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.)

  • Wando Tower (완도타워), Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea
    Jeollanam-do (전라남도)

    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…

  • Jeju Folk Village (제주민속촌), Jeju Island, Korea
    Jeju (제주도)

    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…

  • Jeju Citrus Museum (감귤박물관), Jeju Island, Korea
    Jeju (제주도)

    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…

  • abalone
    Food In Korea (푸드 인 코리아),  Jeollanam-do (전라남도)

    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…

  • Jwagusan Recreational Forest (좌구산 자연휴양림), Jeungpyeong, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea
    Chungcheongbuk-do (충청북도)

    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…

  • Incheon's Open Port Area, Incheon, Korea
    Incheon (인천)

    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…

  • Yulgok Botanical Garden (율곡수목원), Paju, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
    Gyeonggi-do (경기도)

    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…

  • Gimnyeong Craft Metal Mural Village (김녕금속공예벽화마을), Jeju Island, Korea
    Jeju (제주도)

    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…

  • Sugi Beach, Sido Island, Incheon, Korea
    Explore Korea (한국 탐험하기)

    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…

  • Herb Village, Yeoncheon-gun, Korea: Lavender Field, Hallie Bradley
    Explore Korea (한국 탐험하기)

    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…

  • Tongdosa Temple (통도사), Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea
    Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도)

    The Biggest Temple In Korea: Tongdosa Temple

    When you’re traveling around Korea, or even just sticking to Seoul, you will no doubt run into at least one Buddhist temple. Stay in Seoul and you can see the popular Jogyesa Temple or Bongeunsa Temple among others. Head out to go for a hike and you’ll find even more hidden away in the mountains of Korea. If you’re really intrigued by the spiritual and historical ambiance to be found at Buddhist temples in Korea, then you should definitely visit Tongdosa Temple (통도사). Renowned as one of the Three Jewel Temples of Korea (Haeinsa Temple and Songgwangsa Temple being the other two), it is also the largest temple in Korea.…

  • Hwaseong Botanical Garden Greenhouse (화성시 우리꽃 식물원), Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
    Gyeonggi-do (경기도)

    The Glass Hanok To Find In Hwaseong at the Hwaseong Botanical Garden

    When I first saw a photos of Hwaseong Botanical Garden Greenhouse (화성시 우리꽃 식물원) I was awestruck. Like any beautiful greenhouse, it’s all glass and gorgeous, but here, there’s an added and very unique-to-Korea addition, it’s in the shape of a traditional Korean Hanok. If you’ve walked down the Hanok lined streets of Bukchon or visited the Eunpyeong Hanok Village, you’ll know how beautiful a Hanok can be. Now, a gorgeously huge glass Hanok, that is a sight to behold. We love taking road trips in Korea and finding botanical gardens and outdoor spaces along the way to stop and stretch and Hwaseong Botanical Garden Greenhouse made for the perfect…

  • Donghwasa Temple (Daegu) (동화사(대구)), Daegu, Korea: Korean temple
    Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도)

    Donghwasa Temple: A Beautiful Buddhist Temple in Daegu

    When spring breezes sweep across South Korea, one of my favorite pastimes is visiting Buddhist temples. Decorated with colorful lotus lanterns for Buddha’s Birthday, the temples that are always a welcome respite are even more welcoming and beautiful at this time of the year. Donghwasa Temple in Daegu, one of the top scenic sites of the city, is especially beautiful in the spring. With sprawling grounds, lots of history, and stories to tell, if you’re headed to Daegu soon, be sure to visit Donghwasa. (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…

  • Czong Institute of Contemporary Art, CICA, Gimpo, Korea
    Gyeonggi-do (경기도)

    Art Classes and Contemporary Art at CICA in Gimpo

    We are always on the lookout for immersive experiences and opportunities to learn and being lovers of all things art museums in Seoul, I was searching out other awesome art spaces and came upon the Czong Institute of Contemporary Art, or CICA, in nearby Gimpo, Korea. If you like heading off to the unknown, taking adventure, and getting the kids involved, definitely look into this fun artistic opportunity. Smaller local art spaces like CICA as well as SODA Museum in Hwaseong are super fun to visit in Korea and get involved with. Don’t miss these artistic opportunities in Korea. Get ready to visit CICA Museum in Gimpo: (This post contains…

  • Donggigan (동기간), Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
    Gyeonggi-do (경기도)

    10 Things To Do In Gapyeong, Korea

    Gapyeong, an area just east of Seoul, Korea in Gyeonggi-do, is a popular daytrip spot for many Seoulites looking to get out of the city and into nature for at least a day. On top of being home to numerous hills, forests, and rivers, there are also some interesting museums, quirky cafes, and musical hot spots that visitors can enjoy. If you’re looking for a quick getaway, a last minute wander, or just a cool area to explore in Korea, get Gapyeong on your radar and mark these things to do in Gapyeong on your map before you go. The best things to do in Gapyeong, Korea are whatever things…

  • double cherry blossom (겹벚꽃)
    Explore Korea (한국 탐험하기)

    Where To Find The Fluffiest Pink King Cherry Blossoms In Korea

    As the spring air fills South Korea with its temperate embrace, a particular spectacle of nature, you know the one I speak of, draws both locals and travelers from out of their homes and into the streets. The light pink cherry blossoms burst into bloom and crowds rush to see them. While these iconic light pink cherry blossoms are gorgeous, there’s another cherry blossom that I personally look forward to – the double cherry blossom (겹벚꽃), or the King cherry blossom as some people call them. Distinguished from their single-petaled counterparts, King cherry blossoms boast lavish, deep pink petals that unfurl in double layers, creating a fuller, more opulent display.…

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