• Seoul Tourism Plaza (์„œ์šธ๊ด€๊ด‘์žฌ๋‹จ), Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (์„œ์šธํƒํ—˜)

    Four Reasons You Should Visit The Seoul Tourism Plaza

    I remember the first time I walked into the Seoul Tourism Plaza in 2021. I was struck because it was such a cool culture spot. The Seoul Tourism Plaza (์„œ์šธ๊ด€๊ด‘์žฌ๋‹จ) is a tourism hub with a ton of information for tourists regarding the top Seoul tourism attractions but there’s also a souvenir shop and even a Tap Shop! While there are tourist offices and booths all over the city for visitors to Seoul, the Seoul Tourism Plaza has some unique reasons to find it. From official Seoul City souvenirs so maps, guides, pamphlets, and more… here’s why you’ll want to find it. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I…

  • bathroom in Korea, hwajangshil
    Life In Korea (ํ•œ๊ตญ์˜ ์‚ถ)

    Navigating Korea’s Public Bathrooms: Etiquette, Oddities, and Cultural Quirks

    Forget the glittering skyline of Seoul, the cute cafes, and the K-beauty glamour for a momentโ€”letโ€™s talk about a more down-to-earth topic thatโ€™s just as much a part of your journey through Korea: public bathrooms. It might not be on your itinerary per se, but trust me, itโ€™s an adventure in itself and just about everyone goes home with something to say about it. Korea’s bathroom culture can be a curious mix of old traditions and cutting-edge technology, and understanding the do’s and don’ts could save you a fair bit of confusion. Whether you’re finding the alley bathroom in Hongdae or the upscale option in Lotte Department Store, there are…

  • Korean food, Korean barbecue, Korean bbq
    Food In Korea (ํ‘ธ๋“œ ์ธ ์ฝ”๋ฆฌ์•„)

    How To Eat Korean BBQ: What To Expect When Eating In Korea

    Korean barbecue might seem a bit intimidating if itโ€™s your first time, but donโ€™t worry, itโ€™s as much about the experience as it is about the food! Whether youโ€™re seated at a table with friends or enjoying it with coworkers, youโ€™re in for a tasty adventure. Before you can begin that adventure though, you need to know how to order meat, what to expect at a Korean barbecue restaurant, and then you can reap the delicious rewards. What makes Korean BBQ so popular, especially for first-time visitors to Korea, is not just the high-quality, flavorful cuts of meat, but the immersive nature of the entire dining process. But, like I…

  • Unique gifts from Korea
    Korean Pop Culture

    Unwrap the Magic of Korea: 18 Unique Holiday Gifts for Your Loved Ones!

    Looking for something extraordinary to gift this holiday season? Whether you’re surprising a loved one or treating yourself, these carefully curated Korean treasures will bring a touch of culture and charm to your celebrations. I love giving gifts from the country that I’ve decided to call home and if you have someone in your life interested in Korea, or at the very least interested in very aesthetically pleasing items, this list of unique gifts from Korea is for you. From traditional crafts to modern must-haves, this list is filled with gifts that go beyond ordinary and are sure to delight anyone on your list. Not your standard Korean souvenirs, this…

  • Wando Tower (์™„๋„ํƒ€์›Œ), Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea
    Jeollanam-do (์ „๋ผ๋‚จ๋„)

    The Most Touristy Thing In Wando Is A Tower

    Wando, Korea might not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of traveling in Korea. Tucked away in the southern part of the country, this island is most visited by travelers that are taking the ferry from the southern part of mainland Korea to Jeju Island. That’s exactly why we were visiting, but wow is the food good and the ocean glistening here. We’ll be through a few times, so for our first trip through, we stopped at what seems to be the most touristy thing thereโ€”the Wando Tower (์™„๋„ํƒ€์›Œ). I thought we’d just pop in to this observatory and pop out, but boy was I…

  • Jeju Folk Village (์ œ์ฃผ๋ฏผ์†์ดŒ), Jeju Island, Korea
    Jeju (์ œ์ฃผ๋„)

    Travel Back In Time At The Jeju Folk Village

    There are some amazing traditional folk villages in Korea, and the Jeju Folk Village (์ œ์ฃผ๋ฏผ์†์ดŒ) definitely makes the list. There are more than 100 houses that were actual residences and theyโ€™ve tried to portray what time was like in the 1890s on Jeju Island.  An interesting thing about this folk village is that it brings together mountain villages and fishing villages among other different living spaces into one place. So it feels like a few villages instead of just one. You could easily spend a few hours here not just looking, but also getting in on the traditional experiential action. If you’re looking for things to do with kids in…

  • Jeju Citrus Museum (๊ฐ๊ทค๋ฐ•๋ฌผ๊ด€), Jeju Island, Korea
    Jeju (์ œ์ฃผ๋„)

    Jeju Citrus Museum: Where To Begin Your Jeju Hallabang Journey

    If you’re searching for things to do with kids in Jeju, the Jeju Citrus Museum (๊ฐ๊ทค๋ฐ•๋ฌผ๊ด€) is a great place to start to add an educational perspective on any citrus adventure to come. It offers a fascinating dive into the history and culture of Jejuโ€™s citrus, with plenty to learn about the different varieties grown on the island. Plus, if you’re curious about picking oranges in Jeju, this is the perfect spot to get an introduction before heading out to the orchards! Any good citrus adventure on Jeju Island should start with some history and culture and you can get both at the Jeju Citrus Museum: (This post contains affiliate…

  • SKIN1004: Priobio-Cica Enrich Cream and Intensive Ampoule Review
    Korean Beauty

    SKIN1004: Probio-Cica Enrich Cream and Intensive Ampoule Review

    As a longtime SKIN1004 user I am not surprised at all that I loved the Probio-Cica cream and ampoule. Recommended to me as I have dry skin and am aging gracefully, this duo was rich, nourishing, and hydrating and that’s exactly what my skin consistently needs. When I first began my SKIN1004 journey, I was introduced to their Madagascar Centella toner and ampoule and much like I loved those, I found these products extremely hydrating on my dry skin. Need a skin pick-me-up, try these now! Getting into SKIN1004 and want to see if the Probio-Cica line is for you? The ampoule and cream are amazing. Find out why: (This…

  • SEOULDAL, Seoul balloon ride, Yeouido, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (์„œ์šธํƒํ—˜)

    SEOULDAL: How To Ride The Moon-Shaped Balloon In Seoul

    Move over N Seoul Tower and Seoul Sky Observatoryโ€”there’s now a high-flying hot spot in town for those craving panoramic views of Seoul, Korea. Say hello to SEOULDAL (์„œ์šธ๋‹ฌ), a moon-shaped gas balloon that’s lifting off in the heart of the city. This isn’t just any observatory; it’s an aerial adventure that takes you soaring above Yeouido, offering a unique vantage point to experience Seoul like never before. Get ready for a unique experience in Seoul, Korea. Here is all you need to know about SEOULDAL: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to…

  • abalone
    Food In Korea (ํ‘ธ๋“œ ์ธ ์ฝ”๋ฆฌ์•„),  Jeollanam-do (์ „๋ผ๋‚จ๋„)

    7 Ways We Ate Abalone In Wando, Korea

    I am an abalone fiend. Can’t get enough. So, when we were headed through Wando recently, the island responsible for about 80% of the country’s abalone production, I was determined to try as many abalone dishes as I could. Here, the locals have mastered the art of preparing this delicacy in various mouthwatering ways. From thinly sliced raw abalone served fresh to the warm, hearty comfort of abalone porridge, there’s something for every palate. But one of the most surprising creations youโ€™ll find here is “abalone bread.” Get ready to learn about all of the abalone delicacies you can try in Wando, Korea. If you’ve ever wondered how to eat…

  • MIXSOON Flagship Store (๋ฏน์ˆœ ํ”Œ๋ž˜๊ทธ์‹ญ ์Šคํ† ์–ด), Myeongdong, Seoul, Korea
    Korean Beauty

    Mixsoon’s Flagship Store In Myeongdong Is An Elegant Stop For K-Beauty

    A few years back, Seongsu-dong became the buzz for pop-ups and Korean beauty flagship stores in Seoul, Korea. While it continues to be one of the coolest spots in the city, beauty brands catering to their foreign customers are turning their attention to Myeongdong‘s lasting appeal. SKIN1004 set up shop there, and now MIXSOON has joined the scene with their new flagship store (๋ฏน์ˆœ ํ”Œ๋ž˜๊ทธ์‹ญ ์Šคํ† ์–ด). Headed to Myeongdong? Don’t miss out on a visit to the Mixsoon Flagship Store: (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.)…

  • SKIN1004 Flagship Store, Myeongdong, Seoul, Korea
    Korean Beauty

    The SKIN1004 Flagship Store In Myeongdong Is Moody, Bold, and a Must-See

    The first time I stepped into the SKIN1004 Flagship Store in Myeongdong (์Šคํ‚จ1004 ํ”Œ๋ž˜๊ทธ์‹ญ ์Šคํ† ์–ด ๋ช…๋™), I was immediately struck by how different it felt from the usual skincare shops crowding the streets of Seoul and especially the ones in Myeongdong. Nestled in the heart of this bustling district, the store’s exterior boldly breaks away from the sea of glass-fronted boutiques that surround it. Instead, the SKIN1004 Flagship Store presents an intense rock-textured facade, a nod to untouched nature but with a modern twist that draws you in with its unexpected warmth and depth. Let it draw you in. Let it. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive…

  • cupping therapy, or buhang (๋ถ€ํ•ญ), traditional medicine
    Korean Beauty,  Korean Culture (ํ•œ๊ตญ ๋ฌธํ™”)

    That Time I Got Korean Cupping Therapy: What Is It and My Honest Opinion

    If youโ€™ve ever wondered about those mysterious red circles you sometimes see on peopleโ€™s backs at the sauna or pool in Korea, then let me introduce you to cupping therapy, or buhang (๋ถ€ํ•ญ). Itโ€™s an age-old practice in traditional medicine, but, trust me, thereโ€™s a lot more to it than just some circular marks. In recent years, it’s become quite a popular treatment โ€” even Hollywood celebs are showing off their cupping marks and you often see it on athletes in major competitions like the Olympics! Iโ€™ve personally experienced it on both my back and, most recently, my stomach, and I can tell you, it’s interesting at the very least.…

  • Jwagusan Recreational Forest (์ขŒ๊ตฌ์‚ฐ ์ž์—ฐํœด์–‘๋ฆผ), Jeungpyeong, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea
    Chungcheongbuk-do (์ถฉ์ฒญ๋ถ๋„)

    Wellness Korean Style at Jwagusan Recreational Forest in Jeungpyeong

    I was recently on a wellness adventure to Jeungpyeong in Chungcheongbuk-do and one of the stops was the beautiful Jwagusan Recreational Forest (์ขŒ๊ตฌ์‚ฐ ์ž์—ฐํœด์–‘๋ฆผ). In recent years, the Korean parks and forests have done a lot to emphasize their wellness opportunities and have created numerous wellness experiences to really entice visitors to come and do more when surrounded by the beautiful forests that blanket the country. To start your adventure into the recreational forest, be sure to stop at the Forest Meditation House to join a program. We took part in a traditional herbal color flower tea therapy, forest trekking, and a foot bath with tea. See what you can…

  • Lee Moon Won Hair Clinic, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
    Korean Beauty

    Why Lee Moon Won Clinic’s Korean Hair Care Is Trending With Foreigners

    When foreigners arrive in Korea and start to settle in, one of the most surprising and frustrating issues they encounter is sudden hair loss and an itchy scalp. Not only an initial issue though, it can become continuous. Whatโ€™s happening? Drastic changes in everything from diet to water quality, combined with the stress of adapting to a new environment can do a lot to your hair. But youโ€™re not aloneโ€”Koreans face similar challenges, and the country is home to numerous specialized hair clinics. The good news? Many of these clinics are now expanding their services to cater specifically to the needs of foreign clients, offering multilingual support to ensure you…

  • Samcheong-dong Baskin Robbins, traditional Hanok building, Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (์„œ์šธํƒํ—˜)

    Baskin Robbins Madang In Samcheong Is A Traditional Treat

    Baskin Robbins back home may look the same from place to place, but one of the fun things about visiting Baskin Robbins in Korea is that they can be quite unique. After the Care Bear-themed Baskin Robbins, our next favorite Baskin Robbins in Korea is the traditional Hanok Baskin Robbins in Samcheon-dong (๋ฐฐ์Šคํ‚จ๋ผ๋นˆ์Šค ์‚ผ์ฒญ๋งˆ๋‹น์ ), actually the first Hanok-themed Baskin Robbins in the country. Located in the tourist-friendly area near Insadong and Bukchon Hanok Village, it’s an easy Baskin Robbins to add into a Seoul itinerary. Get ready to visit and try their exclusive menu items that pay homage to traditional Korean treats only available here. Look out for this Baskin…

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