<p>This is our family vacation this year - college-freshman D’s choice. We will be there for 10 days the beginning of August. Anyone here with experiences to share? Advice? Also looking for good guide books, travel writing, even history (much of what’s written about Korea seems to be slanted from one political point of view or another).</p>
<p>I don’t have much help for you but have you gone over to tripadvisor and looked up the korean forum. There will probably be a lot of advise plus you can ask a question and someone local usually answers. You might like to read Nothing to Envy which is about North Korea. The author talked to many defectors about their lives there. And on a silly note, you might like to go to hulu and watch some Korean tv. They have subtitles and may give you a bit of insight or you may just enjoy them.</p>
<p>I don’t have a lot of advice but your post caught my eye as my daughter is on a two week vacation trip now in South Korea! I know she went to explore some palaces today in Seoul. My guess is when she gets home in about 12 days, she would have lots to share.</p>
<p>I lived and traveled in Korea many years ago. I was one of those travelers who stuck around to teach English for a few months, as I fell in love with the place. There is much that is appealing about Korea, the people and their essential honesty in communication being my favorite. </p>
<p>My favorite things about Korea-that people like to hike, and enjoy being outside, the food, the reverence for history. </p>
<p>The palaces in Seoul, Kyong buk and others, the markets, Nam dae mun (South Gate) and Dong dae mun (East Gate) Both are worth checking out, as they sell different items. Insadong, the artist and craft area is worthwhile. </p>
<p>If it is possible to stay in a traditional inn, a yogwann, take advantage of it.</p>
<p>The classic tourist trip years ago, was East, to Soraksan for hiking, and then to the southeast corner to see the old Silla dynasty capitol of Kong Ju, and the nearby temple complex of Pulguksa. </p>
<p>The south coast, the inlets and islands are beautiful. </p>
<p>My son really appreciated the trip to the DMZ, for foreigners only, to get a glimpse of the border zone with N. Korea. </p>
<p>You need a more up to date review of travel in Korea than I can provide, but wanted to say something, given the lack of response.</p>
<p>I go to Korea on business every once in a while. It’s not somewhere I would choose to go on vacation. But I hope you enjoy it.</p>
<p>Onward, thanks for the tripadvisor suggestion. I use tripadvisor to for hotel reviews but I had forgotten that they have message boards too. </p>
<p>DontPanic, my husband agrees with you but my daughter is really interested in Korea, and we are not sure how many more vacations she will be willing/able to travel with us.</p>
<p>Greatlakesmom, my daughter would also be very interested in seeing the border zone, but think that might push H over the edge of his comfort zone.</p>
<p>Soozie, I would love to hear any advice that your daughter has when she returns!</p>