10. Incheon International Airport
One of the best things about living in Korea is that you can affordably fly to places that would be way too expensive to travel to from North America. Some of my best memories while teaching overseas have been the times I've been able to leave Korea! Plus, Incheon Airport is the most modern, organized and friendly airport I've ever used. It's super-accessible too: buses leave constantly from the airport to anywhere in the country, and the Seoul metro takes you from the airport to over 100 destinations across Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Plus, there's a Kraze Burger!
9. The DMZ
Maybe the DMZ, a narrow strip of land that separates North and South Korea, counts as an activity that a lot of people will do when they visit Korea, but I've included it on the list because it's a very interesting spot to visit. We went on the USO Tour and had a very informative guide. We got to visit a few of the offices around the DMZ, a museum, and we also went into a cave that had been dug by sneaky North Koreans who burrowed their way into the South. We heard a lot of interesting facts, posed with serious-looking South Korean guards and gazed over at the North's giant flag and menacing soldiers.
8.Sokcho and Seoraksan
Sure, you can go to Busan and sit on the crowded Haeundae Beach if you want to go swimming in the summertime, but if you're looking to get out of the city and relax at a much quieter, but equally nice beach... try Sokcho.
The golden-sandy beach is the highlight of the trip, but there's lots of other quaint little things to do too. Sokcho has a tower, Sokcho Tower, which offers a nice view of the city and beach for less than 2,000 Won. The heart-shaped tree makes for a nice photo-op, plus there's a decent shopping street with cheap deals, and a cool gazebo and lively strip of restaurants to check out near the ferry terminal.
Not too far away is Seoraksan, Korea's favorite mountain. Not special enough to warrant its own trip, but fun enough to combine with a visit to Sokcho. There's many hiking trails to choose from, and since it was hot, we hiked to a waterfall where we swam for a while to cool off. There's a cable car too for an easy view of the park.
View my original post about Sokcho and Seoraksan HERE.7. Caribbean Bay/Lotte World 
Mel and I love a good theme park, and since I couldn't decide which one I like more I decided to recommend both Lotte World and Caribbean Bay. We've been to Lotte World 3 times and the rides are top-notch. Their Atlantis rollercoaster is the best ride I've been on outside of the Disney/Busch Garden parks. The line is always long for Atlantis, but the other rides (a flume, another rollercoaster, haunted house, some carnival-type rides and more) are never too bad. And if you like parades of dancing Russians, you're in the right place.
Many of the obvious Disney ripoff things have been removed in recent years, but when we first visited the park there were murals of Ariel and Sebastien from the Little Mermaid. The Magic Kingdom ripoff castle remains.
Caribbean Bay is a great water park located about 45 minutes from Gangnam by express bus. It's pretty expensive to visit now (like 60,000 Won for one day), but we had a lot of fun there a few years back outside of peak season. There a bunch of slides, a lazy river, a huge wave pool and some aromatherepy baths. The facilities are really clean and modern. Too bad you need to wear life jackets in the wave pool if you swim in water higher than your waist, and you'll be turned away from the water slides if you don't have a swim cap. And an employee might call you fat.
View my original post on Lotte World visit #1 HERE
View my original post on Lotte World visit #2 HERE
View my original post on Lotte World visit #3 HERE
View my original post on Caribbean Bay visit #1 HERE
View my original post on Caribbean Bay visit #2 HERE
6. Hangang Park
It's been a treat living so close to Hangang this past summer. This massive park stretches the length of the Han River, on both sides. Even over-populated Korea can't make this expansive space feel too crowded. We've spent many nights by the water relaxing in the grass with a book, enjoying the cityscape-view, or having a beer at one of the many 7-Elevens dotted along the park. The 7-Elevens even sell draft beer on-site for $3 a pint. Nice-uh! There's always Han River cruises to enjoy, swimming pools in the summer, a waterfall/music show several times a day at the Banpo Bridge area, swan ride rentals, the 63 Building is closeby (at the Yeoido park), and if you're lucky enough...
...you might even spot an ajumma with her pet chicken.
View original posts about Hangang HERE, HERE or HERE
5. Ostrich Safari
Despite being in an extremely inaccessible and remote location and providing near-hostile customer service, how often do you have the opportunity to ride an ostrich? It's as strange as it sounds.
View my original post about the Ostrich Safari HERE.
4. Gyeongju and the Jasujeong Amethyst Cave
I really, really enjoyed our trip to Gyeongju. There's so many scenic little places to visit in a concentrated area: museums, parks, gardens, an ancient observatory, and all this is surrounded by tumulis (burial mounds). The tumulis make for a truly unique landscape that makes you feel like you are in a very different and historical place. There are nice parks built around the tumulis, and concerts nearby in the summer too. Plus, Gyeongju is a cheap city with nice love motels and good food to eat.
A short bus ride away from Gyeongju, and a recommended day trip, is the Jasujeong Amethyst Cave in Eonyang. The cave is fun to visit because of it's randomness! There's basically no amethyst left inside; instead it is full of random statues (one of Dokdo, the evolution of man, dinosaurs, ETs head), an ondol room, and shows (a Chinese family doing a contortionist act). If you want a good laugh, check this place out.
Read my original post about Gyeongju HERE
Read my original post about the Jasujeong Amethyst Cave HERE
3. Samcheok and the Haesindang Penis Park
First of all, Samcheok is a nice, quiet, quaint little town on Korea's east coast that is perfectly worth a visit all on it's own. The restaurants are good, the park is quite nice and the hotels are cheap. But the star of the show is about an hour down the road by bus: Haesindang, the Penis Park.
It's just an absolutely ridiculous place full of hundreds of statues of penises. Penis benches. Penis totem poles. Penis Zodiacs. A penis lighthouse. The park is right on the coast, directly by the water, so the location is beautiful as well. Don't forget to stop by the gift shop and pick up your very own penis totem pole or shot glass. We did.
View my original post on Samcheok and the Penis Park HERE.
2. Love Land and the Teddy Bear Museum
Okay, maybe you're starting to sense a trend here that is pointing out what kind of people we really are, but who doesn't enjoy a good sexy park? A few years ago, we went to Jeju Island. Jeju is really overrated, but it is worth a visit for a trip to Love Land and the Teddy Bear Museum.
As you can see, Love Land takes it one step farther than the Penis Park. There's a giant vagina that you can walk on. There's a gallery of penises like "the terminator", there's a museum of sex toys labeled in funny Konglish. There's a bike called "the tickler" and a gift shop with penis golf clubs. There's a car parked on a lawn that is constantly rocking up and down, with sex noises coming from it. The door handles to the men's and women's bathrooms are shaped like weiners and boobs, respectively. If this description hasn't resulted in you immediately booking tickets to Jeju Island, you're reading the wrong blog.
In something of a contrast to Love Land is the Teddy Bear Museum. It's just the cutest thing. In this museum, teddies re-create great moments in history. There's a teddy Mona Lisa, teddy Titanic (above), teddies at the Berlin Wall, first teddy on the moon... you get the idea. It's unique and a lot of fun.
View my original post on Love Land and the Teddy Bear Museum HERE
1. Jeonju and Maisan Provincial Park
Maybe it was the nice weather we were having. Maybe it was because we'd just had a disappointing visit to Incheon. I've never heard anyone else rave about this place, but I'll say it: I loved Jeonju.
We had an amazing (the best ever) love motel in Jeonju, with a hot tub right in our room next to our round bed. We spent a few hours at the historical and photogenic hanok village (above), which was full of cafes, little shops, and people going about their daily lives. We visited a fortress, a palace and went to a great little shopping street for supper. 
But the real reason this place tops the list is because of Maisan Provincial Park. This park is actually in Jinju, about an hour away by bus. There's a cool temple with a bunch of statues (see the tiger, above) and music playing when you first arrive. Then, you follow the trail past a beautiful lake at the base of a mountain, where you can rent swan boats and buy some beer or snacks.
Keep following the trail to Tapsa Temple, maybe my favorite place in Korea. The temple is surronded by hundreds of thin piles of rocks that give the temple an interesting and mysterious atmophere. For as long as they've been there, the rocks have never fallen. When ice freezes around Tapsa in the winter it always freezes in the same shape as the rock piles. No one knows why.
You can keep on hiking, bang the ceremonial drum, or head back down the trail for some fresh barbeque at one of the many restaurants. I hope we have a chance to get back to Maisan before we leave Korea in the summer.
View my original post about Jeonju and Maisan Park HERE.
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