Last days in Seoul and our vacation
We kicked off one of our final days in Seoul with lunch at Vatios Tacos (a must try recipe from Andy’s friend), where we indulged in a (two if I’m being honest- I’m on vacation) Coronarita—a margarita with a beer tipped in, because why not? We tried a mix of tacos, including a standout Korean galbi short rib taco. This place had 3 choices of Lost Coast beers. Damn they were good!
After lunch, we made our way to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), which is an architectural marvel. The building is covered in 47,000 aluminum panels and has light shows in the evening. The highlight for me was an art installation featuring three tunnels inside the building. From a distance, they looked like painted shapes, but as you walked through them, they perfectly aligned with the circular shape of the tunnels. It was such a unique experience. Feeling the need to walk off our feast, we strolled back to the hotel.
For dinner, we hit up a BBQ spot, where I thought I couldn’t eat another bite- but I manned up and ate. And then, my stomach found more room when I saw the street vendors. We ended up grabbing some fried baby soft-shelled crab and a soufflé with strawberries and whipped cream for dessert. Let’s just say, I’m definitely not losing weight on this trip!
On our last day in Seoul, we decided to escape the city and head to Nami Island, but not before visiting the Garden of Morning Calm. This garden, opened in 1997 by a landscape architect with a vision of beauty, was absolutely breathtaking. The garden is set on a hillside with a variety of flowers and trees blooming all around, attracting wildlife like spiders, praying mantises, and even a little brown snake. It was a peaceful escape, and I’d highly recommend a visit any time of year.
After a delicious chicken dish for lunch, we made our way to Nami Island. I’m not sure of the full backstory of the island, but it felt like a magical playground for families. We rented bikes and spent an hour cycling through the forests, alongside streams, spotting ducks and geese along the way. It was a relaxing and scenic way to enjoy the outdoors, though the heat kept us seeking shade and hydration.
Our last adventure of the day was a rail bike tour. Admittedly, it was a little cheesy, especially the themed tunnels, but the countryside views more than made up for it.
Back in the city for dinner, I wasn’t feeling particularly hungry thanks to the heat (and all the food I’ve eaten over the last 3 days), but since it was our last night, we revisited the BBQ restaurant from the previous evening. We had more steak, marinated pork, and this time, cold noodles that were simply amazing. And because there’s always room for dessert, we finished with a Nutella and blueberry soufflé. It was the perfect way to cap off the day before packing for our flight the next morning.
Seoul has been an incredible experience—clean, safe, filled with great food, lovely countryside and nice people. It’s a city I’ll definitely be coming back to.
After traveling for 6 weeks we were ready to head come, sleep in the comfort of our bed and see our babies. This trip was a great mix of adventure, risk, culture, self-care, and food.