Family Fun in Kid-Friendly Taichung

By Vesper Stockwell　Translated by Naomi Lai
Photos by Candi Nono

While it may be the gleam of shiny new toys or the sweet promise of candy that allures children, parents often use a different set of criteria to evaluate entertainment for their little ones. Are the facilities clean and safe? Is the activity age-appropriate? Is it affordable for my large brood? Will I need a stroller with four-wheel drive? When asked how she determined the best activity for her two young children, a friend recently said, "Whatever will tire them out the most!" From the sunny pastures of a dairy farm to the culture and crafts of an art museum, there are a variety of places in and around Taichung that are both parent and kid-friendly.

Flying Cow Ranch
(037) 782-999
www.flyingcow.com.tw
Admission: NT$220/adults; NT$180 or NT$150 for children, depending on age.

Approximately a one-hour drive will transport you from the city to the countryside at Flying Cow Ranch, where rolling hills and bright red barns are home to a variety of farm animals. Strollers are available for free and paths are easily navigated, thanks to an illustrated map. A schedule available at the information center also shows where and when activities like scheduled feedings take place. In the afternoon, for example, you can catch the ducks feeding, or pay NT$100 to bottle-feed an adorable baby goat. You can also line up to milk a dairy cow, although some children seem to experience this with dubious degrees of pleasure.

Overall, this farm is organized and well-run; all who participate are asked to first wash their hands at a sink station with soap and running water to protect both people and animals. A DIY station explores milk and ice-cream making firsthand. You can also enjoy the fresh products at the restaurant and store, and a gift shop sells everything cow-inspired imaginable. The fresh air, hands-on experience with the animals and tasty treats make this a field trip for the whole family. In the simple wisdom of 6-year-old Ivan while feeding lettuce to the rabbits, "This is really fun."

e-zoo
1-36, ShuiTou Ln, JiaHou Rd, Waipu Township, Taichung County
(04) 2683-4388
www.e-zoo.com.tw
Admission: NT$200/person (above 100cm)

If you're up for an adventure, visit the e-zoo, a petting zoo where your child can hone their jockey skills on an ostrich or go slow and steady on the back of a giant plodding tortoise. As wild as it seems to be handling a snake or wallaby, the animals appear quite tame and friendly. A packet of seeds will entice exotic birds like cockatoos and macaws to perch on your shoulder and nibble from your open hand, while a hippo and crocodile can be enjoyed from a more comfortable distance.

National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
2, WuQuan W Rd, Sec 1; (04) 2372-3552
Hours: 9 am-5 pm Tuesday - Friday (closed Mondays); 9 am-6 pm Saturday/Sunday
Admission: Free
www.ntmofa.gov.tw

In addition to a rotating schedule of art exhibits for the whole family to enjoy, the National Museum of Fine Arts also has a Children's Gallery and Family Room. Here, children can get hands-on with art by constructing the craft project of the month, drawing a self-portrait, playing dress-up, and putting their problem-solving skills to the test with various creative puzzles. The Picture Book Area features a large selection of books in both Chinese and English, as well as interactive visual books that are changed regularly to keep the material fresh and interesting for children. Not just a rainy-day venture, the sprawling museum grounds have a meandering, stroller-friendly path that veers off to the occasional play structure or statue.

Taichung Children's Art Museum
1, ShengLi 2nd Rd, Dali City, Taichung County; (04) 2486-0069
Hours: 9:30 am-5:30 pm Tuesday - Friday (closed Mondays); 9:30 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday
Admission: NT$80/ adults; NT$100/children; free for children under 70 cm.
www.artsfun.com.tw

For an entire art museum devoted to children, the Taichung Children's Art Museum is a a great escape. Candi, a mother of four young children, describes the Children's Art Museum as "four floors of fun". She says their favorite section is the Alice in Wonderland theme room, where kids can hop on large piano keys to create a tune, traverse a rope bridge between two trees, and climb atop an enormous blue caterpillar. "We love the Children's Art Museum," declares Candi. "Behind each door is a new exploration of art." Other activities include experimenting with rhythm and sounds with musical instruments, playing dress-up on stage, and a film studio where children can take photos and see them displayed on the "big screen".

National Museum of Natural Science
1, GuanCian Rd; (04) 2322-6940
Hours: 9 am-5 pm (closed Mondays)
Grounds are free and open until 10 pm Admissions: Exhibits (paid special exhibition included) NT$150/adult, NT$120/students; free for seniors and children under 110 cm. For more information on admission fees for exhibits and theater shows, visit http://www.nmns.edu.tw/

With special exhibitions and six different theaters, including a Space and 3D Theater, and plenty of interactive fun, the National Museum of Natural Science is more than a day's worth of entertainment and learning. The Science Center's fourth floor welcomes you into the "Material World" where you can find out how gyroscopes and pulley systems work or stand in the "Fantastic Space" by extruding a giant bubble around yourself. On the fifth floor, the Children's Discovery Room is an educational playroom for 3-8 year-olds who must be accompanied by an adult. It houses a submarine-shaped theater in which children can watch nature videos like National Geographic Kids in either Chinese or English. A dress-up area with costumes of indigenous Taiwanese tribes provides a fun cultural study. Props like a stuffed alligator, model human skeleton, and a recreation of fossilized dinosaur eggs all help encourage young children to explore their curiosity about the natural world.

And don't be alarmed when a stroll through the museum grounds puts you at the feet of a towering Tyrannosaurus Rex . It explains why one of Candi's sons asks every other day to go to the "dinosaur museum"!

National Museum of Natural Science
1, GuanCian Rd; (04) 2322-6940
Hours: 9 am-5 pm (closed Mondays)
Grounds are free and open until 10 pm Admissions: Exhibits (paid special exhibition included) NT$150/adult, NT$120/students; free for seniors and children under 110 cm. For more information on admission fees for exhibits and theater shows, visit http://www.nmns.edu.tw/

With special exhibitions and six different theaters, including a Space and 3D Theater, and plenty of interactive fun, the National Museum of Natural Science is more than a day's worth of entertainment and learning. The Science Center's fourth floor welcomes you into the "Material World" where you can find out how gyroscopes and pulley systems work or stand in the "Fantastic Space" by extruding a giant bubble around yourself. On the fifth floor, the Children's Discovery Room is an educational playroom for 3-8 year-olds who must be accompanied by an adult. It houses a submarine-shaped theater in which children can watch nature videos like National Geographic Kids in either Chinese or English. A dress-up area with costumes of indigenous Taiwanese tribes provides a fun cultural study. Props like a stuffed alligator, model human skeleton, and a recreation of fossilized dinosaur eggs all help encourage young children to explore their curiosity about the natural world.

And don't be alarmed when a stroll through the museum grounds puts you at the feet of a towering Tyrannosaurus Rex . It explains why one of Candi's sons asks every other day to go to the "dinosaur museum"!

Taichung Children's Art Museum
1, ShengLi 2nd Rd, Dali City, Taichung County; (04) 2486-0069
Hours: 9:30 am-5:30 pm Tuesday - Friday (closed Mondays); 9:30 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday
Admission: NT$80/ adults; NT$100/children; free for children under 70 cm.
www.artsfun.com.tw

For an entire art museum devoted to children, the Taichung Children's Art Museum is a a great escape. Candi, a mother of four young children, describes the Children's Art Museum as "four floors of fun". She says their favorite section is the Alice in Wonderland theme room, where kids can hop on large piano keys to create a tune, traverse a rope bridge between two trees, and climb atop an enormous blue caterpillar. "We love the Children's Art Museum," declares Candi. "Behind each door is a new exploration of art." Other activities include experimenting with rhythm and sounds with musical instruments, playing dress-up on stage, and a film studio where children can take photos and see them displayed on the "big screen".

National Museum of Natural Science
1, GuanCian Rd; (04) 2322-6940
Hours: 9 am-5 pm (closed Mondays)
Grounds are free and open until 10 pm Admissions: Exhibits (paid special exhibition included) NT$150/adult, NT$120/students; free for seniors and children under 110 cm. For more information on admission fees for exhibits and theater shows, visit http://www.nmns.edu.tw/

With special exhibitions and six different theaters, including a Space and 3D Theater, and plenty of interactive fun, the National Museum of Natural Science is more than a day's worth of entertainment and learning. The Science Center's fourth floor welcomes you into the "Material World" where you can find out how gyroscopes and pulley systems work or stand in the "Fantastic Space" by extruding a giant bubble around yourself. On the fifth floor, the Children's Discovery Room is an educational playroom for 3-8 year-olds who must be accompanied by an adult. It houses a submarine-shaped theater in which children can watch nature videos like National Geographic Kids in either Chinese or English. A dress-up area with costumes of indigenous Taiwanese tribes provides a fun cultural study. Props like a stuffed alligator, model human skeleton, and a recreation of fossilized dinosaur eggs all help encourage young children to explore their curiosity about the natural world.

And don't be alarmed when a stroll through the museum grounds puts you at the feet of a towering Tyrannosaurus Rex . It explains why one of Candi's sons asks every other day to go to the "dinosaur museum"!

Botanical Garden
XiTun Rd, Sec 1 (next to National Museum of Natural Science)
(04) 2328-5328
Hours: 9 am-5 pm (closed Mondays)
Grounds are free admission and open until 10 pm
Admission: Greenhouse (all day) NT$20/adult; free for seniors and children under 110 cm.

Across from the Science Museum's XiTun Road entrance, a giant butterfly sculpture marks the entrance to the Botanical Garden. On the grounds you will find the enormous Greenhouse, containing a tropical rain forest complete with swamps, ponds, an aquarium swimming with huge fish, and a waterfall that you can climb up to through beautiful foliage. Outside, the Botanical Garden boasts more than 300 species of local plants and plenty of green space for running around or having an impromptu picnic.

Yu Kids Island
* WenXin branch
521, WenXin Rd, B1 (Carrefour WenXin Store, B1); (04) 2254-4970
* Taichung Port branch
111, Taichung Port Rd, Sec 2, 6F (Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Dept. Store, 6F); (04) 2251-6250
* Chung Yo Store branch
161, SanMin Rd, Sec 3, 8F (Chung Yo Dept. Store, Bldg A, 8F) (04) 2225-4261
Admission: NT$200/person; height limitations of 125 cm and under (socks required)
http://www.bld.com.tw/

Finding fun for kids doesn't need to involve an all-day field trip. Sometimes, it's just nice to take a break while shopping and running other errands. Originally designed in Japan, Yu Kids Island can be found in three major department stores in Taichung. With a colorful and padded play area that is fully enclosed and includes a tropical palm tree carousel and a netted area full of bouncy balls, Yu Kids Island provides plenty of sensory stimulation in a safe environment. The play area is designed for young children under 125 cm. While there is a monitor for the area at all times, parental supervision is required.

Taichung Metropolitan Park
30-3, XiPingNan Lane (DuHuiGongYuan Rd), Xitun District
(04) 2461-2483
Hours: 6 am-9 pm
Free admission to park grounds.

Central Taiwan's largest metropolitan park--covering an enormous 88 hectares--straddles the Taichung city/county line at the top Dadu Mountain, overlooking both the city and western coast. The quiet setting, good views and colorful, educational areas, together with lots of greenery and well-kept paths for strolling and biking, make this an ideal destination for families. Special areas include a Ecological Lake, Moon Corridor, Star Plaza, Play and Fitness Area, Plants Garden, giant sundial, and a Visitor Center. For a bit of fun exercise at Metro Park, rental shops offer both single-rider and tandem (two-person) bikes for around NT$100 to NT$150. On weekdays, it appears only one of the shops remains open, but during the weekend there are many shops to choose from, conveniently located not far from the park entrance.

The nearby Metro Park Taichung Equestrian Center also has an eclectic mix of options for families. As the name suggests, there is horseback riding, with a lap around the riding area costing NT$100 for adults and NT$50 for children. It's hard to top a photo on the back of a horse as a memento! There is also a small petting zoo, with various farm animals to interact with, including goats, rabbits and pigs. For larger groups of children, there are organized "outdoor study programs" with a combination of educational activities. For an unexpected cultural experience, they also offer the French bowling sport Petanque. Though for safety reasons it isn't recommended for your small children, teenagers and parents may enjoy the paint ball or the climbing wall. This spot is also a good place to end your day, as they have barbeque available on a viewing deck. To reach the Taichung Equestrian Center, take the last left off of DuHuiGongYuan (Metropolitan Park) Road just before reaching the park itself.

Note: When possible, some parents advise visiting the above locations during the week to avoid weekend crowds. Often, when a place is less busy, they are more inclined to provide you special treatment, like offering a guided tour of a barn or extra help with a crafts project.