Yangyang café with a family Namdaecheon boat ride: Cafe Dunchi

During a two-day, one-night trip to Yangyang with my child, we stopped by Cafe Dunchi (카페 둔치) before checking in to our accommodation. It stayed with me because we could do more than drink coffee—we could take a boat ride on the Namdaecheon River as a family.

Was the parking and restroom convenient?

Cafe Dunchi is on the Namdaecheon River and has a large parking lot. The walking paths around the river were also well laid out. However, there was no restroom inside the café, so we used the restroom in front of the parking lot before going in.

What views and drinks could we enjoy at the café?

The first floor was for boarding boats, while the café was on the second floor. Since we were told we could bring coffee onto the boat, we went upstairs to order first. It was cloudy and very windy that day, so it was colder than I expected. I worried about being cold on the boat, but we were told that blankets were available.

There was a bakery on the second floor, and we could drink coffee while looking out clearly over the Namdaecheon River. I heard that the coffee beans were brought directly from Gangneung.

It was the last day of a holiday break, so I expected it to be quiet, but there were more customers than expected. My child was eager to get on the boat.

We ordered a hot vanilla latte and a hazelnut latte. Downstairs, boat users were setting off one by one.

How long was the boat ride and how much did it cost?

There were four-, six-, and 12-person boats, and each ride lasted 30 minutes. We used the party boat, which holds up to six people. The original post listed the fee as ₩35,000.

Before boarding, we each put on a life jacket. There were sizes for both children and adults, so everyone in our family could wear one. My child was excited even before we got on.

Can you enjoy coffee and music on the boat?

The boat had a table where we could set down the drinks we brought. It could also connect by Bluetooth, so we played the song my child wanted to hear. I liked traveling along while keeping coffee nearby and listening to music together as a family.

What was the self-drive boat experience like?

After receiving instructions on how to operate it, we drove the party boat ourselves. My child, who is usually very interested in driving, enjoyed it enormously too.

We stopped now and then and drifted along with the ripples. When we rode, there were not many boats on the wide water, so it felt relaxed. At first, I wondered whether 30 minutes would be too long, but it passed quickly once we were out there.

We also saw a hwangpo dotbae (yellow-sailed boat) passing in the distance. Since it is operated by a staff member, I thought riding it would let you enjoy the surrounding scenery more comfortably.

My child took turns briefly turning the steering wheel to feel like they were driving. Whenever my child held it for a moment, their dad immediately took it back.

My child drank a Pororo beverage, and we sat and watched the sunlight shimmer on the water. It was a cloudy day, but I enjoyed the time our family spent on the boat listening to music.

Would I visit again with my child?

At first, I wondered whether ₩35,000 was expensive. But considering that up to six people could ride and that it was just for our family, it did not feel especially expensive to me. Drinking coffee while riding a boat was a different experience, and my child liked it too, so I would like to stop by again when I am in Yangyang.