Mulhyanggi Arboretum | Osan-si, South Korea

Just a five minute walk from Osan University Station, Mulhyanggi Arboretum provides a tranquil respite from bustling city life. This extensive park is a convenient escape to nature and located in the heart of Osan City. I visited the arboretum on a Sunday, accompanied by many other Korean families seeking the natural elements, however, despite the weekend, I didn't find it to be too terribly crowded.

The entrance fee was only 1500 ₩, a great value. Arboretums and gardens of similar size in the states will have entrance fees between $5-$15, so I found this small fee to be quite the steal. I wish I had come earlier in the year when the spring flowers were in bloom. I think I'd just missed them, unfortunately. Alas, it was really nice to experience the green grasses and trees. The arboretum has many unique features to explore, including a fruit tree garden, herb garden, a greenhouse, wetland areas, and much more. 

Herb garden

My favorite part of the arboretum was the giant greenhouse. I'm a sucker for them. Plus, the shape was really cool! It's a fun place for both adults and children to explore. There's also a water 'fountain' here if you get thirsty.

Can I have one of these in my back yard? Please and thanks.

This reminds of me of the botanical garden on Jeju Island. Not nearly as large or extensive in plant variety, but similar in style.

Keep in mind, the arboretum is closed on Mondays. Parking is available, however it's an easy walk from the Osan University subway station as well, for those who rely on pubic transportation like me. Restrooms are located throughout the area. There is much to see at the arboretum and signs are in Korean and English, so you can easily navigate the area. There're also several nice lunch spots and it wasn't uncommon to see Koreans napping in the shade of the mature trees. Food and drink are ok to bring, but there are no public trash cans, so please pick up after yourself! There was also a musical performance near the entrance where many Koreans gathered with their children to enjoy a meal in the large shaded area.

One of the rest areas in the arboretum.

The view from the highest point in the arboretum, a reminder that the busy city lies just outside of this tranquil space.

I've concluded that Koreans enjoy napping anywhere and everywhere.

My love of macro nature photography drew me to the arboretum. I went by myself and was able to photograph on my own time. I spent about two hours in the area, including a stop to munch on an apple and watch the families play frisbee. This would be an excellent place to spend a lazy afternoon and reconnect with nature. I find that with apartment dwelling, I miss the natural elements and have to intentionally seek out a park or hiking area to even see grass. Ha! I should also mention that there is also a convenience store right outside the entrance to the arboretum. It's not clearly labeled, but it's on a corner lot. You can grab a snack and some beverages there before or after your visit.

Did I mention there's also a bonsai garden on the grounds?

Let me know if you visit the arboretum or have questions about it. I look forward to hearing about your own adventures in Korea! As always, the details are posted below for your convenience.

The Details

What: Mulhyanggi Arboretum

Where: 211, Cheonghak-ro, Osan-si, Gyeonggi-do

경기도 오산시 청학로 211 (수청동)
When: March- May 09:00-18:00 June-August 09:00-19:00 September-October 09:00-18:00 November-February 09:00-17:00 * Last admission is one hour before closing. 
Admission: Adults (age 19-64) 1,500 won / Group (30 and over) 1,000 won 
Teenagers (age 13-18) 1,000 won / Group 700 won Children (age 7-12) 700 won / Group 500 won* Free admission: Children under 6, seniors over 65 and the handicapped (ID card required)  More Information

O'sulloc Tea Museum | Jeju Island, South Korea

O'sulloc Tea Museum is a fun place to visit on your trip to Jeju Island. The sprawling green tea fields are a beautiful sight to see, even on a rainy day like when we visited earlier this spring. There is even an observatory on the top of the main building where you can see the property from a birds eye view.

Interesting facts about the O'sulloc Tea Museum:

• The 'o' in O'sulloc means to appreciate and enjoy. 
• The building is built in the shape of green tea cup.
• The museum aims to "harmonize the cultures of the West and East".
• The museum opened in September 2001.

Facts courtesy of VisitKorea.

O'sulloc Tea Museum is all about green tea, you can see how the leaves are roasted, taste test the green tea, sample green tea ice cream and pastries, and purchase beauty products made from green tea. They accept both card and won. You'll also have an opportunity to learn about black and green teas, the differences between the two, and how each are made, as well as view traditional tea settings on display.

Tea cups and tea sets on display.

We sampled green tea macarons, roll cake, and ice cream. South Korean desserts are not very sweet and each of our selections tasted very much like green tea. If you don't know if you like green tea, you might consider sharing with someone like we did.

Black tea and green tea macarons.

In the spirit of the spring season, we also picked up some cherry blossom green tea to share with our family back home. The smell is amazing and I can't wait to taste it!

Restrooms and umbrella bags available at the entrance!

The weather can be unpredictable on Jeju Island in the spring and O'sulloc Tea Museum is an entertaining rainy day activity; of course, we would have preferred to visit on a sunny day to see the gorgeous green fields against a blue sky. But alas, weather is beyond our control. Despite the wetness, we really enjoyed this visit and would likely return on a sunny day, given the opportunity.

On a fair weather day you can walk around the grounds that provide several photo opportunities, including a lotus pond. There are also cherry blossom trees on the property, so you'll have plenty of photos!

The entrance to the main building.

Beautiful cherry blossom trees!

It was quite wet during our visit.

I hope you'll put O'sulloc Tea Museum on your list during your visit to Jeju. Green tea products from Jeju are sold all across South Korea and worldwide, so stock up while you're there. The volcanic soil of this island is rich in nutrients and health benefits, making it a fertile location to grow almost anything. Juju Island is also well known for it's delicious Hallabong and mandarin oranges and the tree orchards can be spotted on nearly every part of the island.

Have a question about the O'sulloc Tea Museum? Don't hesitate to leave me a comment below! I'd love to hear from you!

The Details

What: O'sulloc Tea Museum

Where: 1235-3 Seogwang-ri, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, Jeju-do

When: 09:00-18:00 Year Round

Website: osulloc.co.kr

Cost: Admission is free. Products available for purchase and cafe on site.

Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival | Seoul, South Korea

Visiting the Spring Flower Festival at Yeouido Park was so much fun that we went twice! The festival is renown for it's 1,886 Korean cherry trees, so there are plenty of blossoms to see, in addition to flowering azalea and forsythia blooms!

Actually, in truth, the cherry blossoms (which are truly the star of the show here, who are we kidding?) bloomed over several weeks here in Seoul so there was never a time when ALL of the trees were in bloom at once. We went to the festival on the first weekend and there were a couple of gorgeous trees in bloom, and small buds on some, but most of the trees were pretty bare. Despite the lack of blooms, we did some walking around and familiarized ourselves with this particular part of Seoul. There was still plenty to see and do and we looked forward to returning the following weekend when more trees would be flowering.

We accessed the park via the Yeouido Station and walked about five minutes to get there (see map below). On the way we stopped for a Billy Angel 20 Layer Rainbow Crepe Cake and had a small picnic in the park. So fun!

These yellow buds were in bloom the first weekend we went! So many selfie sticks!

This is Yeouido Park. There is a bike/walking track that goes around the entire park.

Cute matching outfits on these young girls!

Yeouido Park also has a large open area. There were a ton of people playing basketball, riding bikes or scooters, and hanging out enjoying the afternoon.

The second weekend, after our trip to Jeju Island, more of the trees had bloomed and word had definitely spread! The crowds were insane, (hello, this is Seoul we're talking about) but seeing the gorgeous pale pink blooms on that beautiful spring afternoon was totally worth the second trip to Seoul. It was a beautiful spring day and most everyone was enjoying the warmer weather. 

Yeouido is a beautiful park to relax in, a peaceful spot right in the middle of Seoul.

More matching outfits! A very popular trend in South Korea.

This year the Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival was April 1-9, 2017. 

If you hope to catch the festival next year, you can find the dates on this website.

I should start an album of photos of me taking photos of strangers... 

So go check out the cherry blossoms at Yeouido Park in the spring. There are plenty of food trucks and fun activities like renting a bike to ride around the park, walking along the Han River, and watching street performers. It's a great time and a fun way to spend a weekend!

Spring was definitely in the air! There's something romantic about flowering cherry tress and those tiny little blooms. If you're lucky, you might find yourself watching a marriage proposal... see below! 

How cute is that? It was so interesting to see a Korean proposal play out. Ethan and I sat on the grass for about an hour as the guy waited for his girlfriend to be led to the park. Talk about dramatic afternoon entertainment! He had an enormous bouquet of roses, so big that he could hardly hold it! It looked really heavy, there was also a heart of rose petals on the grass. Children and older people kept coming up to him and talking to him, or picking up the petals. I was so worried they would ruin the moment! But luckily it went smoothly, aside from the people who blocked my shot (who are likely related to the couple...) Darn them. Ha!

Here are the details for the Spring Flower Festival! Double check this website for dates. They may not be released until much closer to time, as the weather determines when the blossoms are in full bloom, so the dates are uncertain.

The Details

• What: Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival
• When: Dates vary, likely early April
• Where: Gukhoe-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul