21 essential winter courses in Gangwon-do that are great for an impromptu trip

chanifoto

This pool, with such a view, is... an omnipotent point of view, your photo by Chani. Probably, it seems to be one of the top 3 pools with the best views I've ever seen. I really wanted to see the snow-covered Ulsan rock from here, and I'm very happy to see enough snow this year 😆. This pool can be used not only by guests but also by non-guests, and even guests pay the same fee as non-guests, so it feels a bit more special. It would also be a good idea to visit the cafe The Embrosia, located in the same building, while you're at it 😁. 🏊🏻‍♂️ Sono Felice Delphino Infinity Pool ⏰ 10:00 ~ 18:00 💵 Weekdays 35,000 won / Weekends 50,000 won ❌ Infinity pool is a no kids zone.

hyeonini

Next to the Daegwallyeong Sheep Ranch, Seonjaryeong is also famous as a backcountry camping site! I didn't go all the way to the summit but climbed for about 30 minutes, and I was able to see truly beautiful scenery☺️ If you’re visiting the sheep ranch, I definitely recommend going to Seonjaryeong as well!

Daegwallyeong Seonjaryeong, Gangwon-do
The roads can be very slippery, so crampons are recommended
The trail is not regulated by entrance fees or hours

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Visited again on a snowy day, Gangneung Farm Picnic Cafe, Le Cottage❄️.
A beautiful farm picnic space crafted by three siblings from a 250-year-old house where their grandparents lived. It operates by reservation, offering a completely private time.
I was curious about its picturesque scenery throughout the seasons when I visited in late autumn 2019, and upon visiting again in the beautiful snowy winter, it added another touching page to my memories.
-Visit after reservation / 1 hour 30 minutes of use when reserving, including two drinks at a fee of 60,000 Won
✔ add. 50-11 Hanbatgol-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon
✔ insta. @lecottage_lifestylefarm

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Experiencing Paris in Gangneung

'Vacances des parents,' meaning 'parents on holiday,' is the inspiration behind this venue, where children stay behind to enjoy a modest party among themselves. Positioned as having its family home in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, this interesting place operates as a cafe from 1 to 5 PM, and as a wine bar from 6 to 10 PM. When using the cafe, ordering the Salon de The set menu provides a choice of one drink among latte, americano, espresso, or tea, along with cigarette russe, macaron, chocolate, and whipped cream. (₩13,000) Choosing the chocolat chaud menu instead adds a croissant to the selection. (₩15,000) While the small space and conceptual atmosphere are appealing, it's mainly the presentation of the menu items that draws people to this Paris in Gangneung.

✔ add. 2064 Gyeonggang-ro, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, 3rd floor
✔ insta. @vacancesdesparents

chanifoto

The perspective from the sky is different.

The omnipresent view from Chani's lens
This is Chani Photo.

On the day when the whole world was covered in white,
I became a bird and flew.
The view from above was
so beautiful!

Daegwallyeong

Memories Of The Day

gohome_masil

Snow Flower Trekking at Mt. Hambaek ⛄️ Taking the forest road instead of the hiking trail makes it easier to walk with a crunchy sound underfoot and offers great scenery.

gohome_masil

When a heavy snowfall comes to Manhaengjae in winter, you can see the beautiful rime ice scenery. It's a nice place to visit safely as snowplows operate frequently.

chanifoto

I visited again this year after last year. Perspective from omnipotent Chani, Chani's photo. Samyang Ranch, covered in snow in the winter, is famous for its beautiful scenery. In some parts, the snow is so deep that it reaches up to the thighs, and stepping anywhere usually buries your calves...🥲 This weekend will probably be very beautiful, so everyone rush this weekend!!!!! ❄️ Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch 📍 708-9, Flower Field Sunji Road, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon 🕘 Daily 09:00 ~ 17:30

s.bnee

I've always wanted to visit a birch forest covered in snow during the winter. A destination I've delayed due to various excuses and uncooperative weather, Inje Birch Forest is about 2 hours by car from Seoul, around 150km. You should set 'Whispering Birch Forest Information Center' on Naver Maps, park there, and walk to the birch forest. It seems to take about an hour and 20 minutes at a brisk pace. It's recommended to use the restroom at the information center before heading out, as the ones on the way to the forest are not recommended due to poor conditions. Crampons are essential on snowy days. There are flat areas, but also inclines which could be dangerous. Bringing sticks is also best! Crampons are sold at the entrance of the information center (5000 won). Since the course is quite long, wearing comfortable clothes is recommended. Inje Birch Forest Address: 760 Namwon-ro, Inje-eup, Inje-gun, Gangwon-do (This is the address of the Birch Forest Information Center.) Operating Hours: Summer 09:00 ~ 15:00 Winter 09:00 ~ 14:00 Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (However, it's open if a national holiday falls on Monday or Tuesday).

hannahk

A pristine white camping in the snow-covered birch forest☃️. The luxury of leisurely enjoying a snowfall in the open-air bath, available for free when using the camping site. A place you'd want to visit every winter.

_gnal

Hotel of Salt is a cafe & eatery born from remodeling a handmade taffy factory that was built in 1975 and run by an elderly couple their entire lives. Named to represent the best space (Hotel) in the Donghae region (Salt), it strives to use agricultural products from Gangwon Province as much as possible. The space, like the open cafes in Europe, allows guests to comfortably enjoy brunch and meals both indoors and outdoors.🙂Simple to extravagant options, including tea, coffee, beer, wine, meat pies, and even steak, are available. Don't miss out on the lasagna and the signature Black Angus sirloin steak.☺️ If you're planning a trip to Gangwon Province during the upcoming holidays, be sure to take your parents!

hyeonini

Gangwon-do Yangyang Jeongam Beach covered with pure white snow. It's a place that shows really picturesque scenery with various structures. I recommend it if you're looking for a quiet beach since it's not crowded.☺️

_h.conte

This is a prime location to enjoy the panoramic view of Ulsanbawi Rock in Seoraksan Mountain. Located on the 10th floor of Sono Felice Delpino, the cafe 'The Ambrosia' offers the best view in Kosung, Gangwon Province. You can admire the majestic Ulsanbawi Rock from the newly built Sono Felice EAST building. The beautiful landscape that impulsively makes you stare out of the window is truly breathtaking. It is as if you are looking at a piece of art, spontaneously making you gasp in awe. If you happen to visit Kosung in Gangwon Province, I highly recommend you to drop by.
< Sono Felice Delpino The Ambrosia >
📌 1153 Old Misiryeong Road, Toseong-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon Province
📌 Daily 08:00 - 21:00
📌 YesKidsZone

영뽀또

Wonju Chiaksan Mountain's Birobong Peak Shortest Course via Hwanggol Course Round Trip (Including Rest Time: 5 hours 30 minutes)! The incline is steeper than expected, so it's a course you have to be mentally prepared for. I went there thinking it was going to be easy after reading blogs, but it turned out to be a real challenge 🤦‍♂️ Nevertheless, the beautiful scenery viewed from the summit of Birobong makes all the hardship instantly disappear. Must bring water and snacks!! Poles ×1000 important!! Crampons are a must!!!

sue8318

Wouldn't this place be just like a scene from Jean-Jacques Sempé's Petit Nicolas on winter vacation? It was cold, but really fun! After all, sledding is a must in winter, right?

henry_graphy

'The Reason Why Gangneung Became a Coffee City' #terarosa (@terarosacoffee) A month ago, I suddenly wanted to see the winter sea. Considering I had visited Jeju last autumn, I had no desire to head south, so Gangwon Province naturally came to mind. However, since we weren't driving, we couldn't explore many cities, and so we chose the area with the best travel infrastructure while still offering plenty to see. Thus, I took the KTX to Gangneung. What comes to mind when you think of Gangneung? Maybe it's the 'Jeongdongjin' that gets crowded from the New Year's sunrise, or the 'freshly caught sashimi,' but I think I thought of 'coffee.' Leaving Seoul behind, there was a moment I looked forward to drinking coffee while smelling the sea. Fitting for its nickname as a 'Coffee City,' there were numerous cafes lined up along the beach, and I even saw a coffee museum I had never seen before. What made Gangneung so famous for its coffee? I believe the foundation was set by 'Terarosa,' a coffee brand. Since the opening of its first coffee factory in Gangneung in 2002, Terarosa has become a well-known brand to coffee lovers, expanding to 20 stores from Seoul to Jeju Island over the past two decades. Thanks to Terarosa, the city of Gangneung has been hosting a coffee festival every year since 2009, and following the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, coffee shops began to line up along the coast. Even I, who doesn't particularly favor large franchise cafes, have a positive impression of Terarosa's spaces and coffee flavors. I think what makes Terarosa coffee different is 'being true to the basics.' It creates interesting spaces that retain the brand's color while giving each location a new hue, escaping the mass-produced feel of other brand stores. And it's not just about caffeine replenishment at a cheap price, but providing quality coffee that anyone would enjoy. That's why Terarosa coffee is loved by many. If you go to Gangneung, definitely try visiting Terarosa Coffee! Today's drip coffee (-6.0) Terarosa Lake Gyeongpo Store Gangneung, Gangwon 145 Nansunheon-ro Open daily 09:00 - 21:00 Last order 20:30 Tips - Try filming the barista extracting coffee from various angles. - The price difference isn't significant, so we recommend today's coffee (drip). - It's close to major tourist attractions such as the Arte Museum and Lake Gyeongpo, so try visiting them too!

영뽀또

The StoneCreek Cafe is famous for its view of an icefall cliff, offering a scene like something out of a real-life Frozen. It's a well-known spot for taking the perfect Instagram shot alongside the magnificent ice wall, making it a must-visit for coffee and sightseeing in Wonju. 🚗Parking available ⏰10:30-20:00 🔍1101 Jijeong-ro, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do

영뽀또

The sunrise viewed from here, like the location featured at the beginning of the national anthem, was the biggest and most majestic sunrise I have ever seen. May everyone receive good vibes and be happy on this day trip in the Year of the Black Rabbit (2023)🌅

henry_graphy

On the last day of my trip to Gangneung, unable to sleep due to excitement from Korea's victory over Portugal and advancing to the round of 16, I walked out into the cold to witness the sunrise at Gangmun Beach. The charm that makes one forget the cold, due to the hot sun rising above the sea, seems to be the reason to visit the winter sea 🌅

📍Gangmun Beach
_ Gangwon, Gangneung-si, Gangmun-dong

✔️Tips
_ It's best to arrive a bit early, checking the sunrise time?
_ If you're using a camera, try setting the white balance mode to sunlight for shooting!
_ Utilizing the silhouette of the subject can yield more enriched photos!

영뽀또

In winter, you can see a beautiful color like Milkis at Miin Waterfall in Samcheok, Gangwon. The total distance takes about 20 minutes to descend and 30 minutes to ascend. The difficulty is somewhat similar to climbing a small mountain, so keep that in mind. There's a temporary parking lot!! Be careful when crossing the street!!