Sokcho, South Korea is the gateway to the beautiful Seoraksan National Park. Every fall, hundreds of thousands of people flock to Seoraksan to see the leaves changing colors. I traveled from Busan to Sokcho by bus as part of the final leg of my trip to South Korea. Since it was a busy time of […]
Gyeongju, South Korea, is a major city in world history, yet comparatively few people are aware of its rich background. During the time of the Silla Dynasty, which lasted from 57 BC – 935 AD – a remarkable length of time, Gyeongju served as its capital. Around the year 750, Gyeongju was the 4th largest […]
Busan is South Korea’s second largest city. While not as massive as Seoul, Busan still has a vibrant modern edge to it. There are several great breweries & places to drink craft beer in Busan. Most of them are congregated in two sections of the city, Gwangan & Nampo. Here are the best places I […]
Late during my previous day in Busan, after having spent the afternoon exploring Gamcheon Culture Village, I had learned that Typhoon Chaba was going to be hitting South Korea overnight. The bulk of the storm hit in the early morning hours, but by the early afternoon, the skies were clear. I had spent the storm […]
Most visitors to Scotland think of Edinburgh or the Highlands when it comes to seeing historic castles. However, there’s a cool medieval castle right near Glasgow called Bothwell Castle. While it might not have the imposing majesty of Edinburgh or Stirling Castle, it’s a perfect short day trip from Glasgow to Bothwell Castle. Bothwell Castle […]
I spent two full days hiking in Seoraksan National Park, exploring four different areas from the entrance near Sokcho. On my first day, I took the bus into the park from my hotel around 9am. There is just one way into the park, and it is a dead end, so the bus didn’t get too […]
One of the highlights of Busan is Gamcheon Culture Village. In recent years, artists & residents have turned what was once a hilltop slum into a beautiful lively neighborhood. Gamcheon is located outside of central Busan, but it’s fairly easily accessed by the city’s metro system. I took the Metro south from Beomnaegol station, which […]
When I began my trip to Japan & South Korea, one of the key things I wanted to do was experience a Japanese baseball game in Fukuoka. South Korea has its own baseball league called the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO). When I visited Seoul, I was able to see a Doosan Bears KBO game at […]
Located about an hour and a half north of San Francisco, Santa Rosa, California is most famously known for a few things. It’s part of the heart of Northern California’s wine country in Sonoma County. Plus, it’s where “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz lived for many years, with the city now hosting a museum about his life as […]
My primary reason for traveling to dark Norway in late December was to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø. Sure, there are other winter activities in northern Norway around Christmastime, but the Polar Night means the sun never pokes above the horizon, so even midday looks like twilight. The Northern Lights are the main attraction […]
South Korea has a great drinking culture, but until recently, quality beer was not part of it. However, in recent years, there has been an explosion of craft beer in Seoul. This craze has been fueled both by local interest in better beer, but also by Seoul’s position as an international city that has residents […]
I visited Jinju, South Korea for the Jinju Lantern Festival. The annual event is the highlight of Jinju’s calendar, and the primary time that the city gets visitors each year. However, there’s one noteworthy landmark that is worthy of a visit to Jinju any time of year, even just as a day trip if you […]
One doesn’t usually associate massive cities with hiking, but thanks to a ring of mountains surrounding the center of the city, Seoul, South Korea is one of the world’s best cities for urban hiking. While there are many mountainous areas to hike around Seoul, the unique Seoul City Wall & its trails make for a […]
One doesn’t usually associate massive cities with hiking, but thanks to a ring of mountains surrounding the center of the city, Seoul, South Korea is one of the world’s best cities for urban hiking. While there are many mountainous areas to hike around Seoul, the unique Seoul City Wall & its trails make for a […]
There are several lantern festivals in South Korea each year, but perhaps the most famous is the Jinju Lantern Festival (full name Jinju Namgang Yudeung (Lantern) Festival. Each October, hundreds of thousands of people flock to the city of Jinju in southern South Korea to see the Nam River come to life. The festival has ties […]
