4 Best Summer Vacation Spots for Healing and Health at the Same Time
Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Young-min) has recommended four cool and healthy vacation spots in the region for the summer holiday season.
▲ Palyongsan Cypress Healing Forest (1330 Geumsa-ri, Yeongnam-myeon, Goheung-gun)
The Palyongsan Cypress Healing Forest is the largest cypress forest in the nation, spanning 416 hectares, and is a must-visit place if you want to truly experience what 'forest healing' means.
There are various forest healing facilities such as a 10km-long walking trail through the dense cypress forest, a therapy center, meditation shelters, and observation decks.
The recently created loess barefoot trail is a healing course where you can forget the noise of daily life and feel the sounds and scents of nature through the joy of walking in the forest.
▲ Mir Maru-gil (840 Haemaji-ro, Yeongnam-myeon, Goheung-gun)
If you want to enjoy trekking while admiring the beautiful scenery of the Dadohae (Korean Archipelago), try walking the Mir Maru-gil. Along the 4km wooden deck and walking trail following the coastline, you can visit famous spots on the east side of Goheung, including Palyong Bridge, Yongam Pier, Yong Rock, Yong Cave, Lion Rock photo zone, Goheung Space Launch Observatory, and Namyeol Sunrise Beach.
Especially, at Mongdol Beach located midway along Mir Maru-gil, the gentle clattering of pebbles swept by the waves soothes even the weary soul.
▲ Naro Island Cypress Forest (San 212-14, Yenae-ri, Bongrae-myeon, Goheung-gun)
If you have traveled far to Naro Island to visit the Naro Space Center, relax your fatigue in the cypress forest. The forest was created during the Japanese colonial period in 1920 when the Japanese planted cedar trees over about 300,000 pyeong (approximately 991,735 square meters) as an experimental forest on the foothills of Bongrae Mountain.
Trees over 100 years old, reaching heights of up to 30 meters, stretch proudly toward the sky.
From a distance, the mountain looks dark due to the dense forest.
At Naro Port, only wild live fish are handled. After making unforgettable memories at the Cypress Forest and Naro Space Center Space Science Museum, consider recharging your energy with the freshness of seasonal dishes.
▲ Nokdong Eel Street (3953 Bongam-ri, Doyang-eup, Goheung-gun)
Eel is considered the top among the nine delicacies of Goheung.
If you want to truly taste the flavors of Goheung, head to Nokdong Port. Along the harbor coastal road, restaurants specializing in eel gather to form Eel Street.
You can enjoy grilled eel, shabu-shabu, soup, as well as fresh sashimi.
Unlike the tough-boned conger eel, the eels here have soft bones and tender flesh.
Conger eels are caught year-round regardless of season, but from May to October, you can taste the best summer health food, the sea eel.
The plump, fatty eel dishes will instantly relieve your travel fatigue.
Every Saturday, you can also create unforgettable memories through a drone performance featuring 700 drones in synchronized flight.
A military official said, “We hope visitors communicate with nature in clean Goheung, feel healthy, and create beautiful midsummer memories with family and loved ones.”
Goheung = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo hss79@asiae.co.kr
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