-
Best Daytrips From Seoul: 25 Places To Go Near Seoul
Daytrips daytrips are so fun, daytrips daytrips, there’s something for everyone! Seoul is a fantastic city to visit or live in, but sometimes, it’s nice to get out too. There are a TON of places to go near Seoul and I have traveled extensively here, there, and everywhere so let me fill you in. You’d be surprised how far across the country you can get in just one day. Ready for a day trip from Seoul? This is the guide for you with some of the easiest places to get to with public transportation, and some spots nearby that you need a car for. Get ready to travel in Korea.…
-
The Coolest Culture Space In Korea Is In A Cave In Gwangmyeong
In the summer we were studying rocks and lava and decided to take a field trip south to Gwangmyeong Cave, or Gwangmyeongdonggul, (광명동굴). When Seoul starts to get too hot and humid to bear, take a trip here. The interior of the cave has a dramatic temperature difference from the outside and you can fill it literally as soon as you take one step in the entrance. Visiting is a really cool thing to do near Seoul… literally. Once a mine, today, it is the largest themed cave park in Korea. Plan your visit to Gwangmyeong Cave: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of…
-
Modo, Sindo, & Sido Islands Off The Coast Of Incheon: Art and Adventure
Modo (모도), Sindo (신도), and Sido (시도) islands, always grouped because they sit right next to each other and are connected via bridges so when you take the ferry from Incheon to one, you’ll always visit all three, are also called the “Three Brother Islands”. They are so close and yet they seem so far from Seoul, Korea. What secrets do these islands hold? Let me share because this year is all about Incheon island hopping and these are the first three you should start with. It’s an easy trip from Seoul and you won’t feel like you’re that close at all. All you know can be found right here:…
-
The Majang Suspension Bridge & The Cafes To Visit There Too!
There are so many things to do in Paju, an area just northwest of Seoul in the Gyeonggi-do province and visiting Majang Lake is definitely one of them. Majang Lake was probably not on most peoples’ radar until a couple years ago when the longest suspension bridge in Korea was opened. This beautiful suspension bridge spans the water from what forested side to another that features an observatory. There are numerous gorgeous cafes and restaurants to stop into too. It’s a great area to take a day trip from Seoul and it’s pretty easy to get to as well. Looking for something to do this weekend? This is the spot…
-
B39 In Bucheon: The Art & Culture Space To Check Out
I LOVE checking out how older factories are being given new life as cafes or restaurants and seeing how old military bunkers in Korea are being given new life as culture spaces for local communities. The new art and culture spaces that are being given back to the community are really intriguing and are definitely great places to see in Seoul and its suburbs. This city is always adapting and changing and as factories close, something else must take their place. Recently, we visited Bucheon, a suburb of Seoul in Gyeonggi-do and stopped into the Bucheon Art Bunker B39 (부천아트벙커 B39). Just opened in 2018, it took an old garbage…
-
Internet Detox & Healing At Healience Seonmaeul Near Seoul
Living in Seoul, Korea can be amazing, fun, and there’s a ton to see but it can also be overwhelming, stressful, and busy. For those times when the city is a bit too much, there are healing and wellness hotels and resorts around Korea and Healience Seonmaeul is one of the best. A big trend in Korea right now is refocusing the ‘self’ and more healing and wellness-centered hotels and resorts are popping up to help people living the fast-paced life rekindle and replant their roots in nature and take a breath. This year I’m in a Wellness Tourism group that is sponsored by the Korea Tourism Organization so I’m…
-
What To Do Near Incheon International Airport: Beaches, Parks, Cafes & Flowers
Incheon International Airport sits on Yeongjong Island (영종도) just outside of Seoul, Korea and most people visiting Korea will land and leave as quickly as they arrived departing to to places like Seoul, Busan, or Jeju. There’s plenty to do on this island in Incheon though and we’ve headed out a few times over the years to see what there is to see and take advantage of the numerous spots that there are sans crowds because everyone else is trying to get to the mainland. Enjoy the scenery though people… enjoy the scenery! Have a 24 hour layover at Incheon International Airport? Check out those Instagrammable spots in the airport…
-
Gamaksan Suspension Bridge & DMZ Tour In Korea: Review
A couple weekends ago, I was able to go on a tour to Gamaksan Suspension Bridge and the DMZ. I’ll be honest, that I hadn’t really had any interest in visiting the DMZ before, at least not the Paju area DMZ. Mostly, because so many people go there, I was unsure how much of it was a tourist zone/trap and how much of it was educational. A few years back I visited the DMZ in the Cheorwan area and found it extremely interesting but also it was insightful and real. There weren’t large busloads of people and the village that used to be there is just buildings that are clearly war…
-
The Ara SkyWalk, Waterfall & Flower Cafe Not Far From Seoul
The Gyeong-in Ara Waterway runs from Gimpo to Incheon and has bike paths, walking paths and more for the active among us. For the less so, or the toddler toting, there is an awesome suspended circular glass bottom bridge just next to Korea’s largest man-made waterfall. Want to take a little trip and see something different? Check out the Ara Maru (아라마루전망대). (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. These funds go to maintain the site. Thank you for your support.) How To Get There Address: 79-4 Duksil-dong, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon (지번인천 계양구 둑실동…
-
Heyri Art Village In Paju: A Guide To The Sights, Sounds & Eats
Intriguing places, pretty cafes and art too is what you’ll find if you head north into Paju to the delightful artsy spot known as Heyri Art Village (헤이리 예술마을). This is just one thing to do in Paju, but there is really a ton! The Heyri Art Village is less than an hour northwest and was the vision of a book publisher many years back. Home to photographers, painters, artists of all kinds, musicians, architects and writers means it is quirky, artsy and very fun as well as home to galleries, museums and more. To give you an idea about where to start in this eye catching village check out…
-
Incheon Songdo’s Central Park And The Tri-Bowl Are A Must See
If you’re looking for a cool area to spend the day in Incheon, Korea, look no further than Incheon Songdo, not to be confused with a few other Songdo’s in the country. The area of Songdo in South Korea is interesting as it’s a smart city, but for visitors like you and me, there’s still plenty to see and do. Get ready to spend a day in Songdo Central Park seeing the architecturally inspiring Tri Bowl and then visit the National Museum of World Languages between boat rides and walks. Plan a trip to the Songdo Central Park: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage…
-
Animal Fun For Everyone at Zoolung Zoolung
Looking for things to do in Seoul with kids? We are always on the hunt for great places to take kids that are clean, kid-friendly, and allow her to experience and learn something. Zoolung Zoolung (주렁주렁) is one of those places just made for the child in all of us and definitely geared toward the children we have tag along with us. Looking for a petting zoo in Korea? A place for your kids to learn about animals and maybe feed a few? This is where to go. What To Know Before You Go: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if…
-
Taean-gun: A Guide To The Beaches, Forests, and More!
Summer in Korea can be hot, humid, and a weekend away to the coast is an absolute must to cool off. During the summer, the humidity can be so immense in Seoul that taking a walk is more like swimming through hot heavy air. The only cure to really get that deep breath is to find a coast with breezes blowing this way and that and calming ocean tide sounds. While I usually recommend heading to the gorgeous beaches with white sand and emerald blue waters on the east coast of Korea in the Sokcho and Gangneung areas, the west coast has some hidden gems too like the rocky seaside…
-
Chuncheon’s Cheongpyeong Temple and the Trek To Get There
The weather starting to warm up, or at least be reasonable for walking outside, has me itching to get out and do something. I was looking back at some temples I’ve been to so I can make a list of some different ones to check out in the upcoming year and I chanced upon one of my favorites, Cheongpyeong-sa Temple (청평사). Cheongpyeongsa is one of my favorites probably for the trip that it takes to get there, which entails traveling by bus, boat and a nice, but not too lengthy, hike. Take a trip to see this temple in Chuncheon. The trek to get there is beautiful: (This post contains…