Gyeonggi-do (경기도)
What to see in Gyeonggi-do. Top things to do in Gyeonggi-do. Where to go in Gyeonggi-do and the tips and tricks to make travel there amazing. (경기도에서 볼거리. 경기도에서 해야 할 일들. 경기도 어디를 가야하는지, 그리고 그곳의 여행을 놀랍게 만들 수 있는 요령과 요령들.)
-
Pocheon: What To See & What To Do Northeast Of Seoul
Pocheon is an area that sits to the northeast of Seoul in the Gyeonggi province. Last summer, I headed northeast to visit the beautiful flowery fields of Nari Park which is just south of the Pocheon area. It was an invitation to explore more in that region this year. Here are some places in Pocheon that are must sees and for those K-drama addicted among us, quite a few recognizable dramas have been filmed in these places, so enjoy! Want a day trip option from Seoul? This is a great area to explore with numerous nature spots and artistic finds too. I’ve got you covered if you’re looking for places…
-
Camp Greaves: An Abandoned Military Base With An Artistic Future In The Korean DMZ
The DMZ has never been calling to me so much as it has this year. I didn’t visit the area for most of the past decade living in Korea and somehow have been quite a few times in just mere months. Here’s the thing, I like authentic historical sites and have never been interested in the touristy/photo zone spots and somehow the DMZ mingles between both. It’s an odd thing for me to go someplace that has so much meaning for separated families and people that fought here, then to see an amusement park and photo zones really throws me. Some areas along the line are worth the trip and…
-
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…
-
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 & DMZ Tour In Korea: Review
A couple weekends ago, I was able to go on a tour to Gamaksan Suspension Bridge and the DMZ. I’ll be honest, that I hadn’t really had any interest in visiting the DMZ before, at least not the Paju area DMZ. Mostly, because so many people go there, I was unsure how much of it was a tourist zone/trap and how much of it was educational. A few years back I visited the DMZ in the Cheorwan area and found it extremely interesting but also it was insightful and real. There weren’t large busloads of people and the village that used to be there is just buildings that are clearly war…
-
Namyangju: Strawberry Picking, Abandoned Train Stations & Snow!
There’s a small peninsula that juts out into the Han River where it splits into two rivers just east of Seoul in Namyangju and that is where we found strawberries, abandoned train stations and more this past weekend. If you’re looking for some place that isn’t too far out of the city but will afford you with fresh air, great views and some fun too, then keep reading and look for Nungnae Station, strawberry farms, and even some good food! Plan a trip to Namyangju: (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.…
-
Greenhouses, Cafes & Gardens Northwest Of Seoul
One of my pastimes has definitely become falling down Instagram rabbit holes that lead me to beautiful places and cafes in Korea. I’ve learned a few things after searching long and hard long enough. That rabbit hole is what led me to Yangju’s gorgeous Nari Park and then on to the greenhouse cafe set on a mountain in Namyangju. I also found a lot of the cafes in Hongdae I visited recently via this rabbit hole. But I’ve also used that Internet sleuthing skill to find some pretty awesome places northwest of Seoul where we can spread out, get away from the crowds and enjoy nature. There are so many…
-
Heyri Art Village In Paju: A Guide To The Sights, Sounds & Eats
Intriguing places, pretty cafes and art too is what you’ll find if you head north into Paju to the delightful artsy spot known as Heyri Art Village (헤이리 예술마을). This is just one thing to do in Paju, but there is really a ton! The Heyri Art Village is less than an hour northwest and was the vision of a book publisher many years back. Home to photographers, painters, artists of all kinds, musicians, architects and writers means it is quirky, artsy and very fun as well as home to galleries, museums and more. To give you an idea about where to start in this eye catching village check out…
-
The Prettiest Autumn Spot In Korea: Yangju’s Nari Park
Having lived in Korea for more than a decade, I have seen A LOT of this country and I can honestly say Yangju’s Nari Park (양주나리공원) is one of the prettiest places I’ve seen in the whole country of South Korea. There are numerous parks around the country and each is a bit different in what they offer. Nari Park in Yangju just north of Seoul is purely for the flower lover within you. Expansive plot after plot of curated flowers await in colors like purples, pinks, oranges and bright reds. As the autumn sun heats up the days with cool breezes blowing in, this is where to go to appreciate…
-
Aqua Planet: Sea Life, A Petting Zoo & More
Aqua Planet (아쿠아플라넷) is a aquarium brand you can find all over South Korea. We first visited the Aqua Planet in Ilsan, Korea, but you can find them in Gwanggyo, the 63 Building on Yeouido Island in Seoul, Jeju, and Yeosu. I had initially expected this to be just an aquarium, meaning sea life, sea creatures and the like, but was pleasantly surprised to find birds, a petting zoo with farm animals and just so much more. If you have kids in Korea and want to introduce them to sea life, Aqua Planet in Korea is a great place to go. There are a number of amazing aquariums in Korea,…
-
Haengjusanseong Fortress Wall: Views From Deogyangsan Mountain
If you bike west along the northern side of the Han River in Seoul, eventually you come to what looks like the end of the path though it really just heads inland and shoots towards Goyang, a suburb of the metropolis Seoul, Korea. Goyang has a lot of places to see, things to do, and many of them are off the beaten path to Seoulites and travelers who don’t realize they’re missing out. The bike paths lead around the base of Deogyangsan Mountain (덕양산), easy to spot with a monument at the summit proclaiming victory for all to see. This is a great mountain to head up and you can…
-
Gone to North Korea… in Namyangju
I’ve lived in Seoul for six and a half years and still haven’t made it to the DMZ. I’m not sure why, but I just haven’t felt the urge to get up there. That and it seems every few months North Korea does something to ruffle the feathers of South Korea and then I think, do I really want to go up there now? The answer was always no. However, some time back I read about an exact replica of Panmunjeom on a film set that was open to the public and that made it onto the list of must-sees. This past week, a friend and I decided to really…
-
Namhansanseong Park and Fortress: Hiking In Seoul
Looking for a great place to go hiking in Korea that’s not so difficult, great hiking for families near Seoul, and fun? Have you heard of Namhansanseong Fortress (남한산성도립공원)? While the Seoul Fortress Wall is long and can be rather mountainous in sections, Namhansanseong Fortress Wall is really pretty easy to get around and isn’t nearly as long as Seoul Fortress Wall. It’s a great spot to hike in winter near Seoul and great in the summer too. The wall is worth a visit in any season and even in winter the paths are relatively easy to walk along as there aren’t too many steep inclines. The restaurants inside the…
-
The Icheon Sansuyu Festival: A Guide
Getting into the spring flower madness that takes over Korea, a group of friends and I headed out to Icheon this past weekend to take advantage of the Icheon Baeksa Sansuyu Flower Festival (이천백사 산수유꽃축제). There are flower festivals throughout the spring in Korea and we were excited to head to one. Icheon is a city a bit south of Seoul and is a great spot to see sansuyu flowers in the spring. If you’re looking for a place to getaway from Seoul or where to see sansuyu flowers near Seoul, this is the spot for you. There is a larger spring festival known for sanusyu flowers in Korea in…
