Don’t sleep on these top 10 things to do in Hwaseong-si. I’ve included some pretty big adventures. About Hwaseong-si Hwaseong-si (화성시) is a sprawling administrative district south of seoul and northwest of Pyeongtaek. The district includes both highly developed and modern cities as well as expansive rural and industrial areas. It’s certainly not tourist central but if you live in the area it’s worth exploring. Additionally, Dongtan exists within the Hwaseong-si administrative boundaries. This city alone provides many weekends of exploring potential. We could do a top 10 list just for Dongtan, however, I wanted to be more inclusive with this list. Tips for Rural Living and Travel If you’ve already read these tips feel free to jump straight to my recommendations for the Top 10 Things to Do in Hwaseong. Keep in mind that rural South Korean tourism and culture planning may not assume international foreigners will visit. This means there may be limited English in some more rural locations. Consider the small towns in your country. Generally, small communities don’t have the financial resources to create information in multiple languages and they focus on the needs of the immediate community. This remains true in rural South Korea. However, rural areas in South Korea do welcome international visitors. You don’t need to feel uncomfortable visiting. The following tools may help you feel more comfortable and engaged in rural areas where English language information and speakers may not be available. Top 10 Things to Do in Hwaseong-si Hwaseong-si has many different types of things to do from modern city shopping to countryside beach camping. I’ve chosen a wide selection of experiences for this particular list. I’m a bit of a blue-collar girl so I’ve included quite a few things that I love that are not fancy. Current Air Quality in Hwaseong-si Air quality and weather change throughout the day. However, having an idea of what the air quality is right now can help make decisions easier. You can download the Air Matters App for your phone to keep current on changing air quality conditions throughout the day. You can even set up alerts. Hwaseong-si Air Quality Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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If you live near Cheonan-si this list of top 10 things to do in Cheonan-si is perfect for you. I’ve made the list diverse so that families, new arrivals, and friends can easily find something that appeals to them. About Cheonan-si Cheonan-si exists in Chungnam. Cheonan-si refers to an administrative district that includes many rural areas as well as a large centralized city. For the purpose of this blog post, I am referring to the administrative district of Cheonan as a whole and not simply the developed city area. As you can see in the image below, Cheonan City is marked in red but the borders of the Cheonan-si administrative district extend quite far east through the mountains. Information about Cheonan, and other Korean administrative districts, may be confusing due to the fact it’s easy to conflate the city with the administrative district when talking about a place in English. In fact, many English speakers do not realize the actual size of Cheonan-si. Tips for Rural Living and Travel Keep in mind that rural South Korean tourism and culture planning may not assume international foreigners will visit. This means there may be limited English in some more rural locations. Consider the small towns in your country. Generally, small communities don’t have the financial resources to create information in multiple languages and they focus on the needs of the immediate community. This remains true in rural South Korea. However, rural areas in South Korea do welcome international visitors. You don’t need to feel uncomfortable visiting. The following tools may help you feel more comfortable and make it easier to engage in rural areas where English language information and speakers may not be available. 1330 For Additional Information If you find a place you want to visit and have questions about ticketing, access for kids, parking, or other visitor information you can contact 1330. The tourist information line offers free English language support via phone or message. Papago Translate App Papago is the Naver translation app and it provides superior Korean to English to Korean translation. You can use it to read images, signs, menus, and much more. It even has a voice-to-text option. Top 10 Things to Do in Cheonan Obviously, everyone’s top 10 list looks different. Over the years these Cheonan places have remained on my list of places I go back for a day out. These locations provide perfect day trips for families, friends, and those who have just arrived in the area and want to get to know it better. Current Air Quality in Cheonan-si Air quality and weather change throughout the day. However, having an idea of what the air quality is right now can help make decisions easier. You can download the Air Matters App for your phone to keep current on changing air quality conditions throughout the day. You can even set up alerts. Cheonan-si Air Quality Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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You came to the right place if you want to find the top 10 things to do in Gangneung. In addition, please keep in mind that this list was made by me – an outdoor lover. About My Top Things to Do Lists I don’t travel to pay for things that someone built for me to look at. I know that many people find great value in these types of designed experiences as they feel safe and easily accessible. However, for me, I struggle to connect with these types of moments. Instead, I love physical activities and spending a long time in an area “taking it all in”. This means that my travel lists often include things like skate parks, beaches, biking, and other outdoor activities. Since Gangneung has such exceptional outdoor beauty, we mostly spend our time outdoors. All that said, I do love history, art, and learning new things. Therefore, my travel lists also often include a few organized and structured stops like art museums or historical places. Gangneung is no exception. I might go there for the outdoor activities but I make sure to visit the art and historical places at least once. Who Loves Gangneung? Gangneung sits on the edge of Gangwondo on the east coast of South Korea. It’s about 1.5 hours south of Sokcho and connected to Seoul by both the KTX and a freeway that cuts across the country. For those of us obsessed with Gangneung, we love it because it mixes both city life and nature. It’s also filled with artists and artisans being nerdy and fabulous in a very hometown way. If you love the process of making things, Gangneung has what you want. Although, it might take a few trips to connect with all the hidden corners, you won’t regret taking the time to fall in love with the place. Gangneung also has spectacular food. Some of our favorite international and Korean restaurants exist in this seaside town. From homemade tofu to fabulous crab, the perfect brunch, and excellent craft beer – Gangneung has it all. Best 10 Things to Do in Gangneung As always, the term best remains relative to your personal and cultural lens. Since we all travel for different reasons, best is different for each of us. For me, best refers to the things that I enjoy and feel peaceful doing. Things that don’t require me to rush and rarely have tons of people. Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most of who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventures across the country. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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We love a good day trip to Haemi Fortress. Sometimes we stop here on the way to Mallipo or other Taean beaches. Grab breakfast before getting on the road It’s going to be a big day so we usually start with a big breakfast before heading out. Our preferred pre-trip meal is galbitang because it keeps us powered up for adventures along the way. Since we live in Godeokmyeon, we usually start our adventures off at Bangil Haejangguk which opens at 8:00 am and offers tasty soups, some that rotate based on the season. If you live closer to Camp Humphreys and want to get a later start, you can grab a galbitang breakfast at Sodam Korean Restaurant at 10:00 am and it’s very delicious. We have been known to stop off here fairly often because it’s so good. About Haemi Fortress in Seosan, Chungcheonnam-do Haemi Fortress might be one of the most overlooked fortresses in Korea. This little fortress is not only visually beautiful, but it’s also super fun and easy to enjoy in a day. A total retreat from the hectic cities. Families will love how the fortress grounds have been designed so that kids can run free and get all their energy out! The Haemi Fortress its in the middle of a tiny village called Haemi-eup in Seosan, Chungcheonnam-do . According to Wikipedia, the fortress was built between the 17th year of the reign of King Taejong (1417) and the 3rd year of Sejong the Great‘s reign in 1421 during the Joseon period. This fortress was built to protect against Japanese pirates. In 1886, thousands of Catholics were executed at Haemi Fortress during the French Invasion in 1866. Yup, that’s right, the French spend six weeks trying to invade Korea in order to spread Catholicism. Random fact of the day. What to do at Haemi Fortress Haemi Fortress is 45min to 1.5 hours from Pyeongtaek depending on where you are leaving from. You will need to drive since this is far out into the countryside and public transit is inconvenient at best. We always recommend the use of Naver Maps and Kakao Maps when traveling across South Korea. Inside the Haemi Fortress walls, the park a pleasantly organized and beautifully maintained park provides a relaxing place to frolic. And let’s admit it, everyone loves to frolic. The park area has a traditional village (the prison is cool), full-size weapons of war, an obstacle course, a place to fly kites, tons of spots for picnics, some places to get snacks, an area to play traditional Korean games, and more! Where to eat near Haemi If you are traveling alone or with others, you will find many places to eat near Haemi Fortress. Here are a few spots we recommend trying. Where to snack or dessert Personally, I’m always looking for street donuts, but if you can’t find any you NEED to grab hotteok. Where to Grab Coffee Get the Hazelnut Latte at Haemidong Cafe but NOT the Americano (don’t even look in its general direction of the Americano). We LOVE the specialty drinks here but equally avoid the regular drinks. I should note that this is often true because it’s on purpose. Korean roasters specifically blend and roast their coffee to taste best with milk. Pre-or-Post Haemi Ad-ons Here are a few things we often like to add on to our Haemi Fortress trips. It all just depends on how busy you like to be and how much time you have in your day. Haemi is small enough to make it a two-event day! Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventure across the country. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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skate parks korean, where to skate,
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You will love spending a day visiting Cafe Culture Street in Bojeong with you date (or family). Plenty of romantic restaurants and cafes near many different outdoor activities like skate board or a climbing wall.

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Looking for some skate ramps? Here are 10 places outside of Seoul to grind your day away. Don’t sit at home, grab your board and ride. Is there any skateboarding outside of seoul? Yes, of course! We have found ramps big and small from Gangwon-do to Geoje. Some of them we remembered to mark and others we did not. We try to always keep our boards and blades in the car on any trip so that we can take advantage of whatever parks we find. What are skateparks like in Korea? We have found parks to be quite different all over the country. Some are so scary we can’t even attempt them, others are perfect for any level, and some are run down and like skating on a haunted house. The two most terrifying parks we found are in Incheon and Cheonan. Songdo Skate Park in Incheon is brutal and weather-worn. Cheonan Skate Park is made of metal ramps that drop onto concrete, terrifying. We have these on the list but we don’t recommend them. However, visit them once to be entertained. Our favorite skate parks are Dongtan, Godeok, and Yongin. These locations are user-friendly and fun. We go to them often. Many families like the skate park in Sapgyoho but it gets too overrun by kids for us to feel comfortable skating. 10 Skateparks in South Korea! Surfy Beach is also building a skate ramp at their spot on Yangyang (summer 2021) and there is also another portable skate park in a different part of Yangyang, which we will leave as Easter eggs to discover on your own. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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If it makes him happy,  it can’t be that bad. The Harri-bou loves this park. This is near Dongtan near Suwon. Harri-bou-bou’s Favorite Place is  Dongtan: 동탄센트럴파크X게임장 Address: 경기도 화성시 반송동 Additional Locations Nearish Pyeongtaek: Icheon: 경기도 이천시 창전동

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