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Buramsan Butterfly Garden: A Beautiful Hillside of Azaleas To See In Seoul
There are beautiful places to see flowers all around Seoul, well all around Korea for that matter. The cherry blossoms burst into bloom all around Korea in April and then it’s just flower after flower from azaleas to tulips and daffodils saying hello. There are so many beautiful places to find flowers in Korea. I think azaleas are an underrated spring bloom. When these bushy flowers cover a hillside though, they are gorgeous! Here is one of the most beautiful places in Seoul to find those lovely light purple azaleas. Don’t miss Buramsan Butterfly Garden (불암산나비정원) in northern Seoul in the spring if you’re a flower lover like me. Here’s…
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How To Celebrate the Year Of The Rabbit In Korea
Happy New Year! 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, a black rabbit to be precise, and rabbit’s are a sign of longevity, peace, and prosperity so this is looking like it will be a year of hope and fruitfulness. In Korean, this year is called “Gyemyonyeon”, 계묘년, with “Gye” meaning black, “myo” meaning rabbit, and “nyeon” meaning year. The year of the Black Rabbit is associated with the heavens. So, what does the Year of the Rabbit mean? And, how can you celebrate the Year of the Rabbit in Korea? Here’s what you need to know… What to know about the Year Of The Rabbit in Korea: (This post…
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6 Things To See In Eunpyeong-gu You Probably Didn’t Know About
Eunpyeong-gu is a district in the northwest of Seoul that most people drive through as they’re headed to Goyang. Having been a resident for a bit now, I was so surprised when I realized how many cool things there were in Eunpyeong-gu that so many people didn’t know about. While it might not be a huge tourist draw (yet), it should be on your list of areas to see in Seoul. From traditional villages to arts, culture, and eco-friendly parks, there’s a lot to do in Eunpyeong-gu. Eunpyeong-gu has some surprises. Are you ready to explore northwest Seoul? (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage…
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How To Rent A Car In Korea: From Seoul To Jeju
Travel around Seoul for a week or more and you’ll quickly realize that a car is NOT the way you want to go. The traffic can be horrendous and with an amazingly huge subway system that can get you throughout the city and even out to suburbs and islands nearby, why take a car? Well, once you’re out of the city, and definitely if you plan to visit Jeju Island, you quickly realize that your own transportation is really ideal. Trains and buses can get you to most of the major hot spots and must see places in South Korea, but there are a ton of hidden gems in Korea…
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This Museum in Gangwon is Quirky, Cool, and Kind of Unbelievable
If you’ve never heard of the Gangwon Comprehensive Museum (강원종합박물관), you’re certainly not the only one, and yet this huge and rather eye-catching museum should really be on everyone’s radar. It’s a bit traditional, definitely quirky, and really unique in all of the right ways. If you love finding off the beaten path hidden gems in Korea, then this is definitely one to seek out. Take a roadtrip into Gangwon, maybe head to Gangneung like we did, and then pull over for a stop at this museum in the middle of nowhere. Check out this epic museum in Gangwon-do: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain…
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Beopjusa Temple: A Must See in Songnisan National Park
Situated in the Songnisan National Park in Chungcheongbuk-do lies one of the most beautiful Buddhist temple grounds in Korea. Home to Boeun Beopjusa Temple (보은 법주사), the temple is striking in large part thanks to the Golden Maitreya Statue of National Unification that looks over the beautifully colorful buildings. Looking for something to do in Chungcheongbuk-do? You’ll want to see this. Oh, and bonus, if you visit in the summer, you can see a beautiful lotus flower garden as well. Learn more about Beopjusa Temple: (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.…
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Did you know the world’s largest drum is in Korea?
You never know what you’ll find in Korea. The world’s largest drum is one thing that you can find in Korea… if you know where to look. Heard of the Yeongdong Nangye Traditional Music Center (영동 난계 국악체험촌)? It’s a pretty cool place established to spread information about the development and achievements of Nangye Park Yeon and promote gugak, or traditional Korean music. Get ready to learn more about traditional Korean music and also see the largest drum in the world of course… which yes, you can beat on. Learn more about where to find the largest drum in the world: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive…
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10 Beautiful Greenhouses in Korea To Find
Do you like greenhouses? You might be surprised to learn how many greenhouses there are in Korea. From greenhouses on palace grounds to eco-parks, there are greenhouses everywhere. These curated indoor gardens are great in the winter when you need a warm pick-me-up and super lush in the summer. If it’s too dusty in Korea and you can’t go outside for the day, head to a greenhouse to get your dose of healthy oxygen and greenery. I’ve created a list of some of the most beautiful greenhouses in South Korea to check out. You never know what you’ll find until you go and look. Oh, and if you do love…
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Where to See Christmas Lights in Seoul
Almost every country in the world celebrates Christmas in some way, shape or form. Regardless, holiday lighting displays seems to reign supreme in every place that features this winter holiday. While no one does it quite like the USA, Canada or Europe, the Christmas lights in Seoul, South Korea are quite breathtaking in their own right. Remember to dress warmly, I like to layer with Uniqlo heattech whenever possible, and head out to see what Christmas is like in Korea. Find out more about the top 11 places to see Christmas lights in Seoul along with a healthy number of honorable mentions. From Lotte retail giant and several shopping malls,…
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What are the travel requirements for South Korea?
Are you thinking about traveling to South Korea? The country is one of the top places to visit in the world today. Do you know what you need to travel into the country? The travel requirements changed for tourists during Covid and while some of those updates will go away, some are here to stay. We will go through the list of travel requirements for South Korea and other things you may need to know. Do you need to get travel documents translated into Korean? Can you just walk right through immigration as a tourist to Korea? Let’s see. Get ready to travel to Korea: (This post contains affiliate links,…
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The Lighting Museum: A Quirky Fun Spot North of Seoul
Always on the hunt for fun things to do with kids near Seoul, I saw a fun picture of the Lighting Museum (조명박물관) and saved it for a day out. Luckily, when the time came for an impromptu adventure, I had a spot. Not in the easiest of places to reach, it’s a bit of a random spot to head to, but random is what we do. (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. Thank you for your support.) How To Get There Address: 235-48 Gwangjeok-ro, Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 양주시 광적면…
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SKIN1004: The Entire Hyalu-Cica Line Reviewed!
Looking for hydrating Korean skincare products? Have you heard of SKIN1004 yet? A couple years back, I got my hands on the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella toner and ampoule and immediately adored them. They were so easy to apply and so hydrating. They left my skin supple and moisturized. All that to say, when I heard SKIN1004 had a new line of Madagascar Centella and Hyaluronic Acid products, I was excited to try it. Tending toward dry skin myself, I look out for Kbeauty products touting hydration and moisturization as this one does. So let’s see how they stand up! Get ready to check out SKIN1004’s Hyalu-Cica line: (This post contains…
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Traditional Korean Medicine: Hanyak, Sasang, and Medicinal Herbs
With a pretty traditional Korean mother-in-law, I’ve been given a variety of more holistic remedies over the years and as someone who is more inclined toward holistic medicine over modern, I’m okay with that. But, there’s a lot to know and remember and a lot to know when it comes to Hanyak, Hanbang, and Sasang. There is so much to learn when it comes to traditional Korean medicine. I have to wager a guess that people of yore had little booklets or something that they kept all of the info on the plants around them listed because there’s just so much information. With that in mind, I’ve put together a…
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Dancheong: The history, the meaning, and more!
If you’ve ever sat in awe looking up at the beautifully decorated and colorful traditional palaces or temples in Korea like I have, then you’ve probably noticed the elaborate details and wondered what it all means. The colorful facades and intricate details are beautiful and the traditional Korean decorative coloring, or dancheong (단청), might take you back to your childhood days of staring at the tortuous Magic Eye books looking for some hidden meaning. There might not be a 3D illusion, but there is more symbolism than you might realize. Learn everything you need to know about dancheong: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of…
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Things To Do In Hongdae: From someone who lived there
If you’re planning a trip to Seoul, Korea, then you’ve probably come across the district called Hongdae and wondered what is really going on there. Is this trendy neighborhood in Seoul really where you should spend some time? Well known for nightlife hot spots, pretty cafes, busking musicians and K-pop dance groups, there’s a lot to do in Hongdae… if you know where to look. The streets of Hongdae are fun and packed with a lot to see and do and it can be overwhelming if you go with no plan at all. You could go many many many times and still not see everything there is to see in…
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Fall Fashion In Korea: The Trends To Know
Fashion plays an important role in how we perceive a culture and helps us express ourselves in various ways. In Korea’s case, the bold and unique K-pop style, the traditional Hanbok (한복), and the clean everyday, or minimalist look are the most common styles that we see overall. If you’ve been following the Korean fashion trends, then you know how people worldwide are now embracing the Korean styles more and more. You probably also know how fast the trends in Korean fashion change. What is hot on a drama one day, is not just a week later. While we’re all just trying to keep up, there are some main stays…
