Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Taipei, Mei-Lun Park 美崙公園







This is an awesome park located right by Taipei Astronomical Museum. It is BIG! It has two areas with play structures. Not a lot of shade coverage from trees - so it might get pretty hot in the summer. It is walkable to Taipei Children's Amusement Park, so I think you can take public transportation to the amusement park and walk to this park easily.

Location: Lane 152, Meilun St.
Pros: big, science themed play structure, metal planets you can jump on, restrooms on site
Cons: keep close watch to your children because it's a big park!


Thursday, June 23, 2016

Malaysia, Angry Bird Activity Park




Opened in 2014, this Angry Bird Activity Park is located in the city of Johor Bahru (same city as Legoland Malaysia). It is located in a shopping mall called KOMTAR JBCC, which supposedly is the best mall there (more on this later). We were staying at the Legoland hotel, and the cab ride from Legoland to KOMTAR JBCC was about 30 minutes and costs 50 Ringgits. 

Before coming here, we tried to limit our expectation for this place since most reviews I've read said it's not very big and you can finish the entire park in an hour or so. It is actually pretty fun - and if your kids are about the same age as mine (4,6,7) - they can easily spend the entire day here! (you CAN exit the park and come back)

The main drawback to this place is that there wasn't a lot of employees there to supervise/guide the children where help is certainly needed. As parents, you have to be vigilant because not every parent will be watching their kids (think: a mall playground on crack). At the "Space Drop Air Bag" area, basically your child would be jumping off of a platform onto an gigantic air bag with no instructions as to how to land, the proper way to jump, etc. If you want to try the go-kart, good luck trying to get onto one waiting in line - gotta get out there on the track and demand your turn. 

That being said, my boys still had a great time. We only stayed for a littler over an hour because it was late, but they could still keep going if we let them. Oh the mall - remember to bring your own toilet paper if you plan on using the restrooms there. and the restrooms are down right disgusting for a seemingly decent mall. And getting a cab to your next destination? It took us over 30 mins to figure out where to go for the taxi stand. But I think culturally it is just harder to get correction information from people in Asia. lol!



Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Zhubei, Hsinchu County Library 新竹縣圖書館





It has a decent selection of children's books in English. My boys are avid readers, so this will probably last us a few months! To get a library card, you will need to bring your passport or ARC and fill out an application at front desk. It will take about 20 mins after submitting your application to get the actual library card. It is free!

We like to come here first for some books, and then head down the street to Zhubei Children's Park.

Location: Xianzheng 9th Rd #146. 竹北市縣政九路146號 (the front door is on Wenping Rd)
Parking: street parking on Wenping Rd 

Pros: FREE! AC! clean bathrooms!
Cons: don't read too fast, or you might run out of books to borrow fairly quickly!


Monday, June 6, 2016

Zhubei, Cultural Children's Park 竹北文化兒童公園



This park is located right by Guangming 1st Rd (Zhubei's restaurants street). It is usually never empty, and the unique stone slide is loved by many local children. There are two playground structures in the park, one with monkey bars! There is also a skating rink next to the playground. This park is great for children of all ages. And the best thing is - the library is right across the street. We like to go to the library first, and then come here for the boys to run around.

Location: Wenping Rd & Wuzhuoliu Rd. 文平路&吳濁流路口
Parking: Street parking available

Pros: many structures in one place - 2 play structures, a stone slide, a skating rink, & basketball court)
Cons: no bathroom on site. stone slide is fun but can get quite dirty.


Friday, June 3, 2016

Taipei, Youth Park 青年公園





What a HUGE, lovely park! there are playground structures at the opposite ends of the park. And with kids, it will take you a good 15~20 mins of walking/stopping to get from one end to another...so you could literally spend the entire morning there if you want to. We love it because it's different. On one end you have the train like play structure, a small tree house for toddlers, a sandpit, and BABY SWINGS (mine are not babies anymore, but this is my first time seeing baby swings in Taiwan), and the other end there is this spaceship/castle looking stone slides and another play structure nearby. I can assure you - your kids will be all worn out after playing at this park!

Pros: unique, bathrooms on site, old people singing karaoke (it's cute!)
Cons: depends on where you park, it might take you a loooong time to walk to your parking spot. just be ready.

Location: No. 199, Shuiyuan Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Parking: street parking and parking lots by the park