[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Rides & farm at E-World

At E-World in Daegu, a one-day pass at a cost of 49,000 won, the most expensive of the ticket options, gives visitors access to everything they might want in a theme park, from attractions and a cinema to a farm and a park.

Attractions include classics like go-karts, roller coasters, monorail tours and merry-go-rounds. Arcade games and a cinema, as well as periodic parades to entertain younger guests, are also available. There is even a farm and a park for alpacas and birds.

All-day tickets for those aged 20 and older are 49,000 won. Those aged between 14 and 19 years old will be charged 44,000 won, while admission for those under 14 is priced at 39,000 won. Starting at 5:00 p.m., prices are reduced to 35,000 won for adults and 33,000 won for teenagers and children.

All attractions are subject to change, so check for the latest updates at eworld.kr.

Haeundae Lighting Festival

Streets, markets and shops close to the popular Haeundae Beach in Busan will be lit up every day from 5:30 p.m. through midnight during the Haeundae Lighting Festival, which runs to the end of January.

Visitors can get snaps at the photo zone and have them developed right away for a fee of 1,000 or 2,000 won, depending on the size. Those who make a purchase at nearby markets and shops will also receive raffle tickets.

For more information, visit haeundae.go.kr/tour/index.do.

Go-karting & virtual games on Jeju

Jeju Island’s 981 Park is the go-to place for go-karting, both indoors and outdoors. Four outdoor tracks with different levels of difficulty are available, along with a virtual, indoor experience.

Indoor programs include shooting arcade games and 3-pointer contests. For those who want to feel their hands on the wheel but are not keen on the chilly winds outside, bumper car racing is also available.

Fees are 49,500 won for adults, or 79,500 won for one adult and one child. The park is open every day, but outdoor activities are subject to weather conditions.

Those born in the Year of the Dragon -- 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976 and 1964 -- are eligible to receive gifts if they visit the park from Feb. 9-12.

More details are available at 981park.com.

All-in-one park in Paju

At First Garden Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, visitors can try everything from riding a train that runs across the park to fishing for smelt. Street food is available too. The festivities run through the end of February.

All-inclusive tickets, covering up to six attractions and sledding without snow, are priced at 27,000 won for admissions starting at 11 a.m., and 23,000 won for those entering the park after 1 p.m. The fees are the same for adults and children.

For those who only want to go sledding, prices are down to 15,000 won for weekday visits and 18,000 won for weekend and holiday admissions. Smelt fishing is priced at 6,000 won for 20 minutes. Visitors are charged the same fees regardless of age.

The park opens at 11 a.m. Attractions are closed on weekdays. For more information, visit firstgarden.co.kr/firstgarden/event/151.

Strawberries, tomatoes at Yulbom

At Yulbom, a botanical garden in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, visitors are invited to harvest strawberries. Guests have 30 minutes to harvest up to 1 kilogram of strawberries. The daily market price is charged on top of the 5,000 won entrance fee.

Making strawberry jelly or jam is 15,000 won for a jelly bottle that holds up to 600 milliliters and a jam jar weighing 500 grams.

Also visitors can also pick 1.2 kilograms of tomatoes for 15,000 won and make tomato gochujang, a Korean fermented chili paste, in a side program priced at 11,000 won for 500 grams. Tomato harvest is open all year while strawberry picking ends on April 28.

All picking reservations have to be made online in advance at yulbom1107.modoo.at. Those visiting the garden before April will be given either a complimentary Americano coffee or food to feed rabbits and goats at a farm nearby.

By Choi Si-young(siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com)