Camping Travel
with Your Family

KTO announces its 4 recommended trips for July

     
Under the theme "Camping Travel with Your Family,"the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has released its list of recommended trips for July: a romantic time in a tent with the East Sea as a backdrop in Goseong, Gangwon-do; taking in the waterfalls at the Mt. Geumwon Natural Forest Retreat in Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do; experiencing the nomadic life at the Banghwa-dong Family Autocamp in Jangsu, Jeollabuk-do; and escaping to Danyang, Chungcheongbuk-do where a picturesque feast awaits your eyes.

A ROMANTIC VIEW OF THE EAST SEA FROM A TENT
Songjiho Beach, located in Obong-ri, Jukwang-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, is representative of the Goseong-gun area together with Hwajinpo Beach. An autocamp has recently been set up north of Songjiho Beach, famous for its clean sands and shallow water. The campsite, with direct access to National Road No. 7, is located right in front of the beach.
You cannot find caravans for rent there as you do at the Mangsang Autocamp
     
but the campsite has plenty of amenities such as a parking lot, a tent village, outdoor dinner tables, shower rooms and toilets. Ten log cabins on the southern section of the campsite are very popular. Adding to the excitement of holidaymakers using the camping area are a lake, an outdoor performing stage and the Jungwang Playground.
You can tour such neighborhood tourist attractions as the Songjiho Lake Migratory Bird Observation Tower, the Wanggok Folk Village, Gajin Harbor, Geojin Harbor, Hwajinpo Lake and the Geonbong Temple.
For more information, contact the Culture and Tourism Department of the Goseong County Office at 033-680-3361~3..

WATERFALLS AND THE MT. GEUMWON NATURAL FOREST RETREAT
Mt. Geumwon, bordering Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeollanam-do, attracts much attention from photographers who love taking pictures of such tourist attractions as Mipok Waterfall, Jaun Waterfall, Yeuancheong Waterfall and mossy ponds. Bungalows and campgrounds line both sides of the valleys that stretch from the Jaun Waterfall to a woods school,
     
so they emerge as the most suitable places for autocamping due to the amenities and access to roads.
Mt. Namdeokyu has the long Weolseong Valley and many broad and flat rocks, which attract a lot of people who converge to beat the heat. You can find a stone turtle carrying a big pine tree on its back while strolling around the Utopia Seuseingdae where you can enjoy plays during the Keochang International Festival of Theatre 2008, slated for July 25 to August 10. You can also take a look at traditional Korean architecture at Hwangsan, a village of long-standing houses. The Jeongon House is considered to be the best preserved one in the Gyeongsang area.
For more information, call the Culture and Tourism Department at the Geochang County Office at 055-940-3183.

THE NOMADIC LIFE AT THE BANGHWA-DONG FAMILY AUTOCAMP
The number of people giving autocamping a try is on the rise. There are 30-odd autocamping sites now in operation across the nation, including the nation's first one at Saam-ri, Beonam-myeon, Jangsu-gun, Jeollabuk-do. The campsite, running for 20 years, boasts a scenic landscape along the Sahaeng Stream whose water flows from Yongso. The campground is well partitioned so that motorists can park their cars and put up tents and it has such diverse amenities as a cooking site, a water pool, a lawn, a forest bathing place and hiking courses.
Additionally, Jangsu has such tourist attractions as the birthplace of Rev. Yongseong, one of 33 ancient Korean celebrities, the birthplace and altar of Nongae, who died for the nation during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, as well as such educational tour destinations as the Jangsu Confucian School, considered to be in its original state. In Jangsu, you can take time out with your children to experience horse racing.
For more information, contact the Forest Culture and Tourism Department of the Jangsu County Office at 063-350-2312 and the Banghwa-dong Family Retreat at 063-353-0855.

THE JEWELS OF DANYANG, A FEAST FOR YOUR EYES
You be surprised to find more things to see, experience and feel in addition to the well-known eight prides of Danyang. Danyang, Chungcheongbuk-do, is dotted with well-preserved campsites with breathtaking landscapes: Soseonam Campground, Darian Campground, Mt. Hwangjeong Campground, Namcheon Campground and Cheondong Campground. The Soseonam Campground, located at Gasan-ri, Danseong-myeon, Dayang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, is the latecomer, open from July 1. Vehicles can be parked in front of tents at the autocamp. Holidaymakers can appreciate unknown natural wonders while hiking the trails of Mt. Duak. You can view the scenic Seonam Valley, Sain Rock, the mesmerizing miniatures of Mt. Geumgang, the Dodam Sambong, which looks like three peaks drifting in the Namhan River, Oksungbong Peak and Gudambong Peak. There are a myriad of diverse attractions to see, too much to be covered by a two-night and three-day tour schedule.

For more information call the Culture and Tourism Department of the Danyang County Office at 043-420-3150. nw

Daejin port in Goseong, Gangwon Province emerges as a magnet to attract summer holidaymakers, including those who go for fishing.

Hwajinpo Beach, a representative summer resting place in Goseong

(from photo left) European-style log cabins in Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do; the Junglimjeon-sa Temple, containing the birthplace of Rev. Yongseong, one of the 33 persons who signed the Independence Declaration against the Japanese occupation of Korea,: and the picturesque Sain Rock in the Danyang area.

Attractions in Goseong, Gangwon-do: clockwise) the migratory bird observatory at Songji Lake, the Geonbong-sa Temple and Su Bawi (Rock) near the Hwaeom-sa Temple.

(counterclockwise) A scene at the Keochang International Festival of Theater; the Jeongon House, considered to be the best reserved Korean-style residence; Yuancheong Waterfalls; and the autocamping site in Geochang.

(clockwise) the altar for the soul of Nongae, who dived to her death into a river with a Japanese general, ; a view of the Beonam makeshift marketplace; and excellent beef,all in Jangsu.

(clockwise) the Banggok Ceramic Village; the Soseonam Resort, and Gosu Caves, all in Danyang, Chungcheongbuk-do.