-
Signiel Hotel: The Tallest Hotel In Seoul With The Best Views Of The City
SIGNIEL Seoulย is one of the best luxury hotels in Seoul, Korea. It is in the tallest building in Korea and that should tell you that it most definitely features the best views of the city. You will literally be seated above airplanes and helicopters. I looked out the window after a massage to see helicopters flying at least five floors lower than where we sat. That is just amazing and I could have easily spent my entire stay just gazing out the window watching the tiny ants below and the lights flicker on in the evening. SIGNIEL Seoul is not only amazingly high, but it is gorgeous and the staff…
-
Petite France: How To Get There From Seoul & What To Do There
Petite France (์๋ ํ๋์ค) is one of those popular spots for tourists to get away to when they head out of Seoul. It’s in Gapyeong, an area that has a lot to do so it’s a great area to take a day trip from Seoul to see not one, but multiple fun things. From gardens and parks with light festivals to farms, islands, and unique villages, there’s a ton to do in the area. So, it’s no wonder there are tours that head out there daily and often include a stop at Petite France. Petite France is one of those Instagrammable hot spots to the east of Seoul in Korea that…
-
Did You Know There Is A Golden Temple In Seoul? Find Suguksa Temple
I have lived in Seoul, Korea for quite awhile and I have seen a lot of Buddhist temples here. I love a visit to a temples in South Korea. They are peaceful and calming and beautiful. Often set up on the mountain or in forests, the views are good and the ambiance lovely. Most temples in Korea are painted reds and greens and maybe there’s a bit of yellow and white in the artwork. That’s pretty standard so when I saw a glimmer of gold as I drove down the street near my house and saw a sign for a temple, I was intrigued. After visiting Suguksa Temple (์๊ตญ์ฌ), I…
-
O’Sulloc Tea: Why It’s The Best Souvenir Or Gift From Korea
Ever wonder what the best souvenir in Korea is? It’s one of the top asked questions in expat groups. People are headed home and want to take a gift. Family is coming and want to take gifts back. While there are various options, I think O’Sulloc tea is the absolute best souvenir and gift from Korea. Not only is it from Korea and homegrown, but it’s also a premier product. O’Sulloc Tea is one of those brands that can convert people I think. It’s just that good. Honestly, I’ve given a ton of Korean-centric gifts in the past decade while living in Korea from the metal chopstick sets with holsters…
-
A Guide To Gyeongju, Korea: What To Do, See, Eat & Where To Stay
If you haven’t heard of Gyeongju, Korea yet, then you need to! Though Andong, Korea is often referred to as the most traditional city in the country, I’d say that Gyeongju is the most historical you can visit. Gyeongju is referred to as “the museum without walls” because everywhere you turn you can find another site with historical relevance to see. The city actually has more tombs, temples, pagodas, palace ruins, and other historical artifacts than any other place in Korea. I’d say it’s a must see, but that term is so overused at this point. I visited Gyeongju for the first time over a decade ago and found it…
-
An Epic Travel Guide To Seoul, Korea For The First Timer
Seoul, Korea is huge and has gained a ton of attention in the past decade for not only a beautiful culture but also the Hallyu wave that has swept over the world. When you begin to plan your trip to the capital city of Korea it can seem overwhelming and you may not know where to begin. While I’m known for promoting the off the beaten path spots in and around Seoul and promoting new hot spots to check out, I wanted to create an essential guide for the first time visitor to this busy and fun capital of Korea. Having lived here since 2006 when I first came as…
-
Taehwagang River Bamboo Forest: The Best Kept Secret In Ulsan, Korea
The Taehwagang National Garden (ํํ๊ฐ ๊ตญ๊ฐ์ ์) is the most beautiful bamboo forest in Korea that I have visited and I have visited a few. When I walked into this gorgeous forest of green bamboo shooting into the sky, I remember wondering why I’d never heard of it. The Damyang Bamboo Forest is known far and wide in Korea and yet, there are other bamboo forests. There’s even a bamboo forest I visited on Geoje Island near Busan that is really off the beaten path too. Suffice to say, this bamboo forest in particular is a stunner… a massive stunner. If you haven’t visited Ulsan, Korea, it’s definitely time and when…
-
Do I Need A Fine Dust Mask In Korea?
While I don’t often write articles on any negative aspects of living in Korea, unfortunately, this one needs to be done. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen me with a face mask, or dust mask, on from time to time and since I get a lot of questions from tourists about whether they would need one or not, I want to dig in and answer. Yes, yes you should have a face mask, as the Koreans call them, if you’re going to come to Korea. We aren’t living in a smog filled polluted country all of the time, but when it’s bad, it can be pretty bad.…
-
A List Of The Best Korean Subscription Boxes: From Korean Beauty Boxes to Snack Boxes
As I was on the Internet checking out the gifts to give friends and family back home, I ended up down a rabbit hole of Korean subscription boxes. I had no idea there were so many and they are awesome to say the least. Subscription boxes are a great way to show someone that you care and if you’ve got a Korea lover in your life, then they’ll love anything on this list. While I culled together the best gifts to give Korea lovers in another post, I decided subscription boxes absolutely needed their own post because there are so many and they are super cool! Here are the best…
-
A List Of The Best Gifts To Give Your Korea Loving Friends & Family
More and more people around the world are interested in Korea whether it be due to K-Pop or K-Dramas, or a friend that lives in Korea and can’t stop talking about it maybe, I’m not sure. Whatever the case, there are is a ton of interest in South Korea these days and there are plenty of unique gifts to send our Koreaphile friends and family abroad. Whether you need a gift for the K-drama fan, K-pop fan, or maybe the Korean language learner, I’ve got you covered. Here is the ultimate list of Korean gifts suitable for any holiday. Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift, Christmas gift, or just…
-
Museum San: How To Get There From Seoul & What You’ll See
Museum San a couple hours from Seoul in Wonju, Korea is an intriguing museum designed by famed architect Tadao Ando. There’s an iconic photo that is posted on Instagram every so often with visitors standing beneath a bright red archway. The red is striking against the natural surroundings. It’s not the easiest museum to get to in Korea, but it’s definitely one of the most interesting as far as architecture and design. If you’re an architecture enthusiast or a design lover and you’re headed to Seoul, make sure you get this into your itinerary if you’ve got time for a little day trip. Museum San has about 1 million visitors…
-
Youngwol Y Park: An Epic Art Museum In The Middle Of Nowhere In Korea
If you like hidden art museums and adventures in Korea, you need to find Youngwal Y Park (์ ์๋ฌ์์ดํํฌ). It’s in the middle of nowhere in Gangwon-do, but if you can figure out how to make the trek out to Youngwol Y Park, it is so so worth it. Striking red installations stand out against the greens of the natural mountainous surroundings. It’s just beautiful. This year I’ve really enjoyed finding artistic installations in hidden spots like the Hamchang Art Road or in Gimpo at the Gimpo Sculpture Park, which is a bit more of a rustic artistic find, but there is just so much to see if you can manage…
-
Conrad Hotel: Where To Stay On Yeouido In Seoul
Yeouido Island sitting in the Han River that cuts through Seoul, Korea is the main financial district in the capital and is also home to various governmental departments as well. Being centrally located in the city and providing gorgeous views of the Han River, one would think more travelers would be staying there. While many business travelers know the island well, it doesn’t yet seem to garner attention from the tourists and family travelers… but it should be. Not only are the rooms spacious and the views gorgeous, but the food options are delectable. Opened in 2013, Conrad Seoul (์ฝ๋๋ ์์ธ ํธํ ) is a Hilton Hotel named after the founder…
-
Alpaca World Korea: How To Get There From Seoul & What You’ll See
We took an adventure from Seoul out to Alpaca World (์ํ์นด์๋) at the beginning of spring this year and the chilly weather now in the autumn has me remembering it. Pictures of alpacas swarmed my Insta last autumn and I saved the spot to wait until it got warmer for us to go. Yes, there are indeed alpacas in Korea and they’ve come all the way from Australia. Are the alpacas in Seoul? No, but close enough. Do you want to go to Alpaca World? You’ve come to the right place. If you’ve got kids in Seoul and want to find some more spots to introduce them to animals and…
-
Resom Forest & The Have9 Healing Spa: The Perfect Wellness Getaway in Korea
Resom Forest (๋ฆฌ์ํฌ๋ ์คํธ๋ฆฌ์กฐํธ) is a resort in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea that seeks to provide healing through nature and water. The resort sits in a forest of trees that has been there for a 1000 years and the buildings were built to coexist with their natural surroundings. Through eco-friendly construction and ideals and providing holistic and natural healing programs, the resort has effectively integrated nature, healing, and even adventure for guests that make the trek out to the area. Resom Forest is a spectacular getaway for the adventurer and might just have the best spa in the country. If you’ve had enough city time in Seoul and needs a break to the…
-
Insadong: A Guide To The Traditional Artsy Fun Neighborhood In Downtown Seoul
Insadong is a popular neighborhood in Seoul, Korea that is known for its mix of traditional and contemporary and being near must see spots like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village means it’s easy to find and caters to tourists as well as locals in downtown Seoul. There are traditional tea houses and art galleries, fun photo-zone spots and restaurants galore. Whenever I have a visitor we invariably end up in Insadong at some point and it’s definitely the district to buy all of those Korean souvenirs if that’s what you need to take home. Some popular souvenirs include the traditional masks that you can see worn in Andong, Korea…
