-
Herb Village: Lavender Fields & Waterfalls Near Seoul
Searching for flower fields in Korea has become somewhat of a hobby of mine. There are flowers everywhere but seeing an entire mountainside covered in azaleas, a field of tulips or the gorgeous fields of Nari Park in the autumn is just breathtaking. This year, I was on the hunt for lavender fields in Korea. There are some beautiful lavender fields in Korea, some closer to Seoul and some make for a great weekend away. For this trip, we opted for the lavender fields at Herb Village north of Seoul in Yeoncheon-gun and decided we would head up there to see what we could see. Herb Village was all that and…
-
The Seoul Derby: The Scavenger Hunt You’ll Want To Join
I have now hosted this event four times and I can honestly say it just keeps getting better and better. This year teams were in it to win it weeks in advance. The way the derby works for anyone that hasn’t partaken, teams of four sign up. I limit it to twenty teams because it’s pretty dang hard to find an ending location where 80+ people can get together in all honesty. Having twenty teams really makes it spectacular though. The teams sign up without knowing where the starting location will be. I do this because I can’t have anyone finding the event online and rocking up at the last…
-
The New Zealand Wine Festival 2018: Seoul Edition
This past weekend, the Kiwi Chamber of commerce hosted the 10th annual New Zealand Wine Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul. They’ll be hosting the second edition in Busan this weekend and trust me, it’s delectable. A few weeks back, I shared some choice information from The Kiwi Chamber Chairman, Tony Garrett and the Project Manager Sunny Myung and they were spot on. The event was fabulous. There are over 20 wineries and some really enjoyable wine to try. Arielle of Soju4Two and I were on hand to rub shoulders with some fellow winos and to purely discover some New Zealand wine. <– The theme this year was…
-
Seoul Cosmetic Surgery: The Medical Concierge Service That’s Right For You
South Korea has the highest per capita rate of cosmetic surgery in the world, so it stands to reason that a fair number of people coming to Korea are coming for the sole reason of getting something done. Cosmetic Surgery Tourism, or medical tourism in Korea, attracts people from around the world each year and if it were me, I’d want to know who I could really trust to get the job that I want done, done. That’s where Mona Hanson and Dean Seol, the creators of Seoul Cosmetic Surgery, come in. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
-
Instagrammers In Seoul: This One’s For You!
It’s a wonder it took this long for someone to decide to make a business based solely on the -gram. But that is exactly what Instasia (인스타지아) seems to have done and good on them. Whether you like taking photos as a hobby or taking photos just for that Insta shot, this is the place for you. Instasia is one photo zone after photo zone after photo zone just outside of Seoul in Songdo, Incheon. It’s basically like you stepped into a studio with different sets but instead of getting the expensive photographer that comes with the studio, you have a friend take your photos, bring a tripod… or maybe bring…
-
The Kiwi Chamber Is Back With Their Annual New Zealand Wine Festival In Seoul & Busan!
The Kiwi Chamber is celebrating their 10th annual wine festival here in Seoul on May 26th and I’ve cleared my calendar for it, have you? If you don’t live in Seoul or May 26 doesn’t work for you, fear not, as the event is happening TWICE! The second event will be held in Busan on June 2nd. I have learned much about wine after attending various events hosted by and hosting with Ian from Vineworks so I think I’m ready to sip, gurgle and sniff my way around some Kiwi wines. The event in Seoul will be held in the scenic outdoor waterfall garden of the Grand Hyatt Hotel and will…
-
The Goyang Flower Festival At Ilsan Lake Park 2026
Each spring and autumn, the Ilsan Lake Park in Goyang, Korea, a city just outside of Seoul is decorated with flowers for a gorgeous flower festival that is the perfect way to welcome the new colorful season. We went a few years ago and have kept going back each year to just watch as it has gotten bigger and better each year. Here’s a little guide to Ilsan Lake Park and how to enjoy a day out in the area. This spring 2026, the International Horticulture Goyang Korea Festival will be held from April 24, 2026 to May 10, 2026. Get ready to explore the Ilsan Lake Park this spring…
-
Where To Go Glamping Near Seoul: Club Lespia
This past weekend, I got a group of 25 people (9 of which were toddlers) together for a glamping adventure just outside of Seoul in celebration of my birthday. Today, I turn… well, I was born in 1984, so I’ll let you figure it out. I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting into nature or just being outside. I’m not so sure my husband feels the same way all of the time though and that’s why I thought glamping would be a good compromise for some fun this year. Last year we enjoyed a great picnic with friends so I upped the ante and this year, glamping it was. BONUS!: It was…
-
The Anyang Art Park: Fun, Forests and It’s Free!
The Anyang Art Park (안양예술공원) just outside of Seoul, Korea is one of those places that makes its rounds in the blogosphere almost every year. It’s always fun and always provides cool photos for whoever wants to head south from Seoul just in to Gyeonggi-do. Because of that, I was sort of laughing at myself for taking so long to enjoy the place that is so enjoyable. Make sure to check out the awesome art installations and there ARE a couple maps I’ve been able to find in this post as well. Good luck adventuring to Anyang! Skip around and get all of the info you need to plan your…
-
Gamaksan Suspension Bridge: The Gloucester Heroes Bridge Near the DMZ
A few weekends ago, I joined a tour to the Gamaksan Suspension Bridge and the DMZ. I’ll be honest: I’d never been particularly drawn to the Paju-area DMZ before. With so many visitors going through, I wasn’t sure how much was genuine history and how much was tourist trap. The suspension bridge ended up being the highlight of the day, even though it was the last stop. Here’s what the tour actually covers and what to know before you book it. Learn about a common tour you can take to the DMZ area which includes the Gamaksan Suspension Bridge and Imjingak. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive…
-
The Ara SkyWalk, Waterfall & Flower Cafe Not Far From Seoul
The Gyeong-in Ara Waterway runs from Gimpo to Incheon and has bike paths, walking paths and more for the active among us. For the less so, or the toddler toting, there is an awesome suspended circular glass bottom bridge just next to Korea’s largest man-made waterfall. Want to take a little trip and see something different? Check out the Ara Maru (아라마루전망대). There are some surprising things to do in Incheon and this is just one so make time to spend more time out in the city to the west of Seoul. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
-
9 Places To Get A Great View of Seoul From Above
Looking for the best views in Seoul, Korea? We’ve got the list for you. Seoul Sky Observatory is so worth the ticket price in my opinion, BUT if you want a few other options that will make that trip to Seoul very budget friendly, here is a good list of places to check out. They may not be as tall, because the Seoul Sky Observatory is way… way up there, but these buildings in Seoul will give you some great cityscape and tall perspectives of the streets of Seoul. Get ready to get an observatory view of Seoul, Korea. If you’re looking to check out the Seoul Sky Observatory, get…
-
What To Do In Seochon Near Gyeongbokgung Palace
There are some fantastic things to see in downtown Seoul near Gyeongbokgung Palace and most tourists to Seoul miss some great ones entirely. Generally tourists visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, head east from the biggest palace in Seoul and visit Bukchon Hanok Village. This is totally understandable, but Seochon (서촌), the neighborhood to the west of main palace in Seoul is cool too and a bit more popular with the locals. Let’s check out some of the best things to see west of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seochon, or Tongin-dong. What to do and eat in the Seochon Village: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a…
-
What To Do If You’re Staying In Seoul For Seollal 2027
This year, 2027, Seollal, or the Lunar New Year, falls on February 7, 2027. Seollal is a big family holiday here in Korea so it’s important to know what to expect, what is open and what is closed. Most Koreans head back to their hometowns to see family and if they celebrate in the traditional fashion will wake very early in the morning and hold a ceremony to pay respects to their ancestors in which they will dress in traditional Korean clothing, or Hanbok, and bow to an altar table set with all kinds of food including meat, fish, vegetables and fruit. My Korean family will partake in this very…
-
Best Brunch In Hongdae: Local Picks For Pancakes, Bagels and Build-Your-Own Sets
Brunch places galore. It seems like that’s what the Hongdae vicinity has become, and it’s pretty stunning to me because I’ve been living in the area for the past nine years and for most of that time, good brunch spots were nearly impossible to find. A few would pop up and then disappear. Now they are in full force, and deliciously so. If you’re in the area and want good food in the morning, I highly recommend coming over early, when the night crowd has skedaddled and the coffee drinkers have taken over. The streets feel different before noon in Hongdae and it’s one of my favorite ways to experience…
-
Every Single Day: Korean Dramas & Olympic Dreams
Sometimes I forget that I have a front row seat to everything Every Single Day. I assume everyone else knows what they’re up to so seldom write about the band or what my husband is doing with the band. If you follow me on Instagram, then you’ll know that I shared in an Insta-story a bit back that my husband was in the hospital with pneumonia which he basically got because he had bronchitis but was so busy recording and preparing for concerts that he neglected himself. To say he’s been busy is an understatement. That’s not a bad thing when done right though. My husband is a guitarist in…
