoramic viewpoint ,  Silfra Fissure,  and the  Þingvallakirkja Church . The water is crystal clear at Thingvellir as the meltwater from  Langjökull glacier  seeps through the underground lava field, considered to be the best natural filter in the world.

A national treasure, Þingvellir is a great place to learn about Iceland’s history and heritage, especially if you are interested in Vikings, and how the laws of the land came about. In 2004, Þingvellir National Park was listed as one of the  UNESCO World Heritage Sites .

After our eventful day exploring the sights of Iceland, we will begin our drive back to Reykjavik. Along the way, you will see some picturesque scenery over the course of the 45-minute drive back to your pick-up point.

What’s included

• Professional guide
• Entrance fees to Kerið Volcanic Crater

What’s excluded

• Pickup and drop off
• Food and drinks

What do I need to bring?

• Warm, water- and windproof clothing are always useful in Iceland.
• All tickets are e-tickets so there is no need to print them out.

Important information

• The duration of the tour is 8,5 hrs
• The tour allows for lunchtime at the Geysir area

Cancellation policy

• A cancellation fee of 100% if canceled 1 day or less before departure

Quick Links

• Lagoons in Iceland
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• Visit Westman Islands
• Visit Vík í Mýrdal
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Golden Circle Iceland is operated by eTravel ehf which is a licensed tour operator founded in 2014

Golden Circle Tour Iceland: A Full Itinerary

I f you’re coming to Iceland, you’re no doubt ready to enjoy the plethora of outdoor pursuits our beautiful Nordic island has to offer. One of the most popular driving circuits for tourists is the Golden Circle route. It makes for the perfect day trip from Reykjavik  and features lots of typically Icelandic highlights and attractions. But it’s not just Gullfoss Waterfall, Thingvellir National Park, and the geysers in Haukadalur geothermal valley that you should go visit. Let’s look at a full Golden Circle tour in Iceland to give you some ideas for your itinerary.

The Golden Circle is a collection of natural attractions in South Iceland close to Reykjavik. It gets its name from essentially being a 300 km (190-mile) route that loops its way around from the capital city. Whether you opt for a full day outing or half-day excursion, There’s plenty to see and do along the way.

Anyone visiting the Iceland Golden Circle already knows about the Big Three mentioned previously. But what many people are not aware of are the other fantastic stops in detours along the way. If you’re planning on making a day out of it, you want to have a good mix. An ideal road trip includes both the main places of interest and some off the beaten path gems.

Road trips and DIY day tours in Iceland with a car, camper van, or motorhome rental  are definitely the way to go. You have a lot more flexibility than with guided tours to visit the attractions in Iceland to your heart’s content. That’s why we’ve created this ultimate guide to the Golden Circle Iceland. It’s a full list of everything there is to see and do on one of the most popular day tours in Iceland. Pick and choose what appeals to you most and go from there.

So what are the stops on the Golden Circle? Heading clockwise to and from Reykjavik, these are the main places of interest on a Golden Circle map.

• Thingvellir National Park
• Silfra Fissure

Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths

Efstidalur farm.

• Geysir and Strokkur geysers in Haukadalur Geothermal Valley
• Gullfoss Waterfall

Langjökull Glacier

• Drumbó River Base

The Secret Lagoon

• Friðheimar Farm
• Solheimar Ecovillage

Kerið Crater

Thingvellir (þingvellir) national park: golden circle history and geology.

This national park in Iceland has a lot of significance, both historically and geologically. as the home of Iceland’s first parliament, this is where democracy began in Iceland. In fact, the Alþingi (Iceland’s parliament) began in 930 AD, making it the oldest parliament in the world.

Thingvellir is also where you can see the Earth’s crust coming apart. Iceland rests on the plate boundary of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. There’s a huge crack running through the ground and you can go scuba diving here at the Silfra fissure. it’s no wonder this UNESCO World Heritage site was chosen as a Game of Thrones filming location.

There are lots of Icelandic Hot Springs nestled away for those looking to avoid the crowds of the Blue Lagoon. Laugarvatn, also known as “Fontana Spa,” offers more than just relaxing waters. Besides soaking in its rejuvenating pools, you can also partake in a unique geothermal baking tour, where rugbrauð is baked underground. This lovely little town provides a peaceful retreat and is a great alternative to the Mývatn Nature Baths if you’re short on time.

If you weren’t aware, Icelandic ice cream  is some of the best in the world. This may seem a bit ironic at first, but we Icelanders aren’t anything if not quirky. If you’re traveling around the Golden Circle, be sure to make a stop at Efstidalur Farm. Their hand-crafted ice cream made with locally-sourced ingredients Uses cow’s milk fresh from the farm. There is also a hotel and restaurant on site.

Geysir and Strokkur Geysers in Haukadalur Geothermal Valley

The Geysir geothermal area in Haukadalur Valley is home to the mighty Strokkur and Geysir geysers. In fact, we get the English word “geyser” from Geysir. Unfortunately, it’s not as active anymore. You’ll have better luck with Strokkur, which shoots boiling water into the air approximately every 5 to 10 minutes

Gullfoss Waterfall: A Star of Iceland’s Golden Circle

Iceland “golden” waterfall is one of 10,000 cascades around the country. Its unique moniker, meaning golden falls, comes from the color it gives off on sunny days. When the light of the sun hits the sediment in the water it seems to have a golden tint.

Although Vatnajökull gets most of the attention, Iceland actually has a whopping 269 named glaciers. Ice caps, outlet glaciers, ice streams, mountain glaciers, and more cover around 11% of the island. Langjökull is one of these! For activities like hiking the glacier, exploring ice caves, or snowmobiling on Langjökull, joining a guided tour is necessary. Although it’s a slight detour from the Golden Circle, the experience is absolutely worth it.

Drumbó River Base on the Hvitá River

River rafting fans will want to grab their oars and life jackets and head for the Hvitá River. Rafting is a popular thing to do here as long as you can take the chill of the water. This is a great outdoor activity, especially in the summer.

The Secret Lagoon is one of the thousands of hot springs you’ll find in Iceland. If you want to take a dip while traveling the circuit, this is a great place to stop. When you come to Iceland, be sure to bring your towel and bathing suit as you’ll have ample opportunities to use them.

Stop for Lunch at Friðheimar Farm

Friðheimar Farm is a local Institution that specializes in homemade tomato soup and freshly baked bread. If you are driving the Golden Circle, this horse, cucumber, and tomato farm could be a great place to stop for lunch. They’re open from 12-4 pm, to ensure availability, it’s important to make reservations and notify them of your arrival, this is even more essential with large groups.

For history lovers, you’ll want to stop by Iceland’s first town. It features the typical Icelandic architecture that you see on churches  dotting the countryside. A dark or colorful roof atop a white church will become a familiar sight as you travel around the Ring Road.

The Slakki Zoo

If you’re on a family road trip in Iceland (or just love animals) the Slakki Petting Zoo could be a fun, unexpected addition. With birds, bunnies, piggies, and other furry friends, you’ll be in animal lover’s heaven. Just don’t sneak one into your backpack, no matter how much you want to take one home with you as an Iceland souvenir.

Sólheimar Ecovillage

This international community has villagers here working as both volunteers and interns for short periods. The hundred people living and working here in harmony usually spend three to 12 months taking care of tasks around the ecovillage. You’re welcome to come to visit or to stay as a longer-term resident if that interests you.

This is the last outdoor stop along the Golden Circle Iceland before you get to Selfoss and head back to Reykjavik. But last certainly does not mean least. Kerið is a beautiful volcanic crater lake filled with turquoise water. It’s a wonderful way to end your journey before getting back on Route 1.

Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant

For those interested in science or who wonder about how Iceland harnesses its geothermal energy, stop by Iceland’s second-largest power plant. You can learn about the fascinating process at the plant’s exhibition on geothermal power.

Golden Circle Iceland: A Comprehensive List

Who knew there were so many amazing sites to explore and additional stops to explore when doing and Iceland Golden Circle tour? Of course, you can’t really see everything in one day, not even with the help of the Midnight Sun . Be sure to take your time exploring each one. you want to give yourself ample opportunity to enjoy the stunning sites along this oval-shaped circuit.

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The Golden Circle

Golden circle iceland, geysir, gullfoss and thingvellir.

The Golden Circle is by far Iceland's most famous attraction. A short drive from the capital city, you see the most stunning sights at Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall - all in one day!

Reykjavik Excursions offers a great selection of Golden Circle tours with extra options to please every traveller, such as a visit to Friðheimar greenhouse, a snowmobile ride on Langjökull glacier, horseback riding, a relaxing visit to Fontana Geothermal Spa, and much more. Find your Golden Circle tour from the list below.

GOLDEN CIRCLE

Golden Circle Direct

The Golden Circle & Friðheimar Greenhouse

SNOWMOBILING

Golden Circle & Glacier Snowmobiling

COMBO OFFERS

Golden Circle & Northern Lights

Golden Circle & Fontana Wellness

Golden Circle & Lava Tunnel

SUPER JEEP TOURS

Golden Circle and Glacier Super Jeep Tour

Golden Circle Super Jeep & Snowmobiling

Golden Circle & Sky Lagoon

Golden Circle & ATV Adventure

Golden Circle & Horse Riding

Golden Circle & Buggy Adventure

Golden Circle & City Sightseeing - Hop On Hop Off

SNORKELING & DIVING

Thingvellir National Park & Silfra Transfer

MULTI-DAY TOURS

3 Day - Golden Circle, South Coast, Ice Cave & Jökulsárlón

6 Days Around Iceland Adventure

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Learn how to easily plan your dream trip to Iceland with helpful guides and tips!

14 Best Golden Circle Tours In Iceland Worth Your Money

June 28, 2020 //  by  Iceland Trippers

Golden Circle Tours are a great way to see Iceland and take the stress out of driving. If you are thinking of taking a guided tour you have come to the right place. In this article, we will walk you through the best Golden Circle Tours in Iceland so you can make the best decisions for your circumstances and budget.

The Golden Circle is a 190 mile (approx) route that takes in some of the most spectacular landmarks Iceland has to offer.  The classic route takes in the three most popular tourist attractions; Gullfoss Waterfall, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Thingvellir National Park. However, there are lots more things to see off the popular tourist route. 

Planning your Golden Circle visit at the last minute?

Make sure to book ahead! The Golden Circle is popular and hotels and tours often sell out the closer you get to your trip. Here are our top picks for the Golden Circle!

Top Golden Circle Experiences And Tours:

• Golden Circle Full Day Tour From Reykjavik (Likely to sell out!)
• Golden Circle + Kerid Crater + Blue Lagoon Tour (Likely to sell out!)
• Glacier Snowmobile And Golden Circle Tour (Unique experience)
• Secret Lagoon, Golden Circle, And Kerid Crater (Local hot spring!)

Top Golden Circle Hotels:

• Blue Hotel Fagrilundur (Amazing Golden Circle location!)
• Hotel Gullfoss (With traditional Icelandic restaurant)
• Hotel South Coast (Close to the Ring Road)
• Hotel Geysir (Steps from the famous Icelandic Geysir)

The Golden Circle is named after its main attraction, the Gullfoss (Golden) Waterfall which is an awe-inspiring sight, especially if you are lucky to see a rainbow arch over it in the Summer.

The Thingvellir National Park is Iceland’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. As well as being the birthplace of the world’s oldest parliament, thanks to the Vikings, it’s where the tectonic plates of America and Europe collide.

Geysir Geothermal Area contains Strokkur Geyser, which erupts every few minutes up to heights of 35 meters.

Going on one of these Golden Circle tours allows you to walk in the footsteps of Vikings, see the ground gurgle and bubble and experience a glacial river cascade 32 meters into a narrow canyon.

The Golden Circle is a great way to get a glimpse of the sights of Iceland and experience the majestic scenery this country is known for. 

A Golden Circle Tour in Iceland is well worth it and you will be left with memories to last a lifetime. Get a FREE printable “Hidden Gems In Iceland” E-book by joining our private  Iceland Facebook Group  and share your photos and ask for tips and tricks.

Why Take A Tour Of The Golden Circle?

There are many reasons you may prefer to take one of the Golden Circle tours rather than drive.

Firstly the obvious is that you don’t have to drive and you can relax and let someone else do all the work while you just sit back and enjoy the scenery. You are likely to also learn more and see more as the experienced guides escort you around the various locations.

Golden Circle tours often tend to not work out that expensive when you add up the cost of renting a car and fuel. Most of the tours leave from Reykjavik and you can often get picked up from your hotel.

Golden Circle Iceland tours are the best way for you to enjoy your holiday with none of the stress and pressure of having to organize and plan.

The Iceland weather is also very unpredictable, especially in winter and traveling on a guided tour will mean you are safe at all times and don’t have to worry about driving in bad weather or worry about exploring places that might be dangerous in slippery conditions.

Participating in one of The Golden Circle Tours will allow you to see what you need to in a relaxing, comfortable, and informative environment.

Make sure to check out our post about Where To Stay In The Golden Circle if you are planning your trip!

We have listed below the best Golden Circle tours in Iceland for your perusal, some just take in The Golden Circle and some combine the Golden Circle with other attractions.

Whichever tour you decide to take we know you will have an incredible time and we can’t wait to hear all about it on your return. These are truly some of the Best Tours In Iceland!

Please note that most of the Golden Circle tour Iceland do not include food, so be prepared for that and bring some form of payment.

Also, make sure you read all the information linked to each tour. Some require you to bring particular items, such as a swimming suit, or have certain conditions for those bookings. We want you to enjoy your Golden Circle tours, so please plan ahead. 

From Reykjavik: Golden Circle Full Day Tour (6.5-7 hours)

This Golden Circle full day tour takes in all the main sites of The Golden Circle. It’s one of the best Golden Circle tours in Iceland if you want to take in the main attractions.

You will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Thingvellir, see the spectacular Gullfoss waterfall and visit two geothermal geysers, Geysir and Strokkur.

You will be able to marvel at the breathtaking tectonic plate scenery of Thingvellir, feel the mist of  Gullfoss and see spouting hot springs

Transportation is on a first-class bus, starting and ending in  Reykjavik and you will have English speaking commentary throughout.

A great way to see the main sights of The Golden Circle.

Book Here: From Reykjavik: Golden Circle Full Day Tour

Golden Circle Afternoon Tour (8 hours)

Another variation on the classic Golden Circle Tour. On the Golden Circle Afternoon Tour , you can see where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet at Thingvellir, visit Gulfoss and see the Geysir area.

You will visit the geothermal area of Geysir first and see the spouting hot springs. Then make your way to the Golden Falls, Gullfoss before finishing up at Thingvellir.

This tour offers hotel pickup and commentary.

Book Here: Golden Circle Afternoon Tour

Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, and Reykjanes Tour (11 hours)

On the Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, and Reykjanes Tour you visit Thingvellir, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the Geysir area. You then head on to the Reykjanes Peninsula.

This small group tour takes in the classic sights of The Golden Circle but adds on an optional stop at The Blue Lagoon (costs extra) and a visit of the often-overlooked alien landscape of Reykjanes peninsular.

Those that have tickets for the Blue Lagoon depart the bus to spend 2-3 hours at the Lagoon. The others explore the Reykjanes area on a sightseeing tour; this area is known for old craters, fissures, and bubbling, geothermal mud pools.

You will visit the lava rock pool Brimketill, the mud pools at Gunnuhver, and the area around Reykjanesvit. If time allows a drive towards the “Bridge Between Continents” the boundaries between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. You then return to the Blue Lagoon and head back to Reykjavik.

This tour picks up from the hotel and there will be no more than 19 people on your tour.

Book Here: Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, and Reykjanes Tour.

Golden Circle Small Group Tour with Secret Lagoon Experience ( 8 hours)

This Golden Circle Small Group Tour with Secret Lagoon Experience allows you to see the main sights of the Golden Circle and bathe in a secret lagoon, so make sure you bring your swimsuit.

This tour departs at mid-morning, which often means you can visit theses natural wonders without the crowds.  

You will visit Gulfoss waterfall, one of Europe’s largest waterfalls and Iceland’s pride, stand next to Strokkur geyser as it spouts water 30 meters high, and walk between tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park.

On this relaxed tour, you visit these attractions after the morning crowds have gone. 

After you have taken in The Golden Circle you will visit the hot spring pool where you can relax in the warm waters of a natural bath. It’s a great way to finish off this more relaxing way to see the sights.

This tour offers local hotel pick up. The secret lagoon admission is included and you will be on a small tour with no more than 19 people.

Book Now: Golden Circle Small Group Tour with Secret Lagoon Experience.

Small-Group Premium Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik (8 hours)

This Small-Group Premium Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik comes with a professional guide and a 300km loop from Reykjavík to central Iceland and back.

This tour promises spectacular natural formations, geysers, waterfalls, lakes, and more. Just a normal day in Iceland, then. Of coarse you visit the iconic Golden Circle places but you also get to visit a traditional Icelandic horse stable and enjoy a unique show.

The tour takes in Thingvellir before a stop at Fríðheimar farm. The farm, besides growing tomatoes and cucumbers, is passionate about horses. And you get to visit the Icelandic horses close up.

After having lunch ( at your own expense) you move on to visit Geysir and it’s brother Strokkur, which erupts every 3-4 minutes with spouts as high as 30 meters. You then move onto the majestic Gullfoss and get a glimpse of Kerid, a crater filled with a lake of milky blue/green water surrounded by black and red slopes, an awe-inspiring spectacle.

Admission to all attractions is included. This is one of the Golden Circle tours with some amazing added extras. 

Book Now: Small-Group Premium Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik .

Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Waterfalls Small Group Tour (9 hours)

If you like your Golden Circle tours with added waterfalls then this one is for you.

This Golden Circle and Waterfalls Small Group Tour goes off the beaten track a little taking in the Friðheimar tomato farm and Kerid crater mentioned above.

You also discover some hidden gems like Efstidalur Farm and the Laugarvatn area of Bruarfoss, Oxararfoss, and Fax.

This intimate small tour makes a great family day out.

Book Now: Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Waterfalls Small Group Tour

Golden Circle & Silfra Snorkeling Small Group Tour (9 hours)

If you like your Golden Circle tours with some added extras this Golden Circle & Silfra Snorkeling Small Group Tour might be for you.

You will explore the Geysir, the stunning rivers, and lava fields of Thingvellir National Park and see Gullfoss but you will also get to snorkel in the crystal clear waters of the Silfra Fissure.

The Silfra Fissure really is an experience.  Silfra is a rift formed in the divergent tectonic boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates and the water is such a vivid blue color. It’s like nowhere else. Drysuits are provided and they will keep your warm in the 2 degrees Celsius water. A real experience for those wanting a bit more.

Book Now: Golden Circle & Silfra Snorkeling Small Group Tour

Reykjavik: Golden Circle Tour with Blue Lagoon Visit & Entry ( 13 hours)

If you want your Golden Circle tour to be on the more relaxing side the Golden Circle Tour with Blue Lagoon Visit & Entry is maybe what you are looking for.

This tour includes all the popular sights of the Golden Circle followed by a dip in the healing relaxing waters of the Blue Lagoon.

You get at least 45 minutes at the major stops, Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, and Strokkur Geyser. You then get a 30-minute break in Reykjavik before hitting the road to ride to The Blue Lagoon where you get to spend 3 hours relaxing in the mineral-rich water while enjoying the view.

A perfect way to end an enjoyable day. All admission included and hotel pick-up, you will also get a silica mud mask and a drink at The Blue Lagoon.

Book Now: Reykjavik: Golden Circle Tour with Blue Lagoon Visit & Entry .

From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobile Tour ( 11 Hours)

Visit the Golden Circle and ride a snowmobile through what is known as one of Europe’s last great wilderness areas.

Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobile Tour leaves Reykjavík early to catch the morning sun on a bus that has computer tablets in each seat. First, you visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Thingvellir National Park then move onto Geysir Hot Springs. You then drive to snowmobile base camp at the foot of Langjökull Glacier where you will ride across the ice fields on one of the biggest glaciers in the world.

This tour is a real gem and a great way to experience Iceland at its best.

Hotel pick ups available and all necessary equipment included.

Book Now: Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobile Tour

Reykjavik: Golden Circle & Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour ( 10 hours)

A real once in a lifetime experience. You travel in a specially modified super truck and visit the famous Golden circle and a natural ice cave.

Your Golden Circle & Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour starts when you meet your jeep driver. You stop at the Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall, and the jeep allows you to adventure off the beaten track. You then visit the ice cave in Langjokull glacier. The colors on the cave walls are breathtaking and this experience is incredible.

You can have an optional snowmobile ride to the glacier. Then if daylights and time permits you make a short stop at Thingvellir National Park on the way back to Reykjavik.

This tour is a small group and admissions are included.

Book Now: Golden Circle & Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour

Golden Circle and South Shore by Luxury Jeep ( 11 hours)

Golden Circle and South Shore by Luxury Jeep really does cram a lot in.

This Golden Circle tour takes in the Golden Circle and more including Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Eyjafjallajokull, Solheimajokull, and the black beaches at the South Shore.

Leaving from Reykjavik you head off to The South Shore seeing farmlands and a recently-erupted volcano.

You see a lot on this tour including Eyjafjallajökull, an ice cave with a volcano at the summit and Solheimajökull, a blue ice-colored glacier in Myrdalsjokul . Also marvel at the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, the black beach of Sólheimasandur, and all the Golden Circle Sights. One of the Golden Circle tours that really does offer a lot.

Book Now: Golden Circle and South Shore by Luxury Jeep.

Reykjavík City Sightseeing & Golden Circle Express ( 10 hours)

If you are short of time then this Reykjavík City Sightseeing & Golden Circle Express might be the one for you. You get to see the sights of  Reykjavik city and the stunning scenery of Iceland’s Golden Circle.

You start your tour in Reykjavik visiting the Presidential Residence at Bessastaðir and Hafnarfjörður. Take in the incredible view over Reykjavík from the Perlan Restaurant 360° observation deck. You’ll also visit Hallgrímskirkja Church, the University area, and the Old Town Center, where you can see the Alþingi–Iceland’s Parliament.

After some free time in Reykjavik you go on your Golden Circle tour taking in all the sights and the incredible scenery.

Save time and see the sights of Reykjavik city and the stunning volcanic scenery of Iceland’s Golden Circle with this combined tour.

Book Now: Reykjavík City Sightseeing & Golden Circle Express

Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Black Beach ATV Tour ( 10 hours)

The Golden Circle and Black Beach ATV Tour what’s not to love. 

You will see the erupting geyser and a variety of hot springs. Learn about Vikings in the Thingvellir National Park and experience the magnificence and power of the Gullfoss Waterfall.

After seeing the must-see attractions you get behind the wheel of an all-terrain vehicle for an unforgettable ride along Iceland’s South Coast black sand beaches and dramatic volcanic landscapes.

This is a tour filled with views and adrenaline.

Book Now: Golden Circle and Black Beach ATV Tour

Iceland’s Golden Circle & Whale Watching Full-Day Tour ( 10 hours)

The Golden Circle and Whale Watching Full-Day Tour has to be a tour made in heaven.  In the morning take a cruise to observe humpback whales, harbor porpoise, and white-beaked dolphin before taking an afternoon express tour of The Golden Circle.

This incredible tour shows you whales in their native environment and if you are lucky you may also see puffins, arctic terns, gannet, and many varieties of gull.

You are then picked up at the harbor for your Golden Circle Tour taking in Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the spouting hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur.

This really will be an unforgettable experience.

Book Now: Golden Circle and Whale Watching Full-Day Tour

We do hope you have found the perfect tour for you in these golden circle Iceland tours. Whichever one you pick you won’t be disappointed and the scenery is breathtaking. Taking one of these Golden Circle tours truly is an unforgettable experience.

You might also be interested in The Complete Guide To The Blue Lagoon Iceland and 7 Helpful Things To Know About Money In Iceland

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Driving Iceland's Golden Circle: All You Need to Know

Imagine coasting through stunning countryside to see spouting geysers, thundering many-tiered waterfalls, and dramatic cliff faces. All at your own pace. If that sounds incredible, then you're ready for an iconic adventure with a  driving tour  of Iceland’s Golden Circle.

This iconic route represents one of Iceland’s most popular day tours , where you can discover landscapes rich with history and folklore. And inbetween attractions you can find reasons to stop at any number of fascinating locations. Think photogenic Lutheran churches, Icelandic horse farms, and restaurants dishing up Icelandic cuisine.

• Relax and let someone else book your hotels and plan your itinerary: choose from these  Golden Circle self-drive tours
• Prefer someone else to take the wheel instead? Consider a private tour , a small group tour or a multi-day tour

When you're ready to hit the road, bookmark this handy guide to the route. It’s packed with insider tips on must-see attractions and handy local restaurants to help you make the most of your trip.

What is the Golden Circle?

In the strictest sense, Iceland’s famous Golden Circle is a popular route between 3 of Iceland’s most visited attractions. Starting in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, you’ll drive into the southern uplands and back, visiting Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall.

You’ll find, though, that many tour routes take in extra attractions along the way. You could visit a geothermal greenhouse on one trip, or a natural hotwater spa with another.

Golden Circle map

Can you drive it in one day? How many miles is it?

The whole Golden Circle route can easily be done in one day, as the classic journey covers around 230 kilometres (140 miles to you and me). You can actually drive the route in just over 3 hours. But, of course, you need to factor in time to enjoy the attractions, take photos and stay fuelled as well.

Many guided coach tours will take the best part of a ‘9-to-5’ day to visit most stops on the route. But if you’re going self-guided, then you can choose exactly how long you want to stay at each attraction. And you can even start early or finish later for quieter sightseeing.

How to drive the Golden Circle in Iceland

While you can join a group tour of the Golden Circle, you may prefer to explore at your own pace and in your own style with a self-drive. For this, you’ll need to rent a car, or even a 4x4 if you’re planning to drive onward to the Icelandic Highlands.

Hiring a car puts you in control of your trip. You can start early (or late) and explore at times that suit you best. In summer, you could even use the long daylight hours to avoid the crowds often created by larger coach tours.

• Find out more about our friendlier take on coach tours,  small group minibus tours , with 16 travellers at most

When you go with self-drive, though, how you experience the Golden Circle in Iceland is totally up to you.

What to see in the Golden Circle

The Golden Circle has many attractions, but it’s mainly known as the route that connects:

• Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park
• The Great Geysir and Strokkur Geysir
• Gullfoss Waterfall.

Each has its own special charms, which we've highlighted below.

Þingvellir National Park

Discover a fascinating mixture of Icelandic history and natural beauty. Þingvellir (pronounced ‘Thingvellir’) is one of the most famous stops on the Golden Circle. It’s also Iceland’s first National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site , too. If you’re travelling the Golden Circle clockwise from Reykjavik, it’ll be your first stop.

Þingvellir is a keystone of Icelandic cultural history. The first settlers put down their roots in South Iceland in the 9th century CE. As their society developed, they decided an assembly could help ease disputes and create a fairer society. Þingvellir was chosen as the assembly site because the region was accessible from all the most peopled areas.

In 930, it became Iceland’s -- and the world’s -- first parliament. And the nation's shared cultural heritage has grown ever since.

Then there's the landscape. Geology buffs should note that Þingvellir National Park is also the meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, which creates some stunning geological sights. You can admire its deep valley, the only place in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is visible on land, or the sheer cliff face that’s actually the corner of the North American continent.

Indeed, Iceland's land mass was formed from the magma that bubbled up as these two plates moved away from each other. That's why you can still see volcanic activity and landscape throughout the country. You could say these factors make Þingvellir National Park a natural starting place for your tour of Iceland.

Here's the top things to do in Þingvellir National Park:

• Marvel at Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest natural lake
• Witness Langjökull glacier
• Snorkel between the tectonic plates at Silfra, one of the world’s top 10 dive sites
• Hike along the North American plate and through Game of Thrones scenery at Almannagjá gorge
• Watch the thundering waters at Öxarárfoss waterfall

Geysir geothermal area

Continue driving clockwise, and you’ll arrive at Geysir geothermal area, within the Haukadalur Valley. Your drive will take you past more volcanic landscapes of steaming vents and chimneys. As you get closer to the Geysir geothermal area, the activity becomes more dramatic.

Here, against a vivid landscape, you’ll find 2 bubbling geysers of note – Great Geysir and Strokkur Geysir. Great Geysir (or simply 'Geysir') is the earliest documented geyser in European literature, and has been active for around 10,000 years! Don't expect much from it now, though: Geysir is considered all but inactive, stirring only when earthquakes inspire bursts of activity for a few months at most.

For action, though, look no further than nearby Strokkur. This geyser erupts every 6–10 minutes, shooting hot water as high as 40 metres (131 ft) into the air. Just make sure you (and your camera) are waterproofed. As you walk through the surrounding Haukadalur Valley, you can also admire the many hot springs, smaller geysers and bubbling mud pots.

Gullfoss waterfall

A short drive away lies Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. Watch as water thunders over 2 drops, falling a total of 32 metres (105 ft) and admire the rainbows that shoot from the spray. From your viewpoint, you can admire the Langjökull ice sheet.

During the summer months, when there’s no ice on the ground, you can walk up to the edge of the falls and feel Gullfoss’ spray on your face. It's an incredible, invigorating experience.

While you’re here, you could also raft the Hvita river, an exhilarating experience that allows you to experience the power of the falls up-close. Or, learn about Sigridur Tómasdóttir, known as 'Iceland's first environmentalist'. This local woman campaigned to protect the falls from property development, and ultimately paved the way for the falls to be forever protected as a national conservation area.

Other Golden Circle attractions 

While Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall may be the most well-known Golden Circle attractions, there are some noteworthy detours too.

• Fontana Geothermal Baths . Located in the town of Laugarvatn, between Þingvellir and the Geysirs, you can truly relax and unwind at the Fontana Geothermal Baths. Fontana spa uses the natural waters from the area’s hot springs to create 3 steam rooms, traditional Finnish sauna and shallow kid-friendly bathing pools
• Kerið Crater . Kerið Crater forms a complete oval and has a small lake at the bottom. The rocks surrounding the crater have fiery reds and oranges combine with bursts of black and green while the lake below adds to the pallet with its sky-blue waters. You could take a thousand photos of this beautiful site.
• Langjökull Glacier . For the adventure of a lifetime, head to Langjökull Glacier on a snowmobile. You can experience Langjökull Glacier at any time of year as there’s always snow. If you’re on a self-drive, you can get picked up from and returned to Gullfoss waterfall.
• Sólheimar . On the drive from Þingvellir and the Geysir Geothermal Area, stop off at the ecovillage of Solheimar. Visiting this village allows you to learn more about how the community maximises the potential of every resident, regardless of their age or disability, and supports their cause.
• Þjórsárdalur (Thjorsardalur) Valley . While not officially part of the Golden Circle, Thjorsardalur allows you to get off the beaten track. Here, you’ll find thundering waterfalls like Hjalparfoss, Haifoss, Glanni and Pjofafoss.
• Skálholt . This little village is rich with history and is considered by some as Iceland’s first town. Skalholt was home to the country’s first bishop and school. It’s worth stopping to admire its quaint cathedral or visit the nearby Secret Lagoon.

Where to eat when driving the Golden Circle

Driving the Golden Circle provides plenty of photo opportunities. And if you're a fan of Instagramming your food as well -- no judgment here, honest! -- you may want to get a few pictures of some traditional and contemporary Icelandic cuisine while you're there. Along the way, eats such as Skyr yoghurt, fresh seafood like lobster tails, and locally grown farm produce could be a real feast for your senses.

Our travel consultants recommend the following places to eat:

• Skyrgerðin . Try traditional sky yoghurt at Skyrgerðin, housed in Hveragerði´s former Skyr yoghurt factory.
• Friðheimar Farm . Get a light lunch of special tomato soup and home-baked bread at Friðheimar Tomato and Horse Farm. The tomatoes are all grown on-site, pollinated by imported Dutch bees in a greenhouse powered by the earth's internal heat. Non-drivers can even sample a geothermal Bloody Mary at the greenhouse bar. 
• Efstidalur . This family farm is in the heart of the Golden Circle, on the way from Haukadalur (Geysir) to Þingvellir. Stop by for a special 'farm to table' experience, where dairy, meat and veg from the farm is served up in the farm restaurant.
• Lindin . Indulge in chocolate desserts in a cosy setting at Lindin, located in the quaint village of Laugarvatn. Lindin also serves home-cooked Icelandic meals too.
• Gallerý Laugarvatn . Roughly halfway between Geysir and Þingvellir, this cafe and handcraft gallery offers magnificent mountain views and the chance to pick up a handmade souvenir after you've had a snack.
• Tryggvaskáli . Whether you like authentic Nordic dishes, seafood or burgers, this restaurant comes highly rated. Head over the bridge and into Selfoss, when you're at the southernmost point of the 'circle'.
• Kaffi Krús . If you're thinking of a casual bite in Selfoss, rather than a restaurant meal, try Kaffi Krús. Here you'll discover warm, hearty dishes like pizza, pasta and burgers. Perfect for satisfying kids and parents alike.
• Fjöruborðið . If you're willing to make a slight detour, Fjöruborðið in Stokkseyri is a Nordic Visitor staff favourite. Delight in langoustines in garlic butter (prepare to get a bit messy!), creamy tomato and langoustine soup, or traditional homemade cakes.

How much is the Golden Circle? Is it free?

While it doesn’t cost anything to enter the Golden Circle, you will need to rent a car and pay entrance fees at some of the sites. The total cost will depend on how long you rent a car for, the type of accommodation you stay at, how many ticketed sites you visit, and where you eat.

Where should you stay?

As noted before, you can do the whole Golden Circle in one day. Most journeys start and end in Reykjavik, where you can find hotels and guest houses to suit all budgets. With so many options to choose from, the only trick will be finding the right place to launch each day of your stay in Iceland.

At Nordic Visitor, we’ll sort all the lodgings for you. So, you don’t have to worry about researching and planning your route. We’ve carefully vetted and tested all of our chosen hotels and guest houses , which means you’ll always have a comfortable stay at competitive rates.

As a local travel agency, we have special relationships with our accommodation providers and tour organisers. So we will craft a personalised itinerary that provides a seamless getaway, with each day's activities and accommodation organised for you. We do all the heavy lifting so you can just enjoy dreaming of your Iceland trip.

When should you visit the Golden Circle?

The Land of Fire and Ice is a year-round destination, so it's really down to personal preference. Tour Iceland in the summer and you'll enjoy longer days. For a time, the sun barely sets at all, so you don’t need to worry about squeezing everything in before dark.

Top tip : self-drive in summertime means you can time your visits to avoid any coach tour crowds.

On the other hand, driving the Golden Circle in winter means you could see the northern lights or the jaw-dropping beauty of icy cliff-walls created by the freezing spray of Gullfoss. Decide how you’d like to spend your time in Iceland before you book a winter or summer break.

• Book one of our self-drive tours with the Golden Circle included
• Related: Driving the Diamond Circle in North Iceland

Is the Blue Lagoon part of the Golden Circle?

Technically the Blue Lagoon is not part of the Golden Circle, but you can easily visit both. Many tour companies offer a two-in-one day tour. But personally I feel this is a little demanding on your time: a trip to a spa experience should not be rushed.

A trip to the Blue Lagoon probably takes at least 4 hours including drive time, and you could easily spend a bit longer there. When self-driving the Golden Circle, meanwhile, you should spend at least 8 hours on the route and attractions. It just gives you more time to enjoy each attraction at your own pace. 

That's why I suggest that you'd be better off spending one full day on the Golden Circle, and another half-day enjoying the Blue Lagoon. It can often a good idea to spend half a day relaxing at the Blue Lagoon as a bookend of your trip. That is, either go there after your arrival at Keflavik, or before heading to the airport for an afternoon or evening flight home.

• Thinking about not driving? Take a look at our Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon multi-day tour

Arrange your Golden Circle self-drive trip with us

Our dedicated travel consultants will arrange all the fine details of your self-drive Golden Circle adventure. We’ll plan your route so that driving time and sightseeing time are perfectly balanced.

When you book with us, your car rental comes with basic insurance, 2-driver allowance, a hand-drawn map, and unlimited Wi-Fi and mileage. All this, plus our 24/7 helpline, means your drive is stress-free.

• Save time on planning: book one of our self-drive tours with the Golden Circle included  and let your own travel consultant manage all the paperwork
• Explore a summer self-drive option with the  Golden Circle and South Coast .
• View the winter self-drive alternative,  Golden Circle and South Coast - Winter .

We’ll also satisfy any special requirements on request. You can add extra destinations from your wishlist to your self-drive tour. Why not spend one final day indulging in the mineral-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon, or cap off your trip with a city tour of chic Reykjavik, finishing with a five-star dining experience?

Check out our driving tours -- they all feature the Golden Circle.

Greg Perkins is from Edinburgh, Scotland, but he adopted Iceland as his second country when Scotland (typically) managed not to qualify for football's Euro 2016 tournament. His passions include travel, English literature, and board games. Among his top travel experiences are sailing along Geirangerfjord with classically trained singers providing the soundtrack, seeing Sólheimajökull glacier up close in South Iceland, and witnessing the unspoiled beauty of New Zealand's Doubtful Sound fjord.

Find Greg on LinkedIn .

Getting there

We'd love to give you the same amazing travel experiences as you read about in our blog! To visit the destinations and attractions mentioned in this post - and to discover a few new highlights along the way - check out these recommended Nordic Visitor tours.

GOLDEN CIRCLE & SOUTH COAST

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The Best Golden Circle Iceland Guide of 2024 + Map

• Updated on: March 31, 2022

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Table of Contents

Exploring Iceland is something you won’t regret. Unspoiled landscapes, massive waterfalls, active volcanos, and thermal areas with geysers are all part of the land of fire and ice. A lot of these highlights are spread out around Iceland, but in the Golden Circle, you’ll find a lot of highlights within short distances from each other.

No wonder, the Golden Circle is one of the most traveled routes in Iceland. It is close to Reykjavik and can be explored during a weekend trip. Also, a lot of tours go there, so you don’t necessarily have to drive yourself.

What is the Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is a route in the highlands of South Western Iceland that leads you past several of the most famous highlights. It is very close to Reykjavik, which makes it possible to explore this route during a weekend trip.

The name is derived from the main attraction on the route: Gullfoss, which means Golden Waterfall. Besides Gullfoss, there are more famous attractions on this route, like Geysir and Thingvellir National Park.

Because of the many highlights on this route, with only small distances between them, the Golden Circle is one of the most popular routes in Iceland. In a short period of time, you can see the many different landscapes Iceland has to offer.

Why is it called the Golden Circle in Iceland?

There are more stories going around about why this famous route is called ‘Golden Circle’, but I talked with some locals to give you the right answer. “Gullni hringurinn” is the Iceland name for the iconic Golden Circle, formed by the highlights Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall. GullFoss means Golden Waterfall. This is exactly where the name Golden is coming from, to attract tourists. 

When is the best time to visit the Golden Circle?

You can visit the Golden Circle all year around, it really depends where you are looking for: hiking, snowy landscapes, Northern Lights, longer sunlight days etc.

• Winter Iceland (December – March) Northern lights, snowy landscapes, winter tours
• Spring Iceland (March – June) Shoulder season less crowded, puffin watching, whale watching, spring tours, great for hiking
• Summer Iceland (June – September) More crowded,  longer hours of daylight, sunny days, puffin watching and whale watching, great for hiking
• Fall Iceland (September – October) Shoulder season less crowded

Read also my full guide about the best time to visit Iceland.

How long does it take to do the Golden Circle Iceland?

Even though the Golden Circle can be done in 3 hours when you pick the shortest route, the whole route can be done between 5-7 hours. But really believe me you don’t want to put all of this in just one day. So please make sure to spend a couple of days on this circuit.

Video: Golden Circle Inspiration

The Golden circle iceland map

Where is the golden circle located.

The original Golden Circle route which starts and ends in Reykjavik is 250 km (155 miles) long and takes about 3.5 hours to drive. If you arrive by plane in Akureyri, the drive is 400 km to Thingvellir National Park, which will take about 5 hours. If you arrive by ferry in Seydisfjordur, it is a long drive about 670 km, which takes 8.5 hours. Keep in mind the travel time above is without stops.

Printable map of Golden Circle Iceland

Above you will find a Golden Circle Iceland map with attractions which you can print during your self drive all across Iceland. But there is more.. Later in this guide you will find a Golden Circle Iceland Google map which you can open in Google Maps to navigate to all the Golden Circle stops, without doing any research yourself. Just read this guide, put the Google maps into your phone and drive and enjoy.

Weather conditions Golden Circle

I have mentioned it before. The weather in Iceland is extreme and very unpredictable. During summer you can have snow and during winter you can have a beautiful clear blue sky. The Icelandic weather is also very known for its rapid changes. Within minutes it can totally turn around. No wonder they say you can experience all 4 seasons in one day!

To be prepared for this, make sure you always have your sunglasses at hand and your rain clothes within reach. Don’t drive when you have bad sight because of heavy rainfall, snow, or mist. Like they say in Iceland: ‘If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes’.

The best weather app to check is YR.no , I used it during my 3.5 months and it was really accurate. When you are hiking, biking or camping the Golden Circle in Iceland make sure to also check the windy app to make sure you will be safe.

Also read: 10 Waterfalls in Iceland you simply want to add to your bucket list

Driving the Golden Circle

What is the golden circle route in iceland.

The Golden Circle route is easy to drive since the roads are in good condition. Mostly, the route exists of paved roads but sometimes it is interrupted by gravel roads. These gravel roads are in good condition as well, so it is not necessary to rent a 4WD. A 2WD will bring you to every highlight on the Golden Circle.

The Golden Circle is around 250km long, which includes the route to and from Reykjavik. The route can be extended a bit to visit several highlights which are slightly further away from the road.

Since the distances are small, the route can easily be driven in 1 day’s time. It will not give you much time to get out of the car to have a walk around the beautiful highlights. Therefore, I would highly recommend taking a 2 or even 3 days trip into consideration. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy hiking paths, thermal baths and to really take in the stunning Icelandic nature.

You might also like: Car Rental in Iceland: The Complete Guide

If you prefer not to drive yourself, you can also book one of the many tours that will lead you around the most famous highlights on the Golden Circle.

Rent a car to drive the Golden Circle Iceland route

Iceland is the ultimate destination for a road trip . The varying landscapes, the easy to bridge distances between highlights and the quiet roads are the perfect mix. Although it is possible to bring your own car to Iceland with the ferry from Denmark, most people choose to rent a car in Iceland.

By flying to Iceland and renting a car there, you can spend all your valuable time in the country you want to explore. Besides, driving in Iceland isn’t without risks, so you might prefer to use a rental car to drive around in this country! Click here for the best deals for a rental car.

Road Conditions

Even though the roads on the Golden Circle route are in a really good condition and not hard to drive, always make sure to check the road conditions here.

Is it difficult to drive around the Golden Circle?

The Golden Circle is not hard to drive, but keep in mind that it can be busy during the summer times. So if you want to enjoy your day the fullest, start early to avoid full parking lots and lots of people on the tracks.

Benefits of driving the Golden Circle self-drive

I guess this is a really clear point, but still I get the question more often so I decided to put it in the guide. When you explore the Golden Circle with your own car, you can stop wherever and whenever you want and spend as much time as you prefer. 

Traffic rules

Most traffic rules in Iceland are very obvious. There is just one rule that you need to know to avoid a fine: Your car lights need to be turned on 24/7! If you get caught without your lights on, you will get fined.

This is because the weather conditions can change quickly and days can be dark. Good thing is, that most rental cars are equipped with automatic lights. They turn on as soon as you start the engine. But make sure you check this!

Some other traffic rules are:

• Cars on the highway have priority
• Sheep and horses have priority on the roads
• Speed limits are marked clearly along the road, but in general, you are allowed to drive 90km/h on the Ring Road and 60 km/h in Reykjavik.
• You have to stop in front of a red or orange traffic light
• You have to let pedestrians cross on a pedestrian crossing
• And one more time, just so you don’t forget: You have to turn your car lights on 24/7

Related content: 25x The best hot springs Iceland to add on your bucket list

Golden Circle where to stay

There are plenty of accommodations along the Golden Circle. So, if you decide to make it a multiple-day trip, you can always sleep somewhere along the route.

Accommodations can range from hotels and guest houses to B&Bs or hostels. There are also several campsites along the route, which you can use to set up your tent or park your camper van.

There are also various lunch and dining options along the route. Some are very interesting, like inside a tomato greenhouse or on a dairy farm. More about this later on in the article!

Camping along the Golden Circle

Iceland is full of great camping facilities and as the Golden Circle is a really popular area, you will find a lot of campings along the route. Make sure to book in advance if you are traveling by car/campervan, for tents you don’t need to book a spot in advance. Wild camping is note: Official wild camping is now illegal in Iceland, but there are some specific rules for this. To learn more about this check out The Only Iceland Camping Guide You Need.

Difference between winter summer

Iceland looks different in winter than it does in summer. Both seasons have their charms! Although average temperatures are never really high in Iceland, during the summertime you are more likely to have some good weather. Also make sure to have the right things packed, check out the ultimate packing list for Iceland.

Below you can see how different the Gullfoss waterfall looks like in winter and summer!

During summer there are more tours available. It will also be busier at the highlights, as it is peak-season and a lot of tourists come to Iceland to explore all the beauty. Some days you might have really good weather and temperatures can rise up to 20ºC. Also, be prepared for more winter-like weather. The average day temperature is only 13ºC, so don’t forget to bring a hat and gloves to stay warm.

During summer you have the chance to see everything along the Golden Circle. During this season, all hotels and campsites will be open, even restaurants.

Is it safe to drive the Golden Circle in winter?

In winter you should take more driving time into consideration, as roads can be slippery due to snow and ice. During extreme circumstances, like snowstorms and heavy winds, some roads might even be closed.

Winter is a beautiful time of the year to do some winter excursions along the Golden Circle, like snowmobiling on the nearby Langjokull glacier .

Winter is also a cheaper time to explore the Golden Circle than in the summer. There are fewer tourists around and you will enjoy the highlights with more peace.

You May Also Like: Best time to travel Iceland

Iceland golden circle map with stops

Are you ready to explore all the amazing stops you will cross during you Golden Circle Iceland Self-Drive?

From Reykjavik to Thingvellir

Distance: 50km Driving time: 40 min

Leave Reykjavik via route 49 to make your way to the Ringroad #1. Follow this route North until you can turn right onto route 36. Want to spend some more time in Reykjavik, make sure to check out the Top 30 incredible things to do in Reykjavik guide.

Thorufoss (Þórufoss)

Sightseeing time: 20-30 minutes Opening hours: All day, all year Costs: Free

After 18 kilometers on route 36, there is a junction on your left with route 48. This route will take you via an 11km detour (10 minutes), to Thorufoss. This is a lesser-known waterfall in the area of the Golden Circle. This waterfall is situated in a beautiful surrounding.

Must read: The Ultimate Hiking Guide Iceland

Thingvellir (Þingvellir)

Sightseeing time: At least 2 hours, but it is easy to spend multiple days in this park Opening hours: Park: All day, all year / Visitor Centre: 9 am – 6 pm Costs: Entree fee to the park and visitor center is free (exhibition: Adults: US$8 / Kids under 18: Free)

Thingvellir is a national park that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, click here for information from Unesco about Thingvellir. A very special phenomenon that you can see here are two tectonic plates. Iceland is divided by the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate and is the only place in the world where this crack can be seen above sea level.

The fissure between the plates is called Silfra and in Thingvellir national park, it is possible to snorkel or dive between the two tectonic plates . It is the most unique snorkel and diving site in the entire world! A tour lasts between 2 and 4 hours.

Besides the possibility of being in two places at the same time, Thingvellir has more to offer. The landscapes are picturesque and the many hiking routes will take you deeper into nature.

Oxararfoss (Öxarárfoss)

Oxararfoss (Öxarárfoss) is a waterfall in the Thingvellir national park. This waterfall is unlike many others in Iceland, handcrafted. It is thought that this is done to provide inhabitants of Thingvellir national park with drinking water.

You can also find the Thingvellir Church. It is a small church that dates back to 1859. The wooden interior gives you a warm welcome and although it has had several updates to prevent it from falling, you’ll see the past it all.

From Thingvellir to Geysir

Distance: 60km Driving time: 50 min

From Thingvellir follow route 36 towards the East and take the gravel road 365 to cross over to route 37. At the junction follow the signs for Geysir on route 35 to the North East.

Reading Tip: What you really need to know about Iceland food

Laugarvatn Fontana Spa

Sightseeing time: At least 1 hour, but you’ll enjoy a longer stay Opening hours: Summer (Jun-Aug): 10 am – 10 pm / Winter (Sep-May): 11 am – 10 pm Costs: Adults: US$38 / Youth (13-16 years old): US$16 / Kids up to 12 years old: Free Website for more information

The Fontana Spa is a thermal pool located on the Golden Circle, next to the ice-cold lake of Laugarvatn. You’ll reach Laugarvatn Fontana after a couple of minutes’ driving on route 37.

The spa has 3 different mineral pools, with temperatures between 32ºC and 38ºC. They are situated next to the lake and give you some beautiful views. There are also saunas available. After the hot sauna, you can cool off in the cold lake to get that beneficial effects on your vascular muscles!

Sightseeing time: 30 minutes up to a day Opening hours: All day all year Costs: Free

Apavatn is a much bigger lake, situated south of Laugarvatn Spa. To get here follow route 37 towards the South. It is a 15-kilometer detour which takes you about 15 minutes to drive.

This lake is often visited during the summer months when Icelandic people like to go swimming during warm summer days. It is also known as a fishing lake, where several fish species can be caught.

Efstidalur farm

Sightseeing time: 30 – 60 minutes Opening hours: Restaurant: 8 am – 8 pm / Ice saloon: 10 am – 9 pm Costs: Sightseeing is free / food and drinks need to be paid for accordingly Website for more information.

You’ll find the Efstidalur dairy farm on your left-hand side along route 37. When you hear the cows moo and the horses running through the fields you know you are on the right spot.

This farm offers a unique experience for every meal of the day. All the food is prepared fresh daily with dairy products and meat from the farm. Vegetables are gathered from organic farms nearby and the ice cream is home-made!

Besides a wonderful place to have a look around and a unique place to eat, they also offer horse rental and accommodations.

Bruarfoss (Brúarfoss)

Sightseeing time: about 30 minutes Opening hours: All day, all year Costs: Free

Only 2 kilometers down the road, you’ll find the parking lot for the Bruarfoss waterfall on your left-hand side. It is relatively small but very scenic. People say it is the bluest waterfall of Iceland and a true hidden gem on the Golden Circle.

The color of the water is formed due to a chemical reaction between the rocks and the surrounding soil in combination with the water from the falls. The dark volcanic rocks are in high contrast with the blue water, which makes the total picture very picturesque.

Check out: 12 Best hikes near Reykjavik Iceland you can’t miss

Sightseeing time: 30-60 minutes Opening hours: All day, all year Costs: Free

Geysir, or the so-called great Geysir, is a geyser in the thermal area of Haukadalur. Unlike a lot of people think, this is not the active geyser. It used to be, but researchers think it is clogged and only a major earthquake can solve this.

Nevertheless, there is another geyser on site, which is called Stokkur. This geyser erupts every 8-15 minutes and spouts hot boiling water up to 30 meters into the air.

Besides geysers, there is a lot more to see, and to smell in this area! Walk around and see the boiling hot pots, different colored minerals and don’t forget to take a look at the surrounding mountains.

From Geysir to Gullfoss

Distance: 10 km Driving time: 10 min

On the Golden Circle Iceland follow Route 35 and in less than 10 minutes you arrive at Gullfoss after leaving Geysir.

Sightseeing time: 45-60 minutes Opening hours: All day, all year Costs: Free

Gullfoss is one of the most massive waterfalls in Iceland. The melting water from the Langjokull glacier flows with high speeds through the river and falls down into the lower situated lake. This waterfall is the main attraction on the Golden Circle and is visited each year by thousands of people.

When you have a sunny day and the sun shines into the splashing drops, a rainbow can be seen just above the waterfall. No wonder this waterfall is called Gullfoss, which means Golden falls.

Note: During winter time some viewpoint might be closed because the walking paths get very slippery due to snow and ice.

There are several viewpoints situated around the waterfall, all of them give you another perspective. Gullfoss falls down into two steps. The first step is 11 meters deep and the second step is 21 meters deep. The viewpoints let you take a look at the waterfall from the different levels and also let you take a look into the deep canyon. Wanted to know more about Gullfoss waterfall? Check out this Wikipedia page.

From Gullfoss to Kerid Crater Lake

Distance: 56 km Driving time: 45 min

Drive back to the junction with routes 35 and 37 on the Golden Circle Iceland and keep following route 35. This is the lesser-traveled track of the Golden Circle, with a lot of lesser-known stops along the way.

Sightseeing time: 30 – 60 minutes Opening hours: All day, all year Costs: Free

After about 20 kilometers on your way to Kerid Crater Lake, you’ll find Faxafoss on your left-hand side. This waterfall is easy to access all year round as it is situated close to the road.

The Faxi waterfall is 80 meters wide and 7 meters high. The cool thing about this waterfall is that you can come very close to the fall itself. So close, that you are able to feel the waterdrops that splash up from the falls. Be careful with the strong winds! The water is cold and you better not fall in there!

In summer you can go white water rafting in this area. This is a nice tour on a warm summer day. But on a less sunny and misty day, you might feel some extra adrenaline flowing through your veins!

Must read: Icelandic Winter Tours for Real Adventures

Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin)

Sightseeing time: At least one hour, but you’ll enjoy a longer stay Opening hours: Summer (Jun-Sep): 10 am – 10 pm / Winter (Oct-May): 11 am – 8 pm Costs: US$24 / Kids up to 14 years old: Free

To get to the secret lagoon, you’ll need to take a little detour of 18 kilometers on the Golden Circle Iceland, which will take you around 20 minutes to drive. Follow your way along route 35. On your left-hand side, you’ll see route 359. This is a gravel road that leads you towards route 30. In fludir (Flúðir) you only have to follow the signs to get to Gamla Laugin.

The secret lagoon attributes its name to the wonderful place hidden in the pure Icelandic nature. You’ll see the steam coming off the warm water rising between the small hills that are covered with green moss.

You can bath in the swimming pool, it is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland, which dates back to 1891! The water temperature is between 38ºC and 40ºC all year round and there are also several walking tracks around the thermal areas. Small geysers can be seen that erupt every 5 minutes.

Fridheimar (Friðheimar)

Sightseeing time: Sightseeing on your own will take around 30 minutes. If you want to grab some food count on an hour. Opening hours: 12pm – 4 pm Costs: Sightseeing on your own is free of charge, food and drinks need to be paid for accordingly

You’ll find this greenhouse along route 35 of the Golden Circle Iceland on your way to the Kerid Crater Lake. It gives you a unique lunch experience. The tables are set inside the greenhouse between the tomato plants. How green would you like it!?

3 different species of tomatoes grow inside the greenhouse, which are used in every dish you can order. You’ll also find a horse stable on-site and during the summer season (May-Sep), you can see a horse show with Icelandic Horses.

Skalholtskirkja (Skálholtskirkja)

Sightseeing time: 15 – 30 min Opening hours: all day, all year Costs: Free

Driving on Route 35 on the Golden Circle Iceland, you’ll see route 31 on your left-hand side. Take this detour of 6 km (5 min driving time) to see this special cathedral.

Special, because you can see old and new on the same site. Before the new Cathedral was built, there have been several other churches in the exact same place. They didn’t survive the weather or they burnt down during a fire. One old wooden church is still standing with a beautiful mossy roof. It really stands out next to the new cathedral which is built in a newer style.

The inside is also worth a look. The interior is modern and quite colorful.

Related post: Whale Watching Iceland: This is what you need to know

Slakki petting zoo

Sightseeing time: up to 2 hours Opening hours: 11 am – 6 pm Costs: US$8 for adults, teens and small kids half price or free

Follow Route 31 (same detour as Skalholskirkja) 3 km further south on the Golden Circle Iceland and it will lead you to the Slakki petting zoo.

It is a wonderful place for kids to see orphaned little foxes, goats, bunnies, kittens and parrots. You can also enjoy a miniature golf course.

Solheimar (Sólheimar) Ecovillage

Sightseeing time: 20 minutes up to 2 hours Opening hours: 12 pm – 5 pm (Sunday 2 pm – 5 pm) Costs: Free

To reach the Solheimar Ecovillage you leave route 35 and continue your way on route 354. It is a detour of 15 kilometers which takes you about 15 minutes driving time.

Solheimar means “Home of the Sun”. It is an ecovillage with a community of about 100 people. This village is famous for its devotion to community living, artistic ethics, and sustainability.

Have a look around and visit the sustainable local businesses and workshops, where you find handcrafted products, like candles, soap, weaved accessories, arts and crafts.

Solheimar is Iceland’s largest provider of organic fruits and vegetables and there is also a shop where you can buy these products.

Kerid (Kerið) Crater Lake

Sightseeing time: 1 – 2 hours Opening hours: all day, all year Costs: US$3

You’ll find the Kerid crater lake along route 35 off the Golden Circle Iceland. This is one of the famous highlights on the Golden Circle. It is a young volcano, which is the reason that the iron in the soil is still fresh. This gives the volcano walls their red color instead of black which you might expect.

The walls are 55 meters high and the lake is 7-14 meters deep. The water in the lake has an intense blue color which is caused by the minerals in the stones.

You can walk all the way around on top of the crater walls and you can also make your way down to the lake. The Kerid crater colors are beautiful in autumn when the mossy soil gets the autumn colors.

Check out: Puffins in Iceland – Best time and places to watch them

From Kerid Crater Lake to Reykjavik

Distance: 70 km Driving time: 60 min

To head back to Reykjavik, keep following route 35 until you are back on the ring road #1 as mentioned on the Golden Circle Iceland. Go North and take route 49 back into Reykjavik.

Reykjadalur hot springs

Sightseeing time: at least two hours (includes the hiking time to get there), but you’ll enjoy a longer stay Opening hours: all day, all year Costs: Free

Just after you pass the little town Hvergerdi (Hveragerði), you’ll see a parking lot for the Reykjadalur hot springs. Park your car and hike 3 km into the Reykjadalur valley. You can book a tour with a guide that leads you there, but the trail is well signposted and you can easily walk there by yourself. This will save you a lot of money.

Once in the valley, you’ll understand why they call it the ‘steam valley’. Steam is coming out of the ground and there are hot mud pools that are simmering. You can bath in the river that carries the hot water coming from Mount Hengill, an inactive volcano. Enjoy the nice water temperature and feel the minerals cleaning your skin!

Interesting: 25x The best hot springs Iceland to add on your bucket list

Nesjavellir power plant

Sightseeing time: driving by Opening hours: all day, all year Costs: Free

If you have some time left, you can also take a detour of the Golden Circle Iceland via some smaller roads. This detour, via route 35, 36, 435 and 431 will take you along the Nesjavellir power plant. This route takes 5 extra kilometers and takes 20 minutes extra from your time.

Nesjavellir is the second-largest power plant in Iceland and generates electricity and hot water by utilizing geothermal water and steam.

This power plant is not open for tourists, but you can drive past it and see the impressive area where the steam comes out of the ground. You can also smell the large thermal area.

If you are interested to learn more about geothermal power plants, you can visit the Hellisheidi (Hellisheiði) power plant, which is only a 20-minute drive away from Reykjavik. Both the power stations derive their energy from the volcanic mountain Hengill. But the Hellisheidi power plant has a visitor center and you can book guided tours to learn more about gaining electricity.

You might also like: Diamond Beach & Jokulsarlon: All you need to know

Golden Circle iceland self-drive

As said at the beginning of this post, it is very possible to drive the Golden Circle in one day and see the main highlights, like Thingvellir national park, Geysir, Gullfoss, and the Kerid Crater Lake.

If you want to enjoy more stops on your Golden Circle trip, make sure to plan some more time to get out of the car and explore. The original Golden Circle route which starts and ends in Reykjavik is 250 km long and takes about 3.5 hours to drive.

Below is a table with all the above-mentioned highlights and their visiting times to keep in mind. You’ll also find the extra driving time if a detour is needed. With this, you can create your own Golden Circle trip!

Golden Circle Iceland tour

After spending more than 3 months in Iceland I did a lot of tours to explore this country to the fullest. The golden circle has so much to offer for you that it can be hard to pick the right tours! For this reason I made list of my absolute must do tours. Check below:

Benefits of Doing an Organized Tour

If you prefer to explore the Golden Circle by tour, I totally get that as well. You are full in holiday mode and don’t want to drive yourself and spend too much time planning a route and finding all the information about it. Just leave this work for your tour guide, sit down and relax. There are tons of tours Iceland has to offer: small groups, bigger groups even private tours are available. 

FAQ golden circle iceland

Is iceland golden circle worth it.

Absolutely YES! If you don’t have a lot of time to explore Iceland, or just visit Reykjavik and want to do some trips close to the city, the Golden Circle is your way to go!

Golden Circle vs. Diamond Circle Iceland

The Golden Circle is in the South-West of Iceland while the Diamond Circle is located in the North-East of Iceland.

Is the Blue Lagoon in the Golden Circle?

No, the Blue Lagoon is outside the Golden Circle, in the direction to the Keflavik Airport.

Golden Circle vs. Golden Triangle Iceland

Don’t get confused the Golden Triangle and Golden Circle are the same.

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I love to hear from you!

Thanks a lot for reading our blog post. Hopefully, it inspired you to visit more highlights on the Golden Circle than ‘just the famous ones’. Iceland is beautiful and really deserves your time to explore all the natural beauty! If you visited the Golden Circle and want to share your story, or if you have a question, please leave a comment below!

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1 thought on “The Best Golden Circle Iceland Guide of 2024 + Map”

We are going in September. This is so helpful as we will be doing a self tour as well!!! Love the photos as well!

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The Golden Circle of Iceland: a Detailed Guide and a Map of 22 Top-rated Attractions

• Last Updated: May 14, 2024
• Norbert Zohó

Although a fairly small island nation, Iceland is packed with stunning natural beauty and exciting adventures.

Think of traveling through spectacular countryside to admire multi-level cascades, powerful geysers, bubbling pools, lava fields, and rugged cliffs. Over time, locals and visitors alike have created the perfect route around some of Iceland’s natural highlights: The Golden Circle. The looped route takes in many of Iceland’s best bits, for a memorable experience in the Land of Fire and Ice.

We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to help you on your exciting journey. You’ll find tons of recommendations and tips, covering famous attractions and thrilling activities, so you can really experience the best of Iceland.

What is the Golden Circle?

Map of the golden circle – attractions and detours, how long does it take to drive the golden circle, getting around the golden circle, when should you visit the golden circle, thingvellir national park, geysir geothermal area, gullfoss waterfall, thingvallakirkja church, gjabakkahellir cave, silfra fissure, laugarvatn fontana geothermal baths, sólheimar eco-village, faxi waterfall, kerid crater, slakki petting zoo and family park, the secret lagoon, helgufoss waterfall, brúarfoss waterfall, hvítá river and drumbó base camp, fridheimar tomato and horse farm, reykjadalur valley, the historical town of skálholt, thorufoss waterfall, efstidalur farm, bobby fischer center, langjokull glacier, thjorsardalur valley.

Iceland’s Golden Circle is one of the most famous and most popular routes for tourists. The circle reference is because it follows a loop, although you may also hear it referred to as the Golden Triangle. This stems from the fact that the route encompasses three particularly gorgeous destinations. You can visit a regularly spouting geyser, a thundering waterfall, and a UNESCO-listed site .

If you’re wondering about the golden part of the Golden Circle, it’s not just because the area is full of natural treasures. It actually takes its name from one of the main waterfalls along the loop: Gullfoss. In the Icelandic tongue, the name Gullfoss translates as Golden Falls.

There’s another cool driving loop in northern Iceland with a similar name: the Diamond Circle.

Unique features and dramatic landscapes are abundant throughout the region, and hotspots are so close to each other that it’s perfectly possible to hit them all up in just a day. Not to mention the fact that it’s tough to find such an area of geological wonder elsewhere across the globe.

Almost all travelers to Iceland want to experience the marvels along the Golden Circle. Combining natural splendor, picturesque scenes, traditional cuisine, and friendly local hospitality, it’s no wonder that the route is so popular. Within easy reach of Reykjavik, the Golden Circle is an ideal day-trip destination from the capital.

To simply drive the Golden Circle takes around four hours. This is, however, without stopping. The whole point of the loop is to experience a number of Iceland’s beautiful natural sites—so you would definitely want to plan at least a few stops and allot extra time to your adventure.

Many organized tours take a full day, around seven or eight hours, including a break for lunch. We would recommend you plan to spend the same amount of time exploring the Golden Circle, perhaps even longer if you have the independence and flexibility that comes with driving yourself.

There are two main options for enjoying a trip around the Golden Circle: hiring a car or joining a private- or bus tour.

There are no public transport connections between the major attractions. Many are fairly remote, so it looks unlikely that this situation will change in the future.

In our opinion, driving yourself around the Golden Circle is the best way to fully enjoy your day. There’s no need for 4WD or any modified or specialized vehicles; you can explore the route in a regular 2WD car or campervan. Driving yourself gives you all the flexibility to tailor your day to your tastes. You can spend as much or as little time at places as you wish, break for lunch and restroom stops at any time, follow interesting detours, and really make the day what you want it to be.

Top tip: Although you should have no problem finding gas stations along the route, always begin your adventures with a full tank of gas.

If you don’t feel comfortable driving yourself around Iceland, or if you want to sit back and relax while somebody else does the driving, there are numerous Golden Circle tours to choose between. You can leave Reykjavik in the morning with a guide and hit the highlights before returning to the city in the evening.

You can visit Iceland at any time of the year, so the best time to visit the Golden Circle largely depends on your tastes and preferences.

In the summertime, you can enjoy longer hours of daylight and bright, sunny days. You can spend longer enjoying the sights without having to rush back to the city before darkness falls. In the winter, you can enjoy the icy landscapes and might even spot the wondrous Northern Lights. Each time of year offers a different, but amazing, experience.

Must-visit Attractions on the Golden Circle Route

Assuming you start the Golden Circle loop traveling clockwise, you’ll come to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Þingvellir National Park. Written in English as Thingvellir, it was the country’s first national park. It has cultural as well as geological significance.

The Althing, Iceland’s first parliament, was located at Thingvellir. The parliament first met here in the year 930 AD, some half a century after the country was first settled. Meetings took place during the warmer summer months with Icelandic people coming from all around the country.

Parliamentary sessions covered various matters, including judicial hearings and implementing legislation. The parliament played a huge role in shaping the cultural heritage that can be experienced in Iceland today.

Thingvellir was specifically chosen as the location for the Althing because it was fairly convenient to access from different parts of Iceland. Parliament continued to sit at Thingvellir up to the late 1790s.

Thingvellir isn’t just a special historic and cultural place though; it also has lots of fascinating geological aspects and nature.

The island of Iceland sits across two continental plates: the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate. As the two plates gradually move away from each other, a gaping rift is created on the Earth’s surface. Thingvellir is in the rift valley, and visitors can not only see the huge cracks, but it’s also possible to go walking in the unusual fissures. Some areas have water, and it’s possible to snorkel and dive in the chasms.

Don’t miss visiting Oxararfoss waterfall while in the national park. The pretty cascade is around a 10-minute walk from the carpark. A number of walking trails lead through the park if you have longer to spend here.

You may recognize some spots as you explore, especially if you’re a Game of Thrones fan. Several scenes were filmed around the national park. See the Bloody Gate from Season 4, marking the path to the Eyrie. If you want to discover even more GOT locations, check out our Game of Thrones guide for Iceland.

There are no entry charges for Thingvellir National Park, though small parking charges apply if you’re driving yourself. With so much to see and do, plan to spend at least an hour (perhaps longer) at the national park.

Continuing clockwise for about an hour from Thingvellir National Park, the next must-see attraction is Geysir Geothermal Area / Field.

The name Geysir means to gush, and it’s where the word geyser (a hot spring that sometimes spurts hot jets of water and steam) originates from. Indeed, the first written record of a geyser is the one at Geysir.

It’s no surprise, therefore, that you’ll find plenty of geothermal magic at Geysir Geothermal Area. There are hot springs, bubbling pools of heated water, warm mud pots, fissures that belch steam and gases (fumaroles), and, of course, geysers. You’ll find two of the most famous geysers in Iceland here, the namesake Geysir and the frequently erupting Strokkur.

Thought to have been erupting for some 10,000 years, Geysir is fairly inactive these days. If you are lucky enough to catch the famous geyser in action, though, you’re in for a real treat—boiling water shoots more than 120 meters into the air, surrounded by a cloud of steam.

Sitting close to Geysir is Strokkur, the area’s main star for most visitors today. Eruptions occur every five to ten minutes, with the reliable and frequent jets a marvelous sight to behold. Water and steam typically reach between 15 and 20 meters high, though they can sometimes be as high as 40 meters.

Do take care when exploring the area, as there’s lots of boiling water leaking from the ground in many places. Additionally, steam can be scalding too. Stick to the marked walking paths and don’t go beyond safety ropes; it’s for your own safety and wellbeing!

There are no charges to enter Geysir Geothermal Area, and there’s also free onsite parking.

The third major destination along the Golden Circle is Gullfoss Waterfall (golden falls), the beautiful falls after which the Golden Circle is named. One of the most spectacular cascades in the whole country, it’s definitely worthy of a place on any Iceland bucket list.

Just a short drive of around ten minutes from Geysir, Gullfoss sits on the Hvítá River. The falls are split into two levels. The first tier is around 11 meters high, while the second level is almost twice as high, at around 21 meters. The two stages are broken by wide steps that completely cross the river’s width. Around 138,753 liters of water gushes over the immense falls every single second during the summer.

The falls are truly amazing when viewed from any vantage point. You can see the cascades from two main areas, with higher and lower observation points. Follow the steps that link the two main areas for different views. With more time to enjoy the mighty falls, you can also follow the river at the top of the waterfall for yet another perspective.

Gullfoss is spectacular at all times of the year. In the summer, the falls are surrounded by verdant foliage and you may catch rainbows sparkling in the spray. Over the winter, snow-covered landscapes engulf the falls for as far as the eye can see.

The site has a visitor center, cafe, and shop. There are two parking areas, one at the top of the falls and one at the bottom. There’s no charge to park and it’s free to visit the stunning waterfall.

Other Recommended Attractions and Things to Do Near the Golden Circle

A church has stood at Thingvellir since Christianity arrived in the area. The present church dates back to 1859. It’s a quaint church with attractive interiors. Thingvallakirkja Church is open daily from 9 am to 5 am during the summer.

Another attraction to add to your list if spending more time in Thingvellir National Park is the fascinating Gjabakkahellir. It’s a 364-meter-long lava tube that was created during a volcanic eruption around 9,000 years ago. You can enter the lava tube from either end, and it’s just a short walk from the road. An unusual sight, the lava tube is especially enchanting in the winter when ice sculptures form in the darkness.

Silfra Fissure is a relatively new chasm between the North American and Eurasian continental plates. The fissure was formed after a large earthquake in the late 1780s. The gap in the Earth’s surface is filled with meltwater from one of Iceland’s biggest glaciers, Langjökull.

It takes around a century for the meltwater to travel 30 miles via a lava field to fill up the fissure. The water is, therefore, incredibly pure. It’s possible to see up to 100 meters under the clear water. Snorkeling and diving here is certainly unique and exciting.

There are numerous geothermal springs and pools around Iceland, including the renowned Blue Lagoon near the capital to warm rivers and hot pools in various parts of the country. Many visitors dream of soaking in Iceland’s hot springs.

There are several places where you can relax in geothermal waters around the Golden Circle, including the popular Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths. The naturally warm water at Laugarvatn Fontana has been attracting visitors since 1929.

You can soak up the glorious lake vistas while bathing in relaxingly warm pools, soak in hot tubs, and rejuvenate in steam rooms and the sauna. You can also brace yourself and take a dip in the shimmering cold waters of the lake.

Don’t miss trying the local lava bread too. The facility bakes its own bread, taking around 24 hours from start to finish using geothermal heat. The time is well worth it, though, as the bread is super tasty!

This tour takes you around the essential sights of the Golden Circle and includes admission to Fontana spa: The Golden Circle & Fontana Wellness

Established in 1930, Sólheimar is the oldest eco-village in Europe. It’s also among the oldest such villages across the globe.

With a permanent community of around 100 people, the village was created using a combination of Christian teachings and the musing of Rudolf Steiner, a famous philosopher.

The unique sustainable village is one of Iceland’s biggest suppliers of organic produce. Pop into the cafe, situated inside a greenhouse heated by geothermal energy, for healthy refreshments. You can also pick up locally grown organic vegetables and delectable baked goods in the shop. The shop also sells terrific souvenir items, such as artisan wooden toys, handmade soaps and candles, pottery, arts, and crafts.

Visit the exhibition area to learn more about sustainable living and eco-friendly architecture. There are regular events, including art workshops, music recitals, sporting events, and informative lectures. The village is also home to a couple of guesthouses if you fancy experiencing the eco-lifestyle for longer.

Located on the Tungufljót River, Faxi Waterfall is sometimes said to be a mini version of the more famous Gullfoss Waterfall. Although the water only falls around seven meters in total, the waterfall’s main beauty is in its 80-meter width. The flow of water is said to be like that of Gullfoss, although Faxi definitely isn’t as thunderous!

Sometimes also known as Vatnsleysufoss, Faxi Waterfall’s name is thought to come from the Icelandic word fax, which is a horse’s mane. The cascades do seem to take on a flow rather like that of a mane as the horse gallops through the wind.

Peaceful and scenic, Faxi Waterfall has another interesting aspect; there’s a man-made ladder for fish at the side! The ladder was constructed to assist salmon when trying to swim upstream. The river is teeming with salmon and is a popular spot for fishing.

The stunning Kerid Crater is a common stop on Golden Circle day trips. Located close to Selfoss, just off Route 5, the beautiful caldera was created around 6,500 years ago.

The water-filled crater shimmers in the sunlight, the aquamarine waters contrasting perfectly with the colorful rocks around the edges. The rocks are hues of deep orange and red, with green and black streaks breaking up the fiery tones.

The oval shape of the crater creates wonderful acoustics, and a number of performers have held concerts in this magical place.

There’s a small charge to enjoy the crater, and there’s a car park close by.

A terrific family-friendly stop along the Golden Circle, Slakki Petting Zoo and Family Park has plenty to keep little ones happy. Come face to face with a range of small creatures, including rabbits, dogs, cats, cows, and sheep. There are fish in the aquariums and birdlife includes chickens, ducks, and geese. Call into the restaurant for a tasty meal, and escape the weather with a game of indoor mini-golf.

Located in Fludir, the Secret Lagoon is Iceland’s oldest swimming pool. Built in the early 1890s, it is known locally as Gamla Laugin. Filled by the nearby hot springs, the pool’s water maintains a pleasant year-round temperature of 38-40°C (100-104°F).

After a period of disrepair and disuse, the pool opened to the public again in 2014. Facilities include bathrooms, changing rooms, and a cafe.

Feel your cares simply drifting away as you unwind in the warm waters and enjoy the views. You can also follow the walking trail around the pool for great views of the geothermal landscapes.

The Secret Lagoon isn’t so secret these days and is rapidly growing in popularity among tourists. It’s highly recommended to book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

While Gullfoss Waterfall is the most famous waterfall around the Golden Circle, the route boasts a number of other superb falls too. Tucked away from the main road, these hidden jewels are well worth a stop when driving yourself around the loop.

Helgufoss Waterfall is one such cascading beauty. Situated in the Mosfellsdalur Valley, it lies just a short distance from Route 36 between Reykjavik and Thingvellir. Water tumbles 12 meters down a moss-covered cliff, with pastoral scenes stretching into the distance.

This magnificent waterfall is like many other waterfalls in Iceland, something you should not miss. It is often called Iceland’s bluest waterfall. Brúarfoss is part of the Brúará river, which is composed of meltwater from Langjökull glacier. It runs wide above the waterfall and then the water falls into a narrow crack in the middle of the riverbed.

The waterfall is located between Geysir Geothermal Area and Laugarvatn on road no. 37.

The hiking trail starts from the carpark by the river and the distance to the waterfall is around 3 km one way. During this trail, you will also see two other beautiful waterfalls: Hlauptungufoss and Miðfoss .

The Hvítá River is sourced from Hvítárvatn, a glacial lake created by meltwater from the large glacier of Langjökull. It is the Hvítá River that flows through Iceland’s famous Gullfoss Waterfall.

It’s one of the country’s most beloved rivers for rafting and tours by river jet, and locals often enjoy fishing for salmon in the beautiful milky-blue waters. River tours lead through eye-catching scenery, with soaring basalt columns and impressive rock formations surrounding the canyon.

The family-operated Fridheimar Tomato and Horse Farm is situated around half an hour’s drive from Gullfoss Waterfall. Something of an unusual attraction in Iceland, tomatoes thrive in the greenhouses, with heat and light to replicate conditions in the Mediterranean region. It’s certainly rather strange to experience such a farm, especially when the weather outside is cold and wet.

The farm uses eco-friendly energy and modern technology, with naturally heated geothermal waters providing the necessary heat for the plants. Computerized climate-control systems monitor the temperature, lighting, humidity, and gas emissions inside the greenhouses to ensure the perfect growing conditions for the three varieties of tomatoes. The farm produces around 370 tons of tomatoes each year. Cucumbers are also grown here.

Learn more about the farm and taste the fruits of its labor in the restaurant. Set amid the plants in a toasty warm greenhouse, the eatery dishes up a variety of tomato-based dishes. From steaming bowls of tomato soup and mussels in a tomato seafood sauce to sweet treats like green tomato and apple pie and tomato-flavored ice cream, there’s something to suit any tomato-lover’s palate. You can even sip on tomato beer while dining!

Often a hit with younger visitors, the farm is also known for its horses. The farm breeds and shows horses, with several having proudly won first prize in events. Fridheimar Farm holds its own horse showing event each summer, called “A Meeting with the Icelandic Horse”. Attendees can learn all about the Icelandic horse, first brought to the island in the first century AD by early Scandinavian settlers.

The picturesque Reykjadalur, AKA the Valley of Steam, is a geothermal area near to the southern town of Hveragerði. A warm river flows through the area, perfect for bathing. Hot springs feed the river with boiling water, which is then cooled with rainwater and glacial meltwater. The result is a river that varies in temperature depending on the location—move up or down the flow to find your ideal temperature before plunging in.

Reykjadalur is also a popular spot for summertime hiking. Colorful wildflowers and lush greenery fill the valley and hills, and the natural chemicals from underground stain the soil in striking shades of red, yellow, green, and blue.

During the medieval era, Skálholt was one of Iceland’s major towns. Between the 1050s and 1780s, it was a significant hub for political matters, education, religion, and culture. In times gone by, it was the largest town in the whole of Iceland.

In the past, the area was surrounded by farms, smithies, and workshops, and there was also a monastery. In 1056, Iceland’s first official school was created in Skálholt, set up to provide an education for the clergy.

Tourists visit Skálholt today to learn more about the town’s important history and heritage. Over the summer months of July and August, the cathedral hosts a weekend music festival.

Thurufoss Waterfall is another attractive waterfall on the Golden Circle. Located on the Laxá í Kjós River, water flows over a few rocks and steps before crashing down a larger cascade. The final drop is wide and the waterfall has a rather unusual shape. Surrounded by raw, natural scenery, the offbeat waterfall is certainly worth a quick detour and photo stop if you’re driving yourself along the Golden Circle route. Follow Road 48 after Helgufoss Waterfall to reach a small parking area, from where you can enjoy Thorufoss.

The family-run Efstidalur Farm is a great stopping place on the Golden Circle. See the farm’s dairy cows and enjoy ice cream made using milk from the quaint farm. The homemade organic ice creams come in a variety of flavors. There’s also a restaurant where you can savor fresh, local tastes if you want something more substantial.

Situated in Selfoss, the Bobby Fischer Centre, known locally as Fischersetur, is one of just a few global museums in honor of a chess player. Learn all about the museum’s namesake—Bobby Fischer—who was a famous American chess player that spent three years living in Iceland.

In 1972, Bobby Fischer won the World Chess Championship. You can also visit the chess legend’s final resting place at the nearby Laugardaelir Church.

The museum opens from mid-May to mid-September. There’s a small admission cost.

If you’re looking to combine a thrilling activity with your Golden Circle tour, try exciting snowmobiling at the dazzling Langjokull Glacier. On clear days, the sweeping views are incredible. There’s plenty of beauty to enjoy through the windows simply driving to the starting point too!

You can book a snowmobile tour on its own or add on a visit to a spectacular ice cave for even more adventure. Tour organizers collect participants from the nearby Gullfoss Waterfall.

Fans of off-the-beaten-track explorations should consider taking a detour to the remote Thjorsardalur Valley. Part of the Southern Highlands, visiting the valley on your excursion will add on an extra couple of hours. With a myriad of stunning natural attractions, the extra drive is well worth it!

Marvel at superb waterfalls that see few visitors, and enjoy the tranquil ambiance far from the crowds. Haifoss, Hjalparfoss, and Granni are just a few of the splendid cascades to visit in the picturesque Thjorsardalur Valley.

You can also enjoy hiking in the expansive Burfells Wood, something of an Icelandic forest rarity for its large size. Spot an array of flora, such as vibrant wildflowers, verdant trees, and various species of grass and moss.

Which of these amazing spots would you love to visit for your holiday? Get in touch  with our travel experts to start planning your  tailor-made vacation in Iceland .

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7 of the Best Golden Circle Tours in Iceland 2024

Have you been wondering the best golden circle tours in iceland i’ve got you covered.

Travelling to Iceland can be an incredible experience – there’s no doubt about it. But with so many different Golden Circle tours in Iceland, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you.

Having spent a lot of time in Iceland and gone on a number of Golden Circle Tours, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Here at Travelling King, we believe that everyone should find the perfect tour – and I’m going to share my top picks with you so that you can find the best Golden Circle Tour for your needs.

I’ve done my research and spoken to fellow travellers who have been on these tours before as well as taking a few of these tours myself. So trust me when I say that these are some of the most unique and memorable experiences you’ll have in Iceland!

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Table of Contents

My Top 3 Picks: best iceland golden circle tours

Golden Circle Day Tour

• Private Tour
• Local Guide

Iceland Complete

• Accommodation
• Breakfast & Dinner

Golden Circle ++ Group Tour

• Small Group Tour
• Blue Lagoon Comfort Admission

7 Of The Best Golden Circle Tours In Iceland

1. golden circle private day tour from reykjavik.

⭐️ RATING: 5/5  | ⏳ LENGTH: 8 hours | ✅ Book it!

This is my personal favourite tour!! Discover Iceland’s renowned Golden Circle as you go on a private day tour from Reykjavik to see various iconic natural landmarks. During this tour, you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will share important facts and information about each spot you visit. 

Some stops you will be seeing on this tour are Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park. You will also see erupting geysers at Haukadalur Valler and steam rise from the surface of Luvgarvatn’s hot springs. 

However, the highlight of this private golden circle tour Iceland trip is having the undivided attention of your expert guide throughout the tour. With this, you will have the opportunity to gain more insight into the geological features of Golden Circle’s magnificent landscape. 

“Enjoyed the privacy of the tour for just our family. Sergei, the guide was extremely knowledgeable and informative. He educated us with rich history of the region and personalized the whole experience for us Although it was a long day of touring, the frequent stops and walks and hikes to beautiful locations made the day interesting and not at all tedious. Highly recommended” – Ellen C. 

This Golden Circle day trip allows you to have a more intimate yet enjoyable time with family and friends when travelling around Iceland. It starts with a convenient pick-up of your choice, where a private car will take you to Golden Circle. 

The tour’s first stop will be at Thingvellir National Park, which is known because of its historical and geological importance. This spot is considered the best in golden circle Iceland and does not disappoint. 

The next stop on this day tour is Haukadalur. Here you can see active geysers that erupt every 5 to 10 minutes. You will also visit the Gullfoss Waterfall, Fridheimar and the Kerid Cater, famous spots in Golden Circle. 

Important details 

• Start Time (and location): Starts at your chosen time at Reykjavik (can select to pick up point)
• Duration: 8 hours 
• Includes: Hotel pickup and drop-off in Reykjavik, Private tour for your party, Driver/guide services, Transportation for the tour

🤩 Check Prices and Availability!

2. Iceland Complete [Around Iceland In 10 Days]

⭐️ RATING: 5/5  | ⏳ LENGTH: 10 days | ✅ Book it!

Getting around Iceland can become overwhelming, especially if you plan to see all tourist destinations within ten days. In this complete Iceland tour, you will be catered to by a professional team to discover the best of Iceland. This includes Iceland accomodation , transport, meals and a few activities to enjoy a hassle-free vacation. 

Since Iceland is famous for its rugged terrain, home to volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls and mountains, you can enjoy these picturesque landscapes within ten days minus the planning. 

Some places you’ll visit are the classic Golden Circle, East Fjords and Skogafoss. As you take the Golden Circle route, you’ll enjoy seeing glaciers and steaming hot springs. At East Fjords, you can interact with locals more while staying on the farm.

“There is no better way to see Iceland. I joined Iceland Complete in 10 days. Our guide Dori was fantastic, knowledgeable and accommodating and making sure we saw everything!! Beautiful and breathtaking scenery along the coast as well highlands. Enjoyed every bit of it from volcanoes, beaches, geysers, waterfalls, hot springs and other remote gems. Good accommodation at unique places like farms, guesthouses and golf course. Friendly staff, clean and comfortable rooms and good food too. So happy to have joined this tour and made new friends. Highly recommended.” – Tripadvisor Reviewer

Within the ten days of your tour, you will also hop to different places in Iceland. Day one is when you will arrive in Reykjavik to meet your tour guide and small group tour. On your second day, you will enjoy the famous best stops on Golden Circle.  

For days 3 and 4, you will go around several stops on the South Coast of Iceland, Skaftafell Area and Glacial Lagoon.

Other places and stops you will enjoy are East Iceland, Lake Myvatn Area, North Iceland and The Snaefellsnes Peninsula. During your 9th and 10th days, you will be visiting Borgarfordur Area and have enough time to prepare for your departure. 

All these you can enjoy with a well-scheduled and planned trip when you book this tour. This tour is also an excellent opportunity to learn and immerse yourself fully in Iceland’s history, culture and geology. 

Important details

• Duration: 10 days 
• Includes: A guided tour according to the itinerary, Accommodation for nine nights in a twin/double room, Boat tour on the Glacial Lagoon, Admission to the Folk Museum of Skogar, Breakfast (9), Dinner (7)

3. Golden Circle, Volcano Crater & Blue Lagoon Small Group Tour 

⭐️ RATING: 4/5  | ⏳ LENGTH: 11 hours | ✅ Book it!

Get to explore two of Iceland’s most famous attractions, the blue lagoon and the Golden Circle, within a day. During this Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon tour, a professional guide will join your small group tour to assist you throughout the day. 

This tour lets you enjoy geysers, lakes, waterfalls and craters that comprise most of Iceland’s landscape. But aside from that, you can relax in warm geothermal waters at the famous Blue Lagoon, which is this trip’s highlight. 

“Halla was the most amazing guide! She went above and beyond for the group. I highly recommend this tour. We saw all the best sites in the area.” – Michell_D

If you want to enjoy the picturesque landscape of the Golden Circle and end the day with a relaxing time at the blue lagoon, this tour is something you should consider. Starting early in the morning, you will be picked up by a car that will serve as your daily transportation (together with your tour group). 

The first stop you will make for this tour is Þingvellir national park. You will also head to Strokkur, where you can watch it actively blow water into the air every 7 to 10 minutes. Here you will also be given time to purchase food for your lunch. 

You will then head over to the iconic Blue Lagoon, which may be the highlight of this tour. This natural wonder is famous for its healing waters, and here you are sure to leave feeling renewed and reinvigorated. Other stops you will be making include the Kerid Crater and the Gullfoss Waterfall. 

• Start Time (and location): Starts at tour group’s chosen time at the chosen pick-up point
• Duration: 11 hours 
• Includes: Professional guide, Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points, Blue Lagoon Comfort Admission Ticket (with use of towel, silica mud mask, 1st drink of your choice)

4. Small-Group Golden Circle Tour And Secret Lagoon Visit From Reykjavik

Combining the iconic spots in Iceland, this small group Golden Circle tour and secret lagoon visit is the perfect day tour to maximise your time during your vacation. Enjoy Iceland’s extraordinary Golden Circle and see famous spots like Thingvellir National Park and Gullfoss Waterfall. 

A professional guide will also join you and share knowledge on the Geysir geothermal area. Compared to other Golden Circle tours, the highlight of this tour is visiting the Secret Lagoon, where you can enjoy a serene time in its warm and cleansing hot spring bath. 

“Really enjoyed our tour of The Golden Circle. Our guide was Trond. He shared many facts and stories about Iceland and had answers to all of our questions. Loved his humor and love of his job. Our pickup and drop off was seamless at one of the local tour bus pick up points. We would highly recommend taking this tour for a great overview of Iceland and a chance to have great discussions with a local. A 19 person bus was small enough to make this tour seem personalized… and Trond helped make that happen.” – Lori_B

As you get picked up from your chosen pick-up point, you and your small group tour will head directly to the Golden Circle Route and enjoy several stops there. You can visit the UNESCO world heritage site Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall and Strokkur. 

After enjoying a few hours of touring around the Golden Circle, you will head over Gamla Laugin, where the Secret Lagoon is. Here you can enjoy time to slow down and relax like a local. This is Iceland’s oldest swimming pool, which helps cleanse your body. 

The Secret Lagoon is a great spot to end your day. If you plan to swim, ensure your swimsuits; if not, they also have a rental area where you can get an outfit to wear before soaking in the water. 

• Start Time (and location): 10:00 AM at the chosen pick-up point 
• Includes: Professional and local driver/guide, Live commentary on board, Pickup and drop-off from designated bus stops & hotels, Small-group tour (tour operated exclusively on minibuses with a maximum of 19 passengers)

5. Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon Including Admission & Kerid Volcanic Crater

⭐️ RATING: 5/5 | ⏳ LENGTH: 11 hours | ✅ Book it!

Iceland is known to house various glaciers, volcanoes, lagoons and mountains. To make the most out of your visit, this Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon & Kerid Volcanic Crater tour offers to take you to key attractions with just a small group. 

During the tour, you will drive around the Golden Circle and stop at iconic spots like the Thingvellir, Geysir Hot Spring, and Gulfoss. You will also head to see the Kerið volcanic crater and end your day at the Blue Lagoon. 

All site admissions are already included to enjoy a packed itinerary with less planning. Plus, since you’re only travelling with a small group, you will have more attention from your guide.

“Our tour was wonderful from start to finish. We all showed up early, so we were able to leave before all of the big bus tours left which was great to get to the spots before they were even in the parking lot. Our guide/driver was Bart. He was terrific! He was extremely knowledgeable and also very personable. The waterfall was spectacular, the crater was awesome, but by far, The Blue Lagoon was the highlight of the day. Would highly recommend this tour and this company.” – tmc351 

This Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik offers pickup and drop-off from hotels. So after being picked up, your group will first head to drive around the Golden Circle. The famous Thingvellir National Park is situated there, offering a time to discover the old site of the Icelandic parliament. 

The tour’s next stop is Laugarvatn Lake, which sits in a geothermally active area. You will also witness the famous Geysir hot spring active neighbour, Storkkur. After getting lunch (if you wish), you will go to Gullfoss Waterfall and then visit the small town of Reykhotl to see greenhouses. 

One highlight of this Golden circle day tour Iceland is visiting the Kerid Crater, a 3000-year-old crater 55 meters deep. Finally, you will wrap off this Iceland golden circle tour at Blue Lagoon, where you can take a relaxing bath and enjoy their Silica Mud mask. 

• Start Time (and location): 8:20 AM or 9:20 AM at the chosen pick-up point
• Duration: 11 hours
• Includes: WiFi on board, Air-conditioned vehicle, Entry fee to the Kerid Volcanic Crater, Comfort admission tickets to the Blue Lagoon

6. Golden Circle Classic Day Trip From Reykjavik

⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5  | ⏳ LENGTH: 7 hours  | ✅ Book it!

Considered one of the best golden circle tours Iceland, this classic day trip from Reykjavik will take you to witness the three wonders of the famous Golden Circle. You will be travelling with a small group in an air-conditioned vehicle, and joining you is an expert guide to share information on each site. 

This tour’s itinerary includes the breathtaking Gulfoss waterfall, the waterspout at Geysir and the tectonic rifts at Thingvellir National Park. Aside from seeing the unique and picturesque landscapes and natural sites, you will also learn more about how the locals use Iceland’s steam and geothermal waters to produce sustainable energy. 

“Emilia and Siggi were great guides! This was an ideal highlights tour to see the natural wonders in this area. Ideal for a half day and then on to more activities.” – Danielle_B

Starting with a pick-up at your hotel or the cruise port, you will drive to Golden Circle and take in the panoramic views of Iceland. As you reach Golden Circle, you will stop at Thingvellir National Park, a place of untouched beauty. 

Your guide will also bring your tour group to see the Gullfoss waterfall. While discussing with you how the plates are pulling apart, marvel at the double-tiered falls and don’t forget to snap photos before heading to the following location.

The geothermal region of Geysir will be the next destination of this tour. This area is known for its hot springs and geysers, where you can see bubbling pools and steam vents. 

Many travellers consider this classic Golden Circle tour if they want to enjoy the Golden Circle route and maximise their time roaming around the area’s highlights. So if you will experience the same thing, consider booking this tour. 

• Start Time (and location): Time can vary at the chosen pick-up point
• Duration:  7 hours
• Includes: Professional guide, Air-conditioned vehicle, Pickup and drop off from selected locations (if requested), WiFi on board

7. The Golden Circle Direct 6-Hour Tour From Reykjavik

⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5  | ⏳ LENGTH: 6 hours | ✅ Book it!

Another trip to see the Golden Circle in Iceland is this direct 6-hour tour from Reykjavik. To maximise your time, you will see the highlights of Golden Circle without spending the whole day in the area. 

In this Golden Circle minibus tour Iceland, you will be heading directly through the Geysir geothermal area and see the Fulfoss waterfall and Thingvellir National Park. Along the way, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of countryside scenery and even reach far-flung sites.  

“Our tour guide and driver were simply amazing. They planned adequate time at many cool stops, were funny, attentive and caring. I absolutely loved their tour and would recommend it to anyone going to Iceland and wants to see cool things for a good price.” -Tajae_H

Golden Circle in Iceland is a famous day tour destination, and on this tour, you’ll be able to enjoy it without worrying about transportation and itinerary planning. After meeting the tour group at Reykjavik, the bus will take you first to see the Strokkur, a geothermal area that boasts the most active geyser in Iceland. 

Like any classic Golden Circle tour Iceland, you will also visit the Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park. These three are the highlights of the Golden Circle route and are a must-see when visiting Iceland. Of course, within the 6 hours of touring around, you will get the chance to take great photos and bring knowledge about these Iceland sites. 

• Start Time (and location): Time varies; Bus Terminal Reykjavík
• Duration: 6 hours
• Includes: Bus fare, Professional local guidance, Free Wi-Fi

FAQs About best of golden circle iceland

How long is the golden circle tour in iceland.

The Golden Circle Tour in Iceland is a popular self-drive route (and tour group route) that covers approximately 300 kilometers of some of the country’s most iconic sights.

The tour usually takes about 8 to 10 hours which includes stops at various sites like Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss Waterfall, Thingvellir National Park, and more.

Along the way you’ll also get to see beautiful views of lush hills, rugged mountains, and other amazing nature scenes. So if you’re looking for an exciting adventure in Iceland and want to explore some of its greatest landmarks, then the Golden Circle Tour could be the perfect fit for you!

is the golden circle worth it

The Golden Circle is definitely worth the visit if you’re travelling through Iceland. The three main attractions, Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall are all absolutely stunning sites and provide a great way to experience some of Iceland’s unique geological features. Visiting the famous Blue Lagoon is also a must-see for anyone travelling in Iceland, and it’s conveniently located near the Golden Circle. Taking a dip in the lagoon is an incredibly relaxing experience and something you won’t soon forget!

what do you see on the golden circle tour in iceland

Golden Circle Tours in Iceland are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The route that takes visitors to some of the most breathtaking sights in Iceland, including Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall.

On these tours, you will also get to explore some of the incredible volcanic and glacial landscapes that make up this unique country.

Golden Circle Tours provides plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, as well as learning more about Icelandic history and culture. So if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience during your stay in Iceland, then this is definitely a tour worth taking!

Final Thoughts: golden circle iceland day tour

Iceland’s Golden Circle tours offer a unique opportunity to explore some of the most incredible sights and attractions that this breathtaking country has to offer.

With this article you can book the best tour for you – whatever your budget and experience level. So if you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, why not visit Iceland and explore the Golden Circle today?

Most tours are suited to all budgets and levels of experience, there’s never been a better time to get exploring – so don’t miss out! Book one of these amazing tours now and see what Iceland has in store for you!

• Top 10 Budget Friendly Hotels in Iceland
• 15 Remarkable Things to see and Do in Iceland
• 48 Hours in Iceland – A 2 Day Itinerary

10 Day Itinerary for Iceland

• The Best Day Trips from Reykjavik
• 8 of the Best Volcano Tours in Iceland
• 9 of the Best Iceland Glacier Tours
• 9 of the Best Iceland South Coast Tours

Budget Guide to Iceland

• Luxury Travel Guide to Iceland
• Guide to Visiting Iceland
• Is a Tour to Iceland’s South Coast worth it?

Meet Angelica, who at 22, boldly pivoted from a legal career to pursue her passions in travel and writing. With a focus on sustainable travel, she has explored Asia and Europe, emphasizing local cultural engagement along the way | Specializing in digital nomad travel, crafting comprehensive itineraries, identifying top tour guides, sharing regional insights on Asia, The Americas, and Europe, and advising on eco-friendly travel practices.

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Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon With Admission Tickets Included

• Golden Circle Tours
• Reykjavik Tours
• Airport Transfers
• ATV & Snowmobile Tours
• Caving Tours
• Combo Tours
• Geothermal Pools
• Glacier Tours
• Helicopter Tours
• Hiking & Climbing Tours
• Horseback Riding Tours
• Ice Cave Tours
• Volcano Tours
• Multi Day Tours
• Minibus Tours
• Nightlife & Culture Tours
• North Iceland
• Northern Lights Tours
• Private Tours
• River Rafting
• Sightseeing Tours
• Snæfellsnes Peninsula Tours
• Snorkeling & Diving Tours
• South Coast Tours
• Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Tours
• Super Jeep Tours
• Tours from Akureyri
• West Coast Tours
• Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours
• Capital Area
• Golden Circle
• South Iceland
• South Coast
• East Fjords
• West Iceland
• Reykjanes Peninsula
• Reykjavík City Area
• Snæfellsnes Peninsula
• Keflavík International Airport
• Lake Mývatn Area
• Icelandic Highlands
• 7 Hours 30 Minutes
• Hotel Pick-up Included
• Hotel Pick-up Possible
• Meet on Location

Can’t find the tour you’re looking for? Contact Us

Availability

Minimum age.

ISK 29.900

Tour Highlights:

• Þingvellir National Park
• Kerið crater
• Blue Lagoon
• Guided minibus tour
• Blue Lagoon Comfort Entrance
• Pickup and dropoff in Reykjavík
• Entry to the Kerið Crater

The Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon Tour

The Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon tour takes you on all the highlights of the Golden Circle and beyond! You will visit Þingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss Waterfall on tour. Not only will you explore these gems, but you will also see the Kerið Crater and the Blue Lagoon. This tour is the perfect combination of sightseeing and wellness in Iceland!

After pickup in the morning, you’ll start the day by visiting Þingvellir National Park. At Þingvellir, you can see where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are drifting apart. Here you will also learn more about Icelandic history. Þingvellir is where the Alþing general assembly was established around 930 AD. Þingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next, visit the Geysir hot spring area. Here you can see geyser Strokkur, which erupts at regular intervals. This hot spring sprouts water 30 meters into the air every few minutes.

You will also visit one of Iceland’s most famous and impressive waterfalls, Gullfoss .

Before leaving the Golden Circle, you will stop at the Kerið Crater. This crater was formed in an eruption about 3,000 years ago. The entrance fee to the Kerið crater is included in the tour price.

After a day of sightseeing on the Golden Circle, it’s time to head to the Blue Lagoon . You will have about 2 hours to relax in the milky blue waters.  A Comfort entrance ticket to the Blue Lagoon is included in the tour price. After a great day in Iceland, you will be dropped off in Reykjavík.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, pickup and dropoff at your accommodations or nearby bus stop are included in this tour. Please select your pickup point in the booking process.

Pickup takes place between 08:30 – 09:00 – so please be ready from 8:30 at your pick up location.

Yes, Comfort entrance tickets to the Blue Lagoon are included in the tour price.

Guests on this tour usually reach the Blue Lagoon around 17:00. You’ll have 2 hours to relax at the lagoon before returning to Reykjavík. You will be back in Reykjavík around 20:00 in the evening.

Yes, the entrance fee is included.

You should dress warmly and according to weather. We recommend warm clothes as your first layer and waterproof clothing as your second layer. You should also wear sturdy hiking boots on the tour.

Remember to bring your swimsuit for your Blue Lagoon visit.

Yes, the minimum age for this tour is 5 years.

On this tour, the maximum number of participants is 19.

No, lunch is not included in this tour but you will be able to purchase lunch at Geysir. You can also bring a packed lunch if you prefer.

Reservations can be canceled 24 hours prior to departure without penalty. Cancellations received less than 24 hours prior to departure are non-refundable.

Cancellations must be submitted in writing to  [email protected] .

Please be mindful of possible time zone differences. Iceland is in the GMT time zone and cancellations must be submitted at least 24 hours before departure in Icelandic local time (GMT).

If you do need to cancel your tour, we recommend that you contact us as soon as possible. 

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Hitched to Travel

Golden Circle Iceland in 2 Days – Self Drive Tour & Map

The Golden Circle in Iceland normally takes you from Reykjavik to 3 highlights: the waterfall Gullfoss , Þingvellir National Park , and Geysir in the Haukadalur geyser basin . In this itinerary, we want to introduce you to the other highlights along the Golden Circle of Iceland. These highlights will allow you to extend your drive along the Golden Circle in Iceland to 2 days or 3 days.

If you’re interested in just the highlights of the Golden Circle, or if you’re short on time, check our 1-day itinerary along the Golden Circle.

Check our guide: The Golden Circle in Iceland in 1 day

2-Day Itinerary for Extended Visit to the Golden Circle

Our itinerary below will take you to all the main stops on the Golden Circle of Iceland. But next to that, we also added some other stops we admired during our travels to Iceland. Details on those stops can be found further down in this article.

This tour around the Golden Circle of Iceland took us 2 days to complete. But the days were quite full, so if you want to take more time, you can take 3 days. In the tables below we’ll give you the details on what we did on each day. If you have any questions, please drop us a comment so we can get back to you. If you used our itinerary, we’d love to hear from you!

Day 1: Þingvellir and Reykjadalur Valley

We did the Golden Circle of Iceland at the beginning of our road trip along the ring road of Iceland. After we arrived in Iceland, we stayed at Reykjanesbær, close to the airport. We start our itinerary from there, but you can also start from Reykjavik.

Day 2: Nesjavellir, Kerið, Bruarfoss, Gullfoss, and Geysir

On our second day along the Golden Circle in Iceland, we did quite a lot of stops. It was a wonderful day, but to be fair: this day was quite heavy. At the end of the day, we were really tired and our feet were sore. If you want to be more at ease, you can leave out the hike at Nesjavellir or take 2 days to complete this itinerary.

Main Stops on the Golden Circle in Iceland

There are 3 main stops that everyone is doing, along the Golden Circle in Iceland. Those 3 are the Gullfoss waterfall, the geysers Strokkur and Geysir, and Þingvellir National Park. Those stops are discussed in detail in our article about the Golden Circle. So check that article for details.

Avoiding the Crowd with Other Sights

In this post, we’ll focus on the other stops along the Golden Circle. These are less popular with tourists, but still worthy of your time. If you want to take a break from the crowded Reykjavik or one of the main 3 stops, you can take a visit to one of those less-visited stops.

Reykjadalur Valley Hot Springs

Reykjadalur Valley means valley of steam. And that’s no lie. You start from the parking lot walking uphill. On the way up you’ll cross steam vents, geothermal pools, and mud pots. But that’s not all! After about an hour of hiking you’ll reach a thermal river where you can bathe, so don’t forget your swimming clothes 👙.

Discover the Reykjadalur Valley and the thermal river in our article on Reykjadalur Valley. We’ll explain where to park, how to hike to the river, point you to a hidden waterfall at the end of the valley and give you tips.

Itinerary, parking, hiking and where to bathe: Reykjadalur Valley Itinerary

Kerið Crater

The crater Kerið is a volcanic crater located next to the Golden Circle of Iceland. At the bottom of the crater, there is a volcanic lake. You can hike around both the crater and the lake, making this an ideal quick stop on your trip.

There is a small entrance fee if you want to visit Kerið Crater, but parking is free. There are no restrooms though, so keep this in mind. If you’re interested to learn more, check our article on Kerið crater.

Entrance, hiking and visiting details: Guide to visiting Kerið Crater lake

Bruarfoss Waterfall and Midfoss

Bruarfoss and Midfoss are two waterfalls that are located close to the Golden Circle. The parking lot to start the trail is on the road directly next to the Golden Circle, but the location of the waterfalls is more remote. To reach the waterfalls, you’ll have to hike for about 1 hour (1-way).

The hiking trail is worth it though. On this trail, you’ll see two beautiful waterfalls that aren’t visited a lot. If you plan a visit or want to learn more, check our article on Bruarfoss and Midfoss waterfalls.

Full details in our article: Waterfalls Bruarfoss and Midfoss

Nesjavellir Geothermal Area

Nesjavellir is a geothermal area in the south of Iceland. The area is known because of the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant, the second biggest geothermal power plant in Iceland. But the area is also a great destination for hiking.

On the hiking trail we did in Nesjavellir, we experienced a variety of different landscapes. You’ll see all colors of rocks and earth, mosses and plants and steam coming out of the ground. Check out the itinerary of our hike in our article on Nesjavellir.

Golden Circle Iceland Map & Route

On our map below you can find the route and all the stops along the Golden Circle mentioned in the article above. You can use this map as a base for your travel plans to the Golden Circle of Iceland.

Save Golden Circle Iceland in 2 Days for Later

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Hi there 👋! My name is Steven. I write for our travel blog and focus on the technicalities behind the blog (hosting, SEO…). My focus is to provide useful information I found lacking when preparing our own travels. That’s why I love making maps to enhance the articles. I hope you find what you seek on our website. And if there is something I can help with, make sure to reach out 🙂!

18 comments

Steven, I found this very helpful with the maps and how much time to allow for each attraction. thanks, Marie

Thanks a lot for your nice comment :). I’m happy to hear you found it useful!

Hi Steven. I am planning a tour of the golden Circle and have found your article very helpful. However, I wish to do this for 4 days, a road trip. So if i incorporate the main3 : Gullfoss waterfall, the geysers Strokkur and Geysir, and Þingvellir National Park and then i include the extended sites you have mentioned, will that allow me to stretch this to 4 days:Reykjadalur Valley Hot Springs, Kerio Crater and Bruarfoss Waterfall and Midfoss.

Any advice you can provide will be very helpful.

Hi Arafat, sorry for my late reply. Somehow I missed your comment. Indeed, if you extend the trip, it’s perfect for a 4 day road trip. We did it in 2 days, but it was really heavy and we had to rush a bit and one of the days we were out until 8 PM. So 4 days gives you more time to enjoy each of the sights.

We’d love to do this two-day tour by car. Do you recommend a hotel half way through the trip?

Hi Wayne, yes a hotel would be great. We stayed in Geysir when we did the Golden Circle.

I find car rentals expensive. Is an SUV required or can the circle be done in atypical rental car?

Hi Mike, sorry for the late answer. Seemed that I missed your comment. But a regular car is fine for the ring road. If you want to go to one of the more rural areas, I’d recommend an SUV. Indeed rental cars are expensive in Iceland :(.

Which month have you done the trip? Greetings Franziska

Hi Franziska, we did our trip to Iceland in June 🙂

thank you so much for the information. It is very useful in the planning stages of our trip in July.

I’m happy to hear our information is useful to plan your own trip 🙂

Which hotels did you stay at? and do you recommend them? I don’t see the names listed, but maybe I missed it!

Hi Susan, we stayed in an Airbnb in Reykjavik, but I don’t remember the name. Then we stayed in Litli Geysir Hotel, which is really good but not that cheap. Hope this helps you :).

Hi, this is a really useful article! However I am confused about something. On the first day you went to Pingvellir AND Reykjadalur? They seem to be on opposite sides of the circle. Can you clarify please? Thanks!

Hi Mike, thanks for the compliments on the article! We indeed did it on the same day because we booked a hotel close to Reykjadalur. And both activities fitted the day because Pingvellir is much more quiet early in the morning. But I agree, you could optimize travel distance a bit ;).

Ah, so you went to Pingvellir, then across to Reykjadalur, then up to Geysir and then back around again?

Exactly, and we stopped at the Kerid crater on the way there 😀.

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• Class Notes

The Latest News from Your Classmates

Find out what your fellow alums are up to—new jobs, marriages, and more—in the September / October 2024 Class Notes!

The Continuous Reunion Club column appears below!

Check out the CRC column —and columns from other Cornell groups—in the Group Notes. Want to see your group represented in future sections? Email us for information!

No news from you all, so you’ll have to tolerate what’s mulling about in my aging, addled mind: Iowa’s many rural towns and their small-town newspapers.

My interest in this arises from my early life. For my first 21 years I lived on a small subsistence farm. After Cornell and marriage, for the next 17 years I lived in the nearby rural village of Elba, NY, population 700, where I was the science teacher in the K-12 school. While living there I earned a doctoral degree at the University of Rochester. Preferring to maintain some connection to rural life, I moved about 1,000 miles west to Des Moines, IA, for a faculty position at Drake University. For a love of Iowa, I stayed for 57 years. In my waning years I now consider more highly my travels in all Iowa’s counties and county seats than my travels in all U.S. states, all the provinces of Canada, half the states of Mexico, and world travel in 32 other countries on five continents.

Iowa is a state of small, county-seat cities, and villages serving the social and business needs of their areas. Some small, rural towns are holding on with their weekly newspapers. In south-central Iowa is the village of Afton, population 1,000, which, against the national trend of dying newspapers, still has its 119-year-old, 60-cent, weekly Afton Star Enterprise. The Afton paper also serves the communities around it, providing each with local news that, in some mysterious way, serves to enrich and bind each community together.

For a love of Iowa, I stayed for 57 years. Paul Joslin ’50

I regularly read the Afton newspaper, which I receive from a friend and former resident of Afton. It’s a six-page publication and includes a variety of local news and three regular columns. Of great interest to me is a regular, 450-word column by a local retired farmer and gifted writer and illustrator who has the enviable ability to write entertainingly about what otherwise would be trivial events. His name is Rick Friday and fittingly his column is called “It’s Friday.”

I quote (paraphrasing a bit) from a recent column of his titled “Folks Tales,” which triggered similarities to my Depression-era upbringing, and perhaps yours as well: “During a child’s upbringing, parents use a variety of folktale strategies that are simply not true. My mom claimed she had eyes in the back of her head. When I broke my arm, the doc never asked if I was wearing clean underwear. My nose never grew after I told a fib. A watermelon seed I swallowed didn’t grow in my stomach. I handled a lot of toads and never got warts. And the moon is not made of cheese. I didn’t need glasses because I sat too close to the TV. A passing car never cut my hand off when I put it out the car window. It always hurt when they said it wouldn’t.” ❖ Paul Joslin ( email Paul ) | 13731 Hickman Rd., #4207, Urbandale, IA 50323 | tel., (515) 278-0960 | Alumni Directory .

“At 95, I’m aging—but rather gracefully,” writes Calvin Gage , who is also “inching toward the 66th anniversary with my wife, Marge. A year ago, we moved to a life care community, Lake Forest Place in Lake Forest, IL. We settled into an apartment where Marge is developing a beautiful patio garden. Among the 400+ residents, I’ve discovered a few with Cornell connections. One was a grad student whose dissertation was about Cornell’s first president, Andrew Dickson White. This chap went on to become president of Lake Forest College. Another resident’s daughter graduated from the Hotel School and, we’re told, had a very successful career in that business. There are other Cornellians here that I have yet to meet.”

Calvin adds, “In this community, where all of us are in our 80s, 90s, and, yes, 100s, it is refreshing to observe the vitality all around me. Yes, there are walkers and rollators and canes and electric scooters—and some can no longer stand tall—but mentally they are with it. That is very satisfying.” ❖ Class of 1951 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Carol Singer Greenhaus writes from Rye, NY, that seeing her three daughters, six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren gives her the most satisfaction these days—and, as her father used to say, “not a lemon in the bunch.” She feels that Cornell made her travel more interesting and made her interest in geology grow. “Like a kid, I collect rocks.”

Eli Manchester writes from Westwood, MA, that he and his wife are living in Fox Hill Village, a wonderful retirement community. He enjoys watching Cornell athletics on ESPN. He is lucky that his daughters and family live close by so that they see them often. His younger daughter graduated from Cornell Law School. He feels that his five years in Cornell engineering was a wonderful preparation for his professional life.

Harriette Scannell Morgan writes from Adamstown, MD, that waking up gives her the most satisfaction these days. Cornell changed the trajectory of her life; she met her husband, Monte , there and they had 61 years of marriage and two sons. Over the years they lived in the U.S., Canada, South America, and Europe, traveled to all the states, and were huge volunteers.

Bernard Patten writes from Athens, GA, that attending Cornell set the stage for his academic life and how to pursue it. Great satisfaction comes from “research and writing a revisionary kind of ecology, a three-volume work called Holoecology . My subject is a systems ecology topic I have been pursuing since I arrived in UGA Ecology in 1968.” He also has established a flagship quartet, TSS Adirondika Pro Musica. He has two grandsons that his daughter is raising in Atlanta.

Marion Lotz Rutan writes from Haines City, FL, that she has celebrated the 70th anniversary of her wedding with her husband. She enjoys Zoom calls with family and books available through the Library of Congress.

Ann Coffeen Turner writes from Keene, NH, that she enjoys tutoring and reading, having published her teaching materials on the Internet (Teachers Pay Teachers). ❖ Thomas Cashel, LLB ’56 ( email Tom ) | Alumni Directory .

William Ash , PhD ’60, reports that he and his late wife, Gertrude (Kehm) , were lucky to raise four responsible children to adulthood “without any problems whatsoever. They love the USA!” With two grandsons and two great-grandsons, “the family grows into the future with pride, but with hopes that the world will allow them to reach their potential.” William has been writing short monthly newsletter articles for the Cape Lookout Sail and Power Squadron in Trent Woods, NC. “I’ve now written close to 300 articles, each 1–2 pages, with the purpose of making our boating waters safe.”

Virginia “Jinny” Jackson Browning is pleased to still be healthy in mind and body at age 92. Her favorite activities at home in Kentucky are reading and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. “The numbers of great-grandchildren are increasing!” she reports.

Dottie Clark Free writes that she enjoys the volunteer activities at the retirement home where she lives in Palo Alto. Her family continues to grow. “In 1966 I married four people: a widower with three children. We now number 18.” Did attending Cornell change the trajectory of her life? “Tremendously! It gave me more confidence and broadened my outlook.”

Cornelius Jones (Monrovia, CA) shares that his wife of 67 years, Ruth, died in 2020. In studying the Jones family’s ancestry, Cornelius has learned that they were some of the first settlers of Staten Island, NY. Early in his career, Cornelius drastically changed his professional life from being a farm agent in New York to being a missionary with the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society.

Herb Neuman is thoroughly enjoying his first great-grandchildren—boy and girl twins. He is still working in real estate development in New York, Maryland, and Florida, training young members of the family firm as they take on responsibilities. In 2023 Herb was co-winner of the Tanner Prize in recognition of being active in the new Hillel building project at Cornell and engaged in strengthening the Jewish Studies Program.

I’ve now written close to 300 articles, each 1–2 pages, with the purpose of making our boating waters safe. William Ash ’53, PhD ’60

Bertram Pitt writes that, although he no longer sees patients, he continues to be active in clinical research. Recent papers relate to heart failure, hypertension, and renal (kidney) disease. “Currently I am working on therapies to reduce dementia in patients with hypertension,” he reports. On the calendar is a trip to Australia from his home in Ann Arbor, MI.

Louis Pradt and his wife, Sandra, still live in the Wisconsin house they moved into 51 years ago. “I like to fill it with music: playing, hearing, and seeing.” Louis spends time dealing with family affairs and gets a lot of satisfaction from the children in the family. He was disappointed to miss our 70th Reunion and sends his greetings to Cornell friends.

Alan Raynor and wife Mary enjoy life in Port Charlotte, FL. He especially likes having time to pursue special interests and is even finding time to write a movie.

Susan Finn Smith , with her husband, Donald (Iowa State), lives a busy life at a retirement community in Middleton, WI. “We have many activities and events,” she says, “but especially enjoy connecting with friends or family, reading, writing essays, streaming movies, going to concerts, and reading the New York Times or Washington Post .” Their son lives nearby and visits often, but their two daughters live and work far away, she reports. “Our second great-grandchild arrived earlier this year.” Susan transferred to Cornell from Iowa State as a junior and completed her BS degree at Cornell. “I grew to love Upstate New York,” she recalls. “I also made Eastern friends and came to love classical music and writing.”

Joyce Wisbaum Underberg , BS ’52, reports that she is still able to keep up with the news “and with the few friends I have left!” In her professional life, Joyce served as director of government affairs for Schlegel Corporation at its headquarters in Rochester, NY, and she remains active in a few organizations that welcome “old war horses” as board members. “I’m very content,” reports Joyce, “with all four children gainfully employed and in happy relationships that have produced nine grandchildren. Life is good—I’m lucky!” Joyce credits Cornell with helping her mature from a somewhat sheltered teenager to an adult “who is still trying to push the envelope for change that I think matters!” Keep us posted on your progress, Joyce.

Lois Crane Williams , MEd ’60, continues to write about local and family history. She lives in assisted living at a retirement complex in Lancaster County, VA, and says, “Marrying a Cornell engineer (the late Peter Williams ) was one of the really good events in my life!” ❖ Caroline Mulford Owens ( email Caroline ) | Bob Neff , JD ’56 ( email Bob ) | John Nixon ( email John ) | Alumni Directory .

Reunion 2024! What a terrific weekend it was! A bit cool and cloudy, but warm spirits throughout the campus. Eight thousand Cornellians returned to the Hill. More than 400 events, programs, and concerts were offered. We were busy. Time flew by. And now we cherish wonderful memories of a glorious weekend.

Dave , PhD ’60, and Mary Gentry Call , as Reunion co-chairs, planned with consideration of our age and limitations. We were cared for with Statler accommodations, good meals, transportation, and time to visit with old friends and also to rest. A special note: at Saturday dinner, held at Kendal where a few of our class including the Calls live, we were delighted that Mary was able to join us. A big thank you to Mary and Dave, who held steady and made it happen for us in spite of their significant health challenges.

Chick Trayford , MBA ’60, our class president, was kept at home because of physical limitations resulting from his treatment in recent months. However, he worked tirelessly to encourage classmates to return for Reunion. The results of his efforts are reported below.

Here are a few highlights of the schedule. Thursday: excitement as we arrived at the registration area; dinner at the Statler; the traditional and wonderful Savage Club’s Reunion Show. Friday: “Democratic Resilience Globally” presentation by the Class of 1979 and the Brooks School of Public Policy (retired ambassador Dwight Bush ’79 shared that, to foster a global worldview, he and his wife give each child one plane ticket a year to anywhere outside of the U.S.); lunch at Moakley House on the golf course; Olin Lecture at Bailey Hall with Andrew Ross Sorkin ’99 , award-winning journalist and author, CNBC “Squawk Box” co-anchor, and co-creator of Showtime series “Billions”; Statler dinner with the Sherwoods (men’s singing) and Corey Earle ’07 discussing “Then and Now”; Cornell University Chorus and Glee Club at Bailey.

Saturday: State of the University Address by President Martha Pollack; Al Eckhardt took a few of us to visit the Merrill Family Sailing Center, where he, a lifelong competitive sailor and skipper of the winning 1954 crew, proudly showed us the new facility and the Class of 1954 FJ22 sailboat he gave to Cornell (a story new to me: as teenagers, for several summers Al and Chick raced sailboats on Long Island Sound. In August 1950, they wished one another well and said goodbye. Soon after, completely by surprise, they found each other on the Cornell campus!); reception and dinner at Kendal; Cornelliana Night with much Big Red spirit and the old songs we love to sing. Sunday: Packing and hugs and good wishes to all.

Here are the officers who will tend to class business: president, Chick Trayford; VP and treasurer, Dave Call; Annual Fund representative, Warren “Breck” Breckenridge ; nominations chair, Al Eckhardt; webmaster, Jan Jakes Kunz ; co-correspondents, Ruth Carpenter Bailey and Bill Waters , MBA ’55.

We cherish wonderful memories of a glorious [Reunion] weekend. Ruth Carpenter Bailey ’54

And here are the results of the work they and others performed on behalf of the class: The Class of 1954 now holds the record for attendance at a 70th Reunion! The University has confirmed that we had 29 classmates in Ithaca! Last year the Class of 1953 had 11; the previous record was 26. We had a total of 55 people including spouses, children, and guests. Dollars raised for Cornell by our class totaled $14.2 million! (“A huge number,” says Cornell, but not the record, which is $17.0 million, held by the Class of 1948.) We thank all who gave to enable us to reach this amount.

Random thoughts: Corey Earle presented a delightful program with photos about Cornell history and changes on campus. We are fortunate to have him as the informal historian of the University. I recommend that you listen to him on Zoom whenever you have the chance. President Pollack gave her final Reunion speech. I swelled with pride to hear of the enormous breadth and depth of Cornell’s impact around the globe. A new book, Beyond Borders: Exploring the History of Cornell’s Global Dimensions , now available and co-edited by Corey, tells in some detail about this important work. Interestingly her talk was interrupted by protestors. Security was prepared: they were given a few minutes to shout and disrupt on behalf of Gaza; the audience drowned them out; then quietly and professionally the security people calmly ushered them out of Bailey. On a happy note, the Cornell Band, not in uniform, played enthusiastically as we entered and departed from Bailey on a couple of occasions. A fun addition.

The University holds a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving. I must confess I was taken aback when I saw the length of the list of classmates who have died. One we lost very early was Fred Wood . Jane Barber Wood Smith came this year with their daughter, Barbara Wood ’82 . To the staff of Alumni Affairs, Jane wrote, “Thank you so much for your part in making our 70th Reunion such a joyous and comfortable occasion. I am just so happy and grateful to have been there to renew with old friends and see the old campus surviving amidst the new.

“It was especially poignant for my daughter and me to retrace some family memories from 1963 when she was 3, we lived on Wait Avenue, and her father, my first husband, Fred, worked as acting Episcopal chaplain at CURW. He was later class correspondent and he and I were to be Reunion chairs in ’69; by then he was battling leukemia and died in 1970 when he was chaplain and associate professor at Vassar College.

“Barbara and I were able to track down the chandelier in the Founders Room at Anabel Taylor that was contributed upon request by my father-in-law Frederic Wood 1924 (a former Cornell trustee), along with the plaque indicating that it was in memory of his son. Since no one in the family had ever seen this, we took pictures and emailed and phoned my sister-in-law Meredith Wood Einaudi ’61 in Palo Alto, CA. She was delighted.”

Those of us who attended Reunion were grateful to be there. We remembered those unable to be there. I hope reading these comments gives you a bit of the flavor of a happy weekend. ❖ Ruth Carpenter Bailey ( email Ruth ) | Bill Waters , MBA ’55 ( email Bill ) | Class website | Alumni Directory .

Richard Shriver was honored by the Connecticut River Conservancy with the Bud Foster Award. CRC gives this award each year to someone who has shown outstanding devotion, service, and accomplishment in the Connecticut River watershed. Bud Foster was the first executive director of what is now the CRC. As its website notes, “In those pre-Clean Water Act days when CRC was first established, the challenge facing our rivers was significant. That meant the dedication of those looking to make a difference was also extraordinary. This award shines a light on those who work hard for the benefit of our rivers.”

In its announcement, CRC noted Dick’s contributions: “Dick has been supportive of the Connecticut River Conservancy at every turn. He has been an early morning boat captain for the Unified Water Study, has published articles about restoration stories with great depth and detail, has hosted murmuration bird paddles for local community members, and offered his home as a celebratory reception place. He has been a convener, connector, and friend who brings others together with open arms to unite our efforts for greater collective impact. Thanks to Dick’s leadership, $1 million was recently granted by the Endeavor Foundation to support conservation priorities throughout the watershed. All this in a relatively short time, after a successful career. Dick is an impressive example of how much one person can accomplish when inspired and committed. And now his efforts inspire more of us to appreciate and steward this amazing resource.”

Samuel “Skip” Salus derives great satisfaction from “being able to move around without pain.” He spends his days reading, playing bocce, attending lectures or events, and keeping in touch with old friends. Sadly, Skip shares, “I lost my wife to a strange disease.” He adds that he enjoys “seeing my sons in their jobs competing successfully. I have 13 grandchildren and five are in college—one just graduated and one is at Ithaca College.”

Ruth McDevitt Carrozza (York, PA) greatly enjoys keeping in contact with her far-flung family in Florida, California, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Maine, and camping with her daughter and son-in-law. She’s also enjoying her new friends in her community and participating in community activities such as crafts and bus trips. “I celebrated my 90th birthday with a great family party on April 1. We are waiting for my fourth great-grandchild.” When asked if Cornell changed the trajectory of her life, she wrote, “Although I was a landscape design student, I was able to become a science teacher because of my science classes at Cornell.”

Although I was a landscape design student, I was able to become a science teacher because of my science classes at Cornell. Ruth McDevitt Carrozza ’55

Hans Duerr writes from his new home in Orchard Park, NY, where he moved to be closer to his sons after his life partner, Jeanne, died in 2020. He is happy to be alive and healthy. George Morson derives great satisfaction from family, his health, volunteering, and tennis. He happily reports that his grandson is a pilot.

Dick Kurtz , BS ’58, appreciates his “good health, happy wife, and family. I enjoy seeing the growth of our 4-year-old identical male quadruplet great-grandchildren—and supporting their parents.” Dick participates in his church choir, plays bridge, volunteers in church affairs, walks the dog, and travels in the U.S. He notes that the University “supported my love of Latin American friends, travels, and countries.”

Shirley Sanford Dudley writes, “I studied psychology at Cornell and became (after an advanced degree) a counselor, registrar, and assistant dean in a seminary. I loved, loved, loved working with students. They have been some of my best friends for life. Also, as a minister’s wife, the variety of students at Cornell enabled me to open up to a wider group of people of all sorts in the cities where we lived.” Now, Shirley is occupied with leadership roles in her senior center, choirs there and at church, 10-minute plays, letter writing, exercising, walking, and reading good books.

These days, Kenneth Sanderson greatly enjoys meeting new people, volunteering at polling places and as an usher at theaters, gardening, and attending plays. “2024 has been the worst year of my life,” he shares. “My wife, Barbara, died, and my brother Don died. I’m glad that I got to bring Barb to visit Cornell once.” When asked if Cornell changed the trajectory of his life, he wrote, “Absolutely. It gave me a goal for life: always excel! And it provided the professors and classmates that served as role models. I only attended Cornell for two years for a BS degree, but I have always felt that I was part of a family. Cornellians opened many doors for me throughout my career.”

Stay tuned for more news from our classmates in the next column! ❖ Class of 1955 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Diana Motycka Day has been participating in church activities as a deacon, gardening around her home, and socializing with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. “I met Bob Day the first day of freshman year at orientation! We fell in love, but Bob’s national scholarship kept him studying too much so I dated Tom Herbert ’54 , MBA ’55, and married him! That marriage ended. Bob and I both went to our 45th Reunion in 2001 and decided immediately to get married right away in 2002. That was an idyllic marriage for 15 years, until Bob died.”

Virginia Seelig Lenz has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She is a tour docent at Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s retreat home, and a facilitator for a book club at her local library.

Gail Berkson Malloy-Brown is retired from teaching at Adelphi University but still working part time as a psychotherapist. She notes that she’s still recovering from Dick Brown ’48 ’s death four years ago. “Cornell sent me on a ‘trip’ from hospital nurse to public health nurse to teacher and academic administrator of nursing, to psychoanalyst and psychotherapist in private practice, and from BS to MA to PhD.”

Pat Brodie gets the greatest satisfaction in life from spending time with her children and grandchildren. Now retired, she’s writing a memoir. “I’m living in Brookhaven in Lexington, MA, now. Everyone here is over 65. It reminds me of living in the dorm at Cornell.”

I’m living in Brookhaven in Lexington, MA, now. Everyone here is over 65. It reminds me of living in the dorm at Cornell. Pat Brodie ’56

Robert Ridgley writes, “I’m still happily married to Marilyn (Hester) ’57 after 66 years! We just welcomed our first great-grandchild!” Robert retired as CEO of Northwest Natural Gas and continues with numerous activities for the community of Portland, OR, including the Cornell Club. “Economics and history studies at Cornell led me to Harvard Law School, 23 years of legal practice, and then a second career in management of a public utility.”

Carol Skidmore Cuddeback writes, “My 90th birthday party had 53 relatives attending! Great occasion for our large family! I was surprised! Wish my dear husband could have been there.”

Theodora Litner Weihe enjoys “being able to dance and play golf with my younger friends, being able to eat out when I don’t feel like cooking, and being able to drive! I love having a loving husband in good health. We go to grandchildren’s graduations when we can, but otherwise aren’t traveling much. Attending Cornell allowed me to feel confident in many new settings—socially and professionally.”

There will be more news from classmates in our next Class Notes column! ❖ Class of 1956 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Those hills of Cornell drew me back again for the 2024 Reunion. The founders of the Continuous Reunion Club declared that attending Reunions only every five years just isn’t enough. I joined CRC in 2000, so I have enjoyed the Reunions every year since then except for the two years of the pandemic.

This year I was able to meet Nan Krauthamer Goldberg and Judy Richter Levy , LLB ’59, for dinner at the Statler’s Taverna Banfi fine dining restaurant. Judy arrived from Manhattan to enjoy her Law School Reunion. She and one other female classmate double registered our senior year. Judy announced that she is about to retire from her practice of personal injury law, which she pursued for at least 50 years with her late husband. She had an interesting and rewarding career helping victims receive compensation due to other people’s negligence. She may occasionally assist her daughter, also an attorney, with her cases. Judy has been our class’s go-to person in NYC to arrange luncheons and dinners whenever Cornell events took place there. Many classmates who enjoy the Cornell hockey games in Madison Square Garden have attended those dinners.

Nan is one who was fortunate to remain in the Ithaca area as three weeks after graduation she and Stan ’55 were married. Stan was a retailer in an Ithaca home improvement business that later grew and diversified, and he became a real estate developer. Nan and Stan had four children in the next 10 years, which kept Nan busy using skills learned in her child development classes. Nan later had her own business, Learning Foundation of Ithaca. Over the years, Nan has helped hundreds of high school students in test preparation and goal-setting. To this day she continues to help local students and also Rotary exchange students. Her family now includes 11 grandchildren, four of whom are Cornellians. Although Stan passed away in 2015, Nan continues to live in their fine modern home on the west shore of Cayuga Lake, across the road from Taughannock Falls State Park.

Naturally, our dinner conversation included news about many of our distaff side classmates. We especially recalled the recent passing of two very active women, Sue DeRosay Henninger and Vanne Shelley Cowie . Both served as leaders during our undergrad years and since we became alumni. Sue was our president early in our alumni days. Vanne’s decorations in Balch Hall for our 40th Reunion are still memorable. Sue was a patroness of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, while Vanne was a patroness of the Cornell Botanic Gardens (formerly the Cornell Plantations).

Judy Richter Levy ’57 , LLB ’59, is about to retire from her practice of personal injury law, which she pursued for at least 50 years with her late husband.

Their spouses, Joe Henninger ’56 , MBA ’58, and former trustee Bob Cowie ’55 , MBA ’57, survive them. Both couples were recipients of the prestigious Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award. Vanne and Bob were honored in 2003 and Sue and Joe were honored in 2009. (And, both couples were members of the Continuous Reunion Club!) Our other honored recipients of the Frank H.T. Rhodes Award are: Art Gensler , 1998; Tony Cashen , MBA ’58, 2001; Steve Weiss , 2008; Steve Laden , 2009; and Bob Staley , MBA ’59, with his wife, Elizabeth (Chapman) ’60 , 2012.

Our class is recognized as having a great number of our alumni involved in Cornell and class activities. In our class leadership and Reunion committees alone, we approach 100 individuals. Could any other class even come close to that? There is a pattern prevalent in the classes of the 1950s. Many male students had plans to continue their education in professions such as medicine, law, advanced business degrees, and further academic studies. Not so for the women. Only about 10 of us ’57 women went right into law or medical schools. In fact, we were not encouraged to continue our education. A corridor-mate, a ’56 co-ed, went to a vet school for an interview. She was told outright that she would not be admitted because she would be “taking the place of a man.”

Graduation found many of us married or soon to be married, then becoming mothers, homemakers, and community volunteers. Only later did some pursue advanced degrees. Barbara “Bobbie” Redden Leamer is a perfect example. She and Dick ’56 were married in the Anabel Taylor chapel the day before our graduation. Defying all who bet against it, she, as our women’s class council president, along with her counterpart, Jim Drennan , MD ’61, was in place the next morning to lead us to our Barton Hall graduation ceremony. Bobbie and Dick were quickly on their way to Jackson, MI, for Dick’s job with Mobil Oil. Dick’s entire career was with Mobil Oil and entailed move after move, 11 of them by our 25th Reunion.

With their three children born in ’59, ’61, and ’63, Bobbie became a Girl Scout leader, a library volunteer, a PTA leader, a Sunday School teacher, and involved with various newcomer groups, sports booster clubs, and many, many more. Her interest in library work led her to earn a master’s in library and information sciences in 1979 from the University of North Texas. Their last move was to Fairfax, VA, in 1989, where they remain. She continues to volunteer at public libraries in the Fairfax area and in Saranac Lake, NY, where they have a summer home. Their family has expanded to include nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. ❖ Connie Santagato Hosterman ( email Connie ) | Alumni Directory .

Albert Caines , the only vector control specialist and entomologist in Oswego County, NY, and the area, collected over one million mosquitos in his work. He lives in Phoenix, NY, and enjoys fishing, watching high school sports, Cornell football and lacrosse, two great-grandchildren, and dining out with his girlfriend.

Debbie Fanto Czegledy , who majored in fine arts, had a wonderful career at the United Nations, using her arts skills. Her role in the last 12 of her 20 years at the U.N. was as head of the department that informed people about the work of the agency that gave grants to women in developing countries, through booklets, exhibits, events, and speeches. She also traveled to European countries to fundraise and to developing countries to encourage project recipients. After she retired, she became a professional portrait artist. Now living in Plandome, NY, on Long Island, she still enjoys painting and participates in a French conversation group, many church activities, swimming, and entertaining in her garden with her many friends.

Dean Danzer worked as a chemical engineer for 38 years at Monsanto, then traveled all over the world after retiring. He suffers from amyloidosis and is confined to a wheelchair. He lives in St. Louis, MO, with his wife, Virginia, who graduated in 1961 from Washington University. She is still in good health and is able to drive. He enjoys reading, investing, church activities, and spending time with his family.

Gerald Freedman started out as a mechanical engineer but took multiple other courses, including one on how the body works with Prof. Singer in home economics, which changed his life. He then went to medical school and retired as a radiologist. He lives in Hillsboro Beach, FL, with his wife, Karen, who is a joy! His health is stable, but he has pain in multiple joints. He enjoys sculpting clay, watching TV, reading magazines, spending time with friends, and talking on his cell phone with his kids, who are doing great!

Albert Caines ’58 , the only vector control specialist and entomologist in Oswego County, NY, and the area, collected over one million mosquitos in his work.

Arthur Horowitz says Cornell provided him with the opportunity to learn, limited only by his lack of brain power! He practiced as an ob/gyn until 21 years ago, and since then has helped his wife in her fine art business. They live in Hopkins, MN, and travel a lot—2 million miles to 100+ destinations. Their three children graduated from Barnard, Cornell, and Wesleyan in the 1980s and have since provided them with seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Arthur’s greatest satisfaction is waking up in the morning!

Susan Swanson Hueber says Cornell pressed her “curiosity button”! She lives in Ridgecrest, CA, and is a widow, which means she has no more horses to care for. She finds satisfaction in getting up every morning, learning (by non-digital means), enjoying music and art, cooking for fun and friends, activities with her dog, and friends and family. She also volunteers at a small local natural history museum.

Almeda “A.C.” Church Riley says Cornell changed her life by providing two good marriages to Cornell graduates, Bill Dake ’57 (1959–84) and John Riley ’55 (1995–2021). In between, A.C. gave 10 years of public service to her community. She lives in Woodlawn Commons, an independent living community in Saratoga Springs, NY, and is on its residents’ association board. She is a member of the United Methodist Church and the League of Women Voters, regularly plays bridge and mahjongg, plans to play frequent golf this summer, and enjoys spending time with her children and their families.

Audrey Wildner Sears says Cornell changed the trajectory of her life when she met Ray ’57 , her spouse of 66 years, and set off on an adventure! She derives great satisfaction from still being active in her community in Grantham, NH. She enjoys volunteering at Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, VT.

Cynthia Rau Sears is very excited because she recently became a great-grandmother to Nolan Michael! She and husband Raymond, who live in Wayne, NJ, find it hard to believe! ❖ Barbara Avery, MA ’59 ( email Barbara ) | Dick Haggard ( email Dick ) | Alumni Directory .

“ Oh, I want to go back to the old days … Hard to believe we are celebrating our 65th Reunion,” says Marty Lehman . “The event triggers a flood of memories—long bus/train rides from my home in Portsmouth, OH, to Ithaca, lifetime friendships with my brothers from Tau Delta Phi, late nights spent in the architectural drafting rooms ( Work like a jerk till your eyes ache like hell! ), the unforgettable Beaux Arts Ball on the top floor of White Hall, George Healy’s brilliant lectures in British lit, Kingston Trio for Spring Weekend, trudging through the snow on the Quad on Dragon Day, custodial residence at the Heller House on Eddy Street with my architecture classmate Bill Woods , early morning ‘bridge’ parties (milk punch for breakfast) overlooking Beebe Lake, graduation party in the ‘secret garden’ behind the Heller House … Always returning to my old Cornell .”

“Great Reunion!” says Carole Kenyon . Says Phyllis Corwin Rogers , “The best part of Reunion is the trip down memory lane.” Says Harry Petchesky , “Like most of our classmates, I came for the camaraderie and the programs offered by Cornell, all of which got high marks from their attendees.” Says Judy Brotman Cochran , “This was another of the Class of ’59s wonderful Reunions and why many of us keep coming back.” Particularly heartwarming were the rousing cheers given to retiring President Martha Pollack after her State of the University Address, and the performance by the Cornell Alumni Chorus and Glee Club at Cornelliana Night.

Memories of people, places, and events: “Climbing the stairs to Rockefeller Hall and sitting in the auditorium for a physics demonstration reminded me of Professor Herbert Newhall , PhD ’42 ’s introductory physics course in 1955; it was as invigorating now as it was then,” said Phil Yarnell . At our Saturday evening dinner, Corey Earle ’07 gave a fabulous talk contrasting Cornell in the late 1950s with the Cornell of today. Gerry Schultz followed Corey’s presentation with a slideshow featuring Hans Bethe, Phillip Morrison, Dexter Perkins, Michell Sienko ’43 , and other professors who inspired us during our days on the Hill. Svein Arber spoke eloquently about Clinton Rossiter ’39 and Milton Konvitz , PhD ’33 . Sadder remembrances were expressed at Anabel Taylor Hall on Friday morning, when Ron Demer , Bill Kingston , Ellie Applewhaite , and Bill Day read the names of 181 classmates who had passed away since our 2019 Reunion. Ron notes that our class began with 2,262 people, including those who earned degrees and those who did not; 720 have died, which is 32% of those who initially started.

Sixty-eight ’59ers were at Reunion, many accompanied by spouses and friends. Among us was Marsha Gratz Perry , attending her very first Reunion (hooray!). In contrast, Reuners such as Ellie Applewhaite and Harry Petchesky have attended every Reunion, beginning with our 5th back in 1964. One classmate unable to attend but still represented was George Ladas , whose charming book, The Amazing Adventures of Karnival Kat and Eight Musical Mice , was featured at the Cornell Store’s book signing on Saturday morning. Another attendee-in-spirit was Carl Leubsdorf , whose article about becoming a political columnist, “I Really Owe It All to The Sun,” appeared in the Reunion edition of the Cornell Daily Sun .

At least one of us was seen dancin’ to the beat at the evening tent parties. But let’s admit it: most of us had ‘retired’ by that hour. Jenny Tesar ’59

Some statistics: Our class was among those given special recognition at Cornelliana Night, for raising a record amount of money during a 65th Reunion year: $49,797,404. Over 8,000 people registered for Reunion, representing 47 states, the District of Columbia, and 23 countries. More than 450 events were on the schedule: tours, exhibits, lectures, workshops, open houses, receptions, and even canoeing on Beebe Lake. Two ’59ers shared a mid-afternoon snack of BBQ with electricians setting up events on the Arts Quad. And at least one of us was seen dancin’ to the beat at the evening tent parties. But let’s admit it: most of us had “retired” by that hour.

A new-for-’59ers event: Reunion kicked off on Thursday afternoon with the Spirit of ’31: Passing It Forward ceremony, during which the three oldest Reuning classes, celebrating their 75th, 70th, and 65th reunions, presented the Class of 2019, attending their first Reunion, with their official class banner. Events receiving ’59ers’ acclaim included a guided tour of the Mann Library exhibit “Introducing Vladimir Nabokov, Lepidopterist.” We all remember Nabokov’s teaching and his worldwide fame as a writer, but this exhibit illustrated his lifelong involvement (beginning at age 5!) with questions of butterfly evolution and diversity. FYI: The University’s Insect Collection has over seven million insect specimens, including hundreds of butterflies collected by Nabokov.

At the reception celebrating women in engineering—where it was noted that women now comprise nearly 50% of Cornell’s engineering students— Al Newhouse had a good discussion with a female manager from Shell Oil about the impact of EVs on our electric grid. Professor Ross Brann’s talk, “Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Racism Revisited,” received high marks from Stefanie Lipsit Tashkovich , MEd ’64 (“wonderful”) and Carole Parnes . Carole also commended the presenters at the annual Liberty Hyde Bailey Lecture, this year on synthetic biology and the transdisciplinary, team-based approach being used to solve complex medical, agricultural, and other problems.

The old, the new: All ’59ers and their guests received coupons for a two-dip ice cream cone or cup at the Dairy Bar (Itha-Kahlua Fudge—yum!). A bus full of classmates took a bus tour of the campus with the informative, witty tour guide pointing out new buildings, places being renovated and expanded, the relocation of the baseball field, etc. A stop at the Botanic Gardens (formerly Cornell Plantations) provided a brief respite from the day’s hustle and bustle. On another day, several of us were given a bird’s-eye view of the construction of Cornell Bowers CIS, named after the late Ann Schmeltz Bowers , the college’s primary donor. ❖ Jenny Tesar ( email Jenny ) | Alumni Directory .

Elaine Moody Pardoe has sadly reported from Columbia, MD, “My husband, David, died on March 28. We had a wonderful 62 years of marriage, which are giving me cherished memories to help me through this difficult time. I now live in a retirement community, where I have compatible fellow residents who have experienced the same heartbreak. Dave and I considered moving here one of the wisest decisions ever made. We have three children, who are my greatest source of comfort; we share undying love for their father.”

John Ramsey , who lives in Perry, IA, with his spouse, Lois Lee Huck, says, “I’m happily retired from my ichthyology career at the University of Puerto Rico, Auburn University, and Iowa State. My wife and I enjoy the amenities of our retirement community.”

Merrill Burr Hille reports from Seattle, WA, that she still enjoys hiking and the pleasures of her four grandchildren, who are ages 4–26. Cornell influenced her life, says Merrill. She enjoyed doing research in the Department of Chemistry, which got her to graduate school and eventually to her professorship in biology at the University of Washington; there she managed to publish significant cell biology manuscripts in 2002.

Raoul Andrews-Sudre sent word from Pompano Beach, FL, that he is “playing golf and cooking for my friends. I also give lectures on energy medicines and consult on spa design and management. I continue to travel the world and visit my daughter and grandchildren in Paris.”

Bradford Brown lives comfortably with his wife, Mable, in Johnston, RI. Asked what brings him the most satisfaction, Bradford says, “Our family, including my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I’ve been writing memoirs on topics like anti-racism.”

Meantime, Donald Dewey , BA ’65, is still in New Rochelle, NY, where he says he is comfortable with his wife, Sandy. “I also find satisfaction watching the Boston Celtics and not working.” Queried on whether Cornell changed the trajectory of his life, Don drolly says, “I think so; my daughter Elizabeth Dewey Efe ’98 , MBA ’06, also attended Cornell.” Send your news to ❖ Judy Bryant Wittenberg ( email Judy ) | Alumni Directory .

Read the news from your classmates here! Dorcas McDonald founded and is the executive director of the Learning for Living Institute in Boulder, CO. She appreciates Cornell for getting her started to find what she wanted to do.

Longtime tennis photographer Ed Goldman is a new member of the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame. He has photographed the U.S. Open since 1976. Congratulations, Ed!

Stan Marks is still working and judging in Arizona. A nice Q&A article with his photo appeared in the Town of Paradise Valley Independent , describing his volunteer work for the Paradise Valley, AZ, court.

From Yonkers, NY, Marco Minasso has one grandchild at Cornell. Of his days on the Hill, he recalls, “I felt a part of a large family discovering new ideas every day.”

Mike Polansky writes, “Since retirement doesn’t really work for me, I started a new career as a reporter for a string of local newspapers, Massapequa Post and others, where I cover local board and chamber meetings with matters relating to Massapequa, NY.”

David Marks , MS ’64, is “living in the country with deer and turkeys in the backyard. A big change from Cambridge, MA, but we enjoyed both. After 43 years at MIT as a professor of civil engineering, we are taking it easy in the country. My daughter and granddaughters went to Cornell. Cornell took me as a small-town rural kid and showed me the world.”

Joel Blatt writes, “I’m still teaching European history at the Stamford campus of the University of Connecticut. I was inspired to teach history by Edward Fox and Walter LaFeber.”

I was inspired to teach history by Edward Fox and Walter LaFeber. Joel Blatt ’61

From James Belden , DVM ’64, in Florida: “After 31 years practicing equine sports medicine on the racetrack and another 28 years with sport horses, we have semi-retired to a new farm in Williston, FL. Our focus presently is special-case equine rehabilitation, and we are enjoying the peaceful lifestyle being away from mainstream competition. We continue to show reining horses but only on a regional basis. The new farm affords us more opportunity to visit the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The tempo of life in North Florida is relaxed compared to South Florida.”

In sad news, Alan Schmitt ’s son wrote that his father died in December 2023 at age 83, and Stephen Wilson ’s son informed us of Stephen’s death and indicated that he wishes to continue carrying on his father’s Cornell support.

Before his death in March, classmate Gary Busch sent in a lengthy news form. He wrote, “I have closed our two African cargo lines and ended the charter of our planes. I have closed my shipping line and sold the last two vessels. I have sold my house in London and down-sized twice to a small apartment. I sold my house in Venice, Italy, and closed my shared apartment in Vanino, Russia. I still have my country house in Somerset. I have largely stopped traveling on a regular basis and sold my car. I continue my daily news blog and my occasional political consulting. All in all, I am leading a normal life after all these years, now surrounded by children and grandchildren. I look forward to a less exciting schedule and hope to settle into a more placid period of gradual decline.” These classmates will be missed. ❖ Susan Williams Stevens ( email Susan ) | Doug Fuss ( email Doug ) | Alumni Directory .

Cornellians is thrilled to share news from Anne Kaczmarczyk Evans , who graduated from the Nursing School in NYC in 1962. (Though the school has been closed for 45 years, Cornell formerly combined three years of education, hospital training, and hands-on experience at NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine—as the institutions are now known—on top of two years of prior academic study, granting a bachelor’s degree in nursing.)

These days, Anne spends her time dancing, sitting on the beach enjoying the sun and water, attending church services, and volunteering at the local historical office and local Medicare office. She writes, “I spent a delightful lunch in NYC with two classmates in March at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” When asked if attending Cornell changed the trajectory of her life, Anne said, “I earned a professional degree, which lead to a lifetime of work.”

Thanks for writing, Anne! Cornellians is always happy to receive news from Nursing school alumni and celebrate their distinct Big Red experience. They’re welcome to fill out an online news form or write directly to Alexandra Bond ( email Alex ).

Here’s the news that’s come over the transom since our last column. If you’ve missed this one, you can atone by sending news for the next one.

From Ewing, NJ, Patricia Carlin White , MEd ’63, writes that now that she has retired from teaching high school home economics (“culinary arts”), she is keeping busy as a textile artist making handwoven clothing and with traveling—most recently to Japan and to Lisbon a few times a year to visit her son and his family.

After 30 years working with Penn State student counselors, Betty Lefkowitz Moore is enjoying retirement by being with friends, volunteering at the library, providing medical assistance for those without funding, serving as director of the Jewish Community Center, and being a great-grandmom.

Linda Zucchelli Martinelli of Rexford, NY, proudly reports that her two grandsons at Cornell are both on the Dean’s List!

Beverley Mochel Wilson lives in Lawrence, KS, where she volunteers four days a week recording and live broadcasting for sight-impaired individuals. “We are the second largest service in the country with 250 volunteers and 1,000 listeners!”

Author Jack Foley lives in Oakland, CA, where he is a prolific writer, poet, and critic. Since 1988, he has presented poetry on the Berkeley, CA, radio station KPFA. In 2021, Academica Press published The Light of Evening: A Brief Life of Jack Foley , and the companion volume, A Backward Glance O’er Travel’d Roads . Last year’s output included Creative Death (Igneus Press), Bridget (Stoneybrook Editions), and, coming up, Ekphrazz (Igneus Press) and Collisions (Academica Press).

Bob Simpson , a retired automotive engineer for the Chrysler Corporation now living in Fenton, MI, keeps himself busy completing projects and/or repairing or fixing things. David Harrald writes that he is enjoying retirement in Sun Lakes, AZ.

From Veneta, OR, John Abele sends word that these days, in addition to enjoying the company of his family, he gets the most satisfaction from watching Fox programs and “supporting the Conservatives.” Liz Belsky Stiel writes that she and husband Lester ’60 are settled in La Jolla, CA, where they “plan to continue to age in place.”

From La Conversion, Switzerland, Jacqueline Browne Bugnion ’62 writes that in retirement she has been financing an agricultural school.

Originally from St. Paul, MN, Jean Kitts Cadwallader serves on several boards in Homer, NY, where she set up home after graduation with her late husband, William , DVM ’62 , a Cornell veterinarian, and raised her family, which now includes 10 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and two more “in the oven.”

From La Conversion, Switzerland, where she has lived for almost six decades, Jacqueline Browne Bugnion writes that in retirement she has been financing an agricultural school that is linked to the “Great Green Wall,” a major reforestation project in Burkina Faso whose purpose is to promote peace, restore 100 million hectares of land, sequester 250 million tons of carbon, and create 10 million jobs. The project is providing food and water security, habitats for wild plants and animals, and a reason for residents to stay in a region beset by drought and poverty.

After 30 years of part-time teaching as an anatomy and physiology instructor at Frederick Community College, Betty Kopsco Bennett , now retired in Middletown, MD, keeps busy with family, church, and volunteer work.

In retirement, Ray Hutch , a Penfield, NY, resident, serves on several boards including the YMCA, Rochester Area Community Foundation, Lollypop Farm (Humane Society), United Way, and Synergy IT Solutions, the company he founded.

Abbie Jobe ’26 , a CALS agricultural engineering major, is the Class of 1962 Rhodes Tradition Fellow (2022–24). Abbie reports that, thanks to this award, she was able to take advantage of some great experiences this past school year. She was selected to join the SMART (Student Multidisciplinary Applied Research Teams) Program on the E&E Green Farms at Cornell with which she was able to travel to Rwanda in January to help a female seed processor and distributor build a website from HTML. This past summer she traveled to the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), where she spent five weeks as a project manager for Cornell Engineers in Action, helping her team of six engineers build a water distribution system for the Matutini primary school.

Want to know what’s happening at Cornell every day? Read the Cornell Daily Sun online via this link . You can also sign up on the site for a free daily newsletter.

Check out our class website for timelier information. Please send along news and updates (photos, too, which we can display on our class website) about what’s happening with you and your family. Send your entries to: ❖ Judy Prenske Rich ( email Judy ) | Alumni Directory .

The exciting news from the Class of 1963 is that our president, Paula Trested Laholt , was honored with the William “Bill” Vanneman ’31 Outstanding Class Leader Award. From the announcement: “This prestigious award is given to class officers who have provided long-term exemplary service to their class, in honor of Bill’s 75 years of superlative service. Paula has been indispensable to her Class of 1963 for decades, first volunteering for her 25th Reunion. She is the current class president and a member of the class council. Paula was recognized during Reunion on Saturday, June 8, as part of Cornelliana Night in Bailey Hall.” Lauren Coffey, director of Class Programs wrote: “Having worked closely with Paula, I can say that she is so deserving of this award and embodies the spirit of Bill Vanneman ’31 . I’m so thrilled for Paula, as I’m sure you will all be as well!” Our class is very proud of Paula and grateful to her for always saying yes and jumping in to help out when necessary through the years. Congratulations, Paula!

A fun story in Cornellians in June was about physical education memories, and a comment from classmate Nancy Cooke McAfee was highlighted: “I almost didn’t graduate because I could not pass golf. I was inept—the teacher finally said, ‘OK, I will pass you, but please, don’t ever come back!’ P.S.: I never picked up another golf club!” Check out the story and add your own memories to the comment section!

Whin , ME ’68, and Joan Melville still live in Pittsford, NY. Whin writes: “I am busy volunteering for my fraternity and church and traveling. We have 11 grandkids from the ages of 23 months to 21 years. Cornell gave me good analytical skills and good background from Milton Konvitz , PhD ’33 . He taught development of American ideals, good economics, and business law—all so valuable in my career.”

David and Trisha Sheaff are enjoying family, traveling, and volunteering when they can. They are enjoying life in Harpswell, ME. When asked if Cornell changed the trajectory of his life, David said: “Absolutely! My years at Cornell opened many doors and friendships.”

Judy Branton Wilkins writes from Penn Valley, CA, “My husband, Paul, passed away in June 2022. My son Brian got married for the first time at 48 to Kristina (from Lithuania), who had two boys, and they now have a daughter. I keep busy with book clubs, genealogy, and mahjongg.” Did attending Cornell change the trajectory of her life? “Yes. I entered as a music major and left with a double major in music and economics. I thought I would forever be a piano teacher, but I was an economist with HUD and a production coordinator of housing. Then, with the birth of our first child, I became a piano teacher including advanced pupils. I feel in both areas I have made a contribution. More importantly, Cornell gave me an inquisitive mind and a lifelong love of learning.”

Our president, Paula Trested Laholt ’63 , was honored with the William ‘Bill’ Vanneman ’31 Outstanding Class Leader Award.

John Herslow writes that he and his wife, Janis, are “enjoying family and owning new property in Springtown, PA. Gardening and taking winter cruises keeps us busy.” He admits that Cornell taught him to learn to compete.

Sandra Hackman Barkan is “busy with her children and two grandsons, travel, grassroots political activity, and reading. My husband, Joel Barkan , passed away in 2014. I met him the first week of freshman year; we got married just before the beginning of our senior year. He was supported by faculty to become an Africanist (he was a political scientist). I graduated with a degree in French and ended up an Africanist with a PhD in comparative literature. That and African literature were key to my research and teaching.”

Bob and Shoshana Agnew are living in Palm Coast, FL. “I retired last year after a business analytics career, continuing applied math research. Family, including a new granddaughter, brings us satisfaction as does exercise, reading, and Internet communication. We are concerned about events in the Middle East. Shoshana’s whole family lives in Israel. Although mechanical engineering was fairly dull (and lengthy at five years), Cornell launched me into Air Force ROTC, grad school, and a satisfying career.”

Bob Ulrich enjoys seeing his twin grandchildren, Tyler Sprague ’27 and Lili Sprague ’27 , who both finished their freshman year at Cornell—Tyler in engineering and Lili in Human Ecology. Their parents, Mark and Corey Ulrich Sprague , are Class of ’93 .

Marion Travalini Rodd is in Ventura, CA. “I am enjoying children, family, and friends and my grandnephew and great-grandnephew. I am working hard to stay healthy and playing flute in the Ventura County Concert Band. I have three grandchildren in or entering college: Cameron, University of Michigan ’25; Camille, Haverford College ’27; and Ethan, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, ’28. Cornell opened up a whole world of friendships and opportunities for me.”

Mark and Carolyn Press Landis ’65 welcomed their first great-grandchild in 2023. Taylor Landis-Miller ’14 and Brad Wagner ’14 are the parents, and they live in Berkeley, CA. That’s all for now. Please send news! ❖ Nancy Bierds Icke ( email Nancy ) | 12350 E. Roger Rd., Tucson, AZ 85749 | Alumni Directory .

I’ve a different approach to this month’s column: instead of classmates’ recollections, I’m passing along Susan Mair Holden ’s detailed account of our 60th Reunion, beginning with the very next paragraph.

This note is for all whom we missed at Reunion. We understand that a 60th in Ithaca is not easy for most of us; the phrase “Well, I’m here” was heard several times in answer to “How are you doing?”

The phrase “A grand time was had by all” is an appropriate description of our delightful four days and three nights on the Hill, June 6–9. Our Reunion was beautifully planned and executed by Carolyn Stewart Whitman . There were enough class activities for us to enjoy being together, and just enough free time to take advantage of the lectures, open houses, and experiences that Cornell planned for anyone who cared to attend.

Thursday afternoon was registration and check-in at one of Cornell’s new dorms: Barbara McClintock Hall, located east of Balch and Clara Dickson. McClintock is adjacent to the North Campus Appel Commons, where our Thursday evening cold buffet dinner was held. Following dinner, there was an ice cream social back at headquarters, where a selection of Cornell Dairy’s famous ice creams were enjoyed by all.

The continental breakfasts on Friday and Saturday and the brunch on Sunday that preceded our class meeting engendered many compliments for Cornell catering. They served a lovely dinner at Duffield Hall on Friday evening, which was our first sit-down dinner with nearly all our 118 attendees. Many of us attended the traditional Chorus and Glee Club concert that night in Bailey Hall.

This year, we reached the magic Reunion plateau for us to have our banquet in the Statler Hotel Ballroom on Saturday night. Again, it was a terrific meal with great spirit and nostalgia as the Sherwoods sang, joked, and serenaded Cynthia Wolloch , the outgoing chairman of our JFK Memorial Award.

Cindy organized a very special event for our class: the JFK Award Forum, which many university administrators and deans attended to congratulate and hear from this year’s award winner, Sarah McMorrow ’24 . They also got to learn more about the work done by our officers to ensure the award continues in perpetuity.

It was a passing of the mantle for Katie Dealy ’00 , our JFK Award winner in 2000. As she accepted the first chairmanship of the newly organized JFK alumni board, she said that the award “changed my life.” She explained movingly that the award allowed her to accept and live on a public policy salary, which directly led to her career in public service.

Ken Kupchak ’64 , JD ’71, gave many class officers beautifully carved cheese boards handmade from a koaia tree that had to be removed from their yard.

Two of our classmates who have been application readers for years, Judie Pink Gorra and Stan Morgenstein , will also sit on this board. Cindy and Ken Kupchak , JD ’71, worked tirelessly with the University to ensure our award is legally protected and will continue to be funded and awarded each year.

The JFK Forum featured four conversations, each between one classmate and one award-winning alum. Eileen Corwin Mason , Mike Smith , PhD ’73, Bill Lacy , and Stan Morgenstein, all of whom have pursued careers in public service, spoke with four of our award-winning alumni.

An event just for our class, planned by Carolyn, was a movie, exhibit, and guided tour of Cornell’s collection of Blaschka Invertebrate Models, which are gorgeous crystal works of art that are such accurate models of invertebrates, they are used for research.

Notable events the University hosted were the yearly Olin Lecture, especially enjoyed by CNBC viewers, with Andrew Ross Sorkin ’99 ; and Cornelliana Night on Saturday, which was a wonderfully spirited evening—but this year especially for ’64s. Ours was the only class recognized for our class project and gift to the University! There was a beautiful collage of photos from the day’s JFK Forum, highlighted on the jumbotron by the University, while the Alumni Affairs speaker/cheerleader shared the story of our award with the assembled classes. Such pride we felt, and gratitude to Cindy and Ken!

Back at class headquarters on Sunday morning, for brunch and our class meeting, we were able to check on the progress of the huge jigsaw puzzle that Bob , PhD ’69, and Alice Dannett Friedenson , MA ’71, created for our Reunion. Over the years, Bob has taken countless photos of our Reunions; Alice was able to assemble them into a wonderful collage from which she produced a huge puzzle. Thank you to both of them.

Our class meeting included our election of officers. Congratulations to Elliot Gordon , our new class president! Having worked closely with him for four years, I heartily approve his election. There is no more patient, talented, and pleasant man on Earth.

We’re delighted that Carolyn and her 60th Reunion committee member, Linda Cohen Meltzer , will be our 65th Reunion co-chairs. This will be the third Reunion that each of them will have chaired … so far! They work seamlessly together, as this Reunion surely showed. Ken announced that the other officers will remain the same, including our outstanding Cornell Fund representatives, Phyllis Rivkin Goldman , MS ’67, and Michael Troner , who did a stellar job garnering Tower Club members for our class.

Ken said farewell as our president, giving many of his key officers beautifully carved cheese boards handmade from a koaia tree that had to be removed from their yard; he carried these boards all the way from Hawaii. And we also had a representative from the other non-contiguous state, Alaska: Mike “Tree” Smith with his wife, Linda (Dryer) , MPS ’04 . Also from afar: Rodrigo Ong , MS ’64 , came from the Philippines with his grandson. It truly was a memorable event. Do try to make our 65th!

That’s all for Reunion news. As for your news, just please keep it coming! Update me by email, regular mail, our class website , or our class Facebook page . ❖ Bev Johns Lamont ( email Bev ) | 720 Chestnut St., Deerfield, IL 60015 | Alumni Directory .

There is one more year until our wonderful 60th Reunion happens, June 5–8, 2025, in Ithaca. It promises to be a terrific event! Our classmates Myron Jacobson , Liz Gordon , Bill Vanneman , and Chuck Andola shadowed the Class of ’64 Reunion to see what works and doesn’t work for our own Reunion. Myron states they found a new dinner venue, and the University now offers guided bus tours throughout the weekend. Good news!

Liz commented, “Chuck and I spent some time meeting with Skorton Center director Julie Edwards, who is spearheading the extremely effective resilience coaching for students, which is the basis for our 60th Reunion gift to the University.”

Jeff Kass , our gift committee chairman, further describes the gift: “Our Class of 1965 Student Well-Being Fund Legacy Gift supports the work of the Skorton Center, which is the University’s health center. Our Legacy Gift has helped finance a two-semester pilot program to provide coaching from specially trained Cornell staff that provides emotional well-being support for students facing stress. The pilot has yielded significant outcomes for participants and garnered positive feedback. Cornell is adding more coaches in anticipation of increased demand for the fall 2024 semester. Jamil Sopher , ME ’66, our class president, will soon share further information on progress and plans for the Legacy Gift and Student Well-Being coaching program.”

Loren Meyer Stephens writes that her latest novel, All Sorrows Can Be Borne , is the story of Noriko Ito, a Japanese woman faced with unimaginable circumstances, and is set in Hiroshima, Osaka, and the Badlands of eastern Montana. The story spans the start of WWII to 1982.

The Cornell Club of Boston sponsored an enjoyable June walk through the Mount Auburn Cemetery and lecture by Christopher Dunn, director of Cornell’s Botanic Gardens. Mount Auburn is the first garden cemetery in the U.S. and is notable for the many prominent Bostonians who are buried there. It is a joy to walk peacefully throughout paths of the extraordinary landscape featuring ponds and sculptural elements.

Put the dates of June 5–8, 2025, on your calendar! See you there! Please send your news to: ❖ Joan Hens Johnson ( email Joan ) | Stephen Appell ( email Stephen ) | Alumni Directory .

Hope your summer went well! Ralph Schwartz writes from St. Paul, MN, that he taught chemistry for 38 years and retired 16 years ago. He now enjoys fly fishing, bird watching, and travel. He became a cross-country skier and raced in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Italy. Training was a year-round event. He admits he was a total couch potato at Cornell! Ralph and his wife enjoy river cruising and have several more trips scheduled. Their children and grandchildren live in the Twin Cities area.

Jeff Collins continues to enjoy retirement as well as life in the Forest at Duke, a continuing care retirement community. He is heavily involved in social justice areas, particularly voting rights and reproductive rights. Retirement has allowed Jeff and wife Rose Mills to enjoy their love of travel. In 2023 they went to the Crested Butte, CO, Wildflower Festival, and visited friends in Santa Barbara, CA. Then they went to the U.K. Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey), the Isles of Scilly, and South West England (Cornwall, Devon, Dorset). The 2024–25 trips planned are to Morocco, to Italy, and a cruise on the Magdalena River in Colombia. They continue to enjoy the many cultural activities offered in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, including theater, music, film, and fine dining.

Marcia Tondel Davis has lived in England for over 50 years. She currently lives in Brill, Buckinghamshire, a village with many opportunities for music, art, sport, volunteering, and walks in the countryside with her dog. She has taken courses at Oxford, including philosophy and art. She enjoys visiting the southwest coast of England and has traveled to Seville, Iceland, Ibiza (where one daughter and two grandchildren live), and Lake Garda, Italy. Her other daughter, son-in-law, and one grandchild live near her in Brill.

Barbara Ann Lawrence recently moved to a new senior retirement complex in Fort Lauderdale, FL, having sold her townhome located next to the largest park in Broward County. She has attended a Finger Lakes wine-tasting event and went to a polo event in Wellington, FL. In 1993, Barbara went to New Zealand for a month with a friend from there. This gave the trip an interesting perspective. She never thought in ’66 that she would learn to paint or draw, make sculpture, or do strength training. Barbara would like to meet Cornellians from the mid-’60s classes who live in Southeast Florida.

Marcia Tondel Davis ’66 lives in Brill, Buckinghamshire, a village with many opportunities for music, art, sport, volunteering, and walks in the countryside with her dog.

Kathleen Earle Fox writes from Tenants Harbor, ME, that she is currently working as an artist in watercolors. In July she had a show at the Granite Gallery in Tenants Harbor. She also sings in a Congregational Church choir. A few years ago, she learned to play the fiddle and now plays regularly. She never imagined in ’66 that she would be combining her art with artificial intelligence to produce exciting new art! Her husband, Stan, and their children Seann Colgan ’91 , Thomas Fabisiak ’03 , and Susie Fox and their partners attended a Formula One race in Montreal this past June.

Jeff Konvitz writes from Beverly Hills, CA, that he keeps busy in several ways. He is practicing entertainment finance and trial law, producing motion pictures, and writing. His new historical novel, The Circus of Satan , will be out this fall. Writing best-selling novels is something he never imagined in ’66. Among his favorite travels were his 25th wedding anniversary in Palm Beach, FL, and a World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas. Jeff’s youngest daughter graduated from Arts and Sciences magna cum laude in economics this past May.

Ronni Barrett Lacroute continues to live in McMinnville, OR, where she is involved in full-time philanthropy. Her activities include educational programs and nonprofits, supporting programs and operations. She participates in strategic planning and programming. Her Cornell programs include the Johnson Museum, the Lab of Ornithology, Cornell Wind Symphony tours, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Ronnie enjoys gardening, bird watching, and poetry reading. In ’66 she never imagined living in Oregon. She has not traveled since the beginning of the pandemic, which resulted in health issues for her and her daughter. She does visit her daughter and grandson weekly, as they live nearby.

Bonnie Lazarus Wallace was an elementary school teacher for 44 years; 30 of them teaching fourth grade and 14 as a substitute teacher. She now interviews students from her hometown of Cheshire, CT, who have applied to Cornell. Bonnie goes to the gym every morning and takes walks when the weather is nice. Her husband travels the world teaching dentists to do implants. Her daughter lives on Martha’s Vineyard, MA, and her son in Santa Barbara, CA. Bonnie and her husband travel to see family, including six grandchildren.

Now, a fall 2024 note from Mary Jansen Everett and Alice Katz Berglas : “A new Cornell year is in full swing, and freshmen are figuring it out. Dorms, quads, Collegetown, downtown Ithaca. Where to eat, where to study, where to party, when to sleep. Life on the Hill moves quickly, changes constantly (like the weather). Constant is the learning: stumbles and successes, friendships made, knowledge gained (all sorts), finding a way to make Cornell one’s own. And collecting the memories that stick. It is a new Cornell Class of 1966 year, too. All sorts of new possibilities for Cornellians of every age and stage. Stay connected with us! We will do the same along this 2024–25 year and on. Our best to each/all. For your calendar: Cornell 60th Reunion! June 4–7, 2026 (more memories that will stick!).” ❖ Susan Rockford Bittker ( email Susan ) | Pete Salinger , MBA ’68 ( email Pete ) | Alumni Directory .

How did Cornell change the trajectory of your life? This was a question on this year’s news form; we’re starting each classmate’s report with their answer.

“My tenure as sorority treasurer and house president gave me the leadership opportunities that led to my owning my own business,” writes Pauline “Polly” Watkins Runkle (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). Now, she enjoys “art class and painting, living on the ocean, travel, summers in Stonington, ME, church friendships, community, walking in our state parks, watching for birds, and the love of friends and family.” She adds that she’s active in the art community in South Florida and Cape Ann, MA, and loves going to concerts.

“Attending made my life wider, better, fuller. Thank you, Cornell! And both our kids went to Cornell, too,” observes Joanne Edelson Honigman (Brooklyn, NY). Joanne likes “making art, helping my husband with his institute, and being with my five grandchildren.”

“Cornell gave me confidence in my developing career, friends and contacts, and the opportunity to work on a NASA grant to design an unmanned Lunar Roving Vehicle,” observes Robert Pitkin , ME ’68 (Buda, TX). He’s now retired and spends time with “Kingdom Racing, church service, and a men’s group.” He enjoys “friends, golf, retirement, and sharing life with my wife of 54 years.”

Cliff Straehley , located in Fair Oaks, a suburb of Sacramento, CA, says Cornell changed his life trajectory “very much. Found lifelong friends. Continued my love of wrestling. I’ve never forgotten ‘freedom with responsibility.’ Furthered my path to my MD and my career.”

“At Cornell, I learned the importance of study, of balancing study and play, of diversity and difference, and of standing on my own feet. Cornell engendered a love of learning that I continue to enjoy,” answers Judith Edelstein Kelman (New York, NY). “Sixteen years ago, I founded Visible Ink, a writing program at Memorial Sloan Kettering that offers interested patients the opportunity to write on any topic in any form with the individual support of a volunteer writing mentor,” Judith writes. “Over 3,000 participants have joined. The program is free of charge to patients, supported by grants and donations. I feel privileged to be part of an extraordinary community. We have three grandkids on the cusp of high school graduation and two entering their senior year of college (one at Cornell),” she adds. “We’ve taken each of the nine grandkids on a special trip. Since we live in NYC, we get to host many of them and their friends in our home.”

Cornell gave me the opportunity to work on a NASA grant to design an unmanned Lunar Roving Vehicle. Robert Pitkin ’67, ME ’68

“Cornell opened my mind to new ideas and ways of looking at various issues (political, social, environmental, economic); I try to see all sides of an issue, even when it’s hard to do,” responds Ted Feldmeier , BS ’71 (Eliot, ME). “I’m just working at staying healthy, as I have been doing for a long time, enjoying nature, going dancing and partying with friends on Saturday night, giving and helping select charitable causes, and my wonderful wife, Joan. Life is good!” He adds that he’s “been participating in local Democratic politics involving the upcoming November ’24 presidential election.”

John Alden (East Providence, RI) is treasurer of his homeowners association and has “several consulting gigs for private secondary schools on finance and administration.”

Tom Moore , ME ’68 (Gig Harbor, WA, and Portland, OR) writes: “After 20 years in our retirement home we built on the coast of Maine, we have relocated to the Pacific Northwest. Our new second home is in Gig Harbor, WA, with water access and views that are just as great as in Maine. We still split our time between here and Portland, OR. Our two oldest grandkids (grade 11) are looking at colleges. I took them both back to Ithaca last summer for a good Cornell immersion experience. Will see if it takes. Both of my own kids turned down their Cornell acceptances for other colleges.”

William Wohlsen (Philadelphia, PA) says that “foreign language study—German, French, Dutch—and bicycle riding” bring him the most satisfaction these days.

This was not a ’67 Reunion year, but at least six of us returned to Cornell this June. I was there with my wife, Eileen Barkas Hoffman ’69 , at her class’s 55th. As is typical of our experience attending her Reunions, it only rained twice and we were inside both times.

Although we received a number of news forms recently, please do write to let the class know what you’re doing and your thoughts about your time at Cornell. ❖ Richard Hoffman ( email Richard ) | 2925 28th St. NW, Washington, DC 20008 | Alumni Directory .

More news to share with our classmates, as the summer starts to come to an end! We need more news and updates from you, so please let us know where you are and what you are doing—or share your reflections on your years at Cornell with our classmates!

Steven Steinhardt reports that he lives in Albany, NY, and when in Florida this past winter he visited with his AEP fraternity brother Art Bernstein . He is of counsel to the Albany law firm Nolan Heller Kauffman LLP, where he has practiced primarily in the field of healthcare regulation. Earlier in his career he was an attorney with the New York State Department of Health and served as associate general counsel.

David Weisbrod and his wife, Margaret Simon ’66 , an architect and artist, continue to live in Greenwich, CT, where David, after a career at JP Morgan Chase and then as the CEO of a financial derivatives clearinghouse, is an elected member of the town’s Board of Estimate and Taxation. He is currently serving his fourth consecutive term. My wife, Sharon Lawner Weinberg , PhD ’71, and I, along with Cheryl Katz Kaufmann and her husband, Nick ’67 , recently had dinner with David and Margaret. David credits Cornell with broadening his outlook on life and expanding his horizons.

Mary Hartman Schmidt and her husband, William, continue to live in Massachusetts and enjoy spending time with their family, including their five grandchildren, all of whom live in Massachusetts. Summers include family time at their vacation home on Martha’s Vineyard. Mary continues to practice trusts and estates and matrimonial law in Boston. Mary writes that her years at Cornell opened possibilities for her for friendships and her legal career.

Ithaca remains on our radar, now that our oldest granddaughter rows for Ithaca College. Candi Dabi Vene ’68 & Bruce O’Pray ’68

Candi Dabi Vene and her husband, Bruce O’Pray , continue to live in Park Ridge, NJ, and write that their grandkids bring them the most satisfaction these days, followed by community involvement and, for Candi, cooking! “Our blended family of four adult children have blessed us with 10 grandchildren who range in age from 19 to 5-year-old twin boys. Bruce continues to work full time consulting with small businesses. He finds it very satisfying to watch them prosper under his tutelage. Candi handles a small amount of real estate, is active in community affairs, and enjoys spending as much time as possible with nearby grandchildren.”

Candi and Bruce add, “Our connections to Cornell have stayed very much alive. One son graduated from Cornell in 1997. We have remained close friends with Candi’s Pi Phi sister, Tove Helland Hammer ’69 , and her husband, Dave , PhD ’69 . Tove recently retired from teaching in the ILR School after a wonderful 40-year career, while Dave continues to do research and teach in the College of Engineering. Ithaca remains on our radar, now that our oldest granddaughter rows for Ithaca College. Our ‘Ithaca Connection’ is filled with special memories spanning decades! We have attended a few northern New Jersey alumni events, which were fun. We’re still hoping to meet some classmates we know at these events!” They write that Cornell enriched both of their lives and was a big factor in forming their identities. “It encouraged independence and our ability to problem solve and to be curious and always interested in learning.”

I look forward to receiving more news and updates from all of you! Please email me about you and your family with news you want to share with our classmates. ❖ Steve Weinberg, MBA ’70, JD ’71 ( email Steve ) | Alumni Directory .

Greetings, Class of ’69! This column was written in June by guest columnist Alan Cody .

121 classmates attended our 55th Reunion, and Robert Tallo , one of our class co-presidents during the past five years, writes: “The Class of ’69 was treated to Ithaca weather at our Reunion, June 6–9. Cloudy, then rain, then sunshine, then windy, etc. A reminder of our days on the Hill! Fortunately, the weather cooperated with regard to events, with minimal inconveniences and a great finale Saturday evening on the terrace of Martha Van.

“After a great five years of Greg Baum ’s leadership during ‘interesting’ times, Cindy Nixon DuBose and Sally Knowlton put together a fantastic program of events. We enjoyed an impressive presentation on ‘Cornell, the First American University’ by Corey Earle ’07 , Friday night entertainment by class musicians, tasty food at the HQ and Morrison Dining Hall (quite a step up from the Barf Bar), numerous campus-wide events, the Sherwoods, delicious meals, and plenty of ice cream and great conversations with old and new friends.

“A shout-out also goes to the student clerks, Omani, Emma, John, Dennis, and Yuri! From walking out in the pouring rain to place directional signs to HQ to managing to connect the big-screen TV in the multipurpose room for the first game of the NBA finals, they were fantastic from start to finish.

“It’s going to be hard, but I fully expect that Sally and Cindy will top this year’s performance at our 60th in 2029. Make sure to put it on your calendar to experience a great weekend and reunite with the Class of ’69. Go Big Red!”

Greg Baum, one of our class co-presidents during the past five years writes: “Serving the past five years as co-president was personally very rewarding. It offered me an opportunity to get to know a large number of classmates that I would not have otherwise encountered. Arranging for the periodic leadership group Zoom calls was sometimes challenging, but the speakers taught us so much about a variety of topics. We learned about the University’s legal department, its libraries, the vastness of its facilities, and the new Brooks School of Public Policy. Classmates shared their career expertise on COVID and other infectious diseases, vaccine development and implementation, ornithology, battery technology, the world’s energy supply, mystery writing, a female franchising pioneer, opera lighting, and U.S. foreign policy challenges with China and Russia. The Class of 1969 includes so many truly remarkable individuals, and I am very grateful to have been able to be a part of showcasing them.”

Sally Knowlton writes, “The Heights (our Reunion caterer) was secured last fall and finalized in January. Shadowing the Class of 1968 certainly helped put us in a position to secure the best food purveyors. By being involved and attending Reunion, Cindy and I feel grateful to have met so many interesting and great people we never knew before!”

Jon Kaplan , MD ’74, class affinity group networking coordinator, writes that he had a great time recruiting and communicating with affinity group leaders (representing Greek organizations, sports teams, residence units, etc.) in preparation for Reunion. “These ‘AGLs’ (30 of them) volunteered to reach out to classmates in their affinity groups to encourage them to come to Reunion. Based on word-of-mouth and the turnout at Reunion, the effort was a success!”

Special thanks to our Reunion campaign chair, Lee Pillsbury . Under his leadership, our class raised $24,852,986 (a class best!) from 532 donors on our honor roll, including 32 Tower Club members and 82 Cornell Giving partners. Lee writes to all who contributed, “Thank you for all that you do. I am so proud to be a part of the great Class of 1969.”

And none of this would have been possible without our dedicated Reunion registration chairs, Larry and Nancy Jenkins Krablin , who write: “Krablins have played cooperative and interacting roles. When Nancy chaired our 20th in 1989 (the rugby shirts with the origin of the intertwined 6/9 class logo created by Ken Lin ’70 , a colleague of Larry’s at Burroughs), all registrations were on paper, Larry created a primitive electronic form to collate data, and payment was by paper check to Cornell Class of 1969, for which he opened a unique bank account. For the seven Reunions that followed, the process has evolved with technology! The highlight of the month of June (and the several weeks before) was our 55th Reunion. As Reunion co-registrars, we get to interact with everyone who comes, and with many who are thinking about it but ultimately can’t travel to Ithaca. Reunion itself was a lot of fun and very well planned by our outstanding Reunion chairs Cindy Nixon DuBose and Sally Knowlton. As always, we came away with new friends and a heightened appreciation of what Cornell is and does.”

Walking through my old dorms and classrooms [during Reunion weekend] kindled poignant memories. Phyllis Levine Evan ’69

Thanks also to Kate Freyer, our class engagement officer who always guides us to a great Reunion.

At our class meeting on Saturday night during Reunion weekend, we elected new class officers for the next five years. Congratulations to the new officers, with thanks for their enthusiasm in stepping up to lead our class. The new officer slate is: co-presidents Adam Sieminski , MPA ’71, Bill Bruno , ME ’71, and Steve LaRocca ; secretary and treasurer Stephen and Ingrid Dieterle Tyler ; membership chair Robert Tallo; Reunion co-chairs Cindy DuBose and Sally Knowlton; registration chairs, Nancy and Larry Krablin; affinity group chair Jon Kaplan; VP communications and webmaster John Wilkens , ME ’71.

Phyllis Levine Evan writes, “I wasn’t sure about coming to Reunion; I wasn’t sure I would know anybody. I am so glad I did! There were so many fun and interesting activities, it was hard to choose. I was always busy. People were friendly and inclusive. I made new friends and reconnected with old.

“Walking through my old dorms and classrooms kindled poignant memories. Happy times as well as things I wish I had done differently—if only I had the wisdom then that I have now. The Chimes, the bridge over the gorge, Beebe Lake, the Arts Quad … all the good old stuff. New dorms (so many), incredible additions to Goldwin Smith and the architecture building—an excellent job of maintaining classic old buildings while adding new airy spaces. Thank you to our Reunion organizers for doing a great job. If in doubt, come!”

Congratulations to our classmate Doug Antczak , who is retiring as the Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor of Equine Medicine. We wish Doug and Wendy well in retirement with thanks for all your contributions to the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine.

Gary Shaye reports that he continues his long career with Save the Children as associate vice president, trustee relations. His time in the Peace Corps inspired him to join Save the Children and their work to provide support for children in countries throughout the world including the U.S. It was a pleasure talking with Gary about his work for this wonderful organization during Reunion.

Chris Degnen recounted for several of us, at Friday Reunion dinner, his walk and bike trip along the Camino de Santiago, a nearly 500-mile walk on a legendary pilgrimage route through the Galicia region of northwestern Spain rich in medieval culture.

Tom Allen reports that he and his wife, Gayle, are happily retired in the San Diego area. Tom has been volunteering with the San Diego Police Department and enjoys coming to the aid of citizens with health crises, stranded vehicles, and more.

I wish I had the space to share all the wonderful conversations I had during Reunion. Please share yours by emailing your thoughts about Reunion and other news to Cornellians associate editor Alexandra Bond ’12 ( email Alex ) or by submitting an online news form .

There will be even more interesting experiences to share at our next Reunion, so mark your calendars for our 60th, June 7–10, 2029, and be there! Best regards: ❖ Alan Cody ( email Alan ) | Class website | Alumni Directory .

I’m writing this the second week of July, in the spare bedroom of a dear friend who is putting me up (or putting up with me), while my kitchen is demolished and rebuilt as the final piece in a home refurbishing. Amazing how one cannot really exist without a kitchen!

I was recently in Ithaca for what proved to be a rainy Reunion. After returning home, I thought I might not have enough responses from classmates for this Class of 1970 column. How wrong I was!

First, a bit about Reunion. This year was the 45th Reunion of my Johnson School MBA program. Being retired, and not being a practicing corporado anymore, very few of the Johnson activities were of much interest. In fact, prior to arriving in Ithaca, I had planned only to be at the class picture-taking session for individual Johnson classes. In addition, only three individual classmates, including me, attended! One of the others was an old acquaintance, and an undergrad from another university, and had little knowledge of the breadth of activities a Cornell Reunion offers. So we joined forces, and off we went.

One very interesting advantage was the fact that Larry ’69 and Nancy Jenkins Krablin ’69 were the registrars for their class Reunion. Larry was a roommate of mine many years ago and gave me some leeway to attend some of their events and experience their headquarters in very new facilities on North Campus. Others from our class were there as the official “shadows” in preparation for our own 55th Reunion next year, so they will have a full plate of activities for us!

Be aware that our class Reunion is now less than a year away. If you have any thoughts or ideas, and wish to be involved or to volunteer, contact Sally Anne Levine , JD ’73, our class president. Find her contacts (and others’) through the Alumni Directory . Hope to see many of you in 2025!

Fred Piscop ’70 is a renowned crossword puzzle creator and the inheritor of the legacy of Split Decision Puzzles.

Fred Piscop (Bellmore, NY), renowned crossword puzzle creator and the inheritor of the legacy of Split Decision Puzzles from his schoolteacher George Bredehorn, was recently a guest on an Australian podcast, Wide Open Air Exchange . Fred noted that he never knew anyone down there had heard of him!

Howard Rosenof (Newton, MA) is another engineer responding to my continuing question about classmates staying in engineering. The following is an outline of his varied experiences. “I’ve enjoyed forays into management, teaching, marketing, and consulting, but never strayed too far or too long from hands-on engineering. After Cornell I got an MSEE from Northeastern and I went to work designing electrical control systems for nuclear power plants. Pressures from environmental groups and cheap oil led me to conclude that I didn’t have much of a future in nuclear, so I moved on to design controls for chemical plants. (Some environmentalists have since acknowledged that nuclear power can help mitigate climate change, and interest in the field seems to be increasing.)

“I developed a particular interest in one type of chemical plant that had a reputation for being difficult to control, leading to numerous articles and speaking engagements, teaching opportunities in the U.S. and Europe, co-authorship of the first published book on the subject, and an international award. After that, about halfway through my career, I switched to artificial intelligence and its applications to process control, working for two companies prominent in the field, and again traveling a lot. In retirement, I wrote my second book, Engineering, Your Career , published in 2022. It combines insights I gathered over more than 40 years, with extensive research. There’s only one review on Amazon, but I’ve gotten a great deal of positive feedback privately.”

And lastly, I need to mention yet again one of our most amazing classmates (and yet another engineer), Robert Langer (Newton, MA). He was recently awarded the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience given by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. His award was for improving drug delivery through nanoparticles, which translated into applications that developed mRNA vaccines for COVID-19. Read his entire story here .

As always, you may contact me directly (see below) or you may use the University’s standard online news form . ❖ John Cecilia, MBA ’79 ( email John ) | Alumni Directory .

Nina Gordon Schwartz was delighted to have a painting in the June Art League Landscape Exhibit , a juried exhibition at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA’s Old Town. Professionally, Nina owns Impulse Graphics, where she’s a graphic designer and art director. Her work has been in advertising, book design, and direct mail design—including corporate branding and collateral materials that express each company’s mission and philosophy.

We are grateful for Marcia Wities Orange ’s Reunion report. She loves the Continuous Reunion Club (CRC) and encourages others to join. For her, this year’s highlight was seeing the New York Times ’ Andrew Ross Sorkin ’99 and to discover him to be a fellow communication arts major. She adds that it was fun to catch up with classmates Dot Preisner Valachovic , Holly Person Flynn , Arthur Mintz , and John Henrehan , BS ’76.

In April, Marcia enjoyed Cornell’s Adult University’s theater weekend in Manhattan, along with Elisabeth Kaplan Boas and Art Spitzer . Marcia will return to CAU in Ithaca in July for a weeklong CAU class that Elisabeth will also attend.

The online news form has been useful to a growing number of us. Do consider using it for your own news, please.

Mike Kubin and his wife, Nancy Chemtob, continue to live in Manhattan. There, a bunch of friends met in his apartment when Cliff Essman visited from Baltimore. Cliff’s wife, Sue, was at the party, too, as were Jerry and Aimee Goldstein Ostrov ’72 , Ted , JD ’74, and Michelle Grossman , Stu and Hilary Oran , and Danny Bernstein ’70 . Amazingly, this group of friends met on the Hill some 56 years ago. These days, Mike enjoys traveling, writing, playing bass guitar, and hanging out with his grandkids. He’s still working at Invidi, the world’s leading provider of addressable television technology. They sold it to AT&T in 2018 and are looking to buy it back.

Howard Jacobson and Jona live in Rochester and enjoy traveling when he isn’t working. He works part time advising entrepreneurs as well as startup and early-stage businesses. He believes his undergraduate opportunities to explore are, in part, what allowed his curiosity to expand—and thus his entrepreneurial spirit to grow.

Thomas Nally remains among the ranks of those who plan never to retire. He continues to serve as senior advisor for A Better City, going into the office five days a week. He and wife Susan Brownlee make Brookline, MA, home, where he’s president of his neighborhood association and active in other civic roles. Reflecting on how Cornell affected his life trajectory, he adds that Cornell reinforced and supported its shape from before—and ever since—undergraduate days.

Nina Gordon Schwartz ’71 was delighted to have a painting in the June Art League Landscape Exhibit.

Also a consultant active in his field, Alan Miller writes from Rockville, MD, where he lives with his wife, Sue O’Hara ’72 , BA ’71. Al consults for the International Finance Corp. and is founder of a new venture fund. Both aim to promote sustainable cooling solutions. His book manuscript, based on his career in climate change and ozone depletion, is currently out for review by the University of Virginia Press.

After a successful career mostly in management consulting (including Deloitte, KPMG, EDS, and SAS), Gary Cokins is partly retired, he writes from Cary, NC. He gives training webinar courses mostly to accountants. He and his wife, Patricia Monseaux Tower ’67 , have two grandsons, 20 and 22. He asks, how cool is it that the 22-year-old just started with Boeing in Houston with the International Space Station on preventive maintenance? Taking stock, he believes his operations research and industrial engineering bachelor’s taught him how to think systematically. He’s written 10 books; you can learn more at his website .

Still another classmate who is not retired: Jeff Punim works three days a week from Long Beach, CA, where he and Donna make their home. He has time for golf, tennis, cycling, and travel to Southeast Asia and France.

Margaret “Molly” Mead is on the faculty at Amherst College. She and her wife, Carole Bull, have been married more than 20 years and enjoy taking long walks (which they call forest bathing). How has attending Cornell changed her life course? Molly shares that after the student takeover of Willard Straight Hall, when she joined others to surround the building, she went the next year (her junior year) to a small town in Pennsylvania to talk about the Vietnam War.

Jim Newman , MD ’75, lives in Wynnewood, PA. His enjoyment derives from three disparate things: writing, ice hockey, and his four grandchildren. He loved his first and second careers. Then, retired, divorced, and with grandchildren on the way, he was hit hard by the pandemic’s isolation and illness. He gave his soul over to writing and loves it. He’s written an unpublished medical satire and a self-published memoir. After that, even more: a genre-bending fiction trilogy is soon to have a fourth in the series. All are identifiable by the protagonist, Gabriel. In retirement, he adds, he is working on writing—and the wash, dishes, grocery shopping, filling out questionnaires, and answering wrong numbers. He says he would never have been as intuitive, empathetic, funny, engaged in the world, and fascinated by everything had he not gone to Cornell.

Dianne Holmes , MS ’74 (Vancouver, WA) retired last September. She enjoys gardening, travel, and hanging out with her friends. Credentials from an Ivy League school, including the scientific master’s, opened many doors for her.

Regarding your 75th birthday: Most of us will have seen this milestone—or will soon see it—and the class is having a virtual get-together and toast Saturday, September 21. Remember, there will be swag for ’71-ers who register in time . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email including login details for our Zoom celebration. Questions? Please email: 1971AtCornell@gmail.com . ❖ Elisabeth Kaplan Boas ( email Elisabeth ) | Cara Nash Iason ( email Cara ) | Alumni Directory .

Fellow classmates, this is Wes Schulz , ME ’73, one of three class correspondents who produce this column. We appreciate your input. Our senior class correspondent, Alex Barna , is stepping down from his scribe position—taking a “permanent sabbatical,” he says. Alex has faithfully served the Class of 1972 for many, many years. We appreciate his efforts and offer him a deeply felt thank you.

From Trumbull, CT, Richard Girouard reports that after 52 years, he is still doing (and still thoroughly enjoying) his restaurant consulting projects. However, the COVID years were tough. He started serving on the Trumbull Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission in 2000 and has been its chairman for the last 20 years. He also is a justice of the peace. Attending Cornell changed his life’s trajectory from the original plan to be a cinematographer. His girlfriend’s father (who graduated from Cornell under Dean Robert Beck ’42 , PhD ’54) thought the restaurant business would be a better profession, since Richard had grown up in it. “My girlfriend’s father gave me good advice.”

Clifford Hendry reports from Pittsburgh, PA, that he and wife Jean have three children and nine grandchildren who all live nearby and are doing well. He keeps busy with daily exercise classes and attending the various sports activities of the grandchildren. Cliff’s other activities include tutoring first graders to improve their reading skills. He also has a fun job delivering flowers for a friend’s business—and business is booming these days.

Reflecting on his time on the Hill, Cliff wrote, “I had an incredible Cornell experience. I played quarterback on the 1971 Ivy championship team. I was second string, but our awesome first-string quarterback, Mark Allen ’74 , got hurt early in the game against Penn at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. It was our last game. We had to win to get our first Ivy championship. I came off the bench and had the best game of my career. We won 41-13. I was presented with the game ball afterwards in the locker room. The lesson is: don’t quit because you are not playing. Have perseverance. Ed Marinaro broke the NCAA rushing record and was my good friend and still is today.”

Jim Vaughn and wife Julie are in Hilton Head Island, SC. He is a third-generation Cornellian. What brings him the most satisfaction these days? “Being able to embrace life on my terms and in my time with family and friends.” He is monitoring the Cornell Free Speech Alliance and says he agrees with their efforts. Jim serves on a public service board that is a leader in reclaimed water and sound water practice.

From their longtime home in Walpole, MA, Charley Rayner , ME ’73, and wife Cindy are enjoying the retirement life. He was a season ticket holder for hockey as a student and still keeps up with the Cornell hockey news. Charley retired in 2011 partly because he got tired of all the business travel during his civil engineering career. His three children are all married with houses and kids. Erik works in wealth management and lives close by in Needham, MA, with wife Bridget and sons Henry and Will. Brett and wife Claire and their kids Nevin and Willa are in Washington, DC. Lindsay and husband Tom live in the same Walpole neighborhood as Charley. Their daughter Charlotte is the youngest grandchild and is called Charli. I am guessing that she might be getting some extra attention from her grandfather.

Irwin Rosenfeld writes that he is still active in theater. He has performed in 20 plays or musicals since 2019. He has also been singing in a choir since he retired in 2016. He enjoys spending time with his six grandchildren who live near Seattle and Nashville. He related that attending Cornell converted him from being a math major to going pre-med, which eventually led to a successful career in psychiatry.

I played quarterback on the 1971 Ivy championship team. I was second string—I came off the bench and had the best game of my career. We won 41-13. Clifford Hendry ’72

Here is a request from two of our classmates. Charles Tetrault and Jerry Schulz started a project of trying to remember everyone on their freshman floor, including their room numbers and hometowns. While they have made significant progress, if you lived in U-Hall 4, second floor, in 1968–69, please drop them a note ( email Charles and Jerry ).

When they sent this request to me, I wrote back with the following: “I have a memory from my Cornell engineering days of taking ‘Mechanical Drawing.’ I sat at a drafting table next to someone else named ‘Schulz.’ This person would complete the drawing assignment effortlessly in 35 minutes. I would spend two hours scribbling and erasing furiously. I am sure this other person got an A grade, whereas I just barely passed. Skip forward a few years to when I was working for an engineering firm in Boston. The draftsmen were on strike. Management had some of the younger engineers go work on the drawing boards to keep production going. I did not want to do this, so I kept my transcript handy. It showed a grade of D+ for me in ‘Mechanical Drawing.’ Fortunately for all concerned, I was not called upon to work on the drafting table.”

Jerry replied to complete the story: “Yes, I was the one who was in the class with you. I had not thought of this class in decades. I remember that I was pretty good at the class, which was back in the era of T-squares and triangles. Except I had an unfair advantage, which is that at the urging of my grandfather I had taken a mechanical drawing class in high school, so I had a big head start. I did get an A, which was one of only two in four years of college.

“My only other A was in ‘Computers and Programming,’ which is a bit freaky—I never realized this until now. I switched from engineering to Arts and Sciences as a government major. Upon graduation, I forgot about engineering and computers and went to work for six years as an elementary school teacher. But then I made a career change and went into computer work in government and nonprofits, which I did for the rest of my career. And this has occasionally involved some graphics work which I continue to enjoy. (Thanks, Grandpa!) So, as they say, no experience or learning is irrelevant.”

Thank you to all who have written in. Keep the news coming! As always, you may contact one of us directly, or use the University’s online news form . ❖ Wes Schulz , ME ’73 ( email Wes ) | Frank Dawson ( email Frank ) | Susan Farber Straus ( email Susan ) | Alumni Directory .

So many retirement stories—I’m feeling left out. Michael Ciaraldi lives in Shrewsbury, MA, and is five years into retirement, pursuing his avocation as author and playwright. (You can find his plays on this site , which requires a membership.) He and wife Angelina spend time with family and, of course, their chihuahua. Medical issues forced him to skip the 50th Reunion, but on his Share Your News form he wrote that his time at Cornell “affects every aspect of my life,” so he intends to make it to the 55th in 2028. As do we all!

George Mitchell II lives in North Rose, NY, working as a part-time farmer, coaching track, and spending time with kids, grandkids, and his dad, now 97, a graduate of the Cornell Class of ’50!

Terry Richmond lives in a cottage in Ottawa with husband Doug and family, part of a gang of close friends who go for long walks in the countryside. They welcomed a group of Syrian refugees to Ottawa last May. One of her sons is curator of the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, ON, which stewards the world’s largest collection of paddled watercraft—and we’re all invited to visit! Terry reports spending a “frightening amount of time” reading the news and fretting over it. I feel the same way—the news from Cornell and other campuses over the past few months brought flashbacks of freshman year—but it sounds like she’s also helping where she can. She credits Cornell with widening her world to include different cultures and causes.

Nancy Dworkin Miller is now retired and lives in Jersey City with husband Jerry. She finally has time for visits with her family, which now includes seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Between visits there’s time for reading, jazz concerts, festivals, acoustic guitar lessons, and even a little paid consulting. Did attending Cornell change her life’s trajectory? “Absolutely,” she says, “by emphasizing critical thinking and communication skills.”

Charles Camisa continues to practice dermatology part time in Naples, FL; between patients he spends time reading, writing, taking CAU courses, and traveling. His youngest daughter, Kristen, was married last April. As for Cornell’s influence on his life, it was where he realized that his dream of being a vet was not to be—upon entering the barn and finding he was allergic to the animals. But like any good Cornellian, he adapted and switched to pre-med. I had a similar epiphany, discovering after my first few stair-climbs as a chimesmaster that I was more suited to the Glee Club.

Cornell was where dermatologist Charles Camisa ’73 realized that his dream of being a vet was not to be—upon entering the barn and finding he was allergic to the animals.

Donald Partridge lives with his wife, Pat, in Batavia, NY, raising and exhibiting their famous Brown Swiss cows with help from their six grandkids. He also makes hay, sells sweet corn at their roadside stand, and has traveled to every state in the lower 48, adding Alaska in June.

Here in Seattle, Bill McAleer , MBA ’75, is still a partner with Voyager Capital. Voyager incubates the tech companies that have turned this city from a hub for lumber and airplanes into the digital cerebellum of the American economy. He has a knack for helping entrepreneurs through their ups and downs, and fortunately the ups have outnumbered the downs. He reports that the companies they’ve backed over the past 25 years are now worth about $10 billion. He and Colleen (McGinn) ’74 have three grandkids who I’m guessing will learn that when Grandpa talks, they would do well to listen.

Louis “Dusty” Profumo , MBA ’74, lives in Atlanta with wife Anita. He retired last year at age 71 after 25+ years in the restaurant business, and joined the board of American Franchise Capital, which operates 89 Taco Bell and 45 Applebee’s franchises. I’m guessing his five grandkids always have a place to meet Grandpa for lunch! He also has a 19-year-old son at Georgia Tech looking to be a “helluva engineer.” Dusty credits Cornell for changing the direction of his life and providing lifelong friends.

I plan to retire from radio at the end of the year. That would mark 55 years since my first paid job at WVIP (RIP) in Mount Kisco, NY. To prepare myself, I’ve moved to a four-day week, which leaves more time to fix things at our beach house and to practice my book-reading skills. Unlike my fellow English majors, I was never good at long-form reading—in the early ’70s you could often find me hopelessly asleep in the Uris stacks, but I’m getting better at it and can proudly report that I’ve hacked and slashed through 473 pages of the complete works of Charles Dickens on my Kindle. I should finish around the time our light-rail system is completed. ❖ Dave Ross ( email Dave ) | Phyllis Haight Grummon ( email Phyllis ) | Pam Meyers ( email Pam ) | Alumni Directory .

This edition is being written in the aftermath of our 50th Reunion, which was another record-breaker for our Notable Class. Since then, you’ve undoubtably read the follow-up emails detailing all that transpired. My personal highlight (prior to the Saturday night dinner—see below) was the mini-reunion of some of my WVBR colleagues from our class, reliving our DJ days when we went back on the air live on WVBR 93.5 FM (and streamed worldwide on wvbr.com ) from our class headquarters at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall Friday night, playing the favorite songs that you sent in. It was great to again hear Angel Harper (Sounds of Blackness), Larry Kleinman (weekday mornings), Dan Boyle , MRP ’77 (overnights), and Zack Mosner (Salt Creek), along with me (Saturday mornings). (You may have seen my recap post on our class Facebook page or the “DJ Telescoped” audio recording .) So I asked them to tell us what they have been doing since 1974 and received the following:

Angel Harper, a former elementary school teacher and standup comic with a brown belt in karate, is a vested member of SAG-AFTRA and has been very busy in the Los Angeles area as an actress, voice-over talent, and studio teacher on many productions. For example, she has worked with Brat Studios, American Experience’s “Fly With Me,” AFI’s “Hole in the Wall” and “Echoes of Greatness,” among others.

Larry Kleinman replied that he did “eight more years of radio, including six as the morning man at WLIR-FM on Long Island, and stints at WIOQ in Philadelphia and WNEW-FM in New York and 30+ years owning (and eventually selling) a small software development/IT consulting firm. Along with my wife of 42 years, Sally, we raised two wonderful daughters, one of whom gave us our first grandchild in 2023. For the past seven years, I’ve been a docent at the USS Intrepid , still floating in NY harbor (the ship, not me). For the past 11 years I’ve been an EMT crew chief, where I spend a lot of time on an ambulance taking people older than me to the hospital, and occasionally actually saving someone’s life.”

Dan Boyle offered this summary: “1976: skipped the last semester of grad school (City Planning in Sibley Hall) for a fellowship with the NYS Assembly; talked my way into weekend work at WQBK-FM. 1977: just about ran out of money when a full-time position opened; did overnights for a year (the best!); moved to late night and eventually to midday. 1980: couldn’t see myself taking requests for ‘Free Bird’ when I was 30, so got a real job using my degree at NYS Department of Transportation; my mom was happy! 1987: moved to the NYC area to work at the city’s transit authority in operations planning. 2000: after various twists and turns in Tampa and San Diego, I started my own transit consulting firm. Cornell taught me how to think, but WVBR taught me how to talk, and that was the most useful skill in my career.”

Cornell taught me how to think, but WVBR taught me how to talk. Dan Boyle ’74, MRP ’77

Zack Mosner said, “I gave up on big city living after about 45 years in the Seattle area and moved to beautiful Anacortes, in the San Juan Islands in Washington State. Retired in 2017 after almost 25 years with the Washington State Attorney General, having created a Bankruptcy and Collections Unit. A highlight? Winning a test case at the U.S. Supreme Court. With wife Patty for over 19 years, we have six kids between us and seven grandkids—so far!”

Speaking of Reunion stories, my fellow correspondent, Molly Miller Ettenger , reports, “ Walter Grote was an alternate on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team in ’76, then won the U.S. National Freestyle Championship in ’78. His daughter Skylar Grote was at the U.S. Olympic trials for wrestling while we were at Reunion! Walter and Skylar are the only father and daughter to have both won the U.S. National Freestyle Championships!” Congratulations to both!

Perry Jacobs sent in three Reunion-related links for your consideration: A Cornell (thank) U podcast episode with Peter Kaplan ; a Cornell video recording titled “Walter LaFeber: A Half-Century of Friends, Foreign Policy, and Great Losers (2006)”, where he talks about how he ended up at Cornell and other personal matters prior to the lecture; and an Ithaca Voice article titled “Gallery: See what’s under construction near Cornell this spring.”

Finally, this will be my last Class Notes column. Back when Dale Lazar , JD ’77, became class president 10 years ago, Jack Jay Wind and Elizabeth “Betsy” Moore were stepping down as class correspondents. So I was recruited, on behalf of our class, by Steve Piekarec , who, along with Dale, were past presidents of the Cornell Club of Washington, of which I have been a longtime member. Also recruited was Lucy Babcox Morris , and we joined Helen Bendix , BA ’73, who was continuing as a correspondent. We three worked together until Helen retired in early 2018, at which time Lucy and I split the assignment. When Shelley Cosgrove DeFord became class president five years ago, she asked us if we could recommend someone for the third slot, and Lucy suggested Molly Ettenger, who accepted. We three then worked together until Lucy stepped down at the end of 2022. Since then, Molly and I have been splitting these columns. However, at our class dinner Saturday night at Reunion, I was honored to be introduced as our new class president. So, going forward, I will be communicating with you from that position. Stay tuned for Molly’s next column with further details about our new class correspondents.

We thank all for their contributions and invite you to continue to send in your news. ❖ Jim Schoonmaker ( email Jim ) | Molly Miller Ettenger ( email Molly ) | Alumni Directory .

Another cool summer’s day in Orlando as I write this. At least inside it is! Here is the news. Elizabeth Grover is still enjoying (and excelling at) tennis—and looking forward to #50 next year. (Can anyone reading this believe it?) She was one of nine Pi Phi’s—along with Nancy Hargrove Meislahn , Gwenn Tannenbaum Canfield , Ann Goodrich Edgerton , Ellen Roche , Joanne Meder , Leslie Hudson , Elaine Johnson Ayres , and Ann Van Valkenburg Hammer —who got together in Savannah (“a bit steamy”).

Rodney Brooks has published The Rise and Fall of the Freedman’s Savings Bank : And Its Lasting Socio-Economic Impact On Black America (Spiramus Press, March 12, 2024). The book tells the story of the bank created just after the end of the Civil War to provide an opportunity for formerly enslaved and Black war veterans to save and gain financial knowledge. Sometimes known as the nation’s first “Black bank,” the bank was created by the U.S. Congress with little oversight and controlled by a board composed of 50 white men. The bank failed just nine years later, done in by incompetence, corruption, and a worldwide depression. With that failure came the loss of the savings of its most vulnerable customers—the newly freed slaves who had trusted the Freedman’s Bank with their life savings. It was crippling; it left 61,144 depositors with losses of nearly $3 million (more than $80 million today). Rodney is retired deputy managing editor, money, at USA Today .

Celebrating 70th birthdays: Kim Solworth Merlino and her husband celebrated her 70th by traveling from their home in New Jersey to San Francisco, where one of their sons lives with his family. Their other son and his wife also flew across the country to meet them for a long weekend. “We had a lovely birthday meal at a restaurant my husband and I had taken them to when our boys were seven and 10 years old.”

Ruth Zafren Ruskin threw herself a 70th birthday party/celebration of “beating cancer a third time”—a wine, cheese, and dessert party, which about 100 family members, friends, and colleagues attended. “We had Ruth-themed Broadway entertainment by daughter Diana’s musical theater group, Shenandoah Cabaret, and I was awarded the ‘Granny’ Lifetime Achievement Award in Living! My award looked a lot like a bobble-head figure of Hillary Clinton remade to look like me.” The party was a fundraiser for JSSA, a nonprofit health and welfare organization that serves the greater Washington, DC, area, of which Ruth is president of the board.

Geoffrey Gyrisco reports, “For my 70th birthday, in below-freezing early-January Wisconsin, I celebrated by bringing big fresh-baked muffins and chocolate cookies to my favorite outdoor airsoft field, for whoever showed up that day. My shots, hitting a far more skilled player, were the final shots of the day.”

Ruth Zafren Ruskin ’75 threw herself a celebration of ‘beating cancer a third time’—which about 100 family members, friends, and colleagues attended.

David Fischell , PhD ’80, describes himself as “an inventor and an engineer at heart.” This is undoubtedly an understatement. He has started 14 medical technology startups, where he served 25 years as CEO, with 15 of his medical products receiving FDA approvals, and he led a 1986 Bell Labs Intrapreneurship Venture creating the forerunner to GoTo Meeting and Zoom. He also holds 198 U.S. patents as of late 2023 and was instrumental in supporting the creation of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Cornell, now the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering (BME).

In another understatement, David reports, “I get bored, so I need to have projects that keep me engaged in creating new technologies, especially when they involve learning.” He created the technology and design of what became the world’s first drug-eluting stent (for Johnson & Johnson); the responsive neurostimulator (RNS) system, which is implanted cranially to identify and treat epileptic seizures; and the Guardian, an implantable cardiac monitor that can warn high-risk heart attack survivors about future heart attacks. All are FDA-approved. David, thank you. You have saved a lot of lives.

And I do want to quote David here on what I think is excellent advice for current students: “Pick something you like and follow it until something better comes up. Once you are at your first job, begin by knocking it out of the park to establish your reputation. As you continue, learn as much as you can about what is going on in your organization, and when you find a problem that is important and interests you, ask your boss if you can take it on. Once this happens, you will rarely ever be given work, and instead, you will lead the direction of your future. Always be looking for something important where you can make a difference.”

On a personal note, I am thrilled (and so moved) to report that my daughter Briana and her boyfriend, Evan, were accepted by the Johnson School at Cornell and will be pursuing their MBAs starting this August. And my younger daughter, Arielle, just finished her second year at University of Miami Law School. She is showing serious skills both in pre-trial litigation and on her feet in mock trials. ❖ Mitch Frank ( email Mitch ) | Joan Pease ( email Joan ) | Deb Gellman , MBA ’82 ( email Deb ) | Karen DeMarco Boroff ( email Karen ) | Alumni Directory .

It was great to hear from Lynda Gavigan Halttunen in Carlsbad, CA. She writes, “This year I have re-connected with Steven Leigh ’73 , BS ’75. He lives in Florida, and I live in California. After nearly 50 years we still have so much to be thankful for. There IS life after 70 and grand adventures in this new chapter. I’m happy, healthy, and grateful.” She adds that she has been “traveling from California to Florida, New York, Ireland, and Iceland (so far this year).”

Bill Hanavan and I have also had an exciting year so far. In March, we took a Road Scholar trip to the Grand Canyon so that Bill could see it for the first time. Here in Cleveland, we were in the path of totality for the solar eclipse and, within a month, also had a rare and fabulous view of the Northern Lights. Both were firsts for me, and they were stunning! Bill spent the spring planting trees with his gang at Heights Tree People (now a proper nonprofit), and we went up to Nova Scotia to see spring choir and drama performances by our 10-year-old granddaughter, Hilda. We’re planning an all-family get-together in Michigan in August to celebrate this year when Bill and I turn a combined 140.

How are you celebrating your landmark birthday? We’d love to hear all your news that’s fit to print! ❖ Pat Relf Hanavan ( email Pat ) | Lisa Diamant ( email Lisa ) | Alumni Directory .

I hope everyone enjoyed the summer. We’ve received little news from all of you in recent months, so no doubt life is keeping everyone busy. As a result, this column will be brief—but I hope you’ll soon be writing to share what, and how, you’ve been doing.

I spent May traveling with friends in Europe, visiting some new destinations as well as old favorites in Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Poland. The trip was centered around cities filled with history, amazing architecture, great restaurants, and lots of classical music. And we did see plenty of beautiful scenery along the way. I’m happy to say that I finally made it to Prague, which has long been on my bucket list, and was not disappointed. Next up is a trip to Peru in October with Cornell Alumni Travel. This will be my second trip with the Alumni Travel group. My first experience was a safari trip to South Africa in 2017, which was outstanding. Traveling with fellow alums of all ages and backgrounds added a special connection to the adventure and created lifetime memories. I’m hoping the Peru experience will be as wonderful.

Sheryl Checkman is keeping busy in New York City. She writes that she is semi-retired but still takes on the occasional design project and sells her photography online . In addition, Sheryl has been doing background acting for the last six years and joined SAG in 2021. Since the pandemic, Sheryl has become a bird photographer. She notes, “We call ourselves ‘pandemic birders.’” Photography and nature have brought her much satisfaction and joy.

We enjoy hearing from you and having the opportunity to share your stories with our fellow classmates. Please keep all of your news and views coming in via the online news form . ❖ Mary Flynn ( email Mary ) | Howie Eisen ( email Howie ) | Alumni Directory .

Greetings, classmates! Some ’78ers had so much fun at last year’s Reunion that they attended this year’s as well. Pat Reilly , Angela DeSilva , Mary Bowler , Melinda Dower , and Debbie Downes , MD ’82, attended through the Continuous Reunion Club (CRC). Cynthia Kubas accompanied Paul Varga ’79 to his 45th Reunion. In all, 20 classmates were in attendance, either through CRC, other classes, or affinity groups.

Beth Cooper Kubinec and husband John , JD ’73 , attended the Chesterton House NYC Conference at Cornell Tech the weekend after Reunion. Their youngest son, Jack ’23 , lived there for three years. For those who are not familiar with this residence, Chesterton House is a center for Christian studies at Cornell. The men live in the former Delta Phi Epsilon house on the Knoll and the women live next door in what used to be the Treman residence. (Disclosure: I was a member of D Phi E and lived in the house for two years.) Beth writes, “We have noticed that just when your kids get old enough to be civilized and actually interesting to be around, they move away and someone else gets to enjoy the results of all your hard work.” Steve Kesselman , JD ’81, attended a moving ceremony in Ithaca in April, where Zeta Beta Tau—the fraternity he shared with his late son, Samuel ’23 , BS ’22—dedicated its Chapter Room in memory of Sam, its former president, who passed away a year earlier as a result of vehicular homicide.

More travel of the non-Cornell variety: Gary Holcomb and wife Julie took a week-long vacation to Northern California. “We spent the first half of the trip in San Francisco, seeing the Japanese Tea Garden, Coit Tower, museums, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Giants and A’s baseball games, plus the Oakland Zoo and obligatory cable car rides. We went to Napa Valley for the balance of the trip, complete with wine tastings and great food.”

I saw the official last concert of David Bromberg, whose fantastic blues I first heard in Ithaca. Stephanie Mitchell ’78, JD ’80

Stephanie Mitchell , JD ’80, writes from the Orkney Islands, “I’ve now been living in Orkney for six months, sneaking up on but never quite reaching retirement. I am heading the international trade policy team for the chief veterinary officer in the Scottish Government, which means trying to make the new post-E.U. exit borders work in the interests of Scotland’s agrifood sector. It’s my third civil service after U.S. and E.U. and I’m thoroughly enjoying being grumpy in the service of Scotland. In 2023 I was fortunate to be able to visit the U.S. just long enough to catch up in person with Annie Wong ’77 and the family of Paul Rohrlich , two of my closest friends from the Hill. I also saw the official last concert of David Bromberg, whose fantastic blues I first heard in Ithaca at the summer program between my junior and senior years of high school. I’ve also been glad to hear from Cliff Cockerham and Peter Halamek ’77 , ME ’79, fellow survivors of Clara Dickson and ILC, respectively.”

Rick Schwartz writes: “After 38 years with the strategic value advisory practice at Kroll, a global financial and risk advisory firm, I transitioned to senior advisor, supporting projects of my choosing out of our Silicon Valley location. I continue to pursue my passion for triathlons (40+ races since 2008) and co-lead one of California’s largest and most active triathlon clubs. On long, hard workouts I’m reminded of how I’d push myself through late-night endurance runs on snowy paths during Cornell winters.”

David Doupe and wife Beth moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2020 from Los Angeles to be closer to grandchildren. “When we arrived, we had two granddaughters from our son Andrew and his wife, Julie, and just recently our son Tom ’12 and his wife, Annie, had a baby boy! So we are two very happy grandparents!” David continues: “After 46 years in commercial real estate, I am retiring this summer. Given that the majority of my career has been on the road, I’ve had to assure my bride of 44 years that I will have plenty to keep me active! Which I will, between honing my golf skills and staying engaged via a few board seats.”

That’s it for this column. Keep those updates coming! ❖ Cindy Fuller , PhD ’92 ( email Cindy ) | Ilene Shub Lefland ( email Ilene ) | Alumni Directory .

We are thrilled to feature this Reunion report, written by guest columnist and class president Mary Maxon Grainger , MPS ’87:

I’m glowing after an enjoyable 45th Reunion, and I was feeling particularly grateful for all the Class of ’79 volunteers when I agreed to write this column!

We had 200 classmates together in Ithaca and another 60 guests participating in class, college and unit, affinity group, and university activities. This is the size gathering that was anticipated for the 45th, so Reunion co-chairs Larry Stone and Cindy Green hit the mark with pricing, budgeting, venue size, souvenir ordering, etc.! (FYI it’s anticipated that we’ll double that for our 50th in June 2029.)

Larry, Cindy, and registration chair Larry Bunis are amazing volunteers who led the planning and production of this outstanding quinquennial celebration of our time as undergraduate students. Many other classmates pitched in to help decorate headquarters, greet at events, and cover other roles as needed; thanks to Marjory Appel , Jennifer Grabow Brito , Debra Doncov , Jeff Ford , Rich Friedman , Matt Frisch , Bob , MS ’80, and Stacy Buchler Holstein , Lon and Lisa Barsanti Hoyt , Sue Stein Klubock , Steve Magacs , Karen Mineo , Clarence Reed , Janet Goldin Rubin , Deb Seidman , Ginger So , and Nancy Sverdlik . Kudos go to Mike Curran and Margie Wang , who organized optional Friday midday activities, including winetasting with lunch at a local winery. Brad Grainger cheerfully assisted me, Mary Maxon Grainger, at several points during the weekend, and in advance.

’79ers were especially visible at several university events. Serving to introduce programs were Jeff Weiss at our Democratic Resilience Globally program, Scott Zelov , MBA ’81, at a College of Arts and Sciences talk, and Ginger So at the Olin Lecture in Bailey Hall and via livestream. Ambassador Dwight Bush discussed Democratic Resilience Globally with two faculty members of the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy with support from Stephanie Jacqueney . Provost Michael Kotlikoff (who will be interim president by the time this column is published) visited our dinner on Thursday and conversed with attendees.

Our 45th Reunion class photo was taken during Friday’s reception and dinner at the Newman Arena (in Bartels Hall, where basketball and volleyball are played). Since there’s a jumbotron there, the class meeting was presented via a brief video with membership news from Margie Wang, a fundraising update from Mark Wilson , MBA ’80, nomination of the 2024–29 officers by Jeff Weiss, and recognition of the Reunion leadership and retiring class officers by me. It can be viewed here and the updated leadership is listed here . Retiring class officers and the Reunion leaders were thanked aloud and on signs on the dinner tables. (In addition to Larry, Cindy, and Larry, thanks go out to Steve Bronfenbrenner , Carol French Ducommun , MBA ’85, Danna Levy , Tom Rissman , Janet Rubin, and Cynthia Williams .) If you’re interested in getting involved with the class, please let me know!

At the Ithaca Farmers Market, Carolyn Clark ’79 regularly writes poetry for shoppers.

On Saturday evening, musical classmates performed during the “Redstock” concert, a relatively new Reunion tradition. Gary Dunn , Gregg Garfin , Casey Koulman , and Cathy “Cats” DeMarinis Mueller have been together in the band Your Mother starting in college. Lon Hoyt was the keyboardist for an outstanding jazz quintet. In Bailey Hall, Cornelliana Night featured traditional Cornell songs sung by alumni and students both on stage and seated, and Reunion successes were announced including our record-breaking donation campaign.

The Hangovers entertained us earlier at our Saturday reception. There were Hangovers alumni and Cayuga’s Waiters alumni singing at some of the university concerts and in sing-off style late Saturday in the Goldwin Smith Hall foyer. We don’t have a list of ’79ers who sang, but we know some like Mark Bauer cheered them on. We also don’t have a list of women’s crew members who rowed at the annual gathering on the Cayuga Lake inlet, but these men’s crew members were present: Jeff Bloom , MA ’92, Dave Boor , Craig Buckhout , MBA ’80, Dan “YT” Cheung , Ian Murray , Greg Strub , and William Winand . The Reunion 5K was held again on Saturday morning featuring Judy Ashby , Liz de Cognets Champagne , Dave Chisholm , Debra Duncov, Steve Kusmer , Cindy Lehrer , Gary Munk , and Henry Peck .

Wine was served at class receptions that was donated by our classmates with Finger Lakes wineries. Thanks very much to Fred Frank of Dr. Konstantin Frank and Dave Peterson of Swedish Hill.

Classmate Carolyn Clark is an Ithaca native who has returned to the community. After she signed copies of her poetry books at the Cornell Store on Saturday morning, she went to the Ithaca Farmers Market, where she regularly writes poetry for shoppers.

It’s also interesting to note where attendees traveled from. Tom Riley came the furthest from Honolulu, and Hilda Fritze-Vomvoris was second from Switzerland. Both traveled more than 4,000 miles. There were 51 from New York, 20 from New Jersey, 18 from Pennsylvania, 17 from Massachusetts, 11 each from California and Connecticut, and nine each from Florida and Maryland. In addition, two came from Canada, and there were 19 other states represented.

Our next columns will be composed by the class correspondents Larry Bunis , Linda Moses , and Cindy Ahlgren Shea . Please send them your news, including how you celebrated 45 years since graduation! ❖ Mary Maxon Grainger ( email Mary ) | Linda Moses ( email Linda ) | Cynthia Ahlgren Shea ( email Cynthia ) | Larry Bunis ( email Larry ) | Alumni Directory .

Send us some news. Anything! Our 45th Reunion is next year—let us publish some news beforehand to spark conversations. I’ve cajoled, I’ve begged, I’ve showered and changed my shirt, but nothing works. I have many memories of college days, but too many of my reminiscences involve painful recriminations and flashing blue lights, so maybe you should chime in. Sure, I could write only about myself, but nobody wants to see that.

Speaking of Reunion, you should mark your calendars and clear your schedule; it’s never too early. We are quickly approaching our Geritol and rubber pants years; our Reunion nametags will be in 300-point font and those dang kids working the front desk with their tattoos and hippity hop music will forget to brew the decaf, so gather ye rosebuds while ye may! Reunion is July 5–8, 2025.

Today’s guest columnist is Brian “Sandy” Curtis , who writes from Texas: “ Jill (Lonati) and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary last September. We met in seventh grade, attended Cornell together, and have lived happily ever after. In 2022, we were blessed with our first grandchild, and have another due later this year. I retired from Chevron two years ago after a wonderful time leading their environmental law group. We finished up that phase of our lives being expats in Singapore and Jakarta, and thoroughly enjoyed that part of the world. Since then, we have been enjoying some great travel experiences with family and friends. We are living in Houston, which we have called home for more than 30 years. We remain connected to Cornell, and I have recently caught up with some of my tennis teammates spread out around the U.S. Jill and I are always looking to reconnect with classmates, so please let us know if you are in the Houston area!”

Jill Lonati Curtis ’80 and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary last September. We met in seventh grade, attended Cornell together, and have lived happily ever after. Brian “Sandy” Curtis ’80

They met in seventh grade! They’re living happily ever after! Jeepers, people, they can’t be the only classmates with fascinating stories to share. Singapore and Jakarta! Maybe you’ve been there. Tell us about it. Tell us about the time you went to kill-a-keg at the Creeker and got lost walking home, even though it was only three blocks. Tell us about the hallucinations you had during a prelim because you stayed up three nights in a row. Heck, I can’t be the only one.

Okay, more about me. I’m Dik Saalfeld , married father of none, and I live in the stunning paradise of Vermont, where I spend my days observing critters and plants and wondering at the glory of it all. There’s a pond in the backyard and a lake across the street and the only activity our “security” cameras pick up is foxes raiding turtle nests, deer eating the daisies, bobcats chasing dinner, and the lady who delivers for Amazon. In April we had to travel almost 20 miles to a wildlife preserve to observe the eclipse within the zone of totality, and the weather was perfect—and it changed us forever.

Now it’s your turn. ❖ Dik Saalfeld ( email Dik ) | Chas Horvath, ME ’81 ( email Chas ) | David Durfee ( email David ) | Leona Barsky, MS ’81 ( email Leona ) | Alumni Directory .

Who can believe summer has passed and it is already fall? Doesn’t the time just go faster and faster? I spent the summer working, vacationing in Marblehead, MA, and getting my daughter ready and sent off to University of Florida for her freshman year! My son has transferred high schools and is attending Dreyfoos High School of the Arts for theater tech. And you? What is going on?

Emily Gross Eider tells us that, after raising their two children in Bethlehem, PA, she and her husband spent six years living near the Delaware beaches. They moved to Odenton, MD, to be closer to their daughters and grandson. Stephen Silvia grew up in Buffalo, NY, but now lives in Bethesda, MD, and teaches at American University. He told us that his freshman year he lived in U-Hall 5. While on campus he was involved with the Cornell Daily Sun and Phi Sigma Kappa. He also loved hanging out at Lynah Rink.

And on to the Big Apple, Timothy Matson , MBA ’87, is married to Deborah (Sopher) ’82 , MBA ’87. He is the chief investment officer at National Guardian Life Insurance Company. He grew up in Randolph, NY. Freshman year he lived in U-Hall 4. He was involved in Sage Chapel Choir and ZBT fraternity. We’ve come a long way!

Going south to Ocean Springs, MS, we find Richard Furr , project manager at Mississippi Power Company. He lived in Donlon Hall his freshman year and was involved with the sailing team. His areas of expertise are energy, electricity markets, renewable energy, solar, engineering, and electrical engineering. When he wasn’t in class, you could find him at the Stewart Avenue Co-op or the Nines. His favorite Big Red memories? “A 10-day hike in the Adirondacks as part of freshman orientation, a snowball fight late into the night after the first hard snow, and taking snow skiing as a PE class.”

And in the middle of the country, Alison Sherman Arkin and her husband, Mike ’80 , BS ’78, ME ’80, live in Beachwood, OH. Alison is senior vice president, leadership development at Ratliff & Taylor. She grew up in Elmira, NY, and lived in Donlon Hall her freshman year. She was involved with Human Ecology clubs.

Further west, Gary Tabor is an ecologist and wildlife veterinarian based in Bozeman, MT. He is the founder and president of the Center for Large Landscape Conservation , a support organization for large-scale conservation efforts. Gary is also chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas’ Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group, which connects 1,300 scientists across 130 countries.

Gary Tabor ’81 has worked on behalf of large landscape conservation internationally for over 40 years, on every continent without emperor penguins.

Gary has worked on behalf of large landscape conservation internationally for over 40 years, on every continent without emperor penguins. Gary’s conservation achievements include the establishment of Kibale National Park in Uganda; the establishment of the World Bank’s Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund in Uganda; co-founding the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative; pioneering the field of Conservation Medicine/One Health; co-founding Patagonia Company’s Freedom to Roam wildlife corridor campaign; and co-founding the Network for Landscape Conservation.

Gary is a recipient of the Australian American Fulbright Scholar award on Climate Change and the Henry Luce Scholar Award. He has academic affiliations with Cornell, the University of Wisconsin, Madison, the Salazar Center for North American Conservation at Colorado State University, and the University of Queensland, Australia. He is a member of the Conservation Committee of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. He was involved with the Cornell Outing Club while at school! It certainly helped him for where he is today!

Across the pond, we find Elise Kuebelbeck Johnson in London. Elise is an acupuncturist who grew up in Massapequa, NY. Her areas of expertise are healthcare, acupuncture, and shiatsu. When she wasn’t in class you could find her at Rulloff’s, Cabbagetown Café, and the gorges in the summer. She has enjoyed slowing down a bit with work, though she’s still practicing acupuncture and shiatsu and doing Zoom qigong teaching, which began during the pandemic. She enjoys time with her five children, who mainly live in London, and her wonderful barrister husband, Roddy.

And onto another continent, Jotaro Fujii is living in Tokyo, Japan, and is CEO of Fujii Consulting. His first year on campus he lived in Cascadilla Hall. He was involved in restaurant planning on campus. His areas of expertise are business, leadership, management consulting, and marketing. When he wasn’t in class, you could find him driving around Cayuga Lake!

Please do reach out to me and let me know how you are! I love to hear from my classmates, so drop a line. Stay healthy, enjoy life, and I hope to see you soon! ❖ Betsy Silverfine ( email Betsy ) | Alumni Directory .

Welcome to a wonderful fall season, a great time of year in Ithaca and a great time to reconnect with classmates. Hopefully, you enjoyed the summer and you had an opportunity to share some news and stories with us. We are an excellent vehicle for sharing information about you, your family, and your accomplishments. Please take advantage of this information distribution space and contact us as frequently as you can.

We received some uplifting and exciting news from one of our classmates in Virginia. Linda Harris Crovella has been busy with her legal career but also spends time with her growing family. Linda writes, “Since late September 2022, I have been an administrative law judge with the Federal Maritime Commission in Washington, DC, which I am enjoying so much that my retirement plans are on hold. One thing that may prompt me to retire is the birth of my first grandchild in February, Jackson, to my oldest son, Ben Crovella ’07 , and daughter-in-law Cassie, who live in Boston. I’ve visited several times since his birth and absolutely love snuggling with that little guy! Luckily, there are many flights between D.C. and Boston.”

In addition, Linda has been able to stay in touch with classmates. “Recently, I had lunch with my freshman-year roommate, Ingrid Hall Johnson . We try to get together every six months or so and have even traveled together to past Reunions. I also keep in touch with Ginny Pados Beutnagel , who still makes me laugh as much as she did in college!”

One of the most prolific writers in our class,  Henry Herz , reports that he has recently published his 12th picture book, titled  I Am Gravity . Henry notes the following about his latest publication: “What reaches everywhere and never tires? Pulling on feathers and galaxies alike? Holding the mighty Milky Way together? Gravity, of course! Told in lyrical, riddling, first-person narrative, gravity boasts of its essential role in life as we know it—from the pulling of the ocean’s tides to the vastness of the stars in the sky.” Best of luck, Henry, with your latest publication.

Please enjoy the fall season and keep in touch with your classmates. Stay well. ❖ Doug Skalka ( email Doug ) | Mark Fernau ( email Mark ) | Nina Kondo ( email Nina ) | Alumni Directory .

Hello, classmates! I hope we have all recovered from a HOT summer! Always looking for news from all of you. Here is what some of our classmates have been up to.

On May 12, three Cornell alums and pilots flew in the National Celebration of General Aviation D.C. Flyover—a parade of nearly 60 general aviation aircraft flying over D.C. for the first time in years. They are Eric Blinderman , Justine Harrison ’96 , and Jim Hauslein ’81 , MBA ’84, all Cornell grads and pilots. Sounds like an amazing sight, and since D.C. airspace has been restricted since 9/11, it was a unique opportunity for the pilots.

One of our class officers, Lynn Leopold , recently came back from an exciting trip to Portugal and Spain. Hiking El Camino de Santiago was a highlight.

Paul Beedle reports from Little Rock, AR, where he is celebrating his 25th year as a parish minister, currently serving at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Music is a throughline, since his early compositions were performed live at Risley Residential College, and he is still composing. In addition, he is learning the hammered dulcimer. That sounds like a great addition to our class band for next Reunion!

We heard from Tom Keegan , who is enjoying retirement in Montana, and spending his time maintaining wildlife habitats, hunting, and birding.

Marti Reisman Sheldon is enjoying friends and loved ones at home in Huntington Beach, CA, with her husband of 37 years, Mark , MS ’85 . The Engineering Co-op program at Cornell led to her successful 42-years-and-counting career with Boeing!

I, Alyssa Bickler , am still in Venice, FL, with my fiancé, Mike Consentino. We love to travel when we can get away, and we enjoy live music events and dining with friends! I recently bought into the recruiting firm where I have worked for the last 10 years and am very excited for the future here! In addition, I am still riding my Harley-Davidson Street Glide with a great group called the Diva Angels. ❖ Alyssa Bickler ( email Alyssa ) | Nancy Korn Freeman ( email Nancy ) | Jon Felice ( email Jon ) | Stewart Glickman ( email Stewart ) | Alumni Directory .

Greetings, classmates! My name is Charles “Chuck” Oppenheim . Mike Held and I are your new class correspondents. I am able to take on this responsibility—as an outlet for my enthusiasm for Cornell and staying touch with classmates—because I have shifted to working part time in my role as a lawyer advising hospitals and other healthcare providers on transactions and regulatory compliance. I live in Los Angeles with my wife, Lydia, and our two sons.

I attended our 40th Reunion and had so much fun (thanks, co-chairs Catherine “Kitty” Cantwell and Janet Insardi ) that I can hardly wait until the 45th! A few classmates and I (because we attend Reunions faithfully every five years, we call ourselves the “Reunion friends”) gathered early, organized by Kathy Witkowsky , and spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights at a rented mansion she found online, which was once home to the president of Ithaca College but is located in Collegetown.

Kathy and I were joined at the mansion by classmates and fellow “Reunion friends” Dave Momot , Karen Reynard Regenauer , Laurie Sheffield , Stuart Wamsley , and Tom Kraemer . We spent the time hiking, cooking, eating and drinking, and playing music by firelight in the back yard. Dave and Tom were on guitar and Kathy played the fiddle, while her husband, Jay (not a Cornellian, but still a great guy) also played guitar. We all moved to the dorm assigned to the Class of 1984 (Ganędagǫ: Hall), and during the Reunion Kathy led yoga one morning and Laurie led printmaking one afternoon with Diane Matyas ’83 , MFA ’89.

Once ensconced in the dorm I had a chance to catch up with numerous classmates, including Felise Milan and Sharon Camhi . Sharon is enjoying her retirement after having practiced as a pulmonologist with the V.A., while Felise stays busy as a professor of medicine, assistant dean for Learner Assessment and Clinical Competencies and director of the Ruth L. Gottesman Clinical Skills Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. (You may recognize the name Ruth Gottesman; she was in the news a few months ago because she donated an enormous sum to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine that will allow this medical school to forgo charging tuition from now on.)

We spent Tuesday and Wednesday [before Reunion] at a rented mansion, which was once home to the president of Ithaca College but is located in Collegetown. Charles “Chuck” Oppenheim ’84

Felise lives with her husband in Irvington, NY. Her daughter is a rabbi in Cherry Hill, NJ; one son is a computer engineer and data analyst for Hinge, making sure no one who wants a date goes without; and her younger son is a working actor, dancer, and singer based in NYC and currently performing at the Arizona Broadway Theater. She had a blast at Reunion reconnecting with old friends, and even made new friends with David Grayson and the “Reunion friends.” Felise and David closed down the tent parties, as they enjoyed craft beer, great music, and great dancing!

Naturally, I spent time catching up with many of my fraternity brothers, including Darren Miller , Larry Lazar , Matt Siegal (with wife Laura Weiner Siegal ’85 ), Steve Nachman (with wife Donna Better ’85 ), Phil George , and Tom Allon , who sold his media company, City & State, in 2021 but stayed on to lead its expansion into Pennsylvania and Florida. Tom also founded a NYC policy think tank in 2022 called the 5Boro Institute, and splits time between Brooklyn and eastern Long Island with his wife, Rebecca, four grown children, and two cats.

I also had a chance to catch up with Marcia Stairman Wagner , founder of the Wagner Law Group, a boutique law firm specializing in ERISA and other employment-related legal issues, who reports she has no plans to retire, as she’s just “hitting her stride.”

If you attended Reunion and have war stories to share—and whether or not you attended, if you have any other updates to share—please let us know! ❖ Charles Oppenheim ( email Charles ) | Michael Held ( email Michael ) | Alumni Directory .

Dave Votypka writes, “My college roommate and our buds have been celebrating our 60th birthdays—yikes! Scott Chapman and I missed Byron De La Navarre ’86 , DVM ’90’s 60th in Chi-town. Scott and I went skiing at Stowe a couple years ago and are planning another trip this winter. I’d like to hook up with fellow Cornellian Jeff Dunlap ’86 for some concerts this summer. Also, fellow Cornellian Neil Hoyt ’86 just celebrated his daughter’s wedding recently. WAK!

“What I get the most satisfaction from is family, followed by my job. Farming and owning an ag business has built many relationships over the years. I enjoy these tremendously. Besides work, I love to snow ski, golf, vacation, and ride our UTV around the farm (especially during happy hour).

“I’m slowly retiring out of full-time farming. This will be my 43rd year of farming, including college. I’m renting half of my acreage and will slowly stop growing. My son has an excellent job as an electrical engineer and will not return to the farm. We plan on running our grower business only, called Springwater Ag Products, after all the land is rented, which will give us more time with activities!

“My son Austin just got married to his lovely wife, Lindsay, last fall. I couldn’t be happier! My two grandsons, Teddy and Brooks, are a ray of sunshine in our lives. My stepdaughter is about to have our next granddaughter. Life is full of joy!”

Dave closes out his message by saying, “Making lifetime friends and memories were the best things about Cornell! Oh, and jumping off the gorge and the parties on Libe Slope!”

Most days, I know my Cornell roommates better now than I did then. Melissa Reitkopp ’85

Melissa Reitkopp shares that during COVID, her college roommates began having weekly virtual calls that have continued. “Most days, I know my Cornell roommates better now than I did then. We are having some great adventures all around the world. We called ourselves the 509ers because we lived at 509 Wyckoff Road for our last two years at Cornell. It was a huge old house on North Campus, and we had a floor with seven permanent residents and three ‘honorary’ ones.

“In March 2024, we gathered on the west side of Seneca Lake for the 35th anniversary of Lakewood Vineyards, owned by the Stamp family, including Chris ’83 and Liz Myer Stamp (four generations). Their adult children, Ben Stamp ’11 and Abby Stamp Wilkins ’13 , also work in the family business. Ben worked that evening for the event dinner, and both of them (with their families) joined us for brunch on Sunday with the latest additions (Wesley and Logan—Cornell Class of 2042?!).

“Pre-event, we visited Susan Herlands Holland , who heads Historic Ithaca and its companion store, Significant Elements, and sampled ice cream at the Cornell Dairy Store with Brian Garrett and Erin O’Connor . It is such fun to see students on campus again. We celebrated Linda Woo Kao ’s brother Henry Woo ’86 , BS ’88, and Gail Fink ’s birthdays at the neighboring Lakeside Resort and 3812 Bistro. They are two of our honorary 509ers. A divine lemon curd cheesecake from a Sally’s Baking Addiction recipe was enjoyed by all.

“The weekend was a wonderful whirlwind of events. We all had fantastic wine pairings with our dinner at Lakewood and were joined by my husband, Jeff Peters, and Susan’s husband, Ron Preville. Linda’s ‘snow leopard’ husband, David, couldn’t join us. The ‘bacon on bacon’ small plate was a huge hit, and I fell in love with Lakewood’s Dry Riesling.” ❖ Joyce Zelkowitz Cornett ( email Joyce ) | Alumni Directory .

Happy summer. As I put this column together, many in the lower 48 are experiencing extreme weather. Earlier this week our classmates in southern Florida were inundated with nearly two feet of rain, and about a third of the country will be dealing with temperatures approaching 100 ˚F for the next week. Wherever you are, we hope you are safe and comfortable. If precipitation or temperatures are keeping you indoors, it is a great time to send news updates to your Class of ’86 correspondents.

Laura Pitta Peter has relocated from California to Charlotte, NC. (Depending on where in the Golden State she previously resided, she may not be experiencing a much more temperate climate.) Laura is accustomed to change. She previously worked in industry and for the federal government. She is now in academia as the executive director, research commercialization and development, at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.

Julie Bick Weed is still freelancing for the New York Times travel section. Her favorite topics focus on new travel technology like facial recognition or AI, so please send her any article ideas! She volunteers at Garfield High School, helping low-income students with writing projects. When she is lucky enough to catch up in person with a Cornell pal like Adrienne Silverstein Iglehart , Aruna Inalsingh , Rob Harpel , or Shera Raisen , “it feels like no time has passed, and the hysterical laughter returns!”

Julie Bick Weed ’85 is still freelancing for the New York Times travel section.

Rich Matteson and his wife, Kimberly, report that they’ve seen both of their sons obtain their college degrees and move on to independent lives and homes. As a result, Rich and Kimberly are free to enjoy their retirement, which includes visiting their sons in Florida and Nebraska. Rich is the CAAAN committee chair for North Texas and works with alumni in the vicinity to enlighten local high school applicants about Cornell. In addition, Rich volunteers with the Cornell Regional Campaign Committee to reconnect with alumni and raise annual funds. After many years of hearing about Cornell, Kimberly was shown Ithaca and the University last August. When at home, Rich is also teaching math as a substitute teacher in the middle and high schools that his sons attended. He finds the experience challenging some days but does feel as if he is making a difference where it counts for some of today’s teens. Regarding the impact that Cornell had on his life, Rich shared, “Cornell opened my eyes to the world, gave me a great education, and taught me that I could accomplish anything that I set my mind to. I am grateful and proud to be a Cornellian.”

That is all I have to share this month. But if you, like Rich, recognize how life and times at Cornell impacted your life and brought you to a life worth sharing, please take a few moments and share those thoughts with us. ❖ Toby Goldsmith ( email Toby ) | Lori Spydell Wagner ( email Lori ) | Michael Wagner ( email Michael ) | Alumni Directory .

By the time you read this, fall semester will be starting again. Hope you’ve had a chance to take some well-deserved time off and enjoy yourself. Let us know where you went, what you did, and who you did it with. In the meantime, I’ll continue to stalk classmates for news. Here’s the latest from my inbox:

My husband, Andy, and I had the great honor of attending the wedding of Bill and Carol Meyers ’s daughter, Sarah, to Justin in Greenwich, CT. Cornellians (and especially U-Hall 3 alums) in attendance were Tim Sullivan , Toni and Jody Monkovic , Shawn Fagen ’86 , Tom Tung ’86 , ME ’87, and Anne Yablonski Suissa ’88 .

Cheryl Berger Israeloff and husband Larry are expecting their first grandchild. Cheryl practices neuro visual medicine and the treatment of the visual aspects of the dizzy patient. Fun fact: I was one of Cheryl’s early test patients back when she was an optometry student! Cheryl mentioned that one Cornell event that changed the trajectory of her life was becoming friends with Janis Cohen Schlerf ’86 , who introduced her to Larry.

Brenda Wilkinson Melvin returned to campus for the Cornell Black Alumni Association’s recent Reunion, which featured panel discussions, a celebration of the life of Africana studies pioneer Professor James Turner, a Sneaker Ball, brunches, parties, winery tours, golf outings, and more. She enjoyed reconnecting with ’87 classmates Darrell Butler , Jacquelyn Browne , Allison Fennell , DVM ’91, Onjalique Clark , Marcia Bobb , and Gligor Tashkovich , MBA ’91, and she also bumped into Scott Pesner at a bus stop on her way back to North Campus! With no time for rest, the day after she returned home from Reunion she started a new job as internal communications director at AARP.

Josh Lesnick gathered with fellow Phi Psis John Webster and Michael Moore and their kids at the Saratoga Race Course to see the running of the Belmont Stakes!

With no time for rest, the day after Brenda Wilkinson Melvin ’87 returned home from Reunion she started a new job at AARP.

Anne Meinig Smalling was just named the incoming chair of the executive committee of the Cornell Board of Trustees as the search begins for a new provost, while Michael Kotlikoff was preparing to become interim president in the wake of Martha Pollack’s retirement.

Tony Spring was named the new CEO of Macy’s Inc. back in February. He’s been with Bloomingdale’s for 36 years in multiple roles, including most recently as the CEO.

Sanmoy Bose continues to enjoy retirement—lots of travel, yoga, tennis, squash, and walks with their two puppies. Sanmoy also does a little consulting with private equity companies and insurance companies as an operations, delivery, and customer subject matter expert. He retired from Duck Creek Technologies in 2022 as their chief customer and delivery officer. Previously he was a senior partner with Accenture.

Joshua Abelson , MA ’89, wrote that during the recent New York Presidential primary, he went to vote in NYC and was greeted by the site chief, Gligor Tashkovich! Gligor has been monitoring polls at elections for many years (and not just in NYC).

Speaking of Gligor—he wrote that he recently went to Athens for the 40th anniversary of the team that helped build the Western European Internet. He had a role in that project while attending Cornell. He caught up with many of the folks he worked with on the project and also had coffee with the Greek Prime Minister! He also traveled to Ravello, Italy, to celebrate his mom’s 86th birthday, followed by a trip to Porto, Portugal.

Please keep in touch and continue to share your news with us by emailing us at: ❖ Whitney Weinstein Goodman ( email Whitney ) | Liz Brown, JD ’90 ( email Liz ) | Alumni Directory .

Greetings, Class of ’88! The autumn air will soon be crisp and the leaves changing colors before our eyes. Take a moment and enjoy the fall foliage, just like we did when we were strolling around campus.

Congratulations to Robert Rosenberg , a former class president, who has been honored with the Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award. This award recognizes “alumni who have given extraordinary service to Cornell through long-term volunteer activities.”

Meanwhile, a group of classmates— Howard Greenstein , Linda Gadsby , Jacques Boubli , Dan Frommer , Doug Ringel , Rob Rosenberg, Laura Bloch , and Bob Attardo —attended the Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference in Baltimore, MD, earlier this year. They met up with Henry “Huck” O’Connor for dinner. Alumni volunteer leaders heard updates about how to use AI in your workplace and other current topics.

Speaking of volunteering for Cornell and other community outreach projects, I participated in the U.S. College Expo in Toronto, ON, where I answered lots of questions about campus life, University courses, SAT testing, and much more from many Canadian prospective high school students.

Alison Minton ’s pet parrot was featured on Geico’s social media (Instagram & TikTok feeds) for March Madness. Perhaps the parrot should become our newest class mascot, alongside our Cornell bear.

In other class news, Laura Bloch, our class membership chair, who resides in San Francisco, CA, was back on campus to celebrate her daughter Ella Yitzhaki ’24 ’s graduation from the College of Arts & Sciences. Ella is starting a position in health policy in Washington, DC. Her son is in his freshman year at the University of Oregon after he returned from studying abroad in London, England, during the summer. Laura is busy finishing up her second year as the president of the Cornell Northern California Alumni Association, where they put on events to connect Cornell alumni with one another.

Alison Minton ’88 ’s pet parrot was featured on Geico’s social media for March Madness.

Aileen Cleary Cohen chimes in from Palo Alto, CA, that she just retired as the vice president of clinical development at BeiGene, where she “helped bring approval of a cancer drug across five indications.” She’s happy spending time in her cabin in the Sierra Nevada while she cheers on the San Francisco Giants and the New York Knicks.

Her daughter, Emily, is starting her master’s in environment and society at Columbia University while her son, Erik, is at Seton Hall, studying media studies. Her stepdaughter, Rebecca, teaches high school in San Jose, CA. Aileen commented that she made “lifelong friends at Cornell and enjoyed her time on the Hill. Some of the best years!”

Further North, Charles Frischer lives in Seattle, WA, with his wife, Abigail, and kids. “We are enjoying watching them grow into young adults.” Charles runs an investment business, which is a daily challenge. He tries to “work as little as possible each day.” He finds it rewarding to be on the board of his kids’ private school and other corporate boards. The family recently traveled to Cambodia and Vietnam and are hoping to visit India and Laos as their next family adventure.

Karen Kao is semi-retired but still finds time to host small dinner parties and piano singalongs in her new condo in White Plains, NY. She still teaches piano and also volunteers at the local food bank, performing arts center, and arts center, where she is “an art teacher to classes of 25 wriggling elementary school children.”

News flash: This past January, Stephen Aschettino of Oyster Bay, NY, joined the financial innovation and regulation practice at global law firm Steptoe LLP as a partner. His practice focuses on fintech, payments, and digital assets commercial and regulatory matters. He lives on Long Island with his wife and three children.

That’s all for now. Please keep sending your news to me. I love hearing from our classmates, both near and far. ❖ Pamela Darer Anderson ( email Pam ) | Alumni Directory .

Cornell Reunion 2024 brought a record achievement for our class: most classmates ever attending a 35th Reunion! Our Reunion committee treated us to nostalgia like Straight Cookies, Hot Truck wares, and a cappella groups! The Hangovers welcomed us Friday evening during our happy hour. Entertainment during dinner Friday was a live big band, and we ate dinner on the North Campus residential quad. Men who sang during the ’80s and ’90s in the a cappella favorite Cayuga’s Waiters re-grouped for Reunion and brought a wonderfully rowdy serenade to dinner on Saturday night. After dinner, our classmate and musical talent extraordinaire Fil Straughan sang for us and spun tunes from our college years for dancing.

Our class headquartered at the townhouses on North Campus. Thursday we arrived to a red-and-white-festooned campus, golden hour sunshine, and a yummy “Hot Truck”-catered meal. My husband, Mike McGarry , and I sat down outside and promptly made a new friend, Laurie Bechhofer , who came in from Michigan. She knows the lovely Liese, wife of my favorite CHE professor, Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner ’38 . Laurie also was a “townie,” as her dad was a professor here: Robert Bechhofer taught in the engineering college in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering. Laurie drives through our area of Buffalo, NY, regularly en route to visit family and we hope she stops by! Both Laurie and Mike are passionate about helping kids in public schools. I enjoyed listening to them discuss solutions for problems shared in Michigan and New York State. Both volunteer their time to that end. (I am proud to report that Mike just wrapped up nine years of caring, diligent service on our local Hamburg school board and we learned that fellow class correspondent Kris Borovicka Gerig ’s husband also serves on their local school board in Ohio. Thank you to both.

After dinner, we lingered at the tables. Deb Shames and I visited and talked of Cornell memories, our families, and their fondness for sports, especially the Boston Celtics; Deb and her son are huge fans and he was at the Celtics playoff game that night! Deb’s work and passion is for helping students from a wide variety of backgrounds make a good college fit. She has made it her business: Personal Best College Coaching. Deb pairs students with their ideal college and helps them through the application process, reducing the stress for them and their families. She also finds great joy in her volunteer efforts using those skills helping those who are the first in their family to attend college. Helping them get in is one step, but then she stays with them to help them graduate.

Lingering in headquarters, we plopped down on the sofa and made more friends. I loved meeting another lovely Laurie to whom I will now apologize for inadvertently clumsily rejecting the friend request sent to me (please would you try again?). This method now feels as unreliable for me as jotting it on a piece of paper and losing that. Clearly a me problem. On those cozy couches, we also enjoyed meeting Lauren Hoeflich , Evelyn and James Masson , ME ’90, and another classmate John, a pediatrician from Seattle. I’m embarrassed: I should have pulled out my notes app and jotted down John’s details.

Our Reunion committee treated us to nostalgia like Straight Cookies, Hot Truck wares, and a cappella groups! Lauren Kidder McGarry ’89

Rain intermittently baptized our festivities; it seemed appropriate given how often we experienced it during our time on the Hill. Have you heard the term for it? “Ithacating!” While we did enjoy some mini-monsoons, we also reveled in sunshine and warmth. Our visit to Libe Slope had sunshine and another conversation with Cornell Johnson School alumni and Reunion attendees who offered to take our photo. We were trying to re-stage a photo taken of us as newlyweds during the Dragon Day festivities of our senior year. Our volunteer photographer wanted to get it just right, and so we got to know her during the creative process. After the picture we kept chatting, such that their friends left for a museum tour and returned to us four still chatting away! We exchanged contacts with our new B-school alumni friends and hope next year to meet up for a Red Sox game.

I attended the Reunion this time using a cane again; I am hobbled by a dodgy left knee, awaiting replacement midsummer. It helped me appreciate the many accommodations made around campus for students with ambulatory issues. Elevators, smooth pathways, ramps, good lighting, and benches smartly situated made it simpler to move around and rest often. Those with happier knees enjoyed birdwatching walks at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology grounds, or cycling in the surrounding hills, or running (and perhaps walking a bit) the lush Reunion 5K through the Cornell Botanic Gardens.

Finally, the most impactful part of the Reunion for me took place during the Remembrance Service at Sage Chapel. In October 2020, Michael and I never got to attend the Texas funeral of our classmate Alisa Lynn Schmitz Evans because we were following my doctors’ counsel as I’m on two immunosuppressive therapies. Our grieving felt incomplete. Writing her name on the list drew out tears of frustration and sadness. Listening to the poems, verses, and Savage Club choral group helped us reflect and grieve. We were given and took the opportunity to speak her name, share brief words of her life, and light a candle in her remembrance. Afterwards, we and other mourners and rememberers wept to the pipe organ belting out beautifully. When you have a loss, and have need of this reflective service, please pause and go, even amid the fun of Reunion. I felt it added to the real purpose of coming back to campus for us. ❖ Lauren Kidder McGarry ( email Lauren ) | Stephanie Bloom Avidon ( email Stephanie ) | Kris Borovicka Gerig ( email Kris ) | Anne Czaplinski Treadwell ( email Anne ) | Alumni Directory .

As the fall semester gets underway, the Class of ’90 continues to work its magic on the Hill. Casey Jones returns to the campus this semester as associate head coach for the Cornell men’s hockey program. He rejoins the Big Red after 13 seasons at Clarkson, where he coached his teams there to a combined 234-185-56 record, including two trips to the NCAA tournament and five finishes in the top three of their conference. This season is the last for head coach Mike Schafer ’86 , who has announced that he’ll be retiring afterward and handing the reins of the team over to Casey. Schafer himself took over as head coach from another former Cornell hockey player, Brian McCutcheon ’71 , who had been the coach during Casey’s years as a player.

Meanwhile, the Cornell Asian Alumni Association this summer held an event at the Cornell Club in New York City celebrating leadership strategist and bestselling author Jane Hyun . Her new book, Leadership Toolkit for Asians : The Definitive Resource Guide for Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling , went on sale at the end of April and several weeks later landed on Business Insider ’s list of recommended summer reading. “Never thought my book would be considered a ‘summer beach read,’” Jane posted on Facebook, “but I just made the Wall Street top 35 recommended beach must-read list on Business Insider ! I’ll take it.”

Deborah Klein Glasser writes to us about life just north of the border, where she’s been “soaking up all the maple syrup and poutine Toronto has to offer” since 2020. As her son starts his senior year in high school, she’s been dropping “not-so-subtle hints about the wonders of Cornell.” We’ll be sure to check in with her sometime around April or May to see if her subtlety has paid off.

Deborah misses her friends and family in NYC and beyond, so she spent several months this year on a mini-reunion tour, visiting with Rob and Sue Portman Price , MRP ’91, in Nashville—be sure to read all about what he’s been up to in a recent column—as well as class correspondent Nancy Solomon Weiss in New Jersey, plus Howie ’89 and Karen Saul Miller , Vivian Althaus Harrow , and Ilissa Sternlicht ’89 in New York, and Jonah Klein in Toronto.

“Also, while at a neighborhood party, I bumped into Joe Milner ’89 , vice dean and professor at Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.”

This season is the last for men’s hockey head coach Mike Schafer ’86 , who has announced that he’ll be retiring afterward and handing the reins over to Casey Jones ’90 .

Deborah loves staying connected to Cornell through her involvement with the President’s Council of Cornell Women (PCCW) and by volunteering with the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network, conducting interviews with high school students who have applied to Cornell. She reports that “PCCW’s symposium earlier this year in Baltimore was incredible, listening to fabulous Cornell speakers, reconnecting with old U-Hall 1 pals Linda Choong and Amy Bodek , and meeting plenty of new and inspiring Big Red women.”

Inspired by the challenges she had faced finding a job when she graduated from Cornell, Deborah has taken leave from her 27 years in marketing in order to build her own business as a job search and career management coach for young professionals. “I am here to help Gen Z clients develop the job search tools needed to secure a summer internship or full-time position.” She notes that she’s happy to offer the kids of fellow classmates a “Big Red discount.” You can check out her website for more information.

Before signing off, please allow your humble correspondent (or, at the very least, me) to remind you that planning for our upcoming 35th Reunion is in full swing. We lost out on having a Reunion in person in 2020, so reconnecting with each other and the campus in general will be doubly special this time around. I have truly enjoyed every Reunion I’ve managed to attend on the Hill; it’s a great chance to not only spend some quality time with a few of the folks you knew way-back-when, but also connect with classmates you didn’t necessarily know at the time, but nonetheless have so much in common with to this day. The best way I can describe the experience is to say it’s like meeting old friends for the first time.

So, save the date! June 5–8, 2025. And if you’d like to help out in any way, please do. The more volunteers we have to help plan and make those plans a reality, the lighter the workload and the more amazing the experience. It’s not too late to reach out to our Reunion committee and other class officers via e-mail at cornellclass90@gmail.com .

Here’s to the start of another academic year, and here’s to seeing each other again in person at its close.

Do you have any news about a classmate or yourself that you’d like to share? Please feel free to drop us a line with your news for the class column. ❖ Allan Rousselle ( email Allan ) | Rose Tanasugarn ( email Rose ) | Nancy Solomon Weiss ( email Nancy ) | Class Facebook page | Alumni Directory .

With our daughter’s graduation from Ithaca College falling on the same day as my birthday, I figured I should invite anyone and everyone who might be in or around Ithaca to celebrate. And why not?

I am glad that Eric Schneider , MBA ’99, a freshman-year dorm-mate and current Ithaca dweller, made his way to the festivities. I remember Eric usually had a smile on his face and always had something witty to say. As a former ROTC member, I knew exactly how he would appear when he strolled into the backyard; familiar face and grin with a touch of gray hair, tailor-fit khakis, and a button-down shirt.

We caught up a bit on his work with Corning Inc. and his children. “Our older son is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and our younger son a rising sophomore at the University of Vermont.” At one point Eric paused, looked past me, and shared, “I apologize for being so tightly wound back then. Still a work in progress.” His wife, Susie (Curtis) , a fellow Class Notes ’91 correspondent, chuckled with me. I did not disagree with the overachieving mechanical engineer BS, Cornell Johnson School MBA, and U.S. Navy lieutenant. But it got me thinking, is being tightly wound so bad?

Chris Reynolds , also a U-Hall 2 dorm-mate, said, “I am pretty sure I could make that admission as well,” when I told him about my exchange with Eric. Chris, a political science and econ major and lacrosse player, towered over all of us back then with a nice way about him. “I live in Cold Spring Harbor, NY, with my wife of 25 years and am a partner at RCV Frontline, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage food and beverage brands.” Chris also earned an MBA from Columbia University.

Chris likes to unwind with his busy family. “We have four children: oldest son plays lacrosse and football at Army; second son attended International Yacht Restoration (trade) School and works in North Carolina for Fibreworks, supporting projects for the Department of Defense and NASCAR, among others; daughter, a junior in high school, committed to play lacrosse and attend the University of Maryland; and youngest son is in eighth grade, a four-sport athlete, and an aviation fanatic.” Whew!

Cathy Merrill Williams ’91 , who resides on the other hill, Washington, DC, wrote, ‘I have two sons attending Cornell!’

My daughter, Abby Marraccino, overcame a major setback in her first two weeks of college, cut from the only sport and team she knew and loved: gymnastics. It lit a fire under her, and she sprung from there, reinventing herself as a diver, a sport she had never tried before. Abby went on to be team captain for part of five league championships and earned four national all-American honors. How? I still ask myself.

I did not know Cathy Merrill Williams back on the Hill. A government and history major who earned a master’s in public administration from the London School of Economics, she is now CEO of Washingtonian Magazine . Cathy, who resides on the other hill, Washington, DC, wrote, “I have two sons attending Cornell! My older son just completed his freshman year and is studying math, sailing, and, well, partying. My younger son will soon join the Hotel School as a freshman.”

Of course I wondered, so I flat out asked Cathy, “Were you tightly wound back then?” Cathy responded affirmatively. “College was fun. I did, however, keep a journal and, looking back, I’m surprised how much I stressed about classes and grades. Now with children and a company to run and the many issues facing the world, it seems a little crazy to have had that be a major worry. Yet, I see it in my own son too, so perhaps it is just the circle of life.” Perhaps it is.

Circling back to our daughter: for her next act, professional or otherwise, she coined the mantra, “Nothing is more powerful than a smile.” Though behind her clenched teeth and those of these classmates are determined beings winding and unwinding as they leap through life. And that’s not such a bad thing at all.

Also not a bad thing: our 35th Reunion is almost here! Please save the date of June 4–7, 2026. Jeff Weintraub , MD ’95, one of our chairs, and Eric Rosario , a member of the planning team and Annual Fund rep, met up on campus for this year’s Reunion to scope things out. After a pandemic interrupted Reunion in 2021, our 35th Reunion promises to be a blockbuster!

Got news to share? Use the online news form or feel free to contact one of us directly: ❖ Joe Marraccino ( email Joe ) | Evelyn Achuck Yue ( email Evelyn ) | Susie Curtis Schneider ( email Susie ) | Ruby Wang Pizzini ( email Ruby ) | Wendy Milks Coburn ( email Wendy ) | Alumni Directory .

My husband, Todd Kantorczyk , recently enjoyed a weekend of baseball in Baltimore, MD, with 14 of his Alpha Sigma Phi (Rockledge) fraternity brothers including classmates Chris Hove , Harvey Beldner , and Brian Nowicki .

Todd’s freshman roommate, Michael Cimini , and my sorority sister Angela Cheng-Cimini celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in Sardinia, Italy. They were joined by son and daughter-in-law Matthew ’19 and Sarah Dickerman ’19 , daughter Christina, and fellow alumni Santo Barravecchio ’89 , Matthew Rubins ’90 , and Samantha Hardaway ’93 . Angela says, “It was wonderful to reminisce about our days on the Hill!” Congratulations on 30 years!

Lizzy Klein lives in New York City and started a fine jewelry business in 2019 and a second jewelry business in 2024. Mazi New York offers minimalist fine jewelry handmade in NYC and Mazi+Zo is a licensed sorority jewelry line. Lizzy says, “I love spending so much time with college students—they are inspiring!” Lizzy has donated 30% of the sales of her Star of David collection to Hillel to support Jewish college students.

Eileen Rappaport also lives in NYC and is keeping very busy with her residential real estate business and raising her 14-year-old daughter. She is a competitive tennis player and loves yoga, live music, and travel with family and friends. She recently traveled to France and South Africa. Eileen is very involved in fundraising for Memorial Sloan Kettering via Cycle for Survival. Her daughter is starting high school, and they enjoy NYC’s flowers and gorgeous parks. Eileen feels that Cornell changed the trajectory of her life by giving her “the very best friends, a lifetime of memories and lessons, and the best four years spent in beautiful Ithaca. All the opportunities I was afforded at Cornell confirmed that I can always change my path in life and pursue so many different interests at once!”

John Overton Jr. lives in New Hampshire with his wife, Christine Hand-Overton . Their older son, Josh, will begin his first year of medical school at the University of New England. Their younger son, Jacob, completed his sophomore year at the University of New Hampshire.

Rick and Meghan DeGolyer Hauser enjoy seeing the revitalization of their small town in Western New York. Meghan writes that lots of Cornell entrepreneurs are part of the turnaround. (Tell us more!) Their oldest offspring works at Cornell, their middle child just graduated from the University at Buffalo, and their youngest is a rising junior at Cornell.

Please share your news with us via email or use the online news form . Be well and take good care. ❖ Jean Kintisch ( email Jean ) | Sarah Ballow Clauss ( email Sarah ) | Wilma Ann Thomas Anderson ( email Wilma Ann ) | Alumni Directory .

Whit Watson is transitioning from a full-time position at Golf Channel to a freelance role, and still working with Westwood One Sports at golf’s major championships this year. “While working for Golf Channel in Stamford, CT, in May, I had the chance to meet up with my former Sheldon Court roommate Stuart Roth , MBA ’00, MILR ’01, and his wife, Dana, to watch some of the Knicks-Pacers series. My son Zachary is a PhD candidate in political science at the University of Virginia, and daughter Ellie just finished her junior year at Boston University, where she is a film/TV major. I was also honored to recently join the board of directors at the Cornell Media Guild, parent of WVBR-FM, the place that started my career. Would love to hear from anyone in the industry, or anyone from our class!”

Atul Aggarwal greatly enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, running, and meeting up with friends. “I am working as a radiologist. My daughter graduated from Cornell in 2023, and my son will be starting as a freshman at Cornell in the Class of 2028.” Brian Fuhr proudly reports that he recently ran a marathon in three hours and 30 minutes, with “kids half my age,” no less! He is celebrating 25 years with Mat Zucker ’92 .

Adrian Sexton joined a global firm focused on AI, where he leads strategic business growth across sports, media and entertainment, and technology. Clients include the NBA, the NFL, MLB, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global, and Universal Pictures/Comcast. “In addition, I have been working on an AI startup, Cohuman.AI, which focuses on responsible, human-centric AI.” Adrian notes that he gets the most satisfaction from family, especially seeing his kids grow and soon apply to universities. “For fun and fitness, I enjoy saunas, HIIT classes, beach volleyball, and Spartan races. To accelerate an early retirement (!), I’m working with a capital group, a global athletes fund, and a major investment bank to acquire a major sports league in the U.S. in connection with the World Rugby Cup.”

Cornell gave us both the confidence and knowledge to be independent entrepreneurs. Mark ’93 and Julie Oratovsky Lonski ’93

Henry Most writes, “I recently taught for the first time the famous ‘Interpersonal Dynamics’ course (aka ‘Touchy-Feely’) at Stanford Graduate School of Business. I’m a lecturer in management at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and an executive coach. At Stanford I’m in the experiential learning arena, focusing on interpersonal and leadership skills. I traveled around the world with one of my Cornell friends, Adam Gensler , in 1998 and moved out to San Francisco soon thereafter, where he and another Cornell friend, Dave Levitt , lived. Both of them had a significant impact on my life and who I am as a person.”

Mark and Julie Oratovsky Lonski greatly enjoy watching their 11th-grade son grow, thrive, and dream about his college future. “We own and operate our family landscape design-build firm. Cornell gave us both the confidence and knowledge to be independent entrepreneurs, and it taught us to use critical thinking skills every single day.”

John Fuller , ME ’94, writes, “I operate a civil engineering consulting business in my hometown of Port Jervis, NY. We have been in practice for more than 20 years.” John enjoys coaching travel baseball, spending time with his family, and participating in CrossFit at a competitive level. When asked about his time at Cornell, John said, “It helped shape who I am today.” ❖ Mia Blackler ( email Mia ) | Melissa Hart Moss, JD ’97 ( email Melissa ) | Theresa Flores ( email Theresa ) | Alumni Directory .

Daniel Chernin writes, “I am senior vice president and associate general counsel at Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. My daughter, Marina, is at Georgetown and my son, Joshua, will be applying to Cornell in two years. I loved my time at Cornell and always remember it fondly. My closest friends are still my friends from Cornell.”

Kristen Crockett Tsarnas has been building her professional organizing and interior decorating business, Home Wellness Consulting . From her website: “Feeling and doing your best, true wellness, is only attainable when you have a healthy environment supporting you. Research suggests that your home is the foundation of security and contentment in your family life. As your launching pad into the world, it is also the foundation of your success outside the home. My mission is to help you build a beautiful, colorful, welcoming home that promotes ease, creativity, and contentment for you and each member of your family. I work with clients at every life stage, including moms and dads, young adults in their first apartment, and seniors moving to assisted living. I am passionate about sustained wellness and health for all members of our society and know that we, as a community, can live better.”

Scott Noren has been greatly enjoying working in his garden and the woodlot on his property. He writes, “My house, a cabin in the woods, was constructed during the first year of COVID. I am about to complete my 25th year as a high school science teacher—seven more to go before full retirement. I have taught a wildlife ecology and management class for 23 years; this was my major at Cornell (Natural Resources). Thank you to my professors.”

Rudro Dé , BS ’98, works at JP Morgan in investment banking in NYC. Ingrid Kist-Leader has been traveling internationally a lot—Iceland twice, Greece, Italy, and Ireland. “I’m developing my photography skills a ton! And helping my son apply to colleges, which is bittersweet.” Indeed, Ingrid says that spending quality time with her teenage son brings her the most satisfaction these days. She adds, “I’m a history teacher—can’t wait to retire!”

I have taught a wildlife ecology and management class for 23 years; this was my major at Cornell. Scott Noren ’94

Elizabeth Kaufmann Hale writes, “I have stayed an active member of the Cornell community, as my two sons are currently undergraduate students up in Ithaca. Dylan ’24 is in Dyson and is on the football team. Ryan ’27 is a freshman who is on the premed track. In addition to running a busy dermatology practice with my sister (also a dermatologist), I stay very active by running marathons and half-marathons. This summer, I will be joining AAD’s ‘Skin Cancer, Take a Hike!’ and hiking in the Canadian Rockies!”

Andres Pinter recently made the leap from investor to entrepreneur. “Pursuing a passion to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption, I left a senior role at Ares Management and launched Bullet EV Charging Solutions, an installer and maintenance provider for EV chargers. While analyzing the EV sector at Ares, I recognized that the country’s lack of reliable EV charging infrastructure was one of the biggest impediments to EV adoption. Bullet EV is expanding this year from Texas into California, Colorado, and Arizona. The company installs EV chargers for Tesla, ChargePoint, ABB, and all other major manufacturers. Among other accolades, Bullet EV was recently awarded a grant from Columbia University’s Tamer Fund for Social Ventures. I’m learning it takes nerves of steel to launch a business, and I welcome any insight or advice from fellow alumni.”

Pryor Cashman LLP announced the arrival of counsel Praveena Nallainathan to the firm’s immigration group in New York, where her practice will focus on corporate immigration, nationality, and consular law matters. Most recently, Praveena was of counsel at Am Law 200 law firm Quarles & Brady; prior to that, she served as global director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Dechert and was associate general counsel of immigration and head of talent mobility for IHS Markit, a publicly traded information services company. While at IHS Markit, Praveena designed and managed the company’s first in-house immigration compliance program. Born in Sri Lanka, Praveena also has deep experience with immigration humanitarian relief programs, including asylum and special immigration juvenile petitions. She received her JD from Rutgers University School of Law in 2006. ❖ Dineen Pashoukos Wasylik ( email Dineen ) | Jennifer Rabin Marchant ( email Jennifer ) | Dika Lam ( email Dika ) | Alumni Directory .

I write this column as many of my Class of ’94 friends—along with some of you, classmates!—are returning from yet another amazing Reunion weekend on the Hill. Abra Benson Perrie , MBA ’04, who attended as a returning alum of the business school, provided a fantastic recap of campus on our Class Facebook page .

Some of my favorite observations of the new and old include: “Toni Morrison Dining (on North Campus) … is nicer than many restaurants I’ve gone to, and the water machine was fancy! Fancy is the word here. Fancy!” And: “Fortunately, some places are pretty much just like we remember them. The Straight will make you smile at its stalwart way—inside and out. There are some things that don’t change much … at least not yet.” Want to read more? Join our Facebook page .

If you couldn’t tell, we are already gearing up for our 30th Reunion, June 5–8, 2025—since we all missed the 25th due to COVID (boooo), this one is going to be BIG! 30 is the new 25! Reunion chairs Patricia Louison Grant and Lisa Powell Fortna will be on campus in early October to get the planning in full swing. And keep an eye open for our new “30 for 30” project coming out in November!

Now on to the news. On April 13, David Jakubowicz became president-elect of the Medical Society of the State of New York. When he takes office in 2025, he will be the first president from Bronx County Medical Society in more than 50 years. A board-certified physician, he is director of otolaryngology and allergy at Essen Health and a clinical assistant professor of otorhinolaryngology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore. David also shared that his daughter, Cornellian Halle ’27 , recently joined AXO sorority, which resides in David’s old fraternity house (Sammy). I hope for Halle’s sake that the floors are a little less sticky than they were in the early ’90s!

Vernetta Kinchen sent in happy news that her son, Tony ’24 , graduated in May from CALS and was accepted into Cornell’s PhD program in systems engineering. She also recently had the chance to be back on campus and joined about 40 Hotelies for lunch at the Pines. Thanks to Ted Teng ’79 for organizing the event!

David Jakubowicz ’95 shared that his daughter, Cornellian Halle ’27 , recently joined AXO sorority, which resides in David’s old fraternity house (Sammy).

Also in May, the Boston Globe released its third annual list of the most influential people in the New England tech sector. The leaders spotlighted in the selective Globe Tech Power Players 50 List have demonstrated innovation and resourcefulness and have contributed heartily to keeping their sector thriving during challenging economic times. Featured prominently are our classmates Niraj Shah and Steven Conine , founders of Wayfair, both of whom I hope we will see on the Hill next June!

Last, but definitely not least, one of our fantastic class authors, Henry Neff , sent word that his seventh novel—but his first that’s strictly for older teens and adults—arrived in June via Blackstone Publishing. It’s called The Witchstone , and Henry shares, “If you enjoy dark comedy and curses, martini-swilling demons, and tennis-playing priests, this book is for you.” Henry has been writing full time for 15 years and also enjoys spending time with his sons (ages 12 and 10).

The Neff family also rescued their second pup, Nox, in December of 2023: “Doggie DNA says she’s part cattle dog, beagle, pit bull, and Lab. Her appearance and behavior suggest there’s some piglet and Tasmanian devil in there too.” When asked if attending Cornell changed the trajectory of his life, Henry responded, “Unquestionably. It’s where I sharpened my mind, expanded my horizons, and met some of my closest friends.” With that ringing endorsement, it only makes sense to put June 6–8 in your calendar right now and make a plan to meet back on the Hill!

Until next time … stay connected and safe, classmates. ❖ Alison Torrillo French ( email Alison ) | Class website | Class Facebook page | Class Instagram page | Alumni Directory .

Autumn greetings, Class of ’96! Please take a moment to let us know how you spent your summer! If you have anything you’d like to share with our class, please submit an online news form or write directly to any of us: ❖ Catherine Oh Bonita ( email Catherine ) | Janine Abrams Rethy ( email Janine ) | Marjorie Polycarpe Jean-Paul ( email Marjorie ) | Alumni Directory .

If you’re anything like me, this time of year makes you think of the start of a new semester on the Hill. What are your plans for the fall? Are any of you venturing out of town to travel? Or marking any career milestones? If you have anything you’d like to share with our class, please submit an online news form or write directly to: ❖ Class of 1997 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Class of 1998: Have you kept in contact with your Cornell family? We celebrated our 25th Reunion last year and, although I could not make it to Reunion, the music of that Spotify playlist cultivated by William Robertson ’97 , BFA ’98, and fellow classmates continues to transport me back to that time and place, high above Cayuga’s waters.

Since then, I have learned about other classmates who have impacted our lives and the lives of others. In two different articles from the Cornell Chronicle , Dan Cane and Tim Chi were profiled for their passion for entrepreneurship and technology, and their shared Cornell experience as undergraduates. Along with Stephen Gilfus ’97 , Lee Wang ’97 , MS ’98, Stephano Kim , John Yang , and John Knight , Dan and Tim co-founded, during their Big Red years, an online learning platform and education technology solution, CourseInfo LLC, which would become Blackboard Inc.

The article stated, “The idea to digitize [Dan’s] class materials inspired the business that would quickly turn his housemates into colleagues and his career path into a wildly successful entrepreneurship. In 2011, Blackboard Inc. sold for $1.6 billion.” Currently the founder and CEO of Modernizing Medicine, a medical technology and management company, Dan shared in the March 2024 article, “I use lessons learned from my time at Cornell daily. More than just the quality of the education, the quality of the experience changed me. Most importantly, the people I met and continue to meet at Cornell are cut from a different cloth.” Giving back to his alma mater, Dan has established the Cane Entrepreneurship Scholars program that encourages the growth and development of young entrepreneurs with financial support, mentoring, and experiential learning.

Dan Cane ’98 and Tim Chi ’98 co-founded, during their Big Red years, an online learning platform that would become Blackboard Inc.

Tim continues to inspire connections through the Entrepreneurship at Cornell Advisory Council. From an April 2024 Cornell Chronicle article : “Looking back on that experience, what is remarkable to me was just how fortunate we were to have a bunch of like-minded Cornellians, from different disciplines, who loved to work together—but more importantly, hang out together. For me, this was the embodiment of why culture in companies is important today.” With his co-founders, “We had product, engineering, finance, sales, and marketing and it was an exhilarating time to be on campus, building something special.”

It was in 2005 when Tim, then in the throes of wedding planning, saw the need to create and build a solution. He shared: “I noticed that ‘online vertical marketplaces’ were springing up everywhere as a purpose-built antidote to broad horizontal search platforms. This led to the proverbial ‘light bulb’ moment—a purpose-built online vertical marketplace, powered by user-generated reviews from newlyweds, for weddings. From this, WeddingWire was born.” With a few co-founders including Lee Wang, Tim “designed a first-of-its-kind two-sided marketplace for the wedding industry to bring both sides of the industry—couples and vendors—together to create a more seamless experience, focused on finding the perfect wedding vendors for any couple’s big day.” In 2019, WeddingWire merged with XO Group, the parent company of the Knot, to become the Knot Worldwide.

Connections, entrepreneurship, friendship, family, and Big Red grit and spirit are just some of the many attributes that we, the Class of 1998, have added to what it means to be a Cornellian. What have you been up to? We want to hear from you! Fill out our online news form or email: ❖ Uthica Jinvit Utano ( email Uthica ) | Alumni Directory .

Meredith Glah Coors writes, “With my oldest son’s diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in 2014 at age 11, I became involved with JDRF (a leading organization funding type 1 diabetes research), working to raise funds for research and a cure. I served on the Mountain West Board in Colorado for six years and joined JDRF’s Global Mission Board in 2022. I chaired our annual fundraiser in 2017 and have worked as an auction chair for the event each year since. During the pandemic, I created a mask fundraiser that raised $36,000; my kids and I sewed masks in exchange for donations to JDRF. Locally I also serve on the board of the Denver Zoo and volunteer at Children’s Hospital Colorado.”

Courtney Armbruster writes, “As an animal lover, I am fortunate that I found the Central New York Cat Coalition, an all-volunteer group that rescues homeless cats and adopts them into loving homes. We also run the largest subsidized spay/neuter program in all of CNY, getting more than 2,500 cats fixed a year for low-income owners and rescuers. Since starting as a volunteer with the organization more than 15 years ago, I continued to take on more responsibility and became the president of the board nearly nine years ago. I stepped back to vice president in 2023 and continue to work hard daily to help this organization improve the lives of animals in our community.”

I foster nearly 100 cats every year and get them adopted into forever homes. Courtney Armbruster ’99

Courtney adds, “I personally foster nearly 100 cats every year and get them adopted into forever homes. I volunteer at our adoption center, write our grant applications, manage our social media and website, coordinate our donations and supplies, and handle correspondence. Cats in my care come from all kinds of backgrounds, including strays, surrenders, and abandoned pets. We help animals with serious medical conditions like ruptured eyes, dental disease, broken bones, and more, and it can be a real challenge. We’re always trying to fundraise to help cats in need, and the supply of animals needing help never ends. It’s a ton of work, but so incredibly rewarding!”

We would love to hear from any classmates who attended our 25th Reunion in Ithaca in June! What did you think of the Olin Lecture, which was given by our very own Andrew Ross Sorkin ? (That event can be viewed here !) Did you make it to the tent parties? Did you check out your favorite spots on campus, and see all that’s changed since our days on the Hill? Hopefully you had plenty of time to spend with friends old and new.

Please drop us a line to let us know about your Reunion experience, so we can share it with the class! Those who weren’t able to attend would love to live vicariously through you. ❖ Class of 1999 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Greetings from a warm and peaceful Cleveland, OH! Wishing you all well, wherever you are, and encouraging you to drop me a line whenever you get a chance. I’d love to hear from you. ❖ Denise Williams ( email Denise ) | Alumni Directory .

Did everyone have a good summer? Remember, we’re now less than two years away from our big 25th Reunion—and those Ithaca summers are truly gorges! Plus, we can party—I mean, um, network?—twice as hard to make up for our 20th Reunion going virtual due to the pandemic, so please do save the date: June 4–7, 2026. Whether the temperatures run hot or cold for the occasion, there’s sure to be the perfect Dairy Bar flavor to match each of our high, nostalgic spirits.

Speaking of excellent frozen treats, Salil Gupte and I kicked summer off by taking our kids around Italy (Rome, Naples, Pompei, Sorrento, Capri) and eating gelato daily (sometimes more than once), then headed to Seattle for our usual “home leave” (with Salil also going back and forth to D.C. and Delhi for Boeing business). This may have been my last long summer break for a while, as I’m slated to start working at the U.S. Embassy in Delhi, pending security clearances and budgets not getting frozen. Don’t want to jinx myself by elaborating further but will share to our class Facebook group when/if it happens. In the meantime, I’m geeking out by working on my MLIS degree through San Jose State University. Being a student again is hard; how did we do it the first time? Oh, that’s right—younger, spongier brains!

You don’t become a Cornell alum without having an unapologetic love of learning, right? (Take that, everyone who called us nerds once upon a time—it’s now called having a “growth mindset!”) Jeremy Werner , class officer at large, attended a May 7 Cornell Silicon Valley event hosted by the Cornell Alumni Association of Northern California on “How Chip Innovation Is Shaping the Future of AI,” with panelists including Cornell professor of electrical and computer engineering Chris Batten, Quanergy founder Tianyue Yu , PhD ’03 , and former CEO of Xilinx Victor Peng , ME ’82 . During the event, the CHIPS and Science Act was discussed, including the $6.1B grant to Micron, where Jeremy leads the storage business, along with Micron’s announced investment of over $100B in a new DRAM fab complex in Upstate New York. Professor Batten also talked about Cornell Custom Silicon Systems , an exciting student-led group at Cornell working on semiconductors.

I’m geeking out by working on my MLIS degree. Being a student again is hard; how did we do it the first time? Nicole Neroulias Gupte ’01

At the event, Jeremy met up with fellow classmates Ilyas Elkin , a distinguished engineer at NVIDIA designing the Tensor datapath for the world’s leading AI GPUs, and Brian Silverstein , whose latest startup MirrorTab is delivering cybersecurity for banks and other high value sites to communicate securely with their customers. (The last startup Brian founded was the web browser shopping plug-in Honey, which was bought in 2020 by PayPal for $4B.)

Over in Colorado, Christina Bové , DVM ’06, is now teaming up with MOVES (Mobile Veterinary Specialists) to offer cardiology services to veterinary clinics in and around Denver. When she’s not working, she can be found hiking or running with her husband, toddler, and dog—her cat prefers to stay on the couch. (I can relate!) Also from her bio, “Dr. Bove is passionate about veterinary wellness and is a wellness/nutrition coach and certified personal trainer. She is also addicted to Jane Austen, specifically Pride & Prejudice !”

Still reading? Send me a message via our class Facebook group or on my LinkedIn (I’m not hard to find) or email (see this column’s closing paragraph) with the phrase “Zero to Three!” Bonus points if you can remember what that references.

Kudos to a classmate who responded after I embedded a phrase in my last Class Notes: Ryan McCarthy writes that he is “loving Austin with my two kids (ages 5 and 7). I stay busy biking, reading, and playing pickleball, and will hopefully start taking advantage of Lake Austin and sailing. I have been working as head of real estate at Soul Community Planet Hotels since 2018 with the vision of making the world a better place by serving those that value personal wellness, kindness, and sustainability. We currently have 10 hotels and are growing. I started training for a sailing race in June 2025 called WA360, which is in the Pacific Northwest and is a 360-mile race with one rule: no motor. The goal is to then do Race to Alaska in 2026—750 miles with one rule: no motor. Should be challenging and fun!”

To share news or a memory and get back in touch with classmates, please email either of us, visit our website , like the Class of 2001 Facebook page , join our Class of 2001 Classmates Facebook group , and/or follow us on X ( @Cornell2001 ). ❖ Nicole Neroulias Gupte ( email Nicole ) | James Gutow ( email James ) | Alumni Directory .

2002 & 2003

Autumn greetings! We don’t have any news to share from either of these classes this round. Please take a moment to let us know how you spent your summer! If you have anything you’d like to share with your class, please submit an online news form . ❖ Class of 2002 & 2003 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

We would love to hear from any classmates who attended our 20th Reunion in Ithaca in June!

What did you think of our class tour of the Cornell Veterinary Biobank? Did you make it to the cocktail hour at the Nevin Welcome Center? Did you check out your favorite spots on campus and see all that’s changed since our days on the Hill? Hopefully you had plenty of time to spend with friends old and new.

Please drop us a line to let us know about your Reunion experience, so we can share it with the class! Those who weren’t able to attend would love to live vicariously through you. ❖ Class of 2004 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

If you’re anything like me, this time of year makes you think of the start of a new semester on the Hill. What are your plans for the fall? Are any of you venturing out of town to travel? Or marking any career milestones? If you have anything you’d like to share with our class, please submit an online news form or write directly to: ❖ Hilary Johnson King ( email Hilary ) | Jessica Rosenthal Chod ( email Jessica ) | Alumni Directory .

Hello, Class of 2006! Summer is in full gear as I write, bringing with it warmth, sunshine, and a lively spirit. Now, as the days grow shorter again, we hope you have soaked up the vibrant energy of the season. Amidst your professional and personal adventures, we’re excited to share the latest news with you from the class.

Shanah Segal and her husband, Amotz, are proud to be raising their two boys in New York City, “exploring new playgrounds, going to museums, and immersing ourselves in the various new popups.” Shanah has recently joined the New York Board of Directors for Postpartum Support International, where she has a platform to raise awareness around issues she helps support in her private practice as a clinical psychologist, such as mental health issues during perinatal and childbearing years. Shanah continues to volunteer for Cornell across a number of areas and hopes to visit Ithaca this year. We can’t wait for you to come back to the Big Red!

Whether you’re embarking on exciting new projects or destinations, cultivating newfound passions, or cherishing moments and milestones with loved ones, please keep the updates coming and share with the class! We’d love to hear about your favorite memories at Cornell, and what you’ve been up to lately. ❖ Kirk Greenspan, MBA ’22 ( email Kirk ) | Alumni Directory .

Hello, Class of 2007! Below are some awesome updates on our classmates’ professional developments. I am so happy to be able to share them with you all. As always, my contact information is listed at the end; I love hearing from you and look forward to future updates!

Justin Dorman , a classmate of ours from the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, recently created, authored, graphically designed, and self-published 58 children’s picture books. The books’ wide-ranging topics include animals, nature, national parks, landmarks, and monuments. Fifty-two paperback and six hardcover books in all. He even features Ithaca in his  Artistic World Famous Waterfalls  book. Justin has fond memories of a backpacking trip in Arizona with Cornell Outdoor Education during spring break of junior year. Thanks for sharing, Justin! I look forward to sharing these with my little ones!

Carolyn Satenberg-Stewart shares that she is the chief people officer at a tech AI startup. She and wife Madelyn live in Sebastopol, CA. She shares that her time at Cornell has definitely had an impact on the trajectory of her life. Wishing you both the best!

Finally, Nicky Rho Rooz has joined international law firm Withers as partner. The firm has expanded its international family law team by establishing a practice in New York, which she will lead. Nicky joins Withers from Salzano Ettinger Lampert & Wilson LLP, and previously worked in the family and matrimonial law group at Blank Rome LLP for nearly a decade beforehand.

She advises on all aspects of family law, including cohabitation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, divorce and separation, paternity actions, complex financial issues, child and spousal support, high-conflict custody disputes, and domestic violence restraining orders/orders of protection. Her clients include high-net worth and high-profile individuals, including tech sector entrepreneurs and investors.

Congrats to everyone on your accomplishments! Have more updates to share? Please feel free to reach out to me or submit online! ❖ Samantha Feibush Wolf ( email Samantha ) | Alumni Directory .

Autumn greetings! We don’t have any news to share this round. Please take a moment to let us know how you spent your summer! If you have anything you’d like to share with your class, please submit an online news form . ❖ Class of 2008 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

This June was our 15th Reunion! So much has changed on campus and in the world in the last 15 years, but it is always fun to return to “Old Cornell” and enjoy all that Ithaca has to offer. This Reunion our class had 249 alumni, partners, and children come back to the Hill to get together, reminisce, and explore all the new parts of campus. We had 163 alumni and children ranging in age from infant to 17. We stayed on West Campus, in Alice Cook House, which was nicely decorated with well over 1,000 red and white balloons! Our alumni came back from all over the U.S., and from as far as London!

Some of us were able to try the “new RPU” at Morrison Hall, and visit CTB at its new location, with ample outdoor space. We enjoyed an ice cream social, wine tour, dinner at Weill Hall and at the Johnson Museum, family Fun in the Sun, multiple tent parties, and, of course, late night Wings Over Ithaca.

We loved seeing everyone there who made it and can’t wait for our next Reunion in five short years, to see everyone again! See you then, ’09! ❖ Sara Kaleya ( email Sara ) | Alumni Directory .

Alexander Eason spends his time “reading, making money, working out, and learning piano and foreign languages.” Sadly, he shares, “our dogs, Chance and Sully, passed away, so we are remembering them and coping with those difficult emotions.” Of his time at Cornell, Alexander writes, “I was inspired being around so many overachievers and it made me want to strive hard to complete my academic/personal goals.” ❖ Michelle Sun ( email Michelle ) | Alumni Directory .

Steven True writes, “We are moving from Arizona—to England! My wife, Alice, is English, and we are moving to her childhood village with our 15-month-old son, Noah.” Congratulations and good luck, Steven! ❖ Class of 2011 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

If you’re anything like me, this time of year makes you think of the start of a new semester on the Hill. What are your plans for the fall? Are any of you venturing out of town to travel? Or marking any career milestones? If you have anything you’d like to share with our class, please submit an online news form or write directly to: ❖ Peggy Ramin ( email Peggy ) | Alumni Directory .

Veronica Yambrovich Landau shares that she married Matthew in Key West in December 2023! They are enjoying life in Central Florida and are looking forward to meeting their first child. Congratulations!

As always, if you have news to share, please email me! ❖ Rachael Schuman Fassler ( email Rachael ) | Alumni Directory .

Hello, Class of 2014! I hope that many of you had fun at our 10th Reunion this past June. Although I was unable to attend, the following message was passed on to me by other class council members:

“It was so wonderful to see so many of you back on the Hill for our 10th Reunion! Almost 600 classmates attended the weekend, where we reconnected over Dinosaur BBQ, late night Wings Over, and, of course, dancing in the tents. 357 classmates made a gift in honor of our Reunion to almost 200 different areas of Cornell, totaling a class best of $252,285! We appreciate your support of our Reunion campaign and of our alma mater.

“Thank you to Reunion chairs Ashley Black and Krystal Sze for their hard work organizing the weekend, Kelly Parness Hawthorne and Dana Lerner for spearheading our Reunion campaign, and to class president Julia Buffinton for making sure the weekend was a total success!

“Save the date! Our next Reunion is June 7–10, 2029. If you’d like to get involved with planning, please contact Julia ( email Julia ).”

Outside of Reunion news, Tyler Beck and his brother, Austin Beck ’18 , BS ’17, were recently featured in a new Roku documentary series, “Dairy Diaries,” that premiered this April. This series features actress Vanessa Bayer visiting Beck Farms, where she participates in the daily life of a dairy farmer over the course of one week and five episodes. You can read more about the series in this article in Cornellians .

Please send me your news. ❖ Samantha Lapehn Young ( email Samantha ) | Alumni Directory .

Congratulations to Connor Buczek , MBA ’17, who has become head coach for the Big Red lacrosse team. Connor was a three-time All-American while an undergrad, and after graduating pursued his MBA at the Johnson School, at the same time volunteering as an assistant coach. Despite receiving an offer from a Wall Street firm, Connor decided to stay on the Hill for a full-time coaching position. He has since earned Ivy League Coach of the Year twice. Best of luck, Connor!

Rizpah Bellard has founded a company called Nova Farming, which “seeks to empower individuals with valuable knowledge about sustainable agriculture, farm and ranch management, and animal husbandry.” After seeing the widening gap between people and their food systems, Rizpah wanted to bring people into the experience of farming through educational programs and workshops. She was awarded a Fulbright in 2020 and this year was named to COWGIRL Magazine ’s 30 Under 30 list.

Congratulations are also due to  Kushagra Aniket , who published a book called  Krishna-Niti : Timeless Strategic Wisdom , which offers 11 lessons in strategy from the Indian epic the  Mahabharata . According to the book’s blurb, “The authors draw upon their extensive research into the  Mahabharata  to present this unique perspective on strategy, leadership, and crisis management, distilled from the magnificent epic of India.” ❖  Caroline Flax  ( email Caroline ) |  Mateo Acebedo  ( email Mateo ) |  Alumni Directory .

Kristin Stinavage writes, “I am excited to share my achievement of becoming a certified postpartum doula from DONA International and Relief Parenting Respite and Resource Center LLC. This certification is not just a professional milestone but a synthesis of my diverse educational and experiential journey.

“The role of a doula, deeply rooted in the ancient Greek tradition of ‘a woman who serves,’ has always resonated with me. It aligns perfectly with my hospitality background, where the essence is to provide care, comfort, and a memorable experience. This alignment has been instrumental in shaping my approach to supporting families during the transformative postpartum period.

“My education at Cornell and the Culinary Institute of America has been pivotal in my understanding of service excellence—and what hospitality means when serving a family at this point in their lives. It has instilled in me a profound appreciation for the art of showing up for others, especially in moments as intimate and life-changing as the postpartum period. This understanding has been a guiding force in my journey, allowing me to create a unique blend of emotional support, nutritional guidance, and holistic care.

“The postpartum period is more than a phase; it’s a significant transition that deserves the utmost care and attention. My skills, honed through a blend of culinary expertise and hospitality acumen, enable me to offer a level of support that transcends traditional caregiving. I view each meal as a therapeutic tool, not just for physical nourishment but as a medium for emotional healing and family bonding.

“This journey has also led me to reflect deeply on our society’s current perspectives on healthcare. It has highlighted the need for a more inclusive, nurturing approach, particularly in postpartum care. In a world where the healthcare industry is often critiqued for its clinical detachment, I see my role as a doula to bring back the human touch, empathy, and personalized care that every family deserves during such a critical time.

“As I step into this role, I carry with me the understanding that postpartum is a passage—an intimate, transformative experience that merits a communal embrace. My aim is to ensure that this journey is marked by nurturing, growth, and profound bonding for every family I support.

“With continuous learning and skill refinement, I am committed to contributing positively to the evolution of postpartum care, inspired by the wisdom of those who walked this path before me.” Thanks for sharing this fantastic news, Kristin. Classmates, it’s your turn next! ❖ Class of 2016 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Volunteering is a passion for our classmate Connor Donnelly . He writes, “In high school, I was a tutor. In undergrad at Cornell, I was an orientation leader, a Peer Advisor, a tutor through REACH Tutoring, and on the Finance Committee for GlobeMed.

“After completing undergrad, I was an AmeriCorps member for City Year Los Angeles. The following year, I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Uganda, where I served as the national director for DEAR Day, a technical trainer, and a fifth-grade teacher.

“More recently, as a graduate student at the University of Michigan, I was a nonprofit board fellow (a non-voting board member) on the Metro Detroit Salvation Army Advisory Board. I was also a student consultant for the food waste nonprofit ReFED, and the energy poverty startup in Brazil, PopLuz. I was also an Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellow for the nonprofit Sustainable Jersey.”

Thanks for all you do, Connor! Classmates, what are you up to these days? We’d love to hear from you! ❖ Class of 2017 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Rhia Jarvis writes, “I got engaged to Adam Wegman! We rotated in the same lab for our PhDs and struck it off just as the pandemic started. It’s nice to think that good things also came of COVID!”

Osei Boateng , MHA ’20, writes, “I serve as the founder of the OKB Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to delivering free healthcare services to remote and underserved communities scattered across Ghana. Through our pioneering mobile medical unit, we bring one-on-one consultations, essential medications, and diagnostic services directly to the doorsteps of those who need it most. Since introducing our health van, we’ve touched the lives of over 5,000 individuals spanning 55 rural communities.

“Beyond our medical services, we are actively engaged in mental health education and support initiatives within high schools across Ghana through the Wohohiame Wellness Initiative. Since the inception of this program, we’ve extended mental health assistance to more than 3,000 students across six high schools.

“Our impactful work has garnered recognition from distinguished platforms such as the CNN Heroes program and the Global Health Solutions Initiative. These accolades stand as a testament to the relentless efforts of our team and the positive strides we’ve made in enhancing healthcare accessibility and mental health awareness throughout Ghana.” ❖ Class of 2018 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Hello, Class of 2019! I hope you have had a wonderful summer so far. Thank you to all of you who joined us at Reunion this past June! It was wonderful to get back in touch with so many old friends and get to know so many new ones. For those of you who didn’t join us, we look forward to seeing you at the 10th in 2029!

In the meantime, your class council has been at work to start planning some 2019 events! Keep an eye out, especially as we head toward the Frozen Apple hockey game this November. As always, if you have any news to share with the class, please submit it through our online form! ❖ Troy Anderson ( email Troy ) | Alumni Directory .

Peter de Lande Long writes, “My expertise lies at the intersection of design and wellbeing, with research demonstrating how well-designed spaces can significantly reduce anxiety and depression, enhance focus and concentration, and cultivate a strong community sense. This foundation led to the creation of DormAlgo, an initiative focused on reimagining student housing.

“DormAlgo is designed to provide scalable, cost-effective solutions to improve student living environments. Our approach transcends aesthetics; we are dedicated to enhancing students’ lifestyles and wellbeing, creating spaces that are not just functional, but also personalized and comforting—a true home away from home.” ❖ Class of 2020 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Autumn greetings! We don’t have any news to share from these classes this round. Please take a moment to let us know how you spent your summer! If you have anything you’d like to share with your class, please submit an online news form . ❖ Class of 2021–23 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Agriculture and Life Sciences

Jim Eckblad , PhD ’71 , writes, “I volunteer through the Decorah (IA) Lions Club to sort and read eyeglass prescriptions on donated eyeglasses. The glasses are then available to travel with mission groups to developing nations, where they are made available to individuals who wouldn’t be able to afford the cost of prescription glasses.”

Lee Basevin Kass ,  PhD ’75 , is an adjunct professor in the plant breeding and genetics section at Cornell and an adjunct professor at West Virginia University in Morgantown. Lee has completed a new biography of Cornellian and Nobel laureate  Barbara McClintock 1923 ,  PhD 1927 . The book is titled  From Chromosomes to Mobile Genetic Elements : The Life and Work of Nobel Laureate Barbara McClintock . It is published by CRC/Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

Mariella Fourli , MS ’97 , writes, “In 2008 I created an NGO called Microsfere, whose purpose is to promote biodiversity conservation and rural development in communities in West Africa. We have an ongoing project in Ghana, in collaboration with rural communities around Kakum National Park. The involved communities have benefited from initiatives such as microfinance, capacity-building, promotion of micro-enterprises compatible with biodiversity conservation, and children’s libraries; our main focus in the last few years has been on supporting energy-efficient cooking stoves, which have clear benefits in terms of CO2 emissions, deforestation, and women’s health. Overall, more than 600 families have been participating in our projects.”

Timothy Shaffer , PhD ’14 , writes, “I’m leading a civil discourse effort at the University of Delaware’s Biden School called the SNF Ithaca Initiative. As the director and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Chair of Civil Discourse, I have the opportunity to introduce students to more constructive ways of engaging across difference through classes, workshops, and other experiential learning opportunities. Annually, we invite about 100 students from around the country to the SNF Ithaca National Student Dialogue.”

Kirsten Kurtz , MS ’21 ’s artwork was featured at an art show that was held in Ithaca by the Community Arts Partnership and Tompkins Food Future. Kirsten is the manager of Cornell Soil Health Laboratory in the School of Integrated Plant Science. The art show also featured the works of several other artists from CALS within the theme of “Picturing a Resilient, Equitable, and Healthy Food Future.” The artwork was displayed throughout the month of June.

Architecture, Art, and Planning

Tom Stack , MArch ’98 , was recently promoted to studio director for the private sector architecture group at H2M Architects + Engineers, headquartered in Melville, NY. The group is currently engaged with real estate development companies designing mixed-use and multi-family projects. Tom and his wife reside on the North Shore of Long Island, NY, and enjoy spending time with their children. They recently welcomed the addition of their fourth grandchild.

Caitlin McCarthy , MArch ’20 , and Jordan Young , MArch ’20 , had their proposal for BUILDFest 2024 selected to be built as one of three permanent, large-scale art installations at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, where the grounds of the 1969 Woodstock festival was. Construction will begin this summer. BUILDFest is a five-day festival where accepted participants work with student teams to install their designs on-site. Once completed, the installations will be enjoyed during the Catbird Music Festival.

Arts and Sciences

Garth Drozin , GR ’78–81 , retired in March 2023 from a career as a trial attorney and judge in Los Angeles to return to his beloved music composition . Garth lectured on composition to doctoral composition students and professors at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China, in April 2024. While in Beijing, he received a commission to compose a piece for a professional Chinese orchestra, and he completed that piece in June 2024; it will premiere in Beijing later this year. On October 8, 2024, the Singing Statesmen will perform his men’s choral piece “Loveliest of Trees” at Arkansas State University. His big band jazz piece “Sutch As It Is” will be performed by the Cerritos College Jazz Band in their fall 2024 concert. In October 2023, Garth conducted and sang with the Voice of Love Chorus Los Angeles, an all-Chinese-American chorus of 60 voices, in concert.

Susan Brewer , PhD ’91 , wrote a book titled The Best Land : Four Hundred Years of Love and Betrayal on Oneida Territory that will be published on October 15, 2024. In it, she recounts the story of the parcel of Central New York land on which she grew up. Susan and her family had worked and lived on this land for generations when the Oneida Indian Nation claimed that it rightfully belonged to them. From here she tells the land’s story through the lens of two families—her own European settler family and the Oneida/Mohawk family of Polly Denny—who called the land home. The Brewer and Denny families took part in imperial wars, the American Revolution, broken treaties, the building of the Erie Canal, Native removal, the rise and decline of family farms, bitter land claims controversies, and the revival of the Oneida Indian Nation. As she makes clear in The Best Land , through centuries of violence, bravery, greed, generosity, racism, and love, the lives of the Brewer and Denny families were profoundly intertwined.

Trenton Cladouhos , PhD ’93 , has been a geologist for around 35 years. For the last 16 years, he has been working on geothermal energy, a clean renewable that could “transform the U.S. energy landscape,” according to the Department of Energy. Trenton was featured in a video by TLS Geothermics describing his field of work and gave a talk earlier this year at the 49th Stanford Geothermal Workshop about what is needed to advance the field.

Scott Rosenzweig , MBA ’91 , is running for office in the Montana State House of Representatives, House District 57, to represent Bozeman, Gallatin, and Park counties. Scott’s previous career was working in satellite communications before he was inspired to run for state office.

Ronald Smith , MBA ’94 , writes, “My wife and I founded Friends of St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School , a nonprofit organization, after visiting St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School in Rubuguri, Uganda, twice within a three-month span, starting in October 2022. We decided to create a nonprofit to raise awareness and support for the school.”

Nikita Gossain , MBA ’20 , writes, “I began my career at KPMG, where I found fulfillment in the work but sought a deeper impact. Inspired by this drive, I ventured into entrepreneurship after my time at Cornell. Now, as the owner of my three businesses and in the early stages of building a private equity firm, I’ve committed to allocating 50% of all earnings to impactful charities such as Malaria Consortium, Helen Keller International, and New Incentives. While my primary focus is on leveraging my skills in mergers and acquisitions to accumulate financial resources for impactful giving, I am deeply involved in volunteering and community engagement. I actively participate in the Effective Altruism movement, advocating for evidence-based solutions and contributing policy change submissions. Additionally, I mentor girls from my high school, aiming to empower more women to enter the business world. I dedicate time to volunteering at orphanages in India, recognizing the importance of direct action in making a difference. I am also currently working on a project similar to the Soft White Underbelly YouTube channel, utilizing storytelling to shed light on important societal issues. I believe in the power of blending business acumen with a strong sense of social responsibility. As I continue to build my private equity firm, I am driven by the vision of creating lasting, positive change, both through business success and meaningful contributions to the community.”

Pearl Phillips , MBA ’21 , writes, “I chaired this year’s event committee for the Susan G. Komen Impact Luncheon at Cipriani 42nd Street on March 13. I reached out to my fellow alumni and current students in the executive MBA/MS in healthcare and I am humbled to say many answered the call. Our committee is now exclusively composed of EMBA/MS students, including a couple of us who are breast cancer survivors. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Susan G. Komen organization and help to drive advancements in breast cancer care and research.”

Jacob Tannenbaum , MPS ’21 , founded the nonprofit Life After Life Foundation to bring parks to the communities and environments that need help most. The foundation is working to close on their first abandoned brownfield property to begin its remediation and rehabilitation into biodiverse green space for nature-deprived communities.

Pedro Escobar , MBA ’23 , writes, “My engagement with the Student DREAMers Alliance, a vibrant segment of the Hispanic Alliance of South Carolina, is more than a volunteer effort—it is a commitment to the future. I mentor a high school student named Edwin, whose ambition is to get into college, master the English language, and carve a niche for himself in the STEM industry. In a candid video , I delve into the value of education, the significance of breaking down barriers, and how my experiences at Cornell have shaped my approach to mentorship and service. The intersection of my academic background and the mission of the Hispanic Alliance of South Carolina has fueled my passion for this cause. Contributing to a world where educational equity is not just a dream but a reality is essential. By supporting Edwin, I am helping to lay down the stepping stones for his success, just as my path was paved by the transformative education I received. Together, we are not just dreaming of a brighter future—we are actively constructing it. Our journey is chronicled on the Hispanic Alliance’s website , which showcases the unique bond we have developed and the mutual growth we have experienced.”

Engineering

Anima Anandkumar ,  MS ’08 ,  PhD ’09 , gave a TED Talk on “ AI that connects the digital and physical worlds ” in April 2024. “While language models may help generate new ideas, they cannot attack the hard part of science, which is simulating the necessary physics,” says Anima. She explains how her team developed neural operators that are AI trained on fine details to bridge this gap. Anima shares some of her recent projects that have stemmed from her developments, including improved weather forecasting and medical device designs. Anima is the Bren Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences at Caltech.

Human Ecology

Kristine DeLuca , MA ’19 , writes, “I spent my entire career working in the nonprofit sector—mostly in student development in higher education, with a brief stint as a director for a county department dedicated to providing services for underemployed and unemployed residents of that county. My expertise in providing career services centered around careers in nonprofits, government, and teaching, and I now run programs that provide funding to students committed to providing servant leadership, service, and research for the betterment of communities. I also have volunteered for many nonprofit boards. Currently, I serve as president of the board of directors for the Learning Web, an agency that provides a continuum of care to Tompkins County youth—providing apprenticeships and mentorships for all, as well as supportive services for unhoused youth up to age 24. I’ve served on this board for the past eight years, seven as president.”

Cindy Rodríguez , MPA ’19 , is excited to share that she is Vermont Public’s new senior vice president of people and culture. Vermont Public is an independent, community-supported media organization created in 2021 from the merger of Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS. It provides news, music, and educational programming through various platforms and is funded primarily by member donations. Outside of work, Cindy has been enjoying travel and spending time with her family and friends. She recently checked a place off her bucket list—Berlin, Germany—and also traveled to Sydney, Australia.

Samantha Corkern , MPA ’23 , co-founded the Walisha Foundation in an effort to reduce food insecurity in East Africa. From the organization’s website: “Our journey began with a clear vision: to empower smallholder farmers and young graduates, catalyzing a shift toward sustainable agricultural practices. We recognize the pivotal role of wheat and maize in securing food sources across Africa, and our mission is to empower farmers to achieve a hunger-free Africa.”

Jeff Mausner , JD ’76 , has been volunteering in various aspects of animal welfare since his retirement from practicing law in 2012. Jeff has received recognition for his work several times, including receiving a Special Commendation from the California Legislature in 2024, the Guardian of the Animals Award from In Defense of Animals in 2023, and the “best of” award from the Los Angeles Neighborhood Councils in 2017 for his volunteer work saving the lives of thousands of dogs, cats, and other animals and improving animal shelter conditions.

Dan Emery , JD ’80 , writes, “I am cutting back my law practice, but continue doing public benefits work and some pro bono work, and participate in and support nonprofits. I have been on the board of Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Maine’s civil legal aid group, for almost 10 years, and spent the past three as board chair. This is very rewarding work, and I trace my interest to two years in the Law School’s Legal Aid Clinic. I am also a water reporter for Friends of Casco Bay, providing photo evidence of phenomena like algae blooms, erosion, and sea level rise. I took some environmental law at the Law School and have retained that interest. I am grateful for the education I received at the Law School, which has allowed me to pursue a rewarding career and other interests including the above.”

Russell Yankwitt , JD ’96 , celebrated his law firm’s 15th anniversary. Started in his kitchen at a folding table with one employee, Yankwitt LLP has turned into a 20-plus-employee boutique law firm in Westchester County, NY. This year, Russell was honored with Pace University’s Westchester Changemakers Award, which pays tribute to outstanding individuals who have contributed significantly to the advancement of Westchester County. He has also been selected by Super Lawyers as a Top 10 attorney in New York this year, which will be formally announced in October. Russell also has the only Westchester-based law firm ranked in Chambers and Partners, one of the most respected resources in the legal industry. He is also the honoree of this year’s Legal Services of the Hudson Valley Equal Access to Justice Awards Dinner and serves on the Federal Bar Council Executive Committee as treasurer.

Lou Guard ,  JD ’12 , co-wrote a book titled  All the Campus Lawyers : Litigation, Regulation, and the New Era of Higher Education  that made the  New Yorker  “Best Books of 2024” list. The book traces the legal controversies affecting college and university campuses, including issues of free speech, affirmative action, and Title IX on college campuses. Lou is currently an adjunct professor of law on the Hill. A signed copy of the book was added to the Cornelliana collection in the University Library.

Welcome to our newest offering: Group Notes! Like Class Notes, these columns are written by alumni, but they comprise news about members of Cornell groups—including campus activities, alumni organizations, and more—across generations. If you would like to see your group represented here, email us for more information!

Continuous Reunion Club

We Continuous Reunion Club members experience our Reunions in many varied ways. Happily, two of our members wrote reports of the weekend’s events for us to enjoy.

First, we have a report from Connie Santagato Hosterman ’57 : Reunion 2024 brought the Continuous Reunion Club members back to the sky lounge of High Rise 5 for their headquarters. We made great use of the lounge for our continental breakfasts and our interesting late-night discussions. Dot Preisner Valachovic ’71 and I arrived early on Wednesday to assist our CRC clerk, grad student Irene Xu , JD ’22 , and the three non-Reunion year (NRY) clerks, Suha, Chloe, and Elana, in the transformation of the bland sixth-floor lobby into a bright, decorated, lively spot. The four clerks quickly bonded and enhanced the initial welcome of all who came to register.

Did we CRC members entice some of the NRY attendees to join us? Of course! By noon on Thursday our CRC president, Melinda Dower ’78 , and vice president Pat Reilly ’78 , accompanied by her husband, had arrived. Soon the ice was in place, so out from the locked “booze room” came beverages and munchies. Let the fun begin!

The highlight for CRC members this year was a visit to William “Buck” Briggs ’76 ’s singular treasure of Cornell and Ithaca memorabilia. There was the bar from the Royal Palm, complete with barstools! There was the lit neon sign from Joe’s! There were lit neon signs from The Rose! There were pieces of bowling lanes from a long defunct Ithaca bowling arena where a band could perch! A large sign obtained from Sam Gould’s Collegetown Store hung from the ceiling. Every way we turned, we saw more and more artifacts from bygone years.

Buck admitted to often being at the right place at the right time and even dumpster-diving at demolition sites to find these treasures. He knows “guys” who help him retrieve and restore his many, many items. There were significant photos, paintings, and old prints as well. Seeing Buck’s amazing collections was truly a nostalgic trip through time.

Dinosaur BBQ catered our Saturday night supper under a tent, perfect for this year’s changeable weather. We had plenty of time to head to Bailey Hall for Cornelliana Night and then to the tents. The evening wrapped up with great camaraderie in our sky lounge headquarters. The next morning, we scattered to our homes, leaving with these heartfelt words: “See you next year!”

And now, a report from John Cecilia ’70 , MBA ’79: One of the great advantages of CRC is the freedom to do many varied things at Reunion, as the group plans only a few special CRC events. This leaves time for exploration of all the various presentations, breakfasts, and more done by schools and organizations in the broad university. But with that freedom to explore the plethora of activities comes the possibility of trying to do too many things at Reunion, and not having enough time or energy. This year I may have overwhelmed myself with too much!

One of the great advantages of CRC is the freedom to do many varied things at Reunion. John Cecilia ’70, MBA ’79

2024 was the 45th Reunion of my Johnson School MBA program. Being retired, and not being a practicing corporado anymore, very few of the Johnson activities were of much interest. In fact, prior to arriving in Ithaca, I had planned only to be at the class picture-taking session for individual Johnson classes. In addition, only three individual classmates, including me, attended! One of the others was an old acquaintance, and an undergrad from another university, and had little knowledge of the breadth of activities a Cornell Reunion offers. So she and I joined forces, and off we went.

One very interesting advantage was the fact that an old undergrad roommate and his Cornellian wife were the registrars for their Class of ’69 Reunion and gave me some leeway to attend some of their events. OMG, more choices to make! So what transpired was a collection of events that had us running around the campus, from the bottom of the hill at West Campus to the far reaches of North Campus and beyond, and missing some special CRC events.

But we did a lot, some of which is mentioned here! A wine tasting with retired Johnson professor Joe Thomas. A quiet late meal at the Statler. A sumptuous breakfast and interesting talks (and stuff) with the Sibley School (mechanical engineering) at its 150th birthday. Being at President Martha Pollack’s last State of the University address and being witnesses to the mini-protest and her very smooth handling of same during her talk. Attending CRC member Andrea Strongwater ’70 ’s Nabokov butterfly event with children. Standing in line to purchase mementos at the Cornell Store. A marvelous stroll through the Botanic Gardens. Cornelliana Night (up close!). The tents. And an impromptu farewell breakfast at the Ithaca Bakery before we began our individual journeys home.

For my graduate school companion, I believe it was an eye-opening weekend, experiencing the breadth and depth of alumni activity available at Cornell Reunions, along with the impossibility of seeing and doing everything! She does intend to join the Continuous Reunion Club, so we can do this every year!

Thanks to our two roving reporters for their accounts! ❖ Connie Santagato Hosterman ’57 ( email Connie ) | John Cecilia ’70, MBA ’79 ( email John ) | Alumni Directory .

Hello, fellow Cornell fencers, and welcome to Group Notes! I’m excited to introduce this new column to share our alumni’s journeys, both personal and professional, while highlighting the latest on the team.

If we haven’t met, I’m Adam Kirsch ’15 , MBA ’16. Like many of you, Cornell fencing was an integral part of my college experience. While I spend most of my time now working as a consultant advising companies on mergers and acquisitions, I still enjoy breaking out the blades when I can and look forward to returning to the competitive fencing scene in fall 2024. I recently returned from a vacation to the United Kingdom, where my family and I worked with local archivists to trace our heritage to a small town in the English countryside, finding the pub operated by my ancestors still standing!

It seems like just yesterday we were all enjoying each other’s company in Ithaca at our annual Alumni Weekend and Spring Awards Dinner! There was a lot to celebrate—including the men’s team’s club national championship (for more, see the Cornell Chronicle story here , which features Gabriel Montalvo-Zotter ’24 , Riley Xian ’25 , and Max Dolmetsch ’25 ). It made the banquet even more special to recognize this team while commemorating the 2004 national champions—represented in Ithaca by Matt Herndon ’04 , Mike Klinger ’06 , Frank Castelli ’05 , PhD ’17, Jason Lin ’04 , and James Morris ’05 .

Matt now resides in State College, PA, and serves on the Borough Council, where he focuses on safer streets, housing affordability, sustainability, and inclusion. Mike traveled to sunny Ithaca from Honolulu, HI, where he works as a civil rights attorney and has recently declined two requests to play bass in a Toad the Wet Sprocket cover band. Dr. Castelli, a longtime Ithaca resident, left the familiar grounds of East Hill to take a new role at Atlanta’s Georgia State University.

I still enjoy breaking out the blades when I can and look forward to returning to the competitive fencing scene in fall 2024. Adam Kirsch ’15, MBA ’16

Also recognized were a number of scholar-athletes: the Graeme Jennings Award went to Molly Veerkamp ’24 and Gabe Montalvo-Zotter ’24; the Scholar Athlete of the Year for the third year in a row was Emma Ni ’25 ; the Georges Cointe Award went to two athletes with endless spirit and energy, Lucas Lutar ’25 and Isabela Carvalho ’27 ; with Patrick’s parents both in attendance, the Patrick DeNeale Award went to Riley Xian ’25 and Sterre Hoogendoorn ’24 ; and the Outstanding Athlete of the Year Awards went to Ketki Ketkar ’26 in epee and Langston Johnson ’27 in sabre.

Notably, Ketki won the NCAA Regional this season in commanding fashion. She earned bronze at NCAA Nationals and closed out the season as an All-American! Ketki is the first fencer to accomplish this feat since Victoria Wines ’17 . Since graduating from Boston College Law School in 2022, Vicki has served as the U.S. compliance lead at McGill and Partners.

Alan Petroff ’74 joined us from Huntsville, AL—bringing with him a wide selection of Yellowhammer beers from his home state! Alan’s Heroes Project, an effort to capture the stories and signatures of the greatest fencers in Cornell’s history, has brought many alumni back into the fold while paying tribute to the rich past of our fencing program.

Doug Herz ’73 coordinated a well-attended alumni meetup in Boston. We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in organizing an alumni meetup in your home city.

Let us know what you’re up to! To be featured in Group Notes, email your update to: ❖ Adam Kirsch ’15 , MBA ’16 ( email Adam ) | Alumni Directory .

University Chorus & Glee Club

’Tis the summer of reuniting our favorite Cornell singers, from Reunion itself to meetups and joint trips elsewhere around the globe.

From what I heard about Reunion, the weather wasn’t the best, but the camaraderie was wonderful. Adam Juran ’94 , BA ’21, wrote, “It was so much fun making music again after 30 years! Don’t think we should wait so long before doing that again.” Chuck Walter ’99 posted a lovely video of the Chorus singing “The Hill” on the Glee Club Facebook page , to which TP Enders ’90 , ME ’96, commented, “I was thinking as this was going on, that sitting on the Bailey stage, surrounded by ‘The Hill’ being sung in earnest, and looking out over a dimly lit, spellbound audience, must surely be the very pinnacle of the Reunion experience. I’m glad you captured this exquisite moment. Nice to see you, Chuck, and the rest of you 4 and 9 hooligans. Looking forward to a proper 0 and 5 event next year after 2020’s was derailed.” I, too, am looking forward to my much-delayed 25th (aka my 30th) next year (June 5–8, 2025—save the date!) and hope to see many of my Chorus and Glee Club friends in attendance!

It was so much fun making music again after 30 years! Don’t think we should wait so long before doing that again. Adam Juran ’94, BA ’21

In mid-June, after our kids finished school, Esther Cohen Bezborodko ’94 and I took our families to a beautiful Airbnb adjacent to a lovely beach on the Chesapeake Bay right outside of Virginia Beach. It was a glorious four days with three adults, five kids, and a puppy, and everyone had a blast. Esther’s son had his bar mitzvah in May, and her youngest daughter will have hers in November. The family recently moved to North Riverdale (from South Riverdale) and love it there. Performance wise, Esther is now studying with Erik Nelson Werner, and she and her children recently performed in a gala benefit for their local theater featuring lots of Broadway luminaries—a great experience all around, she said.

Steve Engelbrecht ’01 spent the summer in Geneva, Switzerland, with his family. His kids (Alex, 8, Nora, 7, and Steven, 4) were enrolled in a bilingual summer camp and he and his wife were taking French lessons. They had posted some pictures on Facebook and got a reply from Michael Banino ’94 , BA ’95, who lives in Jakarta with his wife, Morgan, and son Finch, 5, but his sister lives in Geneva and they visit every summer. Steve writes, “We were able to work out a get-together at a local place for some delicious local cuisine, a stroll through the Vieille Ville, and a ride on the Ferris wheel in this beautiful city!”

Your updates are music to my ears—please keep them coming! Until we meet again. ❖ Alison Torrillo French ’95 ( email Alison ) | Alumni Directory .

Top image: Photo by Noël Heaney / Cornell University

Published September 1, 2024