Last week Korea was gripped in an obscene panic due to MERS. I was off from school closings and reading a lot of bad news on the internet. My solution? Ignore it and hop on the subway to the 2015 Rose Garden Festival which is inside Seoul Grand Park. This was my first jaunt out this way save for a few years ago when I visited the MMCA museum in the area. Just on the outskirts of the big city of Seoul, the park is surrounded by mountains and (hopefully) fresh air.

The place was surprisingly big. You could easily spend 1/2 a day out there just in the rose garden itself. There is also a lake, trails and a lift that will show you a bird’s eye view of the park.

Of course, since it was the middle of the week (and possibly the MERS) the park was not busy and it was easy to get to the themed garden. It’s quite a walk and the summer is heating up, so if you are not one for walking too far you may want to grab the zoo tram to take you to the zoo entrance. The garden entrance is right across from the zoo. But, I am not advocating a visit to the zoo…it does not have a good reputation for animal respect and care. Boo.

The garden is amazing and well worth the measly 2,000 won it cost to go inside. There are many photographers, a few painters and so many flowers you wonder how there can be so many varieties of one species of flower. 293! Check out the pictures here and if you need more…MORE!…you can visit my Flikr page here.

Jouir! | Enjoy!

 

 

Festival runs until June 28th.

Prices: Theme Garden Entrance Fee, Adults: 2,000 won Teenagers: 1,500 won Children: 1,000 won

Address: 102 Daegongwongwangjang-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Subway: Seoul Grand Park Station, Line 4, Exit 2. Follow signs to the rose garden.