Day 37 - Chuncheon Tour - July 31

Samaksan Cable Car

Good news! I didn’t buy tickets in advance, and this turned out to be a win because they were giving out discounts today. To celebrate, I sprung for the crystal car option (see‑through floor). Full disclosure, the price drop was because of the soaring heat and the cars’ lack of air conditioning. Ava, on the other hand, failed to share my enthusiasm for being trapped in a glass oven for the 1 km trip to the other side.

The car crosses Uiam Lake and arrives at Samaksan Mountain where you can't take a quick hike to a glass floor lookout point to appreciate great views of Chuncheon!

I love there that is a sign at the peak forbidding booze and hotpot. I mean, how else would you celebrate after climbing to the top of a mountain?

We settled for fancy drinks and desserts at the Cafe lookout at the start of the trail.

Chuncheon Jungdo Mullegil

A short walk away we booked a guided canoe tour on Uiam Lake. From the lake you can can see Legoland Island. Checkout our lovely hats.

The guide took this amazing video, holding my phone in one hand and steering around our boat with the other. Clearly this wasn't his first rodeo.

Dakgalbi Street

For dinner we went to Dakgalbi Street, which is famous for — you guessed it — dakgalbi, the birthplace of Chuncheon’s signature dish. The street also has notoriety for being featured in a popular Korean Drama, Winter Sonata. Most of the restaurants were packed, but we managed to find a little Mom & Pop shop away from the hustle and bustle that promised to serve us a dish within Ava’s spice tolerance, which is admittedly low.

They cook the dish right in front of you. Or at least they do for foreigners that don't know what they are doing. This dish includes

• Chicken (boneless thigh, marinated)

•  Gochujang sauce (spicy, slightly sweet, fermented)

• Cabbage

• Sweet potato

• Rice cakes (tteok)

• Perilla leaves

• Green onions,  Onion & Garlic

Dongchimi, cold radish water kimchi. It was somewhat sweet.

Soyang River Sky Walk

Ava retired to the garage (our hotel), and I went for a late‑night walk that ended at the Soyang River Sky Walk — essentially a glass pier that lets you walk over the river and take in panoramic views of the city’s skyline.

 

City Walk

Chuncheon bridge is near the Glass bridge. But this one isn't just for pedestrians.

Korean War memorial. Despite around 3 million people people dying in the war, including over 500 Canadian soldiers, it's not something covered in school, or so my kids tell me.

New York Burger? Where am I again?

Bar soap on stick. I've seen these more than a few times, but only in South Korea. It keeps you from walking off with it. Because who wouldn't want a well used bar of soap?