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Dasoni: The Korean Temple Food Restaurant In Jeju You Need To Find
You land on Jeju Island and you’re off for an adventure. What is your first stop? For us, it’s almost always filling up at Dasoni (다소니), well after picking our rental car. Located in Jeju City, this traditional Korean tea house is overflowing with rustic style and delicious food in the form of Korean temple cuisine. If you’re wondering where to eat in Jeju, start making a list and start with this restaurant, it’s definitely one of the best places to eat in Jeju. We usually stop here after we land or before we’re taking off because it’s located in Jeju City near the Jeju Airport. Dasoni is one of…
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The Myeongnyang Battle Festival: A Celebration of Valor and Victory in Haenam
When we’re planning a trip in Korea, we often plan them around a cool festival. With most festivals based around either food or some part of history in Korea, there are a lot of things to learn and eat. The Myeongnyang Battle Festival (명량대첩축제), held in Wando-gun around Uldolmok, is a vibrant and meaningful celebration that honors the spirit of Jeolla-do’s people and the heroic and well-known Korean General Yi Sun-shin. This annual event commemorates the remarkable victory in the Battle of Myeongnyang. If you haven’t heard of it, fear not, that just means you have more to learn and some place new to visit. The Myeongnyang Battle Festival is…
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The Muan Mud Flats and The Other Mud Festival In Korea To Know About
When mud festivals in Korea come up, most likely people are talking about the Boryeong Mud Festival, but there’s another mud festival in the country and a beautiful ecological landscape to go with it in Jeollanam-do. The Muan Ecological Tidal Flat Land (무안황토갯벌랜드), featuring the largest educational facility for natural ecology in Korea, is a gorgeous escape and filled with some great muddy fun if you visit for the Muan Mud Flat Festival. Even if you don’t visit during the festival period, the Muan Eco Mudflat area is beautiful and feel remote despite being two larger cities. Get ready for an adventure in Korea! Get ready for an adventure to…
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A Quick Guide To The Five Palaces Of Seoul
Did you know there are five main palaces in Seoul, Korea? Oh, and bonus, there’s a royal residence, too. When you begin to plan your trip to this vibrant city and realize there are five palaces of Seoul to see, that can be overwhelming for even the best of travel planners. Which of the Seoul palaces should you visit? Which of the palaces in Seoul is the grandest? Is there even a difference? I’ve done full guides of all of the palaces, but with this Seoul palace quick guide, I’m going to break it down so you know which one is right for you. Honestly, if you have the time,…
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Korean Persimmons: The Culture, The Folktales, The Food
When autumn comes to Korea there’s no other fruit that represents the season better than persimmon, or gam (감). If you take a trip into the rural countryside of Korea, you will spot beautifully vibrant persimmon hanging everywhere. If you stay in Seoul, you’ll find persimmon desserts and snacks abound. I hadn’t had persimmon before coming to Korea and when I first got some, I had no idea how to eat it. Is it supposed to be so smushy? Is it supposed to be dried? Candied? I was lucky enough to live near some Korean grandmothers who taught me how to best enjoy Korean persimmons and so I wanted to…
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Unveiling the Charm of Suncheon Bay National Garden: A Guide
As avid nature lovers and the sort that will travel for a beautiful natural landscape, the Suncheon Bay National Garden (순천만국가정원) was on my list of must see destinations in Korea for years. We’ve now managed to visit twice in two very different seasons and I can say without a doubt, it is one of the most beautiful and interesting natural landscapes and gardens in Korea to visit. If you’re looking to get away, look into heading to Korea’s southern coast. There is so much to explore. Plan a trip to the gorgeous Suncheon Bay National Gardens. From spring to autumn, they are a must-see: (This post contains affiliate links, which…
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The Timeless Charm of Seomjingang Train Village in Jeollanam-do
Traveling around the countryside of Korea is such an opportunity to travel back in time. While Seoul can seem so modern and new, there are plenty of places in Korea still that offer the opportunity to be transported to another age. Take the Seomjingang Train Village (섬진강기차마을) in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do; dedicated to Korea’s railway heritage, you can take a ride on an old steam engine train and enjoy a beautiful rural landscape. And if that’s not enough, it’s also home to a substantial flower garden. It’s a great family-friendly adventure to take to the heart of Korea. Visit Gokseong in Jeollanam-do for a ride on the retro rails: (This post…
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The Dreamiest Park In Seoul: Dream Forest
The number of beautiful parks in Seoul, Korea is really stunning and we love exploring them. If you’re looking for a park in northern Seoul, you definitely need to keep Dream Forest (북서울 꿈의숲) on your radar. This park is also one of the most beautiful places to see cherry blossoms in the spring in Seoul. From picturesque views and an observatory to deer and waterfalls, there’s a lot to enjoy. Get ready to spend the day in Dream Forest in Seoul: (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…
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A New Way To See Relics: The National Folk Museum of Korea Paju
Traditionally, the storages of museums and galleries have been secretive spaces and the only time we as the public gets to see relics is when they’re on display. However, the National Folk Museum of Korea Paju (국립민속박물관 파주) flipped this idea around and decided to use its vast collection and welcome sightseers into its now open storage space. If you’ve visited the amazing National Folk Museum of Korea on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, next head to Paju to see even more of their amazing historic collection. Not your standard museum space, the storage facility provides a look at how our national treasures are preserved. Learn more about…
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Tap Shop Bar: A Cool Wine Tap Bar In Seoul
Did you know there’s a wine tap bar in the basement of the Seoul Tourism Organization building in downtown Seoul? The Tap Shop Bar actually has three locations in Seoul, Korea and it is super cool and has a selection of wine that any wine connoisseur would be excited to see. I was researching trends in alcohol in Korea and came across this cool concept and had to check it out. The bar’s standout feature is its ‘tap’ system, offering patrons the chance to immediately pour and taste a diverse range of wines. Of course, you can also just get a whole bottle, some fresh raw oysters and enjoy the…
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Where To Pull Over For Chicken Stew In Gapyeong: Donggigan
We are known to take quite a few road trips on the regular and because of that, I’m constantly marking good looking restaurants on my map and then just hoping that we’ll be passing by on one of those said road trips. The past two times we’ve transited through Gapyeong, we made sure to stop at one of the best places to eat in Gapeyong, Donggigan (동기간). It’s ideally located if you’re heading to Gapyeong to see Nami Island, Koo House, or maybe the hidden Yellow Bridge Museum or some other fun tourist spot in the area. Eat here, and then find all of these other cool things to do…
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Boosting Hydration: A Review of Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI
I’ve been to a number of events hosted by Sulwhasoo, a luxury Korean beauty brand, in which I’ve gotten to try their products and gotten to hear more from their brand reps on how to use them effectively. When I first heard of the brand, it seemed more appropriate for women fifty and older and as I wasn’t quite there yet, I didn’t give them a ton of thought… also because they’re expensive. That said, Sulwhasoo is a brand I’ve come to love while living in Korea. If you haven’t heard of this major Korean beauty brand, get ready for a deep dive into them and one of their most…
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The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History: Great For Kids and Views
We love visiting the national museums of Korea, not only are they free but they offer so much access to information and fun. The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History (대한민국역사박물관), right downtown next to Gwanghwamun Square is one of the most overlooked museums in Seoul but it’s awesome. The museum offers a unique perspective on Korea’s journey from the late 19th century to the present day. This interactive museum is great for both adults and kids. Get ready for history and fun! Learn more about this underrated museum in downtown Seoul: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
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The Photobooth Trend In Korea: Providing Unique Souvenir Memories
Photobooths are THRIVING in Korea. You can’t walk down the streets in popular meet-up districts like Hongdae, Sinchon, Seongsu, or Myeongdong and not find a photobooth to hop into. The trend of unmanned photoshops emerged a couple years back but doesn’t seem to be going anywhere and in fact, seems to be adapting and changing in ways you might not expect. Themed photobooths? Yes, and not the kinds of themes you might expect. Amidst the vibrant university neighborhoods, queues form in front of uniquely adorned photo booths, each offering a creative and fun way to capture memories in the more nostalgic paper form instead of in the captured in the…
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Finding Culture At The National Folk Museum of Korea
Korea is home to a number of fantastic museums. The Korean national museums not only house fantastic collections but are an amazing free thing to do in Korea too. Whether you’re on a budget or want to deep dive into Korean culture and history, you should put the museums on your list of places to go and things to see. Recently, we visited the National Folk Museum of Korea (국립민속박물관), a museum I hadn’t visited in over 15 years and I was reminded just how interesting the rich heritage of the country is. Nestled within the historic grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace, this museum is full of interesting information inside and…
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The Most Unique Convenience Store In Hongdae: The Ramyun Library
For noodle aficionados and culinary adventurers alike, a new must-visit spot has emerged in Hongdae, Seoul. Already a super popular place to go, there are a ton of things to do in Hongdae and now eating Korean ramen in a convenience store is one of them. The CU convenience store chain has unveiled the Ramyeon Library. Shop til you drop in Hongdae and then hit up this Instagrammable spot for a quick bite on the go. The design of this convenience store is an innovative response to the evolving consumer habits and and major interest in ramyeon from not just Koreans but visiting tourists alike. Korean ramyeon has become super…
