Fall in Korea: Anseong Pink Grass
We decided to take a day trip to Anseong to enjoy the fall weather. I have always considered fall to be the second spring as there are so many colorful flowers in bloom. In fall, pink mulhy grass grows across the country from late September to mid October. Most regions have areas known for their pink mulhy fields. This year I wanted to go somewhere different. I researched and chose Anseong as I have not visited there before. So, let the fall adventure begin!
Anseong Farmland
We arrived at Anseong Farmland at opening because we wanted to beat the crowds. There is an admission fee but the price is reasonable. The farmland has a lot to offer such as petting zoos, cafes, experiences, and beautiful flower fields. We started by going to the pink grass field. This was Michael’s first time experiencing seeing pink grass.
Michael’s thoughts: I’ve seen pictures of pink mulhy before, but I wasn’t prepared for how pretty it was! It’s intensely pink/purple in person, and it’s very fluffy. Its texture is what I imagine a cloud feels like. Apparently, we have it in America, although never in large fields like this.
We went to their iconic photo spot with a lone red pine among the pink grass. Luckily, it was cloudy that day because this fall was unseasonably warm. Next, we headed to a spot where you can take a picture with the pink grass and the cosmos. Cosmos are another famous fall sight in Korea and have a great variety of colors. There are so many photo zones and plenty of photographers capturing the beautiful nature.
While we were walking around the park we heard some cheering noise and decided to check it out. We saw a farm dog performing a variety of tricks with its trainer. It’s amazing to see how smart these dogs can be. Then we were treated to a surprise animal parade. I have never seen this in my life. It was hilarious watching ducks, goats, sheep, and more running in a line to hype music. We had a blast and would visit again as they have different flowers and grasses every season. It is a great place for family, friends, and couples. We highly recommend you check it out, especially in the fall.
Monster Donut
This uniquely decorated building is famous in Anseong for its bright colors and assortment of donuts. If you think the outside is a lot, wait until you go inside. They offer a large variety of donuts with cereal, cookies, and marshmallow toppings. These donuts are very different compared to American style with a thick cakey texture. I enjoyed them but I could only eat one as they are very thick. If you go up the stairs there is extra seating with a view. Because Korea loves taking pictures, there are several photo zones as well.
Jukjusanseong Fortress
I searched through Naver blogs and found this fortress as one of the main things to do in Anseong. It was built in the Silla Dynasty, but that’s all I could find out at the time. The hike up the fortress is short just be prepared to go up some steep slopes and stairs. We decided to walk around the wall of the fortress and see the countryside view.
When we went it was mostly empty, and we had beautiful views to ourselves. If you move at a leisurely pace it should take about an hour. However, if the weather is good, we recommend you bring a picnic and enjoy the cool breeze and fresh air coming over the wall.
Anne of Green Gables Farm Cafe
The main goal of this trip was to go apple picking, a classic Korean fall activity. While we were waiting, we went to the cafe next door. True to its name, the cafe is inspired by Anne of Green Gables. For some reason, this character is very popular in Korea. The cafe has indoor and outdoor seating. Additionally, there is a sandbox for kids to play in. This is a great place to wait to enter the orchard if you have a time booked.
Next to the cafe is a large apple orchard you can take pictures in. We were happy to see the apples, because we weren’t sure we were going to be able to pick them due to the season, so this made a great photo-zone.
Yellow Fruit Orchard
Yellow Fruit Orchard is as expected, an apple and pear orchard. We had intended to pick apples, but we narrowly missed the window. Instead, we ended up picking Korean pears, which are a very large, sweet crunchy pear. They are very delicate and are expensive treats in Korea. Being in an orchard gave us a lot of nostalgia for the U.S. It reminded us of hay rides, orchards, pumpkin patches, and hot cocoa. I have lived in Korea for so long, that I wanted to remember the feeling of the States in the fall.
We made our reservation on Naver to guarantee we had a spot. I reserved about a week and a half in advance which was fine because there were many spots. A guide from the orchard showed our group how to pick them by twisting them left and right, and tugging them down. You should only pick the pears that are filling up the bag, which are there to protect them from insects.
We picked two buckets of the best pears we could find. But be warned, fruit in Korea is very expensive, and the Korean pear is even worse because of its delicacy. Additionally, when you pay for the pears you pay per kilo. After picking the pears we were shown how to clean and package them. However, there is a place where to cut and eat immediately if you want the freshest experience. Personally, I preferred to eat them cold from the fridge This was a new experience for both of us.
Final Thoughts
We had so much fun, and would recommend these activities if you want to enjoy nature in the fall. The pink grass is a great time for families and couples. However, because of the price of the pears and the relatively short length, I don’t think we will do it again.
