Just north of Busan, on South Korea’s east coast, lies Ulsan, a large metropolitan area with over 1 million residents. This lovely town on the banks of the grand Taehwa River is typically off the typical tourist radar, yet has so much to offer - especially if you love outdoor sports as much as we do!

Bamboo Forest in Taehwan River Grand Park

Terrific cycling and running begin in Ulsan city center, along the Taehwan River paths. There are over 50 km of traffic-free, well-marked paved trails on both sides of the river, easily accessed from city center. Click here for a terrific Ulsan Cycling Guide. The paths are part of an extended park system, with ball fields, tennis courts, an archery zone, picnic areas, gardens, and even a water park.

The Taehwa River Grand Park is the central feature of the city. We grabbed a coffee at one of the many cafes lining the park and then followed the signs to the Bamboo Forest to enjoy a very green forest bath. The rustle of the bamboo leaves swaying in the breeze on this 2.5 mile trail was so relaxing!

Hiking and Temple Visit in Yeongnam Alps Mountain Region

The city of Ulsan is surrounded by mountains. If hiking is your thing, Ulsan will not disappoint. Gaji Mountain is the tallest of seven majestic peaks that make up the Yeongnam Alps Mountain Region. Trailheads for popular hiking areas are accessible from Ulsan by bus. The Yeongnam Alps region is known for its tall swaying pampas grasses — acres of green in the summer turning golden in the fall. There are also several temples in the area, the most famous being Seoknamsa, a monastery run by nuns, which is also a popular trailhead for Gaji Mountain (take bus #807 or #1713. Click here or here for a terrific guide to hiking Mount Gaji.

Crab Feast at Gangdong Port

With so much to do in Ulsan, it’s easy to work up quite an appetite. We headed to Gangdong Port to stuff our bellies with the freshest seafood available (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year feast)! It literally comes right off the boat. Worried about crab cracking etiquette? No worries! The waitresses at these restaurants are skilled experts, deftly snapping and dicing king crabs down to edible portion size in seconds.

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