Travel In Taiwan is a multi-lingual magazine that boasts in-depth articles on areas of interest in Taiwan. Whilst not specifically written for families, it is a good read, and you might find some real gems within the pages of the magazine.
http://www.tit.com.tw/e_home.htm
4/03/2010
National Taiwan Museum
Situated right by 228 Park (Taipei Station area), and with an entrance of 20TWD for adults, and 10TWD for children, this museum is one of my favorites in Taiwan. You can learn all about Taiwan, its people, history, nature, and science, in a beautiful building with a history all its own. They have elevators between floors and large, clean bathrooms.
The museum is in four parts:
http://www.ntm.gov.tw/en/qna/1a.aspx
The museum is in four parts:
- Main museum
- Outdoor area
- Research building
- New branch, across the road in the bank building.
http://www.ntm.gov.tw/en/qna/1a.aspx
Garden Mall - flower market, DIY area, artspace, coffeeshops all-in-one
We recently attended a wedding at Garden Mall's banquet hall. This space is a new and exciting discovery for me. It is a very nicely laid-out flowermarket with outdoor spaces, DIY activities, art-inspired exhibits, and outdoor coffeeshops, all right on Yenping North Road in Shilin District of Taipei. This is a very nice, safe area for young children, as all the flooring is wooden, and there are no cars driving through the activity areas. They have herb-flavored ice-cream and teas for sale, as well as little craft items.
The official website does not seem to be working, but you can search "gardenmall" and get some links that work (Chinese). There are some private blogs introducing the area, but they have many pictures and may take time to upload.
Entrance to the Garden Mall is free. There is carparking right in the complex. Cost is 30TWD per hour to a maximum of 300TWD.
Address: Taipei City, Shi-Lin District, Yen-Ping North Road, Sec 7, No. 18-2
Tel: 02-2810-1969
Buses: Red 10, 215, 246, 536
The official website does not seem to be working, but you can search "gardenmall" and get some links that work (Chinese). There are some private blogs introducing the area, but they have many pictures and may take time to upload.
Entrance to the Garden Mall is free. There is carparking right in the complex. Cost is 30TWD per hour to a maximum of 300TWD.
Address: Taipei City, Shi-Lin District, Yen-Ping North Road, Sec 7, No. 18-2
Tel: 02-2810-1969
Buses: Red 10, 215, 246, 536
Wan-Hua Sports Center - Child-friendly pool & center
Situated in Shimending, Wan-Hua Sports Center is one of the newer sports facilities in Taipei City.
The swimming pool is really nice for families to go to. The children's pool is up to 90cm deep and is long enough to actually have kids practice swimming in if you would like. They also have a small waterspa/sauna area and a 6-lane pool. The changing rooms are large, clean, and have hot water, although you do need to supply your own soap and shampoo. There is a zero-entry pool lane option, with wheelchair access right to the poolside, where you then transfer to a seat that lowers into the water. They have regular group swim classes for children including a swim club with a real training kind of feel to it. Pool cost is 110TWD for adults, 80TWD for students, and 50TWD for children under 12years.
The center has a very large padded area on the 1st floor for children to run and play in. Parents can get a coffee at Ikari and then enjoy it at tables while they watch their kids play inside the playroom. The room is free to use.
There is also a climbing wall, paintball area, golf range, tabletennis, basketball, gym, dance room, spinning (bike) classes, and other areas and activities to join in the building. There is a small soccer field out front complete with nets, and a park next to the building.
Address: Shi-Ning South Road No.6-1 (near the National Tax Office in Shimending) - Easy to get to by MRT or bus, with underground parking for vehicles up to 2m high.
Tel: 02-23818878
Website: http://whsc.cyc.org.tw/
The swimming pool is really nice for families to go to. The children's pool is up to 90cm deep and is long enough to actually have kids practice swimming in if you would like. They also have a small waterspa/sauna area and a 6-lane pool. The changing rooms are large, clean, and have hot water, although you do need to supply your own soap and shampoo. There is a zero-entry pool lane option, with wheelchair access right to the poolside, where you then transfer to a seat that lowers into the water. They have regular group swim classes for children including a swim club with a real training kind of feel to it. Pool cost is 110TWD for adults, 80TWD for students, and 50TWD for children under 12years.
The center has a very large padded area on the 1st floor for children to run and play in. Parents can get a coffee at Ikari and then enjoy it at tables while they watch their kids play inside the playroom. The room is free to use.
There is also a climbing wall, paintball area, golf range, tabletennis, basketball, gym, dance room, spinning (bike) classes, and other areas and activities to join in the building. There is a small soccer field out front complete with nets, and a park next to the building.
Address: Shi-Ning South Road No.6-1 (near the National Tax Office in Shimending) - Easy to get to by MRT or bus, with underground parking for vehicles up to 2m high.
Tel: 02-23818878
Website: http://whsc.cyc.org.tw/
4/02/2010
Master Football Academy
I can't believe I forgot about this group of expat coaches and their soccer program. I am hoping their schedule works for my son in First Grade. Their English-language website is fairly comprehensive: http://mfa.tw/
2/27/2010
Taipei Fire Dept Fire Safety Museum
When I was teaching preschool, we visited this museum several times. It is very well setup for teaching children and adults about safety in case of fire or earthquake, as well as fire prevention. The museum has been closed for some time but recently reopened. You have to join a guided tour, and children under four cannot take part in the interactive activities.
Official website (English): http://3d.tfd.gov.tw/f_about_e.asp
Address: No. 376, Sec. 2 Cheng-gong Rd., Neihu District, Taipei City, Taiwan(R.O.C.)
Opening Times: 9:00 am-12:00pm, 2:00pm-5:00pm (Tues-Sun)
Tel: 02-2791-9786
Official website (English): http://3d.tfd.gov.tw/f_about_e.asp
Address: No. 376, Sec. 2 Cheng-gong Rd., Neihu District, Taipei City, Taiwan(R.O.C.)
Opening Times: 9:00 am-12:00pm, 2:00pm-5:00pm (Tues-Sun)
Tel: 02-2791-9786
Lantern Festival Article
I wrote this for another site but as it is not being used, I didn't want it to go to waste.
The Lantern Festival is held on the 15 day of the Lunar New Year (Feb 28 in 2010), to celebrate the birthday of the God of Heaven. In Taiwan, there are many activities you can attend to celebrate the festival. Local temples will hold celebrations, and you can also attend these three popular events: Taipei Lantern Festival; Pingshi Lantern Festival; and Yan Shui Fireworks Festival.
Between February 26 and March 3, the Taipei Lantern Festival will be held around Taipei City Hall and Sun-Yet Sen Memorial Hall. There will be a laser and sound show, where the main lantern (this year is a tiger) will be lit up. The Taipei Lantern Festival is very popular and can get crowded.
Pingshi, outside Taipei, is the site of the release of traditional paper lanterns. One story goes, that the Han inhabitants of the remote area were often under attack, and the released lanterns to let “help” know they were there. Pingshi has become a very popular site for celebrating the Lantern Festival. People get lanterns and write messages of luck and hope on them, and then release them into the night sky. This event is one not to be missed during your stay in Taiwan.
For the more adventurous, there is the rather exciting YanShui Fireworks Display, or " beehive of fireworks". This event is a religion-based one. In the late 1900’s, Tainan County’s YanShui suffered 20 years of plague. The townspeople called upon the diety Kuan Kung and the dieties of Heaven to help. The townspeople released firecrackers along the road to guide Kuan Kung through their town. After the event, the plague was gone from YanShui. From then on, every year at the time of the Lantern festival, the townspeople invite Kuan Kung back and guide him through the town. The event lasts all night. You are advised to wear full protective clothing including a full-face helmet, as fireworks are shot into the crowds.
On a gentler note, people at home will worship, share a family meal and then eat rice balls; either “Yuan Hsiao”(rolled on bamboo) or “Tang Yuan” (rolled in the hand), depending on the custom of the area. The rice balls represent family unity, which is the overall theme of Chinese New Year and its surrounding celebrations.
The Lantern Festival by Katrina Brown
The Lantern Festival is held on the 15 day of the Lunar New Year (Feb 28 in 2010), to celebrate the birthday of the God of Heaven. In Taiwan, there are many activities you can attend to celebrate the festival. Local temples will hold celebrations, and you can also attend these three popular events: Taipei Lantern Festival; Pingshi Lantern Festival; and Yan Shui Fireworks Festival.
Between February 26 and March 3, the Taipei Lantern Festival will be held around Taipei City Hall and Sun-Yet Sen Memorial Hall. There will be a laser and sound show, where the main lantern (this year is a tiger) will be lit up. The Taipei Lantern Festival is very popular and can get crowded.
Pingshi, outside Taipei, is the site of the release of traditional paper lanterns. One story goes, that the Han inhabitants of the remote area were often under attack, and the released lanterns to let “help” know they were there. Pingshi has become a very popular site for celebrating the Lantern Festival. People get lanterns and write messages of luck and hope on them, and then release them into the night sky. This event is one not to be missed during your stay in Taiwan.
For the more adventurous, there is the rather exciting YanShui Fireworks Display, or " beehive of fireworks". This event is a religion-based one. In the late 1900’s, Tainan County’s YanShui suffered 20 years of plague. The townspeople called upon the diety Kuan Kung and the dieties of Heaven to help. The townspeople released firecrackers along the road to guide Kuan Kung through their town. After the event, the plague was gone from YanShui. From then on, every year at the time of the Lantern festival, the townspeople invite Kuan Kung back and guide him through the town. The event lasts all night. You are advised to wear full protective clothing including a full-face helmet, as fireworks are shot into the crowds.
On a gentler note, people at home will worship, share a family meal and then eat rice balls; either “Yuan Hsiao”(rolled on bamboo) or “Tang Yuan” (rolled in the hand), depending on the custom of the area. The rice balls represent family unity, which is the overall theme of Chinese New Year and its surrounding celebrations.
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