Year-end is a time for merrymaking and travel to wintry destinations that bring the year to a close on a high note. This month, the Korea Tourism Organization, the state tourism agency, has recommended four spots to explore before the year runs out.
French, Italian villages in Gapyeong
Open since 2008, Petite France is a village in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, mirroring a typical French countryside landscape. The theme park, inspired by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery of “The Little Prince,” was home to many hit Korean drama series including “Secret Garden” (2010) and “My Love from the Star” (2013).
Besides a memorial hall dedicated to the French writer, visitors can view a variety of European handicrafts, furniture, and antiques on display. Some 150 types of organs are on view as well. Performances on the 19th-century organ and puppet shows are taking place as well.
Next to Petit France is Pinocchio & Da Vinci, an Italian village modeled on Tuscany, Italy.
An 11-meter-tall Pinocchio statue welcomes visitors at the village entrance. Through February, the village will host its own version of the annual Venice Carnival in Italy -- a time for grand costume balls where the most beautiful masks get recognition. Over 100 types of masks from Italy are on exhibition for visitors to try on.
Daedong Sky Park in Daejeon
Daedong Sky Park sits at the heart of Daedong Mural Village in Dong-gu, Daejeon. The village, first settled by Korean War refugees, is known for its colorful murals. A public program in 2007 led artists and locals to join forces in redecorating the compound.
The windmill at the park atop the hill is a popular photo spot for travelers. The windmill lights up at night, rendering the ambiance nostalgic and homey. The hill also offers an unobstructed view of downtown, making it the perfect spot to watch the sun rise or set.
“I still remember the sunset view,” said Park Cheol-woo, a Daejeon resident who recently stopped by the hill. “There wasn’t much to do there but to just look around. It helped me organize my thoughts.”
Another favorite landmark is the so-called “Love Rock,” not far from the windmill. Couples have long frequented the pile of rocks, sitting on it shoulder to shoulder, according to villagers. The park is about a 15 minute-ride from Daedong Station on Daejeon Subway Line No. 1.
Choo Choo Park in Gangwon
A railway-themed park in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, Choo Choo Park is all about rides that parents and children can enjoy.
Rail bikes and trains are the signature attractions, but the train running on the switchback railway that changes directions is the all-time favorite. Soak in the mountain views while sipping coffee or tea as the train chugs along.
The 110-minute ride on a train that looks exactly like a steam locomotive makes stops across the park where riders can snack, at an extra cost.
Other attractions include merry-go-rounds available for children, a VR gaming zone and a variety of eats at the bakery, cafe and restaurant. For those wishing to spend more time outdoors, campsites can be booked in advance, with discounted rates during winter.
Santa Village in Bonghwa
Tourist groups shuffling across icy ground covered with snow is a familiar scene at Santa Village in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province -- a winter-themed amusement park not far from Buncheon Station.
Accessible through Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains, the village welcomes visitors to frolic in the snow, take a reindeer sleigh ride and pose for photos around installations meant to mirror Santa Claus Village in Finland, a similar park perched on the edge of the Arctic Circle.
A small dining place on the compound warms up tourists exhausted from playing out in the cold, as one Seoulite who has toured the park fondly recalls.
“If you’re thinking of a grand park filled with attractions and food pop-ups, this isn’t quite the stop,” said Kim Min-jin, a 40-something mother of two children who took her family there last year ahead of Christmas.
“I think it’s the countryside vibe interspersed with the Christmasy landscape that I and my two kids really enjoyed,” Kim added.
A county official said families with children frequent the village, getting there by Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains, which are much slower in speed and more retro in design than the high-speed KTX trains.
“All memorable trips start with a train experience. The ride on those trains is reminiscent of the good old days and I think that alone is something to remember the trip by,” the official added.
siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com
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