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My Top Ten Adventures of 2013!
2013 was a great year for traveling. Not only did I get to see some fantastic places in Korea, but I also enjoyed quite a few trips abroad. Here are the top 10 places, here and abroad, that I saw in 2013. What a year! 1. Fukuoka, Japan: We started off the year with a trip to Fukuoka, Japan in February. It seems as the end of winter nears we always start to get a little cabin fever, not that we live in a cabin, or that we completely hibernate all winter, but we just need to get away. I had been to Fukuoka before, as had my husband, but this…
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Apple Infused Makgeolli, Oh My!
Almost every place in Korea has some special food they’re famous for, or at least the locals proclaim the fame, even if they’re the only ones to believe it. In Cheongsong, apples are the claim to fame, or one of many things that they proclaim, and boy are they truly delicious. Another one from this Slow City in Korea is a high-in-iron chicken dish that turns blue once it’s cooked! On the way to the Juwangsan National Park, some makgeolli infused with the delicious apples, as well jujube and Korean bellflower root was spotted and I LOVE a good bowl of Korean rice wine, don’t you? (This post contains affiliate…
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A Hidden Lake That’s Not So Hidden Anymore: Jusanji Lake, Cheongsong
Popular scenes from the movie “Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring” were shot at the Jusanji Lake (주산지) located in Juwangsan National Park and up until then, this lake was pretty much a secret to everyone except the locals in the Cheongsong area. It’s not a secret anymore though. A common stop on tours out to Cheongsong, Jusanji Lake is… not much to write home about but holds a special place in Korea’s heart. You’ll see why. (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…
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Juwangsan National Park: The Smallest National Park In Korea
Juwangsan National Park (주왕산국립공원) in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea was designated as such in 1976 and holds the title of the smallest national park in South Korea. But, don’t let that sway you from heading there as it’s got everything you’d want in a national park from mountains, rivers and waterfalls to tales of assassinations. There are some really cool things to see in Korea and when looking for a spot that is a bit more off the beaten path, this would make a great one. It’s also a great place to head if you’ve got kids and want a family-friendly national park to visit. Here’s what to know about Juwangsan National…
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An Old Traditional Nobleman’s Home in Cheongsong, Korea
Songso Gotaek ( 송소고택), or Songso’s Old House, was built around 1880 by the nobelman Sim Ho-taek, the 7th generation descendant of Sim Cheo-dae a very wealthy man during the time of King Yeongjo in the Joseon Dynasty. If you’re looking for something to see in Gyeongsangbuk-do and you’re in Cheongsong, don’t miss this historical house. Korean history is so interesting and cultural traditions too. Here’s what to know about Songso Gotaek: How To Get There Basic Info Stay Nearby What To See (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking. Thank you for your support.) How To…
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Korean Eating: Cheongsong’s Iron Fix
We were touring around Cheongsong, Korea with the Korea Tourism Organization to view the autumn foliage in Juwangsan National Park, pick apples at the Cheongsong Apple Festival and even paint our very own unique white Korean porcelain bowls and now we were off to eat and sustain ourselves with some healthy eats famous in the region. Usually when one travels, whether or not the water is drinkable is a question that is high on the list of queries to be answered before departing. Heading down to Cheongsong, Korea, this was not a question that had topped the list, nor should it have but apparently the water is something to be…
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An Apple Picking Story in Cheongsong, Korea
While in Cheongsong for the Apple Festival of course apples needed to be picked. Just like the Nonsan Strawberry Festival, where you can head into nearby fields and pick until your heart’s content, the Cheongsong Apple Festival has a similar activity. The tour provided by the Korean Tourism Organization allowed us to head to an orchard that had been picked clean of apples save two rows just for us and we couldn’t have been happier to see those plump red beauties dangling from the limbs of the trees. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking. These funds…
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The Cheongsong Apple Festival
Looking for a fun autumn festival in Korea? Check out the awesome Cheongsong Apple Festival. Cheongsong is off the beaten path for most travelers but well known for producing some of the most delicious apples in Korea. Find fun performances, lots of delicious apple related delicacies, and you can even pick apples too. Take a trip this fall in Korea to Cheongsong and plan it in time for this festival. (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 When: Usually in October or early November after…
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Cheongsong’s Unique White Porcelain Experience
Ask any Korean why you should head to Cheongsong, Korea and they’ll probably tell you about Mt. Juwang National Park, delicious apples which you can find at their yearly Cheongsong Apple Festival, or a prison. While there are a few things that Cheongsong is famous for, one lesser known one is the white porcelain, or Cheongsong baekja, that was developed there in the mid 16th century. Want to have a unique trip in Korea and try your hand at making your own baekja, you definitely need to visit the Cheongsong Baekja Center (청송백자전수장). Plan your trip to the Cheongsong Baekja Center: How To Get There What To Know What To…