Explore Korea (한국 탐험하기)
Top places to see in Korea. Where to go in Korea and what to do. Want to travel in Korea? See more outside of Seoul. (한국에서 볼 수 있는 최고의 장소. 한국에서 어디로 갈 것인지, 무엇을 할 것인지. 한국에서 여행하고 싶으세요? 서울 외곽에서 더 많이 보십시오.)
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DIY Keychains & Bags: Why You Should Find Wappen House In Korea
Walk down the street in Myeongdong or Bukchon or in cities like Busan, and you might come across a vibrantly colored shop that is yelling out for you to enter. It’s Wappen House (와펜하우스). Filled with patches of all shapes and sizes and themes from Korean culture to Korean food and topped up with cute animals, letters, and numbers, too, if you just love patches, you NEED to stop in. It’s not only fun, but it’s also family-friendly and it would make for a great unique Korean souvenir. Take the kids or make something for yourself. You can buy the patches on their own and take them home or the…
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The Christmas Market and Museum on Jeju Island That Will Make You Feel Festive
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… in Seogwipo! If you’re a fan of festive markets, cozy winter vibes, and unique holiday gifts, then the Weihnachten Christmas Market (바이나흐튼 크리스마스박물관) in Jeju, is calling your name. As new residents of the island, I was on the lookout for how everyone celebrates the holidays down here. I’m well versed in how to celebrate Christmas in Seoul, but Jeju? Located around the Weihnachten Christmas Museum, this market has all of the charm and seasonal magic we could hope for. In Jeju this winter? Get ready to celebrate the holidays at the Christmas Market and Christmas Museum: (This post contains affiliate links,…
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Moomin Magic on Jeju: A Playful Adventure for All Ages
When planning a trip to Jeju Island in South Korea, you’ll find endless opportunities to explore its natural beauty, from stunning shores to scenic oreums and everything in between. But beyond its breathtaking landscapes (which I highly suggest you see), Jeju also offers whimsical and playful attractions that might just surprise you. Among these must-visit spots is the delightfully kitschy Snoopy Land, where we couldn’t help but fall in love with its nostalgic vibe. Inspired by that visit, we stumbled upon Moomin Land (무민랜드) and thought, “Why not dive into the cartoony world of Moomin and his adventures?” It was more than I expected. Though not as large as Snoopy…
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Korea in February: The Weather, Tips From A Local, Flowers and Things To Do
February in Korea is still firmly in winter’s grip. It’s actually the coldest month of the year so be prepared. If you are, you’ll be fine… as long as you like winter. February can be quite the winter wonderland and you can experience its beauty as long as you have some thermal underwear! Bundle up, keep some heat packs handy, and get ready to enjoy the cozy beauty of Korea in February. Will you be traveling to Korea in February? Here’s everything you need to know from the weather to the festivals. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
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Korea In January: The Weather, Tips From A Local, Flowers and Things To Do
Korea can become quite the winter wonderland in January, but it can also be pretty frigid and cold. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come in the midst of winter in Korea, though. Not at all. January can be delightful in a number of ways. You just need to know how to keep warm to enjoy it all. I’ve lived in Korea for almost two decades and to me it seems like there’s some sort of cycle that happens for winters. You’ll have the absolutely most frigid winter some years, followed by two winters that really aren’t that bad. If you happen to visit on a frigid one, just be on…
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12 Cafes In Jeju Island You Don’t Want To Miss
While the beaches in Jeju, with their white and black sands and crystal-clear waters, may have lured you here, it’s the cafes in Jeju that will make you linger. Imagine sipping your coffee with the sound of waves crashing in the background, gazing out at lush citrus orchards, serene green tea fields, or even a far-off oreum. It’s like every cup of coffee comes with its own postcard-worthy view. There are some beautiful cafes in Jeju Island. Whether you like the modern appeal or rustic Hanoks, there are some great options for places to find coffee and tea: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage…
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The Most Touristy Thing In Wando Is A Tower
Wando, Korea might not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of traveling in Korea. Tucked away in the southern part of the country, this island is most visited by travelers that are taking the ferry from the southern part of mainland Korea to Jeju Island. That’s exactly why we were visiting, but wow is the food good and the ocean glistening here. We’ll be through a few times, so for our first trip through, we stopped at what seems to be the most touristy thing there—the Wando Tower (완도타워). I thought we’d just pop in to this observatory and pop out, but boy was I…
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Travel Back In Time At The Jeju Folk Village
There are some amazing traditional folk villages in Korea, and the Jeju Folk Village (제주민속촌) definitely makes the list. There are more than 100 houses that were actual residences and they’ve tried to portray what time was like in the 1890s on Jeju Island. An interesting thing about this folk village is that it brings together mountain villages and fishing villages among other different living spaces into one place. So it feels like a few villages instead of just one. You could easily spend a few hours here not just looking, but also getting in on the traditional experiential action. If you’re looking for things to do with kids in…
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Jeju Citrus Museum: Where To Begin Your Jeju Hallabang Journey
If you’re searching for things to do with kids in Jeju, the Jeju Citrus Museum (감귤박물관) is a great place to start to add an educational perspective on any citrus adventure to come. It offers a fascinating dive into the history and culture of Jeju’s citrus, with plenty to learn about the different varieties grown on the island. Plus, if you’re curious about picking oranges in Jeju, this is the perfect spot to get an introduction before heading out to the orchards! Any good citrus adventure on Jeju Island should start with some history and culture and you can get both at the Jeju Citrus Museum: (This post contains affiliate…
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7 Ways We Ate Abalone In Wando, Korea
I am an abalone fiend. Can’t get enough. So, when we were headed through Wando recently, the island responsible for about 80% of the country’s abalone production, I was determined to try as many abalone dishes as I could. Here, the locals have mastered the art of preparing this delicacy in various mouthwatering ways. From thinly sliced raw abalone served fresh to the warm, hearty comfort of abalone porridge, there’s something for every palate. But one of the most surprising creations you’ll find here is “abalone bread.” Get ready to learn about all of the abalone delicacies you can try in Wando, Korea. If you’ve ever wondered how to eat…
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Wellness Korean Style at Jwagusan Recreational Forest in Jeungpyeong
I was recently on a wellness adventure to Jeungpyeong in Chungcheongbuk-do and one of the stops was the beautiful Jwagusan Recreational Forest (좌구산 자연휴양림). In recent years, the Korean parks and forests have done a lot to emphasize their wellness opportunities and have created numerous wellness experiences to really entice visitors to come and do more when surrounded by the beautiful forests that blanket the country. To start your adventure into the recreational forest, be sure to stop at the Forest Meditation House to join a program. We took part in a traditional herbal color flower tea therapy, forest trekking, and a foot bath with tea. See what you can…
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Incheon’s Open Port Area and Living Museum: What To See
Incheon, Korea has some really cool things to see and there are a number of them all in one place. You can easily see Incheon Chinatown, Fairytale Village, and Wolmi Island all in one day if you want to. Nestled between them though, is the quieter but very intriguing Open Port Area that is accessible right from the subway station but somehow very overlooked by most visitors. It’s easy to walk along this collection of historic buildings and think you just want to get to the Chinatown restaurants for some jjajangmyeon or over to the rainbow steps in Fairytale Village, but trust me, you should stop and take a gander…
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Yulgok Botanical Garden and The Hillside Of Chrysanthemums To Find This Fall
If it has “botanical garden” in the name, you can trust that it’s saved on my map to see. If you’re adventuring in the Paju area and heading northwest of Seoul, you’ll want to have it on your list to visit especially in autumn in Korea. Yulgok Botanical Garden (율곡수목원) has one of the most beautiful Siberian chrysanthemum covered hillsides in all of Korea. Of course there are plenty of other reasons to go, but this was the highlight for us, not to mention the cosmos and reeds waving int the winds. Am I making you ready for a fall escape yet? Yulgok Botanical Garden definitely demands a spot on…
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The Gimnyeong Craft Metal Mural Village: The Olle-gil Route Where Art & Nature Collide
If you’ve visited Jeju Island in South Korea, you’ve likely come across information regarding the Jeju Olle-gil or Jeju Walking Trail, a path that circles the entire island as well as a number of islands that you can get to easily from Jeju. This walking trail offers a beautiful way to see the coastline of the island, enjoy the beaches, and for many, it becomes a goal to complete the entire thing. If you do, you’ll come to realize that not all parts of the trail are the same. In fact, they each have their own tale to weave really. One such path that has quite an interesting story to…
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Cruises In Korea: From Port Of Incheon And Beyond!
I’m recently back from a cruise down the Elbe River in Europe and enjoyed the hop-on-hop-off aspect of the travel. Seeing so many cities but having one bed. It was fantastic actually and made me wonder why I hadn’t heard more about cruise ships in Korea more. The peninsula is surrounded by water after all. I’ve seen cruise ships in the ocean waters outside of Busan and Jeju Island and wondered, how popular are South Korea cruises? I think they should be more popular. The world of passenger ship cruises has experienced a surge in popularity, with travelers seeking unique and diverse destinations but it seems like a lot of…
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Lavender Fields In Korea: Where To Find Them
There’s something about the aroma of lavender that just can’t be beat. I can’t help but reach for a lavender shrub when I see one to rub a few leaves between my fingers so that I can enjoy that enchanting scent. If you’re visiting Korea this summer, be sure to take a daytrip to find one of the beautiful lavender fields. There are so many beautiful places to visit and if they have flowers, all the better. This summer in Korea, you should definitely take a trip to see some of the beautiful lavender fields. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale…