Children's Grand Park -Seoul

Yesterday the kids and I went and explored Children's Grand Park in Seoul. Daddy was working, so we didn't have the car, which I didn't really want to drive to Seoul anyways. So instead, we jumped on the bus that goes right by our house and went into Anjung-ri to get some won before heading up to Seoul. We hopped on the 20 bus and rode it to AK Plaza. Then we got on the dark blue metro line (#1) heading north towards Seoul. From Pyongtaek it was 16 stops to Geumjeong. At Geumjeong we transferred to the light blue line (#4) going towards Beomgye. We rode it for 11 stops to Isu (Chongshin University) and then transferred to the olive line (#7). We took the the #7 line towards Naebang. The #7 line takes you straight to Children's Grand Park. It was 10 stops away. 

Breakfast on the go, waiting for the bus at home

On the metro leaving Pyongtaek

The metro is not crowded in Pyongtaek, but the closer we got to Seoul, the more crowded it became. We started out with seats for all of us. Then we had to stand (but with room to move). Then we had to squish next to people to make room. *On the ride back I had Daniel in the stroller the entire time (he fell asleep after the first transfer). I just kept us over near the doors and we did perfectly fine.*

The entrance to Children's Grand Park is out the number 1 exit at the Children's Grand Park station. There are elevators for strollers, but I had a lightweight one and didn't want to wait in the line, so I carried Daniel up and out. There are bathrooms at the station just before leaving out the #1 exit, one even has a kid sized toilet in it!

Getting a drink with her own money before heading into the park

Upon exiting the station, you walk straight a few hundred feet and then you see the grand entrance to the park. Inside there is a giant map immediately to your left. There are bathrooms, information and stroller rentals to your right.

The main entrance

We can read a map, even if it in in Korean (though they had it in English too)

 There is so much to see and do within the park. It is like a Central Park for kids. The place is so green and beautiful. There are playgrounds everywhere you turn, a splash pad (only active June, July and August) and so many spots to sit down and enjoy a lovely picnic. There are sculptures and statues throughout the park. There's a zoo, a botanical garden, amusement park, giant water fountain, children's museum, soccer field, basketball courts and SO MUCH MORE! We were there for 4 hours and didn't see half of the park, which is ok. The point was to go and let them have fun. We saw the botanical gardens, fountain, 2 playgrounds, elephants, children's zoo and hamburgers for lunch.

 

 

The botanical garden is green. Not so many flowers, but maybe that was because it was the fall. The garden is broken into a few different sections. There are several places that would be perfect for fairy houses.

 

These are banana trees. They are HUGE! The plants grow up near 3 stories high and even had some bananas growing on them. Beautiful. I wouldn't mind having a garden of banana trees growing in my yard.

The second floor of the botanical garden

 

The entrance to the zoo

I didn't think to take pictures of what it's like at the transfer points until I was on my last transfer going back home....fail! However, the first transfer (at Geumjeong) from line 1 to 4 is the easiest. You just get off the train, walk 5 steps across the platform and you are standing in front of the doors for the 4 train heading towards Beomgye.

At the Isu transfer, you have to walk awhile and change levels, but just keep following the signs for 7 and you'll make it no problem. Make sure you get on the line heading towards Jangam on your trip to the park and towards Bupyeong-gu Office on the way back home to Pyongtaek!

Going back to Pyongtaek, at Geumjeong, you get off the line 4 (light blue) and take a few steps to the other side of the platform and wait for the line 1 (dark blue) to arrive and take you back to Pyongtaek. It should be heading towards Gunpo. You can tell by the arrow on the left side with Gunpo next to it.