u/mintyshark8

I went on a family summer vacation to Inje last week! Seoul was brutally hot, so Inje felt amazingly cool to me (it was only 18°C). I was so happy to enjoy nature’s air conditioning.

Today, I’d like to share one of my favorite places from the trip. It’s Baekdamsa, a beautiful temple in Inje. My family and I walked around together, took lots of pictures, and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. My favorite part was stacking stones by the riverside (Yeongsilcheon), right next to the temple. Here’s what I enjoyed the most!

If you plan to visit Baekdamsa, I definitely recommend taking the shuttle bus because the temple is deep inside Seoraksan National Park. I saw some people hiking along the trail instead, but it takes a little over an hour on foot. So if you enjoy forest walks or want to burn off a meal, go for it! Just make sure you have enough time.
A one-way shuttle ticket costs 2,500 won for adults and 1,200 won for anyone under 18, and the ride takes about 20 minutes.

The shuttle bus ride was actually one of my favorite parts of the trip. Everything about it was perfect. The cool breeze came through the window, and I loved looking at the lush green forest outside. The best part? The bus was surprisingly fast😂 It honestly felt like riding a roller coaster! I sat in the front row, so I had the best view through the huge front window. I felt so lucky.

After the bus ride, I got off and started exploring the area. Right in front of me was a long bridge leading to Baekdamsa. As I crossed it, I saw the temple blending beautifully with the surrounding mountains and river.
What makes Baekdamsa special is its location right beside the river. I’ve done temple stays at other temples before, but most of them were surrounded only by forests. They were peaceful too, but Baekdamsa felt different. The sound of the river made everything feel much calmer. After visiting, I honestly thought a temple stay by the river would be even better than one in the forest.
(Baekdamsa also offers a temple stay program, so I’d definitely recommend it if you’re interested.)

One of my favorite experiences was stacking stones by the riverside. I noticed lots of stone towers that visitors had built while making wishes. My family and I built a few together as well. Listening to the sound of the river while carefully balancing the stones felt incredibly peaceful. It ended up being one of the most memorable moments of the trip.

The traditional Korean temple buildings were also beautiful. Their tiled roofs looked elegant against the green mountains, making them a perfect place for photos. If you visit Baekdamsa, don’t forget to take a few pictures before you leave!📸

📍Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QtPdYoKeJ5WJTNSs5?g\_st=ic
📍Naver Map: https://naver.me/5Z0JUEAr

I prefer firm and chewy noodles

I’m a huge roller coaster fan. I used to be scared of them, but once I discovered the thrill, I got completely hooked! Now roller coasters are always the first thing I look for at an amusement park. So today, I’m sharing my experience at Gyeongju World and E-World in Daegu with my friend, who’s from Daegu. Visiting amusement parks outside Seoul always feels fresh and exciting!

The main reason I wanted to visit Gyeongju World was Draken. I’ve ridden T-Express at Everland and Atlantis at Lotte World many times, and I’d heard Draken was even more thrilling. So my expectations were pretty high. But honestly… it wasn’t as scary as I expected😂 The ride felt quite short, and even the steep drops weren’t that intense for me. Maybe I’ve gotten too used to roller coasters, but it felt like it was over in seconds! Gyeongju World itself wasn't very big, so we could see most of it pretty quickly.
One random recommendation is try dak-kkochi (Korean chicken skewers)! It’s quick, easy to eat between rides, and comes with sauces like teriyaki or spicy Korean sauce. Plus, it’s protein💪

📍 Gyeongju World
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5gVEj9ivJq6K55oE6?g\_st=ic
Naver Map: https://naver.me/xvdDXlhP

E-World felt much bigger and more spacious. When I visited, the entrance had a colorful Alice in Wonderland-like theme, which was really fun to look around. Our first attraction was the haunted house because my friend loves them… Thankfully, it was more about creepy clowns than traditional Asian ghosts, or I probably wouldn’t have gone in😇 Still scary, though! We also rode the Viking from the very back and had a lot of fun. But my favorite attraction was actually Music Express. The staff takes song requests, blasts K-pop, and sings along while the ride spins around. Fast speed + cool wind + loud K-pop = SO much fun. I still remember that feeling clearly, so I’d definitely recommend it.
And if you can, stay until night. E-World lights up with colorful lights and feels like a little fantasy world. There’s something magical and slightly bittersweet about an amusement park at night, knowing that such a fun day is almost over.

📍 E-World
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xsFaKgwGzjWyGEqZA?g\_st=ic
Naver Map: https://naver.me/FHngTm08

A friend of mine from Daegu took me to Seomun Market. I knew it was famous, but I didn’t expect it to be this big. There were clothes, household goods, souvenirs, and so many kinds of street food. We visited on a Sunday afternoon, so there were a lot of people looking for lunch or snacks. My friend and I walked around for quite a while before deciding what to eat.

First, I tried peanut bread. It’s a small cake shaped like a peanut, and it actually has roasted peanuts inside. It was warm, nutty, and slightly crunchy. Once I finished one, I immediately wanted another😂
I also noticed they were selling matcha peanut bread. I didn’t try it, but I heard the matcha flavor is light and not too strong. If you’d like to try it, I recommend Seomun Peanut Bread.

📍 Seomun Peanut Bread
Location: Near Gate 10, North Entrance, Zone 2 of Seomun Market

My favorite snack was the cheese hotteok. I’ve eaten hotteok many times in Seoul, so I thought it would taste about the same. But this one surprised me. It wasn’t as greasy as I expected. The cheese filling was generous, but not too salty. The dough had a chewy, mochi-like texture, and the melted mozzarella stretched with every bite. Together, they made each bite even more satisfying. If you like chewy foods like mochi, I think you’ll love this.
It felt much lighter than most hotteok I’ve had before, so I finished it much faster than I expected. It was one of those simple snacks that completely surprised me.

If you visit Seomun Market, don’t skip the street food. Hotteok is easy to find all over Korea, but somehow it tasted even better here. Maybe it was the atmosphere. Or maybe food just tastes better at a traditional market🤣
Also, if you like peanuts, don’t miss the peanut bread. Seomun Market is actually known as the birthplace of peanut bread, so it felt like the perfect place to try it.

📍 Seomun Market
Address: 45 Keunjang-ro 26-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/re45dY7WicKVnYV3A?g\_st=ic
Naver Map: https://naver.me/F1IMKDYT

P.S. I was too busy eating… so I forgot to take more photos😂

A friend of mine is from Daegu, so I had the chance to visit the city and explore it together. We stopped by several popular attractions, but when I looked back on the trip, the two places I remembered most were the parks we visited at night. They had such a calm and relaxing atmosphere that I wanted to share why they stood out to me.

Duryu Park is huge, with plenty of walking trails to explore. Some paths even have gentle uphill sections, so it felt like a nice workout after dinner. I visited at night, and the cool breeze made the walk even more enjoyable.
My favorite spot was Seongdang Pond inside the park. The trees and sculptures were beautifully illuminated, and their reflections on the water made the whole place feel magical. What caught my eye the most was the bridge! The half-moon-shaped arch reflected perfectly on the water, creating what looked like a complete circle! (as you can see on the pic) It was simple, but incredibly beautiful.
Since I visited on a Saturday night, there was also a busking performance nearby. My friend and I sat on a bench, enjoying the cool evening breeze while listening to live singing and acoustic guitar. It was such a peaceful moment, and it ended up becoming one of my favorite memories from the trip.
Earlier that evening, my friend and I had been having fun at E-World, and stopping by Duryu Park before heading home turned out to be the perfect way to end the day.

📍 Duryu Park
* Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/X6Wb5KkeGGQhMyU18?g\_st=ic
* Naver Map: https://naver.me/GuNw6y5x

Suseong Lake is another great place for an evening walk. A wide walking path surrounds the lake, making it easy to stroll while enjoying the scenery.
At night, the trees are softly lit, and the lights from the buildings around the lake create beautiful reflections on the water. It’s also a great place to take photos!
If you have a little extra time, I’d also recommend stopping by Suseong Parkland, a small amusement park nearby. My favorite ride was the Viking. It wasn’t very big, but it swung much higher than I expected, which made it even more thrilling and fun. I enjoyed it so much that I rode it three times in a row😂 If you like simple amusement rides, it’s definitely worth trying!

📍 Suseong Lake
* Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/w7gQXbXRts6dTp38A?g\_st=ic
* Naver Map: https://naver.me/5oQXq1rq

If you’re looking for somewhere to slow down after a busy day of sightseeing, I’d definitely recommend spending an evening at Duryu Park and Suseong Lake. Sometimes, the quietest moments end up becoming the most memorable ones.