Gyeonggido

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 …

Glamping Under the Stars at Raventree in Gapyeong

Fall has officially arrived in Korea. The season may not be the longest, but it is, without a doubt, the most beautiful. The country’s autumn colors, crisp air and cool temperatures beckon its inhabitants to don their sweaters and head outdoors for festivals, mountain hikes and danpoong noryi, excursions to see the fall foliage. Yet …

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 …

Seoul Walks: Enchanting Heyri Art Village, Part Three

After enjoying a nice afternoon sweet, get ready to explore Korea’s history, as well as its contemporary culture, as you continue your tour of Heyri Art Village. (In case you missed it, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of this series for  more Heyri attractions.) A Blast From the Past Founded in 1976, leading …

Seoul Walks: Enchanting Heyri Art Village, Part Two

Continuing on from part one of the “Seoul Walks: Enchanting Heyri Art Village” guide, Seoul Searching explores some more of the cultural attractions of the quaint area, as well as the best places to satisfy your sweet tooth. Music To Your Ears  In a country known for K-pop, a classical music cafe might be the …

Seoul Walks: Enchanting Heyri Art Village, Part One

Less than an hour’s drive north of Seoul sits an enchanting community of artists. Envisioned and created by a well known book publisher, Heyri Art Village is now home to over 400 painters, potters, photographers, musicians, architects and writers. Not only does its proximity to Seoul make it a great day trip option, but its …

Top 10 Attractions at Everland Theme Park

Everland is, without a doubt, Korea’s best amusement park. Modeled after Disney World- albeit on a much smaller scale- the theme park consists of plenty of fun attractions that draw in more than 7 million visitors a year. With those attendance numbers, one can only imagine what the weekend crowds are like, particularly at peak …

Deulmusae: A Whole Lot of Penis in Pocheon

The penis. As unattractive as it may be, it has remained to be an important symbol of strength, fertility and power in cultures all the world over since the beginning of time.  From ancient Pompeii to Egyptian hieroglyphics to the costumes of modern day tribesmen of New Guinea, phallic imagery has been used unabashedly. Unsurprisingly, …

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 …

Reasons to Love Layovers at Incheon International Airport

Just the mention of the word delay, cancellation, or layover is enough to make even the most laid back passenger cringe.  Such occasions usually equate to extended hours spent in oft-hated, geographically-indistinguishable airports, facilities that rarely provide the amenities to entertain or comfort the weary traveler.  Fortunately for those connecting in or traveling to Seoul, …