Premium Resort Meets Wellness: Oak Valley Resort

Waves of oak trees stretch as far as the eye can see, forming a vast forest covering 11.35 million m2. Oak Valley Resort attracts over 2 million visitors every year, offering them rest and sports in this natural haven. The resort welcomes guests with European-style condominiums, a sculpture park, a ski resort, swimming pools, an amusement park, and forest trails.

Recently, Oak Valley Resort has transformed into a wellness tourist destination. The resort introduced the “Dadun Trail”, a 26.7km-long hiking trail system comprising six routes, and added various wellness programs. The “Wellness Week” program immerses guests in nature through fragrance, color, and touch, focusing on the “Dadun Trail Healing Tour”. The resort also launched the “Dadun Trail Walking and Balance Program,” which includes earthing sessions where guests walk barefoot and participate in meditation.

Walk with Proper Posture in Harmony with the Earth

The highlight of Oak Valley’s wellness program is the “Dadun Trail”. “Dadun” means “a village found on the hill” in Korean, referencing its location on a mountain that faces Hoengseong to the north and Yangpyeong to the west. Known for its many hills and high ground, the area is where the sun rises the highest and the moon seems just within reach. Walking these trails allows one to connect with the forest at the intersection of sky and land.

The Dadun Trail leads into a forest where visitors can see Korean salamander eggs and hear woodpeckers. Those interested in learning more about the forest can join a trekking program with a forest guide, who highlights details like saplings grown from acorns stashed by chipmunks or velvet-like mosses. Guests can also engage in “DIY healing” by collecting stamps and listening to meditative music through QR codes found along the trail.

As the Dadun Trail gained popularity, Oak Valley launched programs with the Good Step Institute, dedicated to gait correction. These programs analyze clients’ gait, foot shape, and posture, prescribing exercises for proper posture. Walking experts from the institute participate in the “Dadun Trail Walking and Balance” program, leading hikes and meditation on the trail. Oak Valley also offers seasonal wellness programs, such as weekend sound and color therapy sessions and the “Healthful Body Care Stretching” program, which improves posture through exercise tools. In summer, guests can enjoy aqua Zumba and water aerobics in the pool, while in fall, walking meditation programs are available to complement the fall colors on the Dadun Trail.

A Night Walk under the Stars and Moonlight

The night only adds more magic to Oak Valley with programs such as the “Sonata of Light”, a 3D light shows along a 1.5km-long walking trail. Fireflies dance to the music, and blue whales swim peacefully between the trees. The “Moon Photo Area”, where visitors can take pictures with a massive full moon as the background, quickly became a hotspot for social media photography.

Oak Valley Astronomical Park is a place where you can see the stars. The experience of observing the stars and the Milky Way through the clear skies of Gangwon is enchanting, especially with an expert narrating the stories behind each constellation. When the weather is good, you can even capture great pictures with your smartphone. During the day, the Astronomical Park serves as an observatory overlooking the forest and the Oak Valley Country Club.

The “Night Walk”, which uses colorful lights to guide visitors along the Dadun Trail and the Oak Valley Country Club, has been a mainstay of Oak Valley’s event calendar since 2021. This year’s “Night Walk” program was conducted on May 3. The 5km-long route includes the Sonata of Light and the sculpture park. Wear LED armbands and bracelets, take up glow sticks, and walk the night with your family. The moon will join you shortly.

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[Recommended Tourist Sites]

Find the Scenes Straight out of Fairy Tales at the Donghwa Village Arboretum

Donghwa Village Arboretum, located at the foot of Myeongbongsan Mountain in Munmak-eup, Wonju, is a wonderful destination for travelers with children. True to its name, “fairy tale village”, the arboretum feels like stepping into a fairy tale. The enchanting scenery invites both children and adults to bask in warm, nostalgic memories. Characters from fairy tales are scattered throughout the forest, enhancing the magical experience. In addition to forest trails, the arboretum features a visitor center, greenhouse exhibitions, the Pine Garden, Medicinal Plant Garden, and Herbaceous Plant Garden.

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Find Your Treasure at a Tranquil Temple Site: Heungbeopsa Temple Site

Said to have been founded during the Unified Silla period, Heungbeopsa Temple was significantly expanded by order of Taejo of Goryeo, the founding monarch of the Goryeo dynasty. Although the temple was burned down during the Japanese invasion of Korea in the 16th century, the temple site still remains. The temple’s grandeur is preserved in two Treasures on the site. The Three-story Stone Pagoda standing next to a grand tree is a beautiful sight, but the Stele of Buddhist Monk Jingong, with its dynamic statue of dragons gracefully entwining on a grand turtle, makes the visit worthwhile on its own.

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