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Solgaheon: A Foot Bath & Tea in Bukchon
(This cafe has closed unfortunately. For another option in the area, head to Tea Therapy where you can also sip tea and have a foot bath.) Bukchon has a handful of experience programs set in traditional Hanok houses that I have been able to try over the years and I have enjoyed every single one of them. There’s just something about the unique traditional setting, the opportunity to learn a bit more about the Korean culture in a different way and the history of the area. A few weeks ago, I headed over to Solgaheon (솔가헌) which specializes in rejuvenation for the immune system through medicinal herbal teas. Walk down…
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Yongma Land: The Abandoned Amusement Park in Seoul
Yongma Land (용마랜드) is a small failed amusement park in northeastern Seoul that has become popular with photographers and photo-op seeking teenagers in recent years. The abandoned amusement area offers some of the standard rides like the iconic carousel and the “Viking” as well as a mini train that is now covered in vines. Whether you’re looking for abandoned places in Seoul or want to film your own Kpop video to mimic your favorite artists, this is the place to go in Seoul. It’s not the most common addition to a Seoul itinerary, but it’s a cool spot if you want something unique in the capital of Korea. Plan a…
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Seoullo 7017: Where To Walk In Seoul, Korea
If you’re headed down to central Seoul, Korea and happen to be transiting through Seoul Station, then you cannot miss a walk along Seoullo 7017. This elevated pedestrian walkway completely changed the major roadway outside of the ever busy Seoul Station in 2017 and hosts events by day and light shows by night. There’s more to see around Seoul Station than most people realize and this is one thing that has gained a lot of attention not only for what it provides to see like the Seoullo 7017 Skygarden, but also what it provides a safe place to walk for pedestrians in the downtown Seoul area. If you’re headed downtown…
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18 Best Beaches in Korea: Hidden Gems and Local Favorites
When summer comes, it’s amazing how fast those beaches in Korea start beckoning. With the temperatures rise, the sun’s rays are strong and all I can think about are lapping waters, sandy beaches and swimming, swimming, swimming. The salty seas refresh and luckily in Korea there are miles and miles of coastline to choose from across three very different coasts. The west coast offers long mud flats and dramatic tidal beaches. The east coast has the clearest water and whitest sand in the country, backed by mountains. The south brings sprawling city beaches and island energy. And Jeju, in its own category entirely, has white sand, black sand, and rocky…
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FishisFast: The Mail Forwarding Service You Cannot Live Without!
Over the years in Korea there have been times when there’s something I just CANNOT find and want to get from the States. There was that time I put out a call to get some Cow Tales shipped to me and then that time I was looking for maternity clothes that I just couldn’t find here in Korea. In those times, Fishisfast would have come in handy. Things like fitted bed sheets, peanut butter M&Ms and a few other specialty items can arrive at your door in just days… once you sign up and order them and all that jazz. While sites may offer global shipping, those costs can add…
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Cafe Valor: K-Drama Filming Location, Coffee & More!
[NOW CLOSED] Cafe Valor (카페발로) first drew my attention when I was planning my trip out to Incheon to stay at the immaculately designed Nest Hotel some months back but I didn’t get a chance to visit the cafe/studio until recently. Not having spent terribly much time in Incheon, I wanted to know what there was to see and one tool at my disposal was, of course, Instagram. I ended up with a great itinerary for the westernmost coast of Incheon that included Incheon’s Chinatown, the Fairytale Village and more but just couldn’t find the time to get to Cafe Valor which really took my fancy. Was it a cafe? Was…
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The Soul of Seoul | Operation High Jinks Recap
This past weekend I hosted an AMAZINGLY fun event called “Operation High Jinks”. A bit Amazing Race missions, a bit Running Man hysterics and a bit scavenger hunt clues, it was a race planned to introduce attendees to Korea of today in a fun way. Not only did teams get to meet local Koreans and cook Kimchi jeon (Kimchi pancakes), they got to meet a local photographer and get a photo, meet some local expat entrepreneurs and more. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking. Thank you for your support.) Finding things unique to Korea like dressed…
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Seoul Sky Observatory: Complete Guide, Tickets & Is It Worth It?
The Seoul Sky Observatory (서울스카이), the third highest observatory in the world but featuring the highest glass deck in the world, sits in Lotte World Tower. It is easily a must see spot in Seoul and should make it into the top 10 things to see in Seoul every time. If you’re looking for the most amazing view of the Seoul skyline, then this is the tower you should be seeking out on your next trip to Seoul as you can get panoramic views and you’ll literally be standing higher than the helicopters that check the traffic are flying down below. On clear days, you can see as far as…
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Cold Korean Soups: 9 Dishes To Beat the Summer Heat
When summer hits Korea, it can be pretty hot, humid, and sweaty, well, for foreigners anyway. My Korean husband seems to only sweat when he’s eating hot soup. Traditional Korean belief promotes the idea of iyeol chiyeol (이열치열), or fighting heat with heat, aka eating HOT soups on the HOTTEST days to feel cooler afterward. Not all Korean summer food follows this logic, though. Some of my favorite summer meals in Korea are when we sit down to a delightfully cool bowl of cold soup that may or may not also have ice cubes floating in it. Before coming to Korea, the only cold soup I knew was gazpacho. Gazpacho…
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The Discover Seoul Pass: Travel On A Budget In Seoul
Whether you’re planning your trip to Seoul or already here, make sure you’ve looked into the Discover Seoul Pass if you want to travel Seoul on a budget. When used correctly, there are some great advantages but you need to understand how the Discover Seoul Pass works and how it will work for you and you need to have a plan or at least a good itinerary for your day or days of FREE site visits. Do not just buy the pass and then set out for the day. There are some things to consider. The Discover Seoul pass is more than just a pass to landmarks for free, you…
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Trickeye Museum in Hongdae: What It’s Like Now (AR, Hours, Prices)
Trickeye Museum in Hongdae is open, and yes, the augmented reality is still the best part. I’ve now been through this place twice, years apart, once back in 2015 with my daughter when she was just 1, and again after they added the AR layer on top of the same 3D paintings. Same walls, very different visit. If you’ve heard it closed at some point, that’s not wrong, it did go through a closure. It’s back now and running normally and that might come as a surprise because there are still a lot of sites that have it listed as closed. Don’t be confused or thing you’re being gaslit, it’s…
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The Soul of Seoul | Operation High Jinks
When it comes to summer, all I can think about is getting out and about and having fun. For me, fun includes walking in parks, swimming in the ocean and playing games. I LOVE a good game. I’ve got a competitive spirit but I also don’t think games are just for the kids. Last year, I noticed that there just weren’t events of the get out and about and learn while playing sort. There used to be many years ago, but seems the groups that used to plan adventurous games stopped. So I took up the helm and planned not one, but two scavenger hunts with the help of some…
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Incheon Chinatown Guide: What To See, Where To Eat and How To Get There
People flock to Incheon’s China Town (인천 차이나타운) looking for authentic Chinese food and the quintessential red lanterns hanging from windows. Once leased territory to Qing China in 1884, the area is now known as the birthplace of jjajangmyeon, the Korean-Chinese black bean noodle dish that Koreans eat approximately 7 million times a day. While that’s something worth knowing upfront, it’s Korean-Chinese cuisine rather than authentic Chinese food, and the distinction is real, it’s still a super fun area to visit. Colorful gates welcome visitors to this small but bustling neighborhood. The streets and alleys are packed door to door with restaurants, street food stalls, and treats. Walking the area…
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Ihwa Mural Village Seoul: What To See, Where To Go and How To Visit Respectfully
Mt. Naksan in Seoul is home to one of the most popular mountainside mural villages in Korea. Ihwa Mural Village (이화동벽화마을) is known as a moon village or “daldongne” due to being set on the hillside which means you should be prepared for a bit of a hike up to see this famous village and the views of surrounding Seoul from the village. If you’re looking for a mural village in Seoul, this is the first one that will come up when you begin your search and there’s good reason for that. Learn more about this popular tourist destination in Seoul, Korea. Get ready to see Ihwa Mural Village: (This…
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Vineworks: Interactive Wine Tasting in Seoul
Looking for a wine bar in Hongdae? A great place to have a wine tasting in Seoul to learn about wines? When it comes to wine, Ian Ashworth is not only knowledgeable but he is super enthusiastic in making wine as approachable as possible and that’s why he founded Vineworks. If you’re on the lookout for a Seoul wine bar, Vineworks is a fabulous place to try different wines, learn about wine, and eat delicious food whether you’re going to an event or attending just for dinner with some friends. Learn about Vineworks, a Seoul wine bar that does tastings and more: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I…
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Korea Kids Cafes: Tayo The Friendly Bus
When it comes to finding fun things in Seoul to do with kids, I’ve found there are plenty and kids cafes are among them. After Pororo and the toys and kids cafe visits that came with it, just as quickly the little one LOVED Tayo the Little Bus and all of his friends. Pretty soon we had learned about loads of vehicles and they had names too! Walking down the street, green buses became Rogi and blue buses became Tayo. Not only did our daughter think they became Tayo, but the Korean government has literally placed stickers on local buses to give them Tayo’s eyes and mouth so they literally…
