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www.groovekorea.com / March 2014 74 DESTINATIONS Edited by Shelley DeWees (shelley@groovekorea.com) I s l a n d s o f I n c h e o n An easy trip for the weary traveler Story and Photos by Merissa Quek As the winter wears off and spring reawakens, Korea’s islands are still, calm and welcoming to those looking to steer away from the maddening crowd. But with the inconvenience of travel and fickle springtime weather, it’s not uncom- mon to cling to your weekends like cellophane and dismiss the idea as an exercise in self-torment; on those weekends, even Jeju isn’t worth a nine-hour journey. Luckily for you, Korea’s western coast offers an escape to mountains, beaches and the quiet of the coun- tryside without annoyance. No long- haul bus or subway ride is required for a quick reprieve from the city. Korea has more than 3,300 officially af- firmed islands, and a handful of them are just outside your doorstep. Pick a sunny day, set aside three hours and hit the road. Stepping onto the island drops you in the middle of the countryside, where the smell of grapes wafts from the vineyards if the wind blows just right.