Experience Finland’s polar night

Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, is looking for explorers to participate in its program to experience the country in the winter.

In partnership with Finland Tourism, the 100 Days of Polar Night Magic program will take participants on a ride on Alaskan huskies dogsleds to see the aurora, go on a camping, and ice climbing and diving in Lapland.

Pasi Ikonen, Finnish orienteering competitor and winner of the 2001 World Orienteering Championships, will be joining with the participants in the exploration.

Anyone aged over 20 from Korea, China, Japan, Germany and the U.K. can sign up for the Polar Night Magic in Finland until Oct. 19. Those who have been selected for this event will be able to live in Finland and explore Lapland between Dec. 15 and March 3 next year.

For more information, check http://polarnightmagic.co.kr and www.finnair.com/kr.


Korea-France Year to kick off in Paris

Korea and France will kick off their bilateral cultural event with artists and musicians performing Korea’s royal Jongmyo Jeryeak musical rite at the Chaillot National Theater in Paris on Sept. 18.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports said that the 2015-2016 Korea-France Bilateral Exchange is being organized to commemorate the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two sides next year.

The Korean Year in France under the 2015-2016 Bilateral Exchange will take place in various French cities, including Paris, Nantes, Lyon and Nice, and will run through August next year. The French Year in Korea will start four months later and will run throughout 2016.

Programs range from performances of Korea’s modern and traditional music, such as pansori, jazz and electronic music, to exhibitions of Korean artists’ visual artwork, fashion, design and photographs.


Restaurant hopping at Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is recommending three tasty new restaurants for visitors heading to the city of lights this autumn season.

Mediterranean restaurant Rivea will open in Las Vegas’ Delano Hotel this fall, operated by renowned French chef Alain Ducasse. The interior will feature designs inspired by the French Riviera coastal region. Dishes will be made from fresh seasonal ingredients with a Mediterranean flavor. For details, visit www.delanolasvegas.com.

Mexican restaurant Tequila Taqueria recently opened at Ballys Hotel, located in the heart of the Las Vegas strip. The restaurant features a variety of Mexican cuisine including fajitas, tacos and tortillas, alongside over 10 different kinds of beer, 37 types of premium tequila and other Mexican liquors. For details, visit www.caesars.com.

American restaurant Therapy Las Vegas opened up on downtown Fremont Street, and boasts over 40 types of craft beer. Las Vegas’ renowned chef Daniel Ontiveros participated in the menu creation and venue interior. For details, visit www.therapylv.com.


Film-themed vacation in Busan

Busan Tourism Organization is presenting a movie-themed travel package titled “Movie and the City,” and plans to recruit some 200 people to participate in the preview tour from Sept. 14-19. The package, which lasts for two days and three nights, allows visitors to tour famous locations featured on Korean films, film studios and other related attractions, and is the first ‘screen tourism’ package to become available in Busan.

“Korea is cementing its place in the international film scene with movies such as ‘Ode to My Father,’ ‘The Thieves,’ ‘Haeundae’ and ‘New World,’” said BTO in a press release. “The Busan International Film Festival also meets its 20th anniversary this year as well. We will develop more travel packages that incorporate film in order to attract domestic and foreign tourists.” For details, visit www.bto.or.kr.


Miniature Garden at Everland

Everland, Samsung group’s amusement park and the biggest in Korea, is launching the new “Miniature Garden” theme zone on Sept. 11, featuring a miniaturized version of the park in a 330-square meter space.

Nine popular rides including the T-Express, Lost Valley, Aesop Village and Sky Cruise  will be available, scaled down from one-tenth to one-fiftieth their original size, alongside a display of over 191 miniature trees. Tiny versions of Everland’s symbolic cartoon characters Lenny and Lara will also greet visitors.

“Visitors will be able to see the entirety of the vast Everland grounds in one setting,” Everland said in a press release. “Guests will feel like giants in a Lilliputian world. We expect it will become a new attraction and popular photo zone at our theme park. For more information, visit www.everland.com.