Happy New Year, my friends! We’re totally ready for a new year of big new adventures, awesome travels, and excitement ahead. We’re still learning to get out there with two babies, which is wild (to say the least), but each adventure gets us a little more comfortable. We recently ventured with some of the kids’ friends to Glass Island Museum in Ansan, right over on Daebudo Island. It’s not a long drive, it’s a simple adventure but, in true Korean fashion, it’s a perfect spectacle that makes for a great day trip.
Visiting Glass Island Museum in Ansan
Glass Island Museum is one of those places that’s sort of difficult to accurately describe. Part museum, part interactive exhibit, part…show(?) – it offers a little bit of everything for visitors of all ages. The entire museum is comprised of three main areas; the Glass Island Gallery showcases the intricate art of creating glass artwork, the Macart Gallery displays contemporary artwork, sculptures, glass installations and videos, and the Outdoor Sculpture Park and Education and Experience Center offers hands-on experiences.
The part that really intrigued the kids was the chance to craft their own glass art. Sadly, we skipped it due to logistics with seven kids (including two babies) in tow. True to form, Glass Island Museum also has a full cafe and petite restaurant on the grounds, as well as additional food stops, which we definitely took advantage of.
Our Favorite Parts of the Museum
One of the best parts of any and all Korean museums is the interactive nature that most provide. Glass Island Museum was no exception, and they have a small theatre area where guests can watch glass blowing from start to finish. Some guests are even called up to help with the process. They have shows two times a day, and it’s a great way to see masters at work.
Nearby is the glass studio, where visitors can craft their own pieces. From necklaces to keychains, vases, and more, guests can create their own little masterpieces, though the glasswork is age-restricted to guests over age 7. For younger visitors, they can paint glass pieces for a modest fee of about 15,000 to 30,000KRW.
Tips for Visiting Glass Island Museum
Cost: Adults over 18 are 10,000KRW, Teens 13-17 are 9,000KRW, Children 3-12 are 8,000KRW and below 3 are free. Entrance includes the shows, and the only additional costs are food and if you decide to do the hands-on glass art.
Address: For Waze – 254 Buheung-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do; For Naver – 경기도 안산시 단원구 부흥로 254 (대부남동)
Accessibility: The grounds and most of the museum are extremely accessible for both wheelchairs and strollers. There is also a baby changing area right by the Macart Building. (Sidenote – we were in the other building and needed to change our baby, and the cafe owner let us change the babies in the back room!).
Parking: Parking is free, and there is a large lot out front. Additional parking is available down the street.
Tips: They accept both KRW and American Express but not American Visa. We tend to use our Korean card whenever possible, or just carry cash in case it’s a cash-only venue.
