✨ Jolly Jottings in Seoul Pt. 2

🇰🇷 Day 2: Cold Air, Warm Pastries & Seoul Bucket-List Moments

Day 2 greeted us with crisp, cold weather and clear skies — the kind that wakes you up quickly and makes the city feel sharp and alive. It also gave us the perfect opportunity to start checking off some of our Seoul bucket-list experiences.

After our rainy first day adventure, we were eager to lean back into exploring. We started with one of Seoul’s most beloved cafés. But as we’ve learned time and time again while traveling, the best days rarely follow a perfect script. Instead, they unfold through a mix of small discoveries, unexpected conversations, and the willingness to pivot when something interesting appears.

What started as a simple morning pastry run turned into a day filled with Korean wellness traditions, hidden tea houses, artisan shopping, and one of Seoul’s most vibrant night markets. It was a day that blended culture, rest, curiosity, and connection — the kind of travel day that reminds you why wandering without rushing can be so rewarding.

Here’s how Day 2 in Seoul unfolded for our family.

We began the day by heading to Café Onion Anguk, and it could not have been a better start. We tried so many beautiful pastries, each one somehow better than the last, and grabbed hot coffee to warm up before heading out for the day.

Café Onion absolutely did not disappoint. In fact, we’re still reminiscing about that breakfast — the flavors, the atmosphere, the simple joy of lingering together on a cold Seoul morning. It’s officially locked in as a must-return stop for our next trip to Seoul. After breakfast, our cousin decided it was time for a rest day — and honestly, we fully supported that choice. Long international trips call for listening to your body and splitting up for a few hours ended up working beautifully for everyone. While he headed back to the hotel to recharge, we set out to explore something a little different: the K‑Medi Center.

🌿 Discovering the K-Medi Center

The K-Medi Center is a modern cultural and educational space dedicated to Korean traditional medicine, herbs, and holistic wellness practices. The exhibits are interactive, accessible, and thoughtfully designed — making the experience engaging for adults while still being approachable for kids.

Rather than feeling like a formal museum, the center felt hands-on, calming, and experiential, which made it a perfect stop on a cold day when we wanted something enriching without being physically exhausting.

🦶 A Wellness Experience We Didn’t Expect (and Loved)

During our visit, the center was offering a special bundled experience that included:

• Admission to the museum

• A K-herb foot bath

• The Bojewon K-herb experience

• A traditional herbal tea experience at a nearby tea house

And the best part? All of this cost the equivalent of about $7 USD per person — which felt almost unbelievable given how much was included. The foot bath was especially lovely on a cold day, offering a quiet moment to rest while learning about the herbs being used. The herbal tea experience added a cultural layer, grounding the visit in tradition and care rather than just observation.

🌿 Inside the Experience: Step by Step

We began with the herbal foot bath, and it was exactly what we needed on a cold day. The warm water and herbs immediately warmed and rejuvenated our feet and legs, creating this unexpected sense of calm and reset. It felt restorative without being clinical — more like a pause than a procedure.

After the foot bath, we spent some time touring the museum exhibits, learning more about Korean traditional medicine, herbs, and wellness practices. The displays were easy to move through and didn’t feel overwhelming, which made it a great fit even on a full travel day. Next, we headed upstairs for the massage experience, which built nicely on the relaxation from the foot bath. By this point, the visit felt less like sightseeing and more like intentional care — a really nice counterbalance to busy city exploring.

🍵 Finding the Tea House (Important Tip!)

After the massage, we asked one of the staff members how to find the tea house included in the experience — and we are so glad we did. The tea house was all the way down the block, farther than we expected, and honestly, we would not have found it on our own. One of the workers kindly walked (though her pace was quick!) us all the way there, which felt incredibly generous and welcoming. If you’re planning to replicate this experience, this is important to know: 👉 Ask for directions before you leave the center, and plan a little extra time to walk to the tea house it’s all the way down the street close to the arch at the neighborhood entrance.

Once there, the traditional herbal tea experience was the perfect way to close out the visit — quiet, grounding, and deeply rooted in care and tradition. While we were at the tea house, the experience became even more special. The owner took time to show us how they store and preserve the herbs, explaining their care and use in a way that felt personal rather than performative. It gave us a deeper appreciation for how much knowledge and intention goes into each blend.

A local patron who spoke English noticed us and kindly helped translate the tea options, walking us through what each blend was meant to support and how to choose based on how we were feeling. It was one of those quiet, human moments that stays with you long after a trip ends.

And the tea? Let’s just say Chris is still talking about it. It was warm, sweet, and memorable enough to become a recurring reference point long after we returned home.

Moments like this — unplanned, generous, and rooted in connection — are exactly why we travel the way we do.

🌱 Why This Experience Stands Out

This ended up being one of the most memorable parts of our trip because it:

• Warmed us up physically and emotionally

• Offered rest without requiring a full “spa day”

• Was incredibly affordable for the value

• Showcased Korean wellness traditions in an accessible way

• Reminded us how kindness from locals can shape a travel day

It’s the kind of experience we wouldn’t hesitate to do again — and absolutely recommend to families looking for something meaningful, calming, and a little off the usual tourist path.

👘 Reality Check: Hanbok, Timing & Another Pivot

After leaving the tea house, our plan was to make our way to the palace and circle back to our hanbok plans. In theory, it sounded simple. In practice, we quickly realized something important: Renting hanbok and visiting the palace requires planning — and time.

By the time we arrived in the area, hanbok rental shops were packed, with lines, fittings in progress, and a lot of activity happening all at once. It became clear that trying to squeeze this experience in at that moment would mean rushing something we really wanted to savor. Then came a bit of unexpected luck. When we stepped into Daehan Hanbok — the shop we had already planned to use — we were greeted by the Instagram-famous owner himself. He took the time to talk with us, gave us an honest lowdown on peak times versus quieter windows, and told us exactly when to come back for the best possible experience. That kind of insider advice is priceless.

With that guidance, we decided to pivot once again — not out of frustration, but with intention. Rather than forcing the experience into a crowded window, we chose to save hanbok and the palace for a calmer, more spacious moment later in the trip. And honestly? It felt like the right call.

Travel lesson reinforced: Some experiences are worth waiting for. Knowing when to pause is just as valuable as knowing where to go.

🌀 Insadong Wandering: Food First, Then Ssamziegil

With hanbok plans officially rescheduled, we leaned into what Insadong does best: slow wandering, great food, and unexpected finds. Our next destination was Ssamziegil, a truly unique shopping space in the heart of Insadong.

Ssamziegil is a spiral-ramp shopping complex, meaning you walk upward in a continuous loop rather than taking stairs or elevators. It’s filled with independent Korean artists and small shops selling crafts, stationery, jewelry, home goods, and thoughtful design pieces. Even the walk itself feels intentional and calm.

But before shopping… food.

🍲 Lunch in a Hanok

Just nearby, we found a traditional soup restaurant tucked into an old hanok, and it was exactly what we needed after a cold morning of walking. The space felt warm and grounding, and the soup was simple, hearty, and deeply satisfying.

It was one of those meals that doesn’t need fanfare — just good food, a beautiful setting, and a moment to sit and reset.

🛍️ Artisan Finds & Street Snacks

After lunch, we made our way through Ssamziegil and the surrounding Insadong streets:

• Handmade artisan crafts

• Stationery and small gifts

• Specialty sauces and food items to bring home

• Street snacks grabbed along the way

This kind of shopping felt personal rather than commercial — browsing, chatting, discovering, and taking our time.

🏨 Afternoon Reset: Pool Time & Rest

After a few hours out, we decided to head back to the hotel to check in on our cousin and give ourselves a break.

As luck would have it, the hotel pool was completely empty, and we had it all to ourselves. We swam, relaxed, and let the afternoon slow down — exactly what we needed after several full days of travel and exploring. By the time we were done, everyone felt refreshed, and our cousin was ready to rejoin us for the evening.

🌙 Evening: Myeongdong Night Market

We wrapped up the day with one of Seoul’s most iconic evening experiences: Myeongdong Night Market 

Myeongdong at night is lively, bright, and full of energy. Food stalls line the streets, lights glow overhead, and the air is filled with the sounds of sizzling grills and chatter. We wandered, sampled snacks, and soaked in the atmosphere — a perfect contrast to the quiet of the hanok restaurant earlier in the day.

It was a fitting end to a day that balanced flexibility, culture, rest, and joy.

Be sure to check back for more about our Seoul trip!

May your Jottings Be Jolly