Winter Olympics just the start in South Korea
In the summer, the beach is packed with people looking for relief from the heat. But during the fall (when I visited) and winter, the beach attracts kite flyers of all varieties — from kids and their parents flying small kites (the ones I am most apt to get off the ground) to serious hobbyists who send enormous kite chains soaring hundreds of metres into the air.
Nearby vendors sell kites at reasonable prices.
Across the boardwalk is a street lined with beachfront cafés and patios. Coffee has become a national obsession here and nowhere is this more obvious than in Anmok, which now hosts an annual coffee festival. Try a rich and delicious tiny walnut cake or warm coffee bean cake while you are here.
From here you can walk the boardwalk for several kilometres and take in the views of the stunning crystal water at Gyeongpo Beach.
SLEEPOVERS Hanwha Resort
This three-star hotel offers a range of accommodations from standard hotel rooms to condo suites equipped with kitchens and balconies that offer sweeping views of the mountains. Wellsuited to travellers who are hitting the nearby slopes. The resort also features amenities for children including a waterslide, basketball court and playground. The resort offers a variety of dining options and includes a continental breakfast. There is a convenience store on site.
Haslla Museum Hotel
Located above the Haslla Art World Museum, this four-star hotel allows guests to watch the sunrise and moonrise over the East Sea from its perch on a cliff overlooking the beach. Just a few kilometres outside of downtown Gangneung, the hotel feels a long distance away from anything.
Gangneung Tourist Hotel
This boutique hotel in downtown Gangneung is steps away from upscale shopping and great food. Stroll down the street to the local market, where you can find fruit and vegetable vendors, as well as fresh meat and fish of every variety.
PLAN YOUR OWN OLYMPIC MOMENTS
Test your winter sports skills (safely!) by living your own Olympic moments. After the Games, visitors will have a chance to ski the same slopes and take a lap around the same rinks as medallists.
Alpensia Ski Jump Centre
Before the Games even start, the towering ski jump centre has already become somewhat of a defining symbol for the Games to come.
Originally planned as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, the stadium will now host the ski jump and Nordic combined events.
The stadium is also home to the Gangwon FC soccer team, its home pitch doubling as the ski jump landing area.
Bokwang Snow Park
Located in the Phoenix ski resort, the Bokwang Snow Park will host freestyle skiing and snowboarding events during the Winter Games. A golf course, ski slopes catering to those of all skill levels, restaurants and shopping are nearby.
Gangneung Olympic Park
In the so-called coastal cluster of Olympic venues, the Gangneung Olympic Park is home to four Olympic venues: the hockey centre, curling centre, speedskating oval and short-track speedskating and figure skating rink.
A short drive from downtown Gangneung and the beaches, visitors should expect a significantly warmer stay than in the mountain venues. When I visited it was -10 C in the mountains, about 8 C in the coastal cluster.
NEED TO KNOW Travel tip
If you don’t speak Korean, language can be an obstacle. While most Koreans learn English in LEFT: Stroll the boardwalk at Anmok Beach and try your hand at flying a kite. Or sample Gangneung’s vibrant coffee culture at one of its many cafés. school, most — especially those who live outside large cities — don’t have a chance to use it very often. While touring, I got by on a few lines of Korean learned before leaving — an effort that was appreciated everywhere I went — and apps that have all but eliminated language barriers. Apps I found useful include Papago, WayGo and Google Translate. All are available on iTunes and Google Play.
Getting around
The national railway, Korail, has six routes criss-crossing the country. Trips take a few hours at most. In 2004, the KTX high-speed rail system opened, shortening travel time between major cities. The KTX network has been extended to the Olympic host region and is slated to open in time for the Games. The new line will link the international airport in Incheon with Seoul and the host cities, cutting travel time from about three hours to 90 minutes. Tickets for both Korail and the KTX should be reserved online ahead of time.
Tourist information
The Korea Tourism Organization has extensive information for travellers. See english.visitkorea. or.kr or call 1-800-868-7567. For info on the Winter Games, see pyeongchang2018.com/en/index.