Explore Seoul (서울탐험)
Top things to see in Seoul. The best things to do in Seoul. Best cafes and restaurants to find in Seoul. Mountains, parks, and more things to do in Seoul, Korea. (서울에서 볼 수 있는 최고의 물건들. 서울에서 할 수 있는 가장 좋은 일들. 서울에서 찾을 수 있는 최고의 카페와 식당. 산, 공원, 그리고 한국의 서울에서 할 수 있는 더 많은 것들이 있다.)
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West Seoul Lake Park: A Cool Place To Go In Seoul
Urban renewal projects in Seoul, Korea make for some really interesting places to visit and see. There are parks that have been regenerated and culture spaces that used to be for wartimes. It’s really interesting. There are a lot of different spots to check out and West Seoul Lake Park, or Seoseoul Lake Park (서서울호수공원), is one of them. If you’re in the southwest area of Seoul or just want to take a little trip to see something different, then this is the park to find. It’s also a great stop if you’re headed to or from Gimpo International Airport. Take an adventure and enjoy the views: (This post contains…
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Hiking On The Seoul Fortress Wall
Looking to go for a hike in Seoul? Definitely consider a Seoul Fortress Wall hike. There are some great mountains that you can hit, but if you want to have a bit of history and something to see along the way, not to mention a wall to follow so you don’t get lost, the wall that surrounds central Seoul is great. Whether you’re solo, with friends, or even kids, a hike along the Seoul Fortress Wall makes for a fun trip. I have hiked the Seoul Fortress Wall in the winter, in the summer, while pregnant and while not and it is always a fun adventure. Hike along the Seoul…
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The Vault: A 5D Fun Frenzy
(CLOSED) Food, drinks and a game that includes mystery, intrigue, clues, lasers and puzzles? My kind of night out. The Vault is that something different you’ve been looking to do with your friends this weekend. As a competitive person as anyone in my family, friends or my camp coworkers can attest, this was right up my alley so when the owner Huw-Morgan Evans invited me over to test out his 5D reality escape room, I couldn’t pass it up. (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 your support.) Basic Info Address: B2…
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Mangwon Market: Budget Friendly Good Food in Mapo-gu
Mangwon Market is our local traditional market. It's nothing fancy like Gwangjang Market downtown with its rows of food stalls, vintage section and Hanbok section but, Mangwon Market has some good eats and it's within close proximity to Hongdae and the Han River so it's easy to stop by, grab some food and be on your way.
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10 Ways To Enjoy the Han River
The Han River is an iconic natural symbol that runs through the center of the city of Seoul. The construction projects that began in the 1980s to give the Han River a needed makeover have been rather successful and now there are plenty of things you can do to enjoy the scenic waterway. Don't be left out. Here are 10 ways to experience and enjoy the Han River in Seoul from summer to winter either on or along it.
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Changdeokgung Palace & The Secret Garden Everyone Is Talking About In Seoul
Changdeok Palace (창덕궁), translated to mean the “Palace of Illustrious Virtue”, was the principal palace for many of the Joseon kings and sitting just up the street from the more famous Gyeongbukgung Palace, it warrants a visit any season of the year with one of the most beautiful gardens in the city. This palace in Seoul Korea is actually said to be the most beautiful in each season and needs to be seen in each season… so I hope you’re ready to go at least four times. Looking for some specific information? Skip around: (This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and purchase something, I…
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The Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Market: Experience Herbal Medicine In Seoul
Pharmacies, pharmacies everywhere, but did you know there are also herbal medicine markets and more holistic medicine places you can go in Seoul too? After living in Korea for many years, I become very interested in some of the more holistic ways that they take care of pain. After birthing, Korean traditional medicine recommends staying in very hot rooms and eating seaweed soup to produce more milk. When I have headaches or indigestion, my husband were ask where it hurt and then push on pressure points in my hands the way his other would do to him. Why take medicine when you don’t have to? Anyway, if you’re looking to…
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Saying Goodbye to Summer with Blooming Cosmos
The winds have shifted and the cooler breezes have been blowing in to say autumn is here and winter is on its way. With autumn comes some amazingly colorful mountain views but also to delight, the cosmos bloom. It’s a flower that holds on until the end and seems to wave goodbye to summer and welcomes us in to autumn. It’s one of the last flowers to enjoy before the plants begin to wilt and turn brown winter ice and snow make their own beautiful scenes to view.The pinks and white of the blooms conjure up memories of the recent spring and summer fun we had frolicking outside with bare feet…
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Seokguram Grotto: Seoul’s Version
Seokguram Hermitage (경주 석굴암) is one of those places that makes it onto every list of top 10 temples, Buddhist sites or wondrous views while in Korea. If you haven’t heard about it yet, head over to my friend Dale’s website and read more about it there. As I’ve read the name and heard it again and again, though haven’t yet been the site myself, I recognized it when I came across the name in Korean as I sat on the side of Mt. Inwang in Seoul. Seokguram… Seokguram (인왕산 석굴암), when I realized why I recognized the name it made me all the more confused as to why there…
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Tongin Market: Eat On A Budget Near Gyeongbokgung Palace
Traditional markets dot the map of Seoul with some becoming more popular than others either due to a central location, the size, or a delicacy or item you just won’t get anywhere else. Tongin Market (통인시장) probably became famous due to it’s location in the high traffic area just west of Gyeongbukgung Palace, but over the years it has become popular with tourists for another reason. Tongin Market offers a fun and budget friendly place to try a plethora of Korean eats in small portion sizes perfect for tourists and locals who want a little everything when it comes to Korean cuisine. Want a unique experience in downtown Seoul? Head…
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A Landscape Revealed
At the foot of Mt. Inwang (인왕산수성동계곡) an interesting thing happened a few years ago. During demolition of the Ogin Sibeom Apartments in 2008, a scene very similar to that of the artist Gyeomjae Jeong Seon’s (1676 – 1759) in his “Eight Scenes of Jang-dong” appeared. During the rapid growth and industrialization of the area, the scene on the side of the mountain had been covered over with an apartment building in 1971 and wasn’t viewed again for more than 30 years. Upon razing the building a stone bridge was uncovered and the city, which had bought the land back for reclamation, decided to turn the area back into the beautiful natural…
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Tapgol Park: A Respite In Seoul’s Historical District
There’s a park at the southern end of the popular street in Insadong that features a gorgeous pavilion and other historical artifacts. Tapgol Park (탑골공원) is a popular place for older Koreans to gather, chat, and play games and tourists meander in from time to time as well. This is also where the bus picks up to take tourists out to Nami Island so it’s a good spot to know the location of in downtown Seoul. More than that though, it’s an important historical stop to learn about the independence movement in South Korea. Learn more about Tapgol Park in Seoul: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive…
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The Bukchon Hanok Village: Where To Start
Picking a direction and beginning a self guided tour is how most approach the traditional area of Bukchon in the historic center of Seoul, Korea. As a longtime resident of the capital of Korea, I’ve visited the Bukchon Hanok Village numerous times, but I still remember that first time I went and felt like I didn’t really “see” anything. To make your time in the historic city center of Seoul memorable, there’s a lot you can do, and a lot I’ve covered in this guide to the Bukchon Hanok Village if you want to plan your own day in the area. If it’s your first time though, stick around because…
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Gangseo Marsh Ecological Park: On The Han River
The westernmost of the 11 Hangang Parks is the boggy and bird friendly Gangseo Marsh Ecological Park (강서습지생태공원). There are some really popular parks on the Han River and and some that you only find if you’ve rented bikes, or have a bike, and are passing through. Don’t miss this Han River Park and maybe take a picnic with you to enjoy an afternoon in Gangseo-gu. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking. These funds go to maintain the site. Thank you for your support.) How To Get There Address: 279-23 27-gil Yangcheon-ro Gangseo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강서구…
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Flowers In Jongno
This past Sunday the sun was shining, parka weather said goodbye and a warm breeze was blowing so naturally I couldn’t help but head out for a walk. I headed to Jongno to see what was going on and for the most part I found a lot of people planning their gardens and purchasing seeds, plants and fertilizers, which got me oh so excited for my rooftop garden. I haven’t tilled the dirt that the owners before us left up there just yet so I’m not quite ready for the seeds, so instead I enjoyed the scene and purchased some succulents for inside the abode. While I was out I…
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The National Museum of Korea: Why You Need To Visit
Since it’s establishment in Yongsan in 2005, the National Museum of Korea has had more than 20 million visitors. You should be one too! Come spring and summer in Seoul the rain will inevitably start to fall and when it does people start to look for things to do inside. Or maybe it’s winter in Korea and you’d rather have some indoor time. The National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관) is not only a great thing to do when it’s too cold or too wet to venture out, but it’s also one of the FREE things to do in Seoul. These days, we’ve also got a major issue with fine dust…
