Hsinchu, Hsinchu Zoo 新竹動物園

ticket vending machine

peacock

tigers and bears separated by a wall

Location: google map location

Parking: on Shipin Rd. by the stadium or street parking along Shipin Rd. or Gongyuan Rd.

Pros: cheap and cute. sandpit by the children's animals area with shade

Cons: it's a small zoo, hard to find parking on the weekends

We have tried to visit this park twice on the weekends but ultimately left because we couldn't find parking!!! That's how ridiculous it gets sometimes. During winter break, I took my older two boys here on a weekday morning at 9am and it was perfectly empty. You purchase tickets through this machine for $20 each. I would say it's perfect for kids of all ages, because it's small enough yet you do get to see some interesting animals. I would say the ones we liked the most were the tigers, orangutan, pelicans, peacocks, and monkeys. There is also a sandpit that you can spend some time there after seeing all the animals.

Hsinchu, McDonald's with a playground! 麥當勞

Location: google map location

Parking: right across the street

Pros: a playground in McDonald's, in Taiwan!!!

Cons: it's a fairly busy McDonald's

Ever since we drove past it some time last year, my boys had been begging me to take them here (I know right? *eyeroll). I had been reluctant because 1) I have a McDonalds 5 mins away from our house and this one is at least 15 mins away, and 2) I could not figure out where I can park for this one!! Anyway, one day I just decided to drive us there and figure it out when we get there, and what do you know! There IS a parking lot right across the street! Nothing special to say about this, it's a playground in McDonald's. probably a bit cleaner than your average Mcd playground in the states. ;)

Taichung, Beitun Children's Park 北屯兒童公園

Location: google map location Intersection of Beiping Rd. & Xing'an Rd, right across from Siwei Elementary

Pros: decent size park with playgrounds on both ends of the park. restrooms on site.

Cons: hard to find parking even on a weekend morning

This is a fun park with a few metal climbing structures, 3 playground structures, and a weird looking maze. Ours boys had the most fun with the maze and used them as military bases for their imaginary play. My only complaint would be that it was hard to find parking! We ended up parking on a red line :x .

Taichung, Dough 動手玩金典店

work space

Menu

refrigerated ingredients

dry ingredients

Location: Jin Diang Mall google map location (金典綠園道)

Pros: baking without the mess at your home!

Cons: takes min. one hour

This is a cute concept, and I can see why it works here in Asia - not everyone has an oven at home here! So if you do not have an oven at home and you want the baking experience with your kiddos, I'd definitely recommend this place. Generally you have to make a reservation, and the cost depends on what item you choose from the menu (from the cheapest madeleines for $260 to cakes over $600). There is plenty of work space, and even on a weekend afternoon it wasn't super crowded. You will get an iPad that has the recipe and a video clip for you to follow. You basically do everything on your own - from measuring the ingredients to washing the mixing bowls. When you're done, they will give you a nice little box/plastic bag to put in your cake/cookies.