Try unique ice cream at 4 local destinations

Booking.com, an online travel agency, recommends four travel destinations in Korea that offer locally sourced ice cream. / Courtesy of Booking.com

By Jun Ji-hye

Korea's summer weather is not only hot but also very humid, leading people to find their own way of coping.

Ways of escaping the heat may include taking a cold shower, drinking iced beverages, eating ice cream or lying in bed with the air conditioner on.

In time for the summer vacation season here, Booking.com, one of the big-name online travel services, recommends four domestic travel destinations where people can quench their summer thirst with unique ice cream made with locally sourced ingredients.

According to Travel Predictions 2020 research conducted last year by the Amsterdam-based company with more than 22,000 travelers across 29 countries, 71 percent of global travelers agreed that eating locally sourced produce was important when on vacation.

For travelers preparing for summer vacation, the online travel agency also recommends places to stay at the four travel destinations offering special ice cream flavors.

Jeju

Jeju Island, which has become one of the alternatives to overseas travel destinations following the COVID-19 outbreak, is a perfect destination for travelers looking to enjoy various local specialty foods, such as Jeju black pork, hairtail fish and hallabong, a type of tangerine, along with the beautiful mountains and beaches.

As Hallabong is considered a representative fruit of the resort island, Hallabong ice cream is Jeju's summer delicacy that can be enjoyed with cool sea breezes and wonderful views.

In addition to hallabong ice cream, travelers can enjoy savory peanut ice cream made with peanuts produced in Udo, east of Jeju Island, where the soil, ample sunlight and wind are in perfect harmony to grow tasty peanuts.

For those who plan a culinary trip to Jeju, Maison Glad Jeju is highly recommended for accommodation, according to Booking.com.

Maison Glad Jeju, only a 10-minute drive from Jeju International Airport, operates shuttle buses, making traveling without a car convenient.

Maison Glad Jeju / Courtesy of Booking.com

Furthermore, the patio pool, available to all guests for free, comprises various facilities including an infinity pool, family pool and a Finnish sauna.

Boseong

Boseong County in South Jeolla Province is known for its vast green tea fields thanks to the region's soil and climate conditions that are right for tea cultivation, gaining popularity as a travel destination for natural scenery, along with neighboring regions like Beolgyo and Jeonju.

Daehan Dawon, the most famous green tea plantation in Boseong, is an ideal place to relax. It boasts picturesque green tea fields and a cedar tree trail that is rated as one of Korea's most beautiful roads.

Living up to its reputation as the town of green tea, Boseong offers green tea ice cream made with locally grown tea leaves that have the bittersweet green tea flavor.

Boseong Green Tea Resort, within walking distance of Daehan Dawon, offers tourists a good rest in quiet and cozy log cabins made of dried cedar and hinoki logs.

Boseong Green Tea Resort / Courtesy of Booking.com

In addition, the resort is equipped with an outdoor BBQ garden where guests can enjoy a barbecue with their family and friends.

Gangneung

Gangneung, Gangwon Province, continues to be a popular vacation spot amid the pandemic.

The city, surrounded by the vast sea and scenic mountains, boasts not only natural beauty but also various local delicacies.

Among local specialty foods ― which include dakgangjeong (deep-fried crispy chicken glazed in sweet and sour sauces) and fish cake croquettes ― Chodang sundubu, or soft tofu, has also become one of Gangneung's most popular local delicacies.

In the city, visitors can try the soft tofu gelato that was produced by combining the city's savory Chodang soft tofu with Italian-style gelato.

Skybay Gyeongpo Hotel, within walking distance of Gyeongpo Beach, is a five-star hotel with 20 stories above ground.

Skybay Gyeongpo Hotel / Courtesy of Booking.com

It is only five minutes from Chodang Dubu Village by car, making it easier for guests to try soft tofu gelato.

Every room also has a terrace from which guests can enjoy scenic views.

Guests in rooms on the front side of the hotel overlook Gyeongpo Lake, while rooms on the other side and the infinity pool on the 20th floor provide views of the East Sea.

Yeosu

Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, is widely known as a vacation city with romantic night scenes on the beach, beautiful scenery and delicious food.

Yeosu's signature local produce includes mugwort that constantly receives the ocean breeze while growing in fields surrounded by the sea. Mugwort is rich in minerals and has a strong scent and a soft texture.

As the area is famous for its mugwort, mugwort ice cream is a must-try delicacy during a trip to Yeosu.

Mugwort ice cream, which has a deep green color, has the savory aroma of mugwort and a bittersweet taste, satisfying people seeking a unique ice cream experience.

Hotel JCS Yeosu, a five-star hotel less than a year old, is gaining popularity among travelers for its fine service, the region's largest convention hall and various facilities, including its outdoor pool.

Hotel JCS Yeosu / Courtesy of Booking.com

Every room has an ocean view, making it the perfect place to enjoy a spectacular sunrise and sunset in comfort.

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