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Changgyeonggung: The Hidden Palace In Seoul
There are five palaces in Seoul and not all of them attract equal attention. This is good to know if you want to walk around a gorgeous Korean palace WITHOUT all of the crowds. As far as Korean palaces go, Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main palace in Seoul, and Changdeokgung featuring the Secret Garden always seem to top the lists but if you were to ask me, I’d say visiting Changgyeonggung (창경궁) is even better… for a number of reasons. Different palaces for different feels I guess. I do love Gyeongbokgung from time to time and always take short term tourists there, but if I want to visit a palace and…
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Pocheon: What To See & What To Do Northeast Of Seoul
Pocheon is an area that sits to the northeast of Seoul in the Gyeonggi province. Last summer, I headed northeast to visit the beautiful flowery fields of Nari Park which is just south of the Pocheon area. It was an invitation to explore more in that region this year. Here are some places in Pocheon that are must sees and for those K-drama addicted among us, quite a few recognizable dramas have been filmed in these places, so enjoy! Want a day trip option from Seoul? This is a great area to explore with numerous nature spots and artistic finds too. I’ve got you covered if you’re looking for places…
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The Seoul Derby: Autumn Edition Recap
The Seoul Derby just keeps getting bigger and better each time I host it. Last year, I hosted it just once and that was the plan this year. However, there were just too many people interested and I was happy to host again if Arielle from Soju4Two was down so hosted again we did. The first one was in the beginning of the summer, as they usually are. If you missed that one AND this one, then get ready next spring and be on the look out! This time around we rounded up the teams at the Malli-dong Plaza near Seoullo. It’s one of my favorite spots with an installation that is…
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The Seoul Botanic Park: Find Nature In Seoul
Whether or not you enjoy gardens or botany, the gorgeous architecture of the large greenhouse is definitely a draw at this new hot spot in Seoul. The Seoul Botanic Park (서울식물원) was opened in Magok in the Gangseo-gu district which was an interesting choice for the massive park. This area of Seoul has been getting a lot of development and even has an Ando Tadao building now, the LG Art Center. This is THE spot to visit in spring in Seoul or even summer in Seoul. We love parks and if you do too, this is definitely one you can’t miss here in Seoul, Korea. Here is where you’ll find…
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Danyang, Korea: A Guide To The Best Things To See & Do
When it comes to getting away and taking a weekend to travel, I know it’s not just me, I search out a coastal city and head straight to the nearest one with an available hotel and a seaside view. The center of Korea has been quite overlooked by me… and I imagine many others, but I’m gonna put this little post up here with a little reminder that there is indeed plenty to see and DO in the middle of Korea. To be fair, I had visited Danyang (단양군) many… many years… okay, maybe a decade ago. It was actually one of the FIRST places I ever enjoyed a weekend…
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N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower): Why It’s a Must-See in Seoul
If you’re headed to Seoul, chances are you’ve already seen a photo of N Seoul Tower, maybe without realizing it. It’s a spindly tower lit up on the mountain in the middle of basically every skyline shot of the city. Depending on the fine dust in the air or the holiday approaching, the lights on the tower change. It’s a sight from day through night. Perched atop Namsan Mountain, it’s one of the most recognizable landmarks in Seoul, and it should be on your itinerary even if you’re only in the city for a couple of days. You may also hear it called Namsan Tower, more on that in a…
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Camp Greaves: An Abandoned Military Base With An Artistic Future In The Korean DMZ
The DMZ hasn’t called to me much over most of my years in Korea. I’ve never been drawn to the touristy, photo-zone side of the border area, and the DMZ has an odd way of mixing the genuinely historical with the distinctly amusement-park. But Camp Greaves (캠프 그리브스) is different. It’s one of the rare DMZ sites that feels honest about what it is. It’s an odd thing for me to go someplace that has so much meaning for separated families and people that fought here, then to see an amusement park and photo zones really throws me. Some areas along the line are worth the trip and some just…
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The Langogo AI Translator: A Review Of The Real-Time Translation Device
Once you start traveling, you realize how many MORE places there are to see. You might also realize how many of those places don’t speak your language and while some people may be daunted by the thought of going to a place where communication will be difficult, it revs my engines. If you’ve got time to learn some key phrases before you travel, awesome. If not though, in steps an AI translator. Taking a translating device on travels really changes the way you can travel. Maybe you have an allergy or want to make sure the taxi driver is taking you to the right place. In both of those situations…
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Ganghwa Island Day Trip: Things To Do, Cafes and How To Get There From Seoul
Ganghwado Island (강화도) is the fifth largest island in Korea and one of numerous islands in Incheon’s northwest waters. Once I realized it was just an hour west of Seoul, there was no reason not to go, and I’ve been back multiple times since. Each visit turns up something new: a restaurant that wasn’t there before, a cafe with a view I hadn’t found, a coastal fortification I’d driven past without stopping. There are 4th-century temples, UNESCO-designated prehistoric dolmens, a restored 1933 textile factory that’s become one of the most distinctive cafe complexes in the greater Seoul area, and a seaside cafe with footbaths and water views that had a…
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Things To Do In Myeongdong Seoul: Shopping, Food, Cafes, and Hidden Gems
Myeongdong moves fast. The main pedestrian street is rarely quiet, the vendors are determined, and by evening the whole area smells like hotteok and grilled corn. It’s a lot, in the best way, and it’s the neighborhood most visitors to Seoul end up in at least once, whether they planned it or not. The district is small enough to navigate without getting lost and lively enough to fill an entire day without running out of things to do. Shopping is the obvious draw, and Myeongdong delivers on that completely with international brands alongside Korean labels, K-beauty stores stacked three floors high, and duty-free options that save real money if you…
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Eunpyeong Hanok Village: Seoul’s Beautiful Hidden Hanok Village
Everyone knows about the beautiful Hanok homes that make up Bukchon Hanok Village in central Seoul, but have you heard of the Eunpyeong Hanok Village (은평한옥마을)? While Bukchon is beautiful, it’s also crowded, loud, and increasingly restricted. I first came upon this area many years back after the hiking club I was with came down off of the Bukhansan Mountain range. At the time only a few Hanoks were standing but it was clear, this was going to be a pretty cool village of traditional Korean homes. Today, Eunpyeong is home to a beautiful and underrated traditional Hanok village. The best part is it still feels calm, local, and enjoyable…
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The Most Colorful Of Places To Find In Seoul RIGHT NOW!
There’s something about summer in Korea that screams go bold, go vibrant, go colorful… or just go home. Granted, with the heat that is overwhelming the country at the moment, the choice to go home might be really really appealing right now. But, there are far too many things to see and beautiful places to go. So, let’s get out there! It’s been a hot minute since I was out taking Friday adventures since most of my pals work on Fridays, but this week the timing just worked and I found a fun gal pal to catch up on our colorful fun together. (This post contains affiliate links, which means…
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Summer in Korea: Sambok, Heat Survival Foods, and Where to Cool Off
When summer arrives in Korea, it can be surprising just how fierce and fast that heat wave strikes, temperatures during peak summer can reach 33-38°C (91-100°F). The added bonus of a monsoon season makes it all the better with humidity up the wazoo. Yes, I said bonus. Is it really? My hair would disagree but I’m from a valley in Ohio so humid summers are nothing new to me, still Korean summers have their own particular intensity. It’s easy to forget how humid Korea can get in the summer and right when you think you’ve adjusted to it, bam, it’s Sambok, also called Boknal, or the hottest period of all.…
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Novotel Ambassador Seoul Yongsan: Good Location To Do It All
One area I always bring up when I’m asked about the best area to stay in Seoul is Yongsan. It’s central, convenient, and connected to almost everywhere you want to explore. And just outside of Yongsan train station for easy access is the Novotel Ambassador, one of four hotels in the Seoul Dragon City (서울드래곤시티) lifestyle hotel-plex. From here there is quick and easy access to Seoul Station, the Han River, museums, markets, and popular neighborhoods north and south of the river, this is the kind of hotel that makes sightseeing easy. If you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel in Seoul that offers comfort, views, and convenience, look here. We…
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The Wonderful Service Helping Foreigners In Korea
It’s inevitable that there will come a time when you just cannot figure something out here in Korea and in those moments, a personal assistant that can point you in the right direction and then even do everything to get you set up would be the dream, right? Well, it doesn’t have to just be a dream. If you’ve been in Korea for some time, you’ve likely heard of Go Wonderfully. Need a personal assistant in Korea? Need someone to help you do everything from ordering chicken for delivery or planning a weekend away? The company started by Maria Lee, an American expat, was originally named Ask Ajumma. She saw a…
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Seooreung Royal Tombs & Pretty Cafes Just West of Seoul
There is quite a bit to see and do when you head up to the northwest of Seoul to Goyang. Heading out to see flowers at First Garden or drink coffee at a greenhouse cafe, I saw this park and knew I needed to make time to actually take a wander there at some point. I love wandering through parks and breathing in the fresh air. One of those parks is the Seooreung Royal Tombs (고양 서오릉). If you’re looking for things to do in Goyang, or something to do near Eunpyeong-gu in the west of Seoul, check out this quiet area. It’s a beautiful place to take a walk…
