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A Tasty Journey Through Korean Kimbap: More Than Just “Korean Sushi”
I watched a video where a woman referred to Korean kimbap (๊น๋ฐฅ) as “Korean sushi” and I wondered why that moniker would ever start considering there’s no raw fish. Not to mention, it’s not Japanese, doesn’t have wasabi… okay, we’ll get to the differences between sushi and kimbap later. Suffice to say, I love kimbap, it’s a Korean food staple and if you are a newcomer and don’t have any knowledge of the budget friendly Korean food offering that is pretty darn versatile, let me fill you in on the delectable variety of kimbap available and the common misconceptions about this popular Korean food. Korean kimbap is a Korean food…
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Yeongpyeongsa Temple: Visit When The Flowers Bloom In Sejong
I’d heard inklings of a beautiful mountainside in Sejong covered in Siberian chrysanthemums and decided to check it out. We had enjoyed an autumn road trip south and decided to stay the night in the area but wanted to see this mountain of flowers. Pulling in after sunset, we were lucky enough to see Yeongpyeongsa Temple (์ํ์ฌ) on Janggunsan Mountain just before it got too dark but just in time for their annual Siberian Chrysanthemum Festival. Yeongpyeongsa Temple in Sejong is a must visit, especially in the autumn when the chrysanthemums bloom: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
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National Museum of World Writing Systems: A Cultural Landmark In Incheon
Head to Songdo in Incheon, Korea and you can find a beautiful and groundbreaking museum, the National Museum of World Writing Systems (๊ตญ๋ฆฝ์ธ๊ณ๋ฌธ์๋ฐ๋ฌผ๊ด). There are already some fun and cool reasons to visit Songdo Central Park, but as of 2023, there’s a new one. The museum is Incheon’s first national museum and aims to comprehensively examine the world’s writing systems and their historical value. The museum not only does a fantastic job of displaying information, but the information is available in nine different languages! This is one of the most foreign friendly national museums in Korea thus far. Get ready to visit one of the coolest national museums we’ve found…
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Halla Arboretum Is A Free Forested Oasis In The Middle Of Jeju City
When most people arrive to Jeju Airport, they’re pretty quick to get out of Jeju City and head to other various parts of the must-see island. We’ve been known to do that as well, however, the past few trips, we stuck around a bit to see something in the area. Stick around and you can visit Halla Arboretum (ํ๋ผ์๋ชฉ์) for one. We’ve managed to visit this arboretum twice, once in the spring and once in the autumn and it’s really a stunning spot that’s easy to get to even if you’re not renting a car on Jeju Island. Halla Arboretum in Jeju is a great escape right near the airport.…
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Your Ultimate Guide To Jeju Orange and Tangerine Picking
Getting ready for a trip to Jeju Island? One of our FAVORITE things to do in Jeju Island is picking citrus fruit, eating citrus fruit, and just enjoying everything citrus fruit. If you’re like us, then get ready for a zesty adventure. One of the top autumn experiences to have on Jeju Island is picking citrus like the famous Hallabong and tangerines, so if you’re visiting Jeju in the fall, it’s a must do. The beautiful orchards on Jeju Island fill the air with a sweet aroma and while you pick, you eat, and while you eat, you pick, and at the end, you have a basketful of citrus you…
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Dasoni: The Korean Temple Food Restaurant In Jeju You Need To Find
You land on Jeju Island and you’re off for an adventure. What is your first stop? For us, it’s almost always filling up at Dasoni (๋ค์๋), well after picking our rental car. Located in Jeju City, this traditional Korean tea house is overflowing with rustic style and delicious food in the form of Korean temple cuisine. If you’re wondering where to eat in Jeju, start making a list and start with this restaurant, it’s definitely one of the best places to eat in Jeju. We usually stop here after we land or before we’re taking off because it’s located in Jeju City near the Jeju Airport. Dasoni is one of…
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The Myeongnyang Battle Festival: A Celebration of Valor and Victory in Haenam
When we’re planning a trip in Korea, we often plan them around a cool festival. With most festivals based around either food or some part of history in Korea, there are a lot of things to learn and eat. The Myeongnyang Battle Festival (๋ช ๋๋์ฒฉ์ถ์ ), held in Wando-gun around Uldolmok, is a vibrant and meaningful celebration that honors the spirit of Jeolla-do’s people and the heroic and well-known Korean General Yi Sun-shin. This annual event commemorates the remarkable victory in the Battle of Myeongnyang. If you haven’t heard of it, fear not, that just means you have more to learn and some place new to visit. The Myeongnyang Battle Festival is…
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The Muan Mud Flats and The Other Mud Festival In Korea To Know About
When mud festivals in Korea come up, most likely people are talking about the Boryeong Mud Festival, but there’s another mud festival in the country and a beautiful ecological landscape to go with it in Jeollanam-do. The Muan Ecological Tidal Flat Land (๋ฌด์ํฉํ ๊ฐฏ๋ฒ๋๋), featuring the largest educational facility for natural ecology in Korea, is a gorgeous escape and filled with some great muddy fun if you visit for the Muan Mud Flat Festival. Even if you don’t visit during the festival period, the Muan Eco Mudflat area is beautiful and feel remote despite being two larger cities. Get ready for an adventure in Korea! Get ready for an adventure to…
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A Quick Guide To The Five Palaces Of Seoul
Did you know there are five main palaces in Seoul, Korea? Oh, and bonus, there’s a royal residence, too. When you begin to plan your trip to this vibrant city and realize there are five palaces of Seoul to see, that can be overwhelming for even the best of travel planners. Which of the Seoul palaces should you visit? Which of the palaces in Seoul is the grandest? Is there even a difference? I’ve done full guides of all of the palaces, but with this Seoul palace quick guide, I’m going to break it down so you know which one is right for you. Honestly, if you have the time,…
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Korean Persimmons: The Culture, The Folktales, The Food
When autumn comes to Korea there’s no other fruit that represents the season better than persimmon, or gam (๊ฐ). If you take a trip into the rural countryside of Korea, you will spot beautifully vibrant persimmon hanging everywhere. If you stay in Seoul, you’ll find persimmon desserts and snacks abound. I hadn’t had persimmon before coming to Korea and when I first got some, I had no idea how to eat it. Is it supposed to be so smushy? Is it supposed to be dried? Candied? I was lucky enough to live near some Korean grandmothers who taught me how to best enjoy Korean persimmons and so I wanted to…
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Unveiling the Charm of Suncheon Bay National Garden: A Guide
As avid nature lovers and the sort that will travel for a beautiful natural landscape, the Suncheon Bay National Garden (์์ฒ๋ง๊ตญ๊ฐ์ ์) was on my list of must see destinations in Korea for years.ย We’ve now managed to visit twice in two very different seasons and I can say without a doubt, it is one of the most beautiful and interesting natural landscapes and gardens in Korea to visit. If you’re looking to get away, look into heading to Korea’s southern coast. There is so much to explore. Plan a trip to the gorgeous Suncheon Bay National Gardens. From spring to autumn, they are a must-see: (This post contains affiliate links, which…
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The Timeless Charm of Seomjingang Train Village in Jeollanam-do
Traveling around the countryside of Korea is such an opportunity to travel back in time. While Seoul can seem so modern and new, there are plenty of places in Korea still that offer the opportunity to be transported to another age. Take the Seomjingang Train Village (์ฌ์ง๊ฐ๊ธฐ์ฐจ๋ง์) in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do; dedicated to Korea’s railway heritage, you can take a ride on an old steam engine train and enjoy a beautiful rural landscape. And if that’s not enough, it’s also home to a substantial flower garden. It’s a great family-friendly adventure to take to the heart of Korea. Visit Gokseong in Jeollanam-do for a ride on the retro rails: (This post…
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The Dreamiest Park In Seoul: Dream Forest
The number of beautiful parks in Seoul, Korea is really stunning and we love exploring them. If you’re looking for a park in northern Seoul, you definitely need to keep Dream Forest (๋ถ์์ธ ๊ฟ์์ฒ) on your radar. This park is also one of the most beautiful places to see cherry blossoms in the spring in Seoul. From picturesque views and an observatory to deer and waterfalls, there’s a lot to enjoy. Get ready to spend the day in Dream Forest in Seoul: (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…
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A New Way To See Relics: The National Folk Museum of Korea Paju
Traditionally, the storages of museums and galleries have been secretive spaces and the only time we as the public gets to see relics is when they’re on display. However, the National Folk Museum of Korea Paju (๊ตญ๋ฆฝ๋ฏผ์๋ฐ๋ฌผ๊ด ํ์ฃผ) flipped this idea around and decided to use its vast collection and welcome sightseers into its now open storage space. If you’ve visited the amazing National Folk Museum of Korea on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, next head to Paju to see even more of their amazing historic collection. Not your standard museum space, the storage facility provides a look at how our national treasures are preserved. Learn more about…
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Tap Shop Bar: A Cool Wine Tap Bar In Seoul
Did you know there’s a wine tap bar in the basement of the Seoul Tourism Organization building in downtown Seoul? The Tap Shop Bar actually has three locations in Seoul, Korea and it is super cool and has a selection of wine that any wine connoisseur would be excited to see. I was researching trends in alcohol in Korea and came across this cool concept and had to check it out. The bar’s standout feature is its ‘tap’ system, offering patrons the chance to immediately pour and taste a diverse range of wines. Of course, you can also just get a whole bottle, some fresh raw oysters and enjoy the…
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Where To Pull Over For Chicken Stew In Gapyeong: Donggigan
We are known to take quite a few road trips on the regular and because of that, I’m constantly marking good looking restaurants on my map and then just hoping that we’ll be passing by on one of those said road trips. The past two times we’ve transited through Gapyeong, we made sure to stop at one of the best places to eat in Gapeyong, Donggigan (๋๊ธฐ๊ฐ). It’s ideally located if you’re heading to Gapyeong to see Nami Island, Koo House, or maybe the hidden Yellow Bridge Museum or some other fun tourist spot in the area. Eat here, and then find all of these other cool things to do…
