It's an unearthly paradise in Iceland

Iceland's Hraunfossar falls emerge from beneath a lava field. In "Journey to the Center of the Earth," Brendan Fraser's character plummets to the planet's core - through a volcano in Iceland. There, he runs into man-eating plants, giant flying fish, "glow birds" and dinosaurs, along with things like floating stones and rock so thin it cracks under your feet. I didn't see any of those on a recent trip to the Nordic island country, but there are plenty of other mystic marvels to keep visitors entertained. With its many volcanoes, glaciers, geysers and wondrous waterfalls, Iceland almost appears otherworldly. And now is the perfect time to visit, since the sun shines 24 hours a day in the summer months. Iceland has been a hot destination in recent years since its capital, Reykjavik, emerged as a party spot because of its... [read full story]