Pyeongchang

While Pyeongchang has been known among Asian skiers for its excellent ski resorts for some time, the rest of the world has learned about this area because of its role hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics. Come to see competitive races or ski on your own. Visit year-round to simply enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views.

Alpensia is the center of 2018 Olympic events, with the Olympic Village, stadium and numerous international hotels readied years in advance of the competition. Have spa treatments and water park fun at Ocean 700 or play golf at the area’s 45-hole course.

Ski and snowboard at Alpensia Ski Resort and bring the family to enjoy the long sledding run. See Alpensia’s Olympic facilities and watch competitive events in ski jumping, cross-country skiing, biathlon, luge, bobsled and skeleton. Nearby, the somewhat larger Yongpyong Ski Resort and Jeongseon Alpine Centre have challenging slopes used for slalom, downhill and other Olympic alpine events. Phoenix Park also offers excellent skiing and a large snowboard park.

Drive through some of the county’s valleys to see other attractions. See and smell the 13 theme gardens, galleries and ponds of Herbnara Farm in Gangwon. You can have food and drinks made from the 100 varieties of herbs grown on the farm and purchase teas and other products to take home.

Enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Bongpyeong-myeon and the Heungjeong Valley. Small waterfalls gurgle and gush along the briskly flowing stream. Watch for trout and other fish darting about in the cool, clear water.

Travel to Bongpyeong in September for the annual Hyoseok Cultural Festival. Tour the birthplace of author Lee Hyo-seok, author of When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom, and appreciate the natural beauty of the area that gave him unlimited inspiration.

Get to Pyeongchang in about 2.5 hours by car or bus from the airport in Seoul and 3.5 hours from Incheon. Come for winter skiing from November to March or enjoyment of the beautiful mountains and valleys year-round.