AUSTIN, Texas — These cyclists don’t choke down PowerBars or Gatorade. They’re not interested in going fast or finishing first. And Spandex shorts? Forget it.　Frankly, they prefer a slow-moving roll, fueled by bacon ravioli, glazed Brussels sprouts and trendy cocktails. As for appropriate gear, a dress and high-heeled boots will do just fine.　“I was a little bit scared, because I’m not the most coordinated person,” said Nicole Khalife of New York, who, along with her friend Mary Kenney of Chicag

April 1, 2016

 Spring hiking trips around the country　The Korea Tourism Organization has selected 10 hiking trails as “pleasant paths to stroll along” for the month of April.　Included in the list are the Ansan Jarak-gil on Seoul’s Mount Ansan, filled with cherry blossoms in the spring, the Namsan trail on Seoul’s Mount Namsan, the pathway next to Daecheongho Lake in Daejeon, South Chungcheong Province, and the Taehwagang River trail in Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province.　Also included is the fossil trail in Hwa

April 1, 2016

‘Brunch at the Park’ at Park Hyatt　Park Hyatt Seoul is presenting the “Brunch at the Park” promotion at its Italian restaurant Cornerstone, Cucina Italiana from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.　The brunch includes buffet-style appetizers and desserts; a main dish choice of fish of the day, steak, lobster, grilled lamb or beef burger; a glass of champagne, cocktail, or juice; and a cup of coffee or tea.　Buffet menus will change weekly. The brunch buffet is priced at 99,000 won for adults and 50,

April 1, 2016

With China’s continued crackdown on corruption, revenue is plummeting at Asia’s major casino and gambling hub Macau. 　Meanwhile, the lackluster performance of Macau’s casino tourism is lending credence to Korea. Many investors argue that Korea is an ideal alternative destination that can attract tourists who want to gamble at casinos. 　Korea is pushing to increase its number of integrated resorts, which refer to large-scale resort complexes that include a wide-range of entertainment and leisure

March 31, 2016

Sheraton Ladies Night Out Package　Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel presents “Ladies Night Out Package” through Dec. 31 for those planning the perfect girls’ night.　The package features a one-night stay at Executive Suite or Honeymoon Suite with one bottle of sparkling wine, finger foods and desserts. Guests will also be provided with complimentary aroma therapy bath amenity and access to Sheraton Fitness and swimming pool.　The package is priced at 345,000 won and 410,000 won, respectively, for t

March 25, 2016

Korail-KTX joint railway package to Pohang, Ulleungdo Island　Korail and KTX are launching a joint railway package on March 28 which will operate between Seoul, Pohang and Ulleungdo Island. A train will depart from Seoul Station at 6:50 a.m. daily and arrive at Pohang at 9:26 a.m. A clipper will depart from the Pohang harbor at 10:50 a.m., arriving on Ulleungdo Island at 2:10 p.m. A boat returning to Pohang leaves the island at 3:40 p.m. 　The package will be available at 171,800 won on weekdays a

March 25, 2016

The hike had been invigorating — invigorating, as in just this side of grueling. A 6-mile ascent into Mount Aspiring National Park had brought us to an overlook of Routeburn Falls, a thundering multilevel cascade of crystalline water (standard for New Zealand) jumping from the rock face above our heads and rushing into the deep valley below us. There we could see the Routeburn River winding through the high-shouldered Humboldt Mountains on its way to Lake Wakatipu.　　We were breathless not only b

March 25, 2016

An exclusive bus tour program connecting the capital city of Seoul with six regional destinations was launched Friday, as part of governmental efforts to offer unique travel experiences to foreign visitors.Named K-Travel Bus, the program offers overnight travel to various regions in Korea via bus. The list of destinations includes Daegu, Gangwon Province, South Jeolla and North Gyeongsang Provinces as well as Busan and Ulsan in southeastern region. The program also carries tourists to Tongyeong,

March 25, 2016

Chicken and beer in Daegu　The 2016 Chimac Festival, featuring Korea’s beloved combination of crispy fried chicken and cold beer, returns to Daegu.　The local government has approved selling beer at this year’s festival and fried chicken and beer will be sold in large quantities at booths throughout the festival grounds. Musical performances by K-pop stars will accompany the food and drinks.　The festival will take place at Duryu Park in Daegu’s Seongdang-dong from July 27-31. For inquiries, call (

March 18, 2016

Romantic dining at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City　The Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel is offering a romantic dining experience for couples in celebration of “White Day” on March 14 when men give gifts and sweets to their love interests. The hotel’s Lobby Lounge Bar on the 41st floor will be presenting the “White Day Romantic Set” from March 12-14 at 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. for the occasion. 　The set will include a special menu of scallop, mussel, abalone, clam, king crab, roasted salmon, chop steak wi

March 11, 2016

Seogwipo Yuchae Flower International Walking Festival　Seogwipo Yuchae (Canola) Flower International Walking Festival will take place at Jungmun Resort on Jejudo Island on March 19-20, at the northern park of the International Convention Center Jeju and the surrounding areas of the Seogwipo region. 　During the festival, participants will be able to enjoy the picturesque springtime views of Korea’s southernmost island by walking along the Seogwipo coastline and through seas of yellow canola flower

March 11, 2016

Sheraton Grande Walkerhill offers spring packagesSheraton Grande Walkerhill is offering two types of packages for couples and families.The “Blooming Walkerhill” package, which is offered March 1-May 31, includes an overnight stay, breakfast and a voucher for “Tasty Box.”Tasty Box is an eco-friendly concept cafe built with shipping containers. It uses solar power from panels. The cafe offers a range of light snacks and desserts from handmade sausages to ice cream. The second package called “Bloom

March 4, 2016

Jeju Fire Festival Jeju Fire Festival, also known as Jeju Field Burning Festival, takes place at Saebyeol Oreum in Jeju Island until March 6. The Fire Festival is a modern version of a farming practice of setting fields on fire during winter, burning away old grass and expunging potentially dangerous insects from the area to prepare the fields for animal grazing. The program features various performances, contests and experiences including a horseback archery performance, walking along the Jeju

March 4, 2016

 ISTANBUL (AFP) - Over 500 years old, surviving fire and earthquakes, it welcomes up to 400,000 people a day and takes pride in being the world's most visited destination -- more popular than the Eiffel Tower.　So it’s hardly surprising that Istanbul's venerable Grand Bazaar, built in the mid-15th century, has suffered some wear and tear over the years. 　The labyrinthine bazaar is now about to undergo a much needed renovation that will last a decade and cost tens of millions of dollars.　But the r

March 2, 2016