First Family Adventure in South Korea
It was March 2019, and our very first international family trip was finally happening. Our daughter was just shy of her 13th birthday, and after much anticipation and planning, we were ready to embark on this long-awaited journey together. My husband, who was born and raised in South Korea, hadn’t been back to visit in nearly 25 years, making this trip especially meaningful for all of us. WOW, how time flies. We had our doubts—would our tween daughter shut down and refuse to travel again? Would I end up pulling all my hair out in frustration? Would we spend the entire trip bickering because we couldn’t satisfy the hunger of our picky eater family? But to our delight, it was absolutely magical. The experience was so incredible that we decided we would make it an annual tradition and return every year… except, of course, the following year in 2020 when something completely unexpected happened that prevented us from traveling at all.
During that trip, we did all the traditional tourist experiences. We stayed at the Namdaemun Courtyard Hotel which was EXCELLENT. Right across from Namdaemun market which is the largest traditional market, opened in 1964 and has over 10,000 retailers, vendors and wholsalers. Definitely a must experience on the first trip. Other sites on this first trip consisted of several walking trips to Myeongdong Shopping District where we shopped and ate our hearts out. Additionally, the following places are highly recommended:
A must-visit, especially at night for amazing views of Seoul. Perfect for families, dates, or quiet time alone. The N Seoul Tower is a 236-meter tall tower on Namsan Mountain in central Seoul. Built in 1971, it was Korea’s first radio tower and still broadcasts TV and radio signals for major channels like KBS, MBC, and SBS. It’s one of Seoul’s tallest landmarks. Taking a taxi up the hill is easier unless you don’t mind lots of stairs.
Gyeongbokgung (경복궁; 景福宮) is a former royal palace in Seoul, built in 1395 as the first Joseon dynasty palace. It's a major tourist site. Wear a hanbok for free entry and catch the guard changing ceremony for a historical experience.
Insadong Cultural Street is a popular spot for tourists worldwide, known for its many art galleries, Korean restaurants, traditional teahouses, and street vendors. It’s the best place to buy authentic Korean gifts.
All I can say is that if you enjoy shopping and love discovering great deals, you should definitely visit Dongdaemun. It’s a vibrant destination where you can explore a wide variety of products and enjoy a unique shopping experience.
We learned alot on this trip, like don’t take the black taxi’s, they are more expensive and no need to tip at restaurants, as it isn’t part of Korean culture.
We also experienced a no complaint trip with our tween daughter. What more would you want