TRAVEL

If you are living in Korea -- or even just visiting for a short time -- this list will hopefully give you some ideas of places to go, things to eat, and experiences to be had.

1. Cheer in the stands of a Korean baseball game

Korean baseball is a riot. It is such a different experience than attending baseball games in America. For starters, you can bring in your own food AND alcohol! That's right, you don't have to pay the jacked up prices of the stadium concession stands. It's pretty wonderful. Add to that, crowds of cheering fans, songs, chants, and dances, and you're in for a really good time! if you're living in Korea you'd better get your butt out to at least one game! 

Experience it yourself: There are 11 baseball teams in Korea, 5 of which are located in the Seoul area. Outside the stadium, you'll see women selling boxes of fried chicken for 5,000 won -- you can't beat that! Try to make it to a fall or spring game before it gets miserably hot in the summer months. And keep an eye out for the token foreigner on each team -- they often have the best chants! 

2. Go camping... Korean style!

Camping is hugely popular in Korea, but it's quite different than what you may be used to. We went camping on two different occasions while living in Korea, and it is certainly an experience to be had. In the fall, we made the trek up to Juwangsan National Park and brought with us tents, a little stove, and all the camping essentials. Well, we were pretty shocked when we realized there was no site to rent, but instead a gravel area that had already been taken over by several families with tents nearly touching. Not exactly the secluded site surrounded by towering pines we're used to finding in Minnesota, but we embraced the experience and had so much fun we decided to get another use out of our tents in the summer months. Beach camping on Namhae Island with good friends, sunshine, sea kayaking, games, wine, and one tipsy banana boat ride, is a weekend we'll never forget!

Experience it yourself: Head to Homeplus or Emart and pick up a cheap tent -- we found ours on sale for 10,000 won -- and choose a national park with good scenery and hiking. Avoid the HOT HOT HOT months of July and August, and opt instead to go camping in early fall or late spring. And pack your own meals if you can. Most Korean families pack lots of food, so we found that restaurants weren't super abundant around popular camping areas. 

3. Explore different theme cafes

Korea is full of cafes ranging in theme from K-Pop to sheep. Our favorite is, without a doubt, board game cafes. Unlike coffee shops at home that have a handful of well-worn games that are missing half the pieces, board game cafes in Korea have any game you can think of in mint condition.  

Experience it yourself:  Board game cafes are quite common in bigger cities. You pay based on time, but it is almost always very reasonable. For example, we typically pay 5,000 won each for 2 hours of board game bliss. 

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Festivals

Korea has festivals just about every weekend. It's hard to decipher between the interesting and the dull. We had our fair share of both, but found a few of the festivals to be incredible places to gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture (and eat some kickass food!).

4. Watch the traditional dance at the Andong Mask Festival

The Andong Mask festival is perhaps one of the best festivals of the year, and is well worth the visit. We made masks, watched the traditional dance (and even got called up on stage to join in!), ate street food, and explored the charming Hahoe Folk Village.

Experience it yourself: Part of the festival takes place at the cultural center in the heart of Andong. But the most interesting part, in our opinion, took place in the Hahoe Folk Village. To get there, you'll need to take a city bus for nearly an hour. Once in the village, explore the streets that are frozen in time and lined with traditional hanok houses. Be sure to watch the mask dance performed alongside the winding river with cliffs as a backdrop. If you're able, stay for the fireworks that take place after the sun sets. With burning bushes being thrown off the cliff's edge, it's unlike any firework show you've ever seen.

5. Cherry Blossoms

For just two weeks in April, Cherry Blossoms take over South Korea. We also ran in the annual Cherry Blossom 10K in Gyeongju -- definitely the most beautiful race we've ever been a part of.

Experience it yourself: There are plenty of festivals around the country to choose from. The most famous, however, are located in Jeonju and Gyeongju. Be sure to book your transportation and accommodation well in advance, as it is a popular time to travel.

6. Visit Ulleungdo

We were incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to visit Ulleungdo on a trip sponsored by the Office of Education. The jagged seaside cliffs and small town feel make this remote island one of the most beautiful places we saw in all of South Korea. 

Experience it for yourself: I can imagine it would be a bit difficult to navigate on your own, so going with a tour group is a good option for exploring this gem. Be sure to make it to Yeon Doh Gyeo (연도교). This bridge is on the very north side of the island and was the highlight of our trip to Ulleungdo. Read about our time in Ulleungdo and Dokdo here.

7. Explore the famous Jeju Island

When asked, many Koreans profess this volcanic island their favorite place in the country. With stunning mountain views and turquoise waters, there's no question as to why it's so popular. We ventured to waterfalls, hiked to the rim of a volcanic crater, and swam in a naturally formed "swimming pool" in the ocean. We found Jeju to be a mix of old Korea with aspects of the West. While it was charming and no doubt beautiful, we both found it to be a bit over-hyped. 

Experience it for yourself: Getting to Jeju can be tricky. We know of people who've flown there and back for under 100,000 won. That said, flights sell out quickly and well in advance (especially during holidays). Another option is to take the overnight ferry. Thirteen hours can be long when the flight is shy of an hour, but we found the ferry ride itself to be quite the unique experience.