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New Parks Featuring Trains, Battleships & More In Seoul!
There is always something to see and do in Seoul and people are forever asking me how I know what’s going on. I just keep my ear to the ground I suppose. I also have good friends who are also in the know and it often happens that I hear about one thing, they hear about another in the same area and a great day trip comes out of it. Here are a few transportation based adventures I’ve had recently that you should know about. (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.…
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Christmas In Seoul: The 2017 Holiday Guide To Markets, Lights & Events!
PLEASE NOTE THERE IS AN UPDATED 2018 HOLIDAY GUIDE AT THIS LINK HERE! The Christmas season has begun and with that everyone is in search of where to get the holiday goods, gifts and more. I culled this list of markets to check out with mulled wine to quench the holiday thirst, gardens with twinkling lights and events with chili cook-offs and every other holiday event I could find. What will you get into this holiday season? (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… and if there’s any left over,…
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Seongsu-dong: A Guide To The Brooklyn Of Seoul
The shoe district that has become the “it” spot to hang out in Seoul, Korea what with the warehouses being converted to art spaces and cafes and the boutique shops has something around every corner. Where to begin in Seongsu-dong?! Some have even called it the “Brooklyn of Seoul” so I knew I’d like it before I even got over there. Everywhere you look there is street art celebrating the district known for shoe factories and design and now with more artists moving in, there is bound to be ever more creative hot spots to appreciate. Young creatives started heading to the area back in 2011 due to the low…
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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 things…
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Korean Superstitions & Halloween Events
It is the season of superstitions, gruesome tales of death and dismemberment and scary costumes. Superstitions (미신) change from country to country and culture to culture so while stepping on a crack may not break your mother’s back in Korea, whistling while you walk just might! Are you ready for Halloween in Korea? It’s a bit different, but still fun fun fun! Celebrate Halloween in Korea or just learn about the Korean superstitions you should be aware of, or beware of. We like to get out and about have fun with the rest of them so I’ve compiled some of the popular Korean superstitions to beware of this holiday season…
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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…
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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…
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Housing & Money: A Guide To Getting A Place In Korea
Having lived in Korea for ten years, I’ve gone though numerous housing arrangements. I started off living in school provided housing which worked out fabulously for my first year and have gone from renting to now owning while in Korea. My second job was horrible, the owner didn’t even look into finding me the housing that was promised until a month in (I slept on an amazing friend’s floor during that time) so I ended up taking a flat cash stipend and found my own room to rent from someone. It was during that time that I learned just how horrible it could have been to live in school provided…
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Hamdeok Beach: The Idyllic Place To Stay on Jeju Island
Jeju Island is the best place in South Korea to visit in the summer months in Korea. There are plenty of beaches to explore and museums and fun indoor sites too. Our favorite place to stay and what I would consider one of the best beaches on Jeju Island, the white sandy Hamdeok Beach is so inviting. When you’re stuck between the city buildings of Seoul and the clear blue waters of Jeju are calling, this is where you’ll want to stay in Jeju. It is too enticing to pass up. Looking for a beautiful and also kid friendly area on Jeju Island? Definitely check out Hamdeok Beach on Jeju’s…
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Yongma Land: The Abandoned Amusement Park in Seoul
Yongma Land (용마랜드) is a small failed amusement park in northeastern Seoul that has become popular with photographers and photo-op seeking teenagers in recent years. The abandoned amusement area offers some of the standard rides like the iconic carousel and the “Viking” as well as a mini train that is now covered in vines. Whether you’re looking for abandoned places in Seoul or want to film your own Kpop video to mimic your favorite artists, this is the place to go in Seoul. It’s not the most common addition to a Seoul itinerary, but it’s a cool spot if you want something unique in the capital of Korea. Plan a…
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Seoullo 7017: Where To Walk In Seoul, Korea
If you’re headed down to central Seoul, Korea and happen to be transiting through Seoul Station, then you cannot miss a walk along Seoullo 7017. This elevated pedestrian walkway completely changed the major roadway outside of the ever busy Seoul Station in 2017 and hosts events by day and light shows by night. There’s more to see around Seoul Station than most people realize and this is one thing that has gained a lot of attention not only for what it provides to see like the Seoullo 7017 Skygarden, but also what it provides a safe place to walk for pedestrians in the downtown Seoul area. If you’re headed downtown…
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15 Of The Best Beaches in Korea You Haven’t Heard About
When summer comes, it’s amazing how fast those beaches start beckoning. With the temperatures rise, the sun’s rays are strong and all I can think about are lapping waters, sandy beaches and swimming, swimming, swimming. The salty seas refresh and luckily in Korea there are miles and miles of beaches to choose from. The western coast, eastern coast and southern coast of Korea offers up beautiful beaches of all kinds. From white sand and clear blue waters in the east to the long mud flat fun of the west and then the sprawling beaches of the south, not to mention Jeju’s beautiful white sand, black sand and rocky beaches too,…
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Cafe Valor: K-Drama Filming Location, Coffee & More!
[NOW CLOSED] Cafe Valor (카페발로) first drew my attention when I was planning my trip out to Incheon to stay at the immaculately designed Nest Hotel some months back but I didn’t get a chance to visit the cafe/studio until recently. Not having spent terribly much time in Incheon, I wanted to know what there was to see and one tool at my disposal was, of course, Instagram. I ended up with a great itinerary for the westernmost coast of Incheon that included Incheon’s Chinatown, the Fairytale Village and more but just couldn’t find the time to get to Cafe Valor which really took my fancy. Was it a cafe? Was…
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The Soul of Seoul | Operation High Jinks Recap
This past weekend I hosted an AMAZINGLY fun event called “Operation High Jinks”. A bit Amazing Race missions, a bit Running Man hysterics and a bit scavenger hunt clues, it was a race planned to introduce attendees to Korea of today in a fun way. Not only did teams get to meet local Koreans and cook Kimchi jeon (Kimchi pancakes), they got to meet a local photographer and get a photo, meet some local expat entrepreneurs and more. (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.) Finding things unique to Korea like dressed…
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The Seoul Sky Observatory: Tallest Building in Korea
The Seoul Sky Observatory (서울스카이), the third highest observatory in the world but featuring the highest glass deck in the world, sits in Lotte World Tower. It is easily a must see spot in Seoul and should make it into the top 10 things to see in Seoul every time. If you’re looking for the most amazing view of the Seoul skyline, then this is the tower you should be seeking out on your next trip to Seoul as you can get panoramic views and you’ll literally be standing higher than the helicopters that check the traffic are flying down below. On clear days, you can see as far as…
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The Trickeye Museum: Augmented Reality
[TRICKEYE in Hongdae is CLOSED] The Trickeye Museum in Hongdae, Seoul recently updated their already 3D fun space with augmented reality that literally brings the awesome paintings to life and I just had to see it for myself. While the paintings on the walls are the same as they were when I visited at the end of 2015 with my daughter who was just 1, they’ve been given new life with a new app that shows off the augmented reality of the paintings. For more pictures of the paintings, check out that older post about Trickeye revamped. Basic Info Address: 357-1 Seogyo-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 홍익로3길 20) Directions: Go to…