For busy city dwellers, even thinking of wasting several hours in a car, train or bus during a short summer vacation is stressful.

But just one hour’s drive east from Seoul is a marvelous driving course along Cheongpyeong Lake and through Cheongpyeong Dam. The road from Seorak-myeon all the way to Yumyeongsan National Recreational Forest immerses travelers in the lush greenery of the countryside.

For those who enjoy hiking, the trail of flat and steep slopes along with the valley and rocky outcrops are challenging as well as exciting. The recreational forest is also equipped with physical training facilities, 2.6 kilometers of road, cabins and a campsite.

Opened in 1989, Yumyeongsan National Recreational Forest in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, is the oldest of the country’s recreational forests. Yumyeongsan is famous for not only its scenery but also the various activities it hosts. And especially for children, it can be a great opportunity to learn about the forest.

They can get a better understanding of Mother Nature and become aware of the need for its protection after a visit to the natural botanical garden, which provides various programs such as forestry-related educational and cultural activities.

Those who want to spend a night in the forest or use a boardwalk trail should make a reservation beforehand on its website, www.huyang.go.kr.

By Choi In-jeong (injeongchoi@heraldcorp.com)