Booked: Three Families to Korea over March Break

Time’s flying and March Break is just around the corner. After our awesome family trips to Japan in 2023 and Hawaii last year, we’re gearing up for another Asian adventure – to South Korea! But since the kids absolutely fell in love with Japan last time, we couldn’t resist adding a few days there too. And thanks to a lucky flight deal, we’re also squeezing in a quick stop in Taipei so I can check out their food scene has been on my bucket list forever.

The Trip

Spring’s actually a pretty great time to hit up Korea as the weather’s starting to warm up with sunnier days to explore. While April and May are usually the prime months, with two weeks of March Break, we couldn’t justify taking the kids out later. Only downside is we’ll probably miss the cherry blossoms, which usually pop up between late March and April.

We’re planning to travel between Busan, Jeju Island, and Seoul – mixing it up with some historic spots, diving into Korean culture, eating our way through local food scenes, and definitely squeezing in some shopping – a solid mix of sightseeing and fun activities to keep both the kids and adults happy!

We’re kicking off our Korean adventure with three days in Busan, Korea’s second largest city. Even though March isn’t exactly beach weather, we’ll take a walk along Haeundae Beach and hop on a Blueline Park capsule train for some views from above. Gwangan Beach is also a great spot to watch the sunset and bridge lights. 

We’ll take a day to visit the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Korea’s iconic oceanfront temple and Gamcheon Culture Village, often called Korea’s “Santorini” because of all its colorful houses stacked up on the hillside. To end off the day, we’ll head up to Hwangnyeongsan Mountain.

No trip to Busan would be complete without visiting Shinsegae Centum City, the world’s largest department store. Us moms will be sneaking off to Spa Land for some relaxation time in the hot spring baths, while the kids can role-play at KidZania, an interactive city for kids, before checking out the Sea Life Aquarium.

Jeju is basically Korea’s version of Hawaii, with laid-back island vibes and dramatic volcanic landscapes. We’ll be spending plenty of time outdoors, hiking Hallasan Mountain, Korea’s highest peak, and part of the gorgeous coastal trail called Olle Trail Course 7. There’s also black sand beaches, waterfalls, and lava…