Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for south korea
World’s Largest Coffee Shop
By Linda Tancs
So, java lovers, where in the world is the largest coffee shop? The answer: South Korea. Boasting 2,190 seats and 3,600 square meters, Positive Space 566 in Gyeonggi-do takes the cake. Or should we say, bean. Opened in 2022, the shop’s four floors feature a variety of coffees and teas as well as baked goods, wood-fired pizza, pasta, salads and more.
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Seoul Music
By Linda Tancs
Divided into an upper and lower level, the Hyundai Card Music Library in Seoul, Korea, boasts an enviable collection of records from Korean hip-hop to Western classics along with music-related books and magazines. The record exhibition on the lower level includes a rare vinyl collection that features The Beatles’ 1966 controversial cover of Yesterday and Today and one of the nine existing albums of the Sex Pistols’ God Save the Queen. Upstairs you’ll find over 3,000 music-related books as well as every single issue of Rolling Stone ever published. Hyundai credit card holders get special benefits, like live performances in an underground concert hall.
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To the Heights in Korea
By Linda Tancs
Near Chungju-si (where a martial arts festival takes place each year), Woraksan National Park in South Korea is a hiker’s paradise. The highest peak (at 3,600 feet) is Yeongbong, a steep ascent aided by stairs with railings bolted to boulders. Ma-aebong Peak is just below at 3,150 feet. It’s called a false summit because it’s commonly mistaken as the ultimate peak, but there’s nothing fake about its glorious vistas. While you’re in the park, keep an eye out for the nodding lily, an indigenous species with leaves like pine tree leaves.
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Three Peaks in Seoul
By Linda Tancs
The only national park in the Seoul metropolitan area, Bukhansan National Park in South Korea is also known as Samgaksan (Triangle Mountain) because of its three peaks: Baegunbong, Insubong and Mangyeongbong. With its many ridges, peaks and valleys, it’s a popular spot for hikers although nature lovers in general will appreciate the 1,300 species of plants and animals occupying this niche amidst the bustling city. Best of all, it’s easily accessible, with various metro stations serving the park entrances in under one hour.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Jinju’s Landmark
By Linda Tancs
Originally a mud castle, Jinjuseong Fortress is a memorial to South Korea’s embattled history, beginning with sea marauders in the 1300s, necessitating the structure’s stone reconstruction. Benefiting from a decades-long restoration effort, the fortress is part of a heavily wooded park with temples and shrines. The site also boasts Jinju National Museum, where the area’s war history is recounted along with military artifacts and local art. Seoul’s Gimpo Airport offers daily flights to Jinju.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Korea’s Herb Festival
By Linda Tancs
Korea has a long medical tradition in the use of herbs for healing. It should come as no surprise, then, that one of the country’s premier festivals is the Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival. Held at Donguibogam Village, a Korean medicine theme park, the festival celebrates the herbs of Jirisan Mountain. In addition to an herb market, visitors can sample traditional herbal medicines and even get a check-up. This year’s event begins tomorrow and continues through October 9.
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A Heavenly Tomb
By Linda Tancs
The lavish lifestyles of South Korea’s elite during the Silla dynasty form part of a roofless museum in Tumuli Park. Just four hours away from Seoul by bus, the 37-acre grounds contain 23 royal burial mounds. The most celebrated (the interior of which is open to the public) is Cheonmachong, the “Heavenly Horse” tomb, a burial site for a 5th-6th century Silla king and his consort. When the site was excavated in the 1970s, a mounted horse painting (the only one discovered from the Silla era) was found, along with over 10,000 artifacts of the good life, like jade tiger claw earrings and a gold crown embellished with jade tiger claws. Clearly, it was good to be the king.
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The Hawaii of Korea
By Linda Tancs
Hailed as the “Hawaii of Korea,” Jeju is Korea’s largest island, situated 64 kilometers or so south of the Korean Peninsula. Like its sister in the U.S., it offers a temperate climate, breathtaking vistas, volcanoes and a traditional culture. Unlike Hawaii, it does offer snow–sometimes lots of it. All the better to enjoy the snow flowers of Mt. Halla, a must-see in winter.
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A Room With a View in Seoul
By Linda Tancs
The W Hotel in Seoul may be the chain’s first property in Asia, but the view is likely the thing that visitors will remember most. Sure, as a luxe hotel it’s got all the trappings you would expect: soothing spa remedies, ambience, five-star dining experiences, a resort locale. But it’s the view atop Mount Acha’s gliding slopes that makes it hard to leave the room. On a clear day, as the song goes, you can see forever. That’s W for “wow.” What’s your favorite room with a view?
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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The Soul of Seoul
By Linda Tancs
Seoul has been the capital of South Korea for 600 years, but this city is far from antiquated. In fact, among its many tributes to royalty and tradition lies a cultural renaissance in the making. Find out more at Travelrific® Radio.
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services related to Korean tourism.
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