It's less than a month to go until the big Arctic Open Golf Championship so you'd better practice your swing and get used to playing at midnight.

Yep, up in Iceland they like to do things a little differently, and from June 26 to 28 you'll be able to take part in--or be a spectator for--the world's only golf tournament that takes place in the middle of the night, thanks to the almost endless daylight they get in northern Iceland in the summer.

The Akureyri Golf Club is the host for the unusual event, and we're thinking this might be the only time in our lives when we have half a chance to play well: Since the game's held at midnight, maybe our opponents will have trouble too.

Related Stories:
· Arctic Open [Official Site]
· Land of the Midnight Sun [Jaunted]

[Photo: Arctic Open]]]> amandak 2008-05-30T09:45:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/5/1/163530/5049

At the end of May, budget carrier Iceland Express begins service between Copenhagen and Akureyri, Iceland's second city.

Iceland is dangerously expensive, and Akureyri, perched at the base of a fjord on the island's northern coast, doesn't appear to challenge the national trend. A cursory glance through some guidebook-touted accommodations reveals at least one guesthouse with a high season double rate under $100 per night.

Also nice (on your wallet) in the land of ice: Iceland Express fares between Copenhagen and Akureyri are quite reasonable. Toward the end of August, there are some especially good roundtrip deals on this route. The cheapest roundtrip we found comes in around $200.

Second cities are often more creative and dynamic than their first city siblings. Ideally, one day Akureyri will have a population base big enough to credibly challenge Reykjavík's status as Iceland's only real city. (With a current population of 16,000, "second city" seems like more of a default designation.)

Aesthetically speaking, at least, Akureyri appears to have a good modern base: the city boasts a church designed by Gudjón Samúelsson, who is also responsible for Reykjavík's iconic Hallgrímskirkja church.

[Image via Kelly Cheng/Flickr]]]> artextor 2006-05-02T10:50:02-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/