Photo Spots in Gangneung - Haslla Art World Museum Creative Space and Gyeongpoho Lake Cherry Blossom Festival!

I wish I had more time to spend in Gangneung (Gangwon Province, Korea). We found photo spots in just two days! I could spend a half day or more at the Haslla Art World Museum and maybe even try out the boutique hotel inside like the US Ambassador's recommendation! Then if the timing is right, the Gyeongpo Lake is lined with cherry blossom trees =)

 

Jumunjin Beach Resort, Fish Market and Silbi Saengseon Gui Seafood Experience in Gangneung Gangwon Province near Seoul!

Chances are you've already heard of Nami Island in Korea! It is reachable from Seoul and is part of Gangwon province. Chances are too that you have already heard of Busan with its Jagalchi Market and Haeundae Beach. Did you know that there's a popular destination for locals (reachable from Seoul) like that in Gangwon province too since it goes all the way to the east coast of Korea?! This is the charming city of Gangneung - a winter wonderland and summer (actually all-season) escape closest to Seoul ;) As of now, you can take a bus from the Seoul Express Bus Terminal but soon the KTX (less than 2 hours ride) will be finished in time for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics! Check out the quiet and clean Jumunjin market of Gangneung and our Silbi Saengseong Gui experience below!

Woljeongsa Temple Stopover and Prayer Bead Experience in PyeongChang!

One of the highlights of my Korea trip was spending a few hours at the Woljeongsa Temple in Pyeongchang. If you've read my previous posts then this is the calm before or after the heart-pumping and adrenalin-rushing Olympic event or Pyeongchang skiing adventure =) They said this is the filming site of the Korean drama Goblin.

Delicious Beef Korean BBQ Restaurant in PyeongChang - Check Out Daegwallyeong Hanu Town Restaurant!

Say you're heading east of Korea going skiing or exploring near PyeongChang and you're looking for a recommended restaurant for dinner. Don't miss this Korean BBQ place in the Daegwallyeong area! Our guide said that in Gangwon, the Daegwallyeong Skyranch and the Hoengseong County are famous for prime beef. This particular restaurant grows their own cattle =) If Japan has wagyu, then Korea has hanwoo or han-u!

Olympic Grade Ski Resorts in Pyeongchang, Korea near Seoul!

Planning a skiing or snowboarding trip to Korea? Check out these 3 ski resorts included in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics venue lineup! The slopes of Phoenix Bokwang Snowpark, Alpensia and Yongpyong are being prepared for world-class athletes this year and will continue on providing pro quality entertainment for the public even after the games!

Jeonggangwon Korea Traditional Food Culture Experience - a Cooking Food Tour and Hanokstay near Seoul in Gangwon-do!

Looking for a cooking class near Seoul? This one comes with a hanokstay ;) As the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Korea quickly approaches, I believe culinary tourism will be a big hit coz some want to take home the experience and make delicious Korean food at home! Right?! Because one of the PyeongChang Olympics' goals is to integrate tourism with the sporting event, venues like this Jeonggangwon experience in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon are being prepared to welcome foreigners and other visitors who want to taste and have a hands-on Korean traditional food culinary lesson! Pyeongchang is just two hours away from Seoul and located in the province of Gangwon - known for both mountain and sea and ideal climate for growing vegetables. Bigger groups can make traditional food like kimchi, ssamjang, tofu, injeolmi, tteokbokki, memiljeon, potato pancake gamjajeon etc. Or you can just eat a traditional Korean "table d'hote" set menu and stay there for a night or two =)