CULTURE, EVENTS & EXPERIENCES Top Summer Escapes in Korea: 10 Adventures You’ll Love This Year Posted on June 20, 2026June 20, 2026 Get out and explore Gyeonju’s Sill Dynasty palace, Anapji Gardens and burial mounds. Take a scenic drive to Pohang and see the metal work that area is famous for as well as the Hand of Harmony reaching out to the heavens just off the shore. Sip the persimmon wines of Cheongdo and explore the train tunnel turned wine cave. Or delight in climbing the tea fields of Boseong, but don’t leave without sampling the delicious green tea ice cream and churros and bringing home a little tea for later. Read more
CULTURE, EVENTS & EXPERIENCES Tteokguk Soup and the Korean New Year Festival Posted on January 1, 2026January 1, 2026 But after a few words and pointing to the intercom they understood my question. But they just kept saying tteokduk. Then one of them made an eating gesture, something about traditional and asked me to follow him. So I did. Read more
CULTURE, EVENTS & EXPERIENCES My Favorite New Year’s Traditions from Around the World I’d Totally Adopt Here Posted on December 30, 2025January 1, 2026 As the clock strikes midnight, global New Year traditions reflect hope, renewal, and connection. These symbolic practices highlight humanity’s shared desire for fresh beginnings, offering unique ways to celebrate the New Year across cultures. Explore the beauty of worldwide New Year customs and their universal meaning for starting anew. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Life in the Midwest: German-style Christmas Markets in America Posted on December 27, 2025December 28, 2025 Have you been to a German-styled Christmas Market in America? You should, it’s one of the things I miss most about living in Germany. The joyful spirit, brightly colored stalls, one-of-a-kind goods gifts and treats, has immigrated to the New World. Christmas Markets in are springing up all over America. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Christmas in South Korea– 6 Amazing Places to Celebrate the Holidays Posted on December 26, 2025December 26, 2025 I didn’t move to South Korea expecting Christmas to feel familiar. It’s a place shaped by Buddhist traditions, a growing Christian community, and many who don’t practice religion at all, yet the country loves lights, music, and big public displays. Over the years, I found that certain cities create a holiday atmosphere that feels bright, comforting, and surprisingly heartfelt—just different enough to make the season interesting and fun. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES What Makes Germany’s Christmas Markets So Special? My Story and Tips Posted on December 25, 2025December 28, 2025 Weihnachtsmarkt, Christkindlmarkt, or simply Christmas Markets, hold a significant place in my winter memories in Germany. While the warmth of family during my childhood Christmases in America remains dear to my heart, I can’t help but miss the open-air holiday celebrations in Germany. The enchanting Christmas Markets across the country added a unique magic during the three years I explored them with my husband and children. This chapter undeniably stands out on my list of unforgettable experiences. Allow me to share why. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Busan Fireworks Festival Guide: Everything You Need to Know Posted on November 20, 2025December 20, 2025 The 20th Busan Fireworks Festival will be held on November 15, 2025, at Gwangalli Beach. Around one million people watch from Gwangalli Beach, Igidae Park, and Dongbaekseom Island. The show features large-scale fireworks set against Gwangandaegyo Bridge, creating an iconic picture across the bay for one of Busan’s biggest events. Read more
FOOD AND DRINK Free Food: Where a Veteran Can Get a Meal in the Quad Cities and Beyond This Veterans Day Posted on November 12, 2025December 21, 2025 Every Veterans Day, restaurants across the U.S. thank service members with free meals and coffee. This year, my husband Steven and my dad made the rounds together, my son joined from Kansas, and my daughter celebrated from her ship in Italy. From Hy-Vee to Texas Roadhouse, these gestures show that gratitude still lives in small, sincere ways. Read more