My First Visit to Seoul
Seoul has a special place in my heart as my brother, sister-in-law and my nephew live there! Drew will likely be frequenting South Korea for business, which is great seeing as we can squeeze in family visits whenever possible. It’s amazing to have family on this side of the world and I am beyond excited to be able to spend time with them.
Our first visit to South Korea was brimming with delicious food and drink, beautiful sights, exploration, and plenty of snuggles from my nephew! Fortunately my brother and sister-in-law are amazing planners and also happen to be ardent foodies like me and Drew - a match made in heaven. They took care of all the planning and totally knocked it out of the park. Below are some highlights from our first visit to Seoul.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Who doesn’t love a good visit to a beautiful palace?! Gyeongbokgung is the largest and oldest of South Korea’s five palaces and served as home to the kings and government. Built in 1395, parts of the palace were destroyed by a fire during a Japanese invasion, which left it abandoned for more than two centuries. In the 19th century, close to 500 rooms were restored on nearly 100 acres. The Palace is a great place to explore, especially on a nice day as it is outdoor and there’s plenty of space to roam. It’s especially great for little kiddos to let out some energy (reference photo of my adorable nephew below)!
2. EAT ALL THE KOREAN BBQ
I highly recommend to free up as many meals as possible for eating Korean BBQ. It truly is the best in the world and there are endless options to choose from. My brother and sister-in-law drove me to the most amazing restaurant that I absolutely can’t spell or pronounce, but I do know that it was in a city called Hanam in the Gyeonggi province. The food is so simple, but there’s something about the combination of flavors and the way the meat melts in your mouth that make it SO good. Plus they serve a classic side dish made of onions in a sweet marinade that pairs so well with the salty, flavorful pork/beef.
Also high on my list is to taste makgeolli [mack-gully]! If you’re a fan of champagne/sweet wine, you will love this drink! It’s a Korean alcoholic beverage made of rice that creates a refreshing sparkling rice wine that is sweet and tangy. It’s quite delicious…if I do say so myself.
3. VISIT THE INDOOR/OUTDOOR MARKET AT DONGDAEMUN
Shopping is taken to new heights in Dongdaemun, a giant commercial district filled with traditional markets and shopping centers galore. It is Korea’s largest wholesale and retail shopping district comprising 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers! You can find anything and everything here, from clothes to shoes to electronics to pet supplies. There’s even an entire street dedicated to toy stores, which my nephew was elated with. You can easily spend an entire day in Dongdaemun (with a lunch break at nearby Shake Shack!), but two or three hours would be ample time to explore the area. And be warned - this isn’t for the faint of heart… especially if you come on a weekend!
4. Explore seoul forest
Seoul Forest is a must see while in South Korea. It’s the third largest park in Seoul, is open year-round, and is free! The park is an excellent place to have a picnic, walk around, or explore the playgrounds. We had a blast running around with my nephew and of course taking countless rides down the giant slide!
