daytrips

Wishing Trees and Rice Chests: Suwon’s Hwaseong Haenggung

Once a resting shelter and vacation destination for kings, the grounds of Hwaseong Haenggung in Suwon, South Korea are now a site where locals and tourists can learn about Korean royal history and culture. Despite recent renovations, every inch of the palace has a story to tell. So much so, in fact, that when I …

Muuido Island: Sea and Sand for the Weary Waegookin

To take advantage of the oh-so-wonderful but way-too-short bout of beautiful weather, a couple friends and I recently planned a weekend camping trip to Muuido, a small island located near Incheon International Airport. The Korean peninsula’s western coast often takes a lot of flak for its less than impressive beaches and lackluster views. As we …

Day Trippin’: Pocheon’s Herb Island

I had been meaning to make it out to Herb Island for quite some time.  The photographs intrigued me.  The images I came across on the internet portrayed the theme park (which, confusingly, is not an island at all) to be the home of enchanting guesthouses, colorful gardens, charming decor and beautiful mountain scenery, seemingly …