Multigenerational Fun in Taiwan

If you are traveling in Taiwan with different ages within your family or even family friends, you will find there are plenty of options of things to do that appeal to all ages. And even at the same time! Take a look at some of the fun things we found to do that everyone will enjoy.

Bicycle at Sun Moon Lake

In the middle of Taiwan, with an elevation of more than 2,400 feet above sea level, is Sun Moon Lake, the only natural and largest lake in all of Taiwan. The lake gets its name from the fact that its southern part is shaped like a new moon, and the northern part like the sun. One fun thing to do at the lake is to hop on two wheels and pedal along the round-the-lake bikeway. This bicycling route is considered one of the most breathtaking cycle paths in the world.

Calla Lily Festival

Each spring at Zhuzihu in Taipei’s Yangmingshan National Park, a Calla Lily Festival is held to celebrate the beautiful flower that blooms here. During peak bloom, a field seemingly as far as the eye can see is blanketed in the curvaceous white blooms. When the fog rolls through the mountains, the scene is likened to a young girl covered with a veil. During the festival, concerts are held and guided tours are offered.

Calla Lily Festival Farms © Jeeaachen | Dreamstime.com

Dalongdong Bao’an Temple

A visit to this temple in Taipei City reveals an ornate structure built in 1825 made of wood and stone, all of which had to be brought over from mainland China, as did the artisans. Be sure to take a look at the dragon pillars, as well as the pair of symbolic stone lions. Usually, the male lion found at a temple has an open mouth while the female lion has a closed mouth; at the Bao’an Temple, each lion has an open mouth and are at the temple “as an appeal to respect the law and carry out good government.”

National Palace Museum

If you and your multigenerational group are visiting Taipei during your trip to Taiwan, a terrific place to get acquainted with the region is the National Palace Museum. Opened in 1965, the four-story museum houses exhibits reflecting art and artifacts of Chinese heritage, specifically from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing courts. The museum, whose combined collection numbers just less than 609,000 cultural relics, is “widely known as a treasure trove of Chinese culture.” On the fourth floor you will find the Sanxitang Teahouse and outside, several gardens surround the museum — perfect for meandering and chatting about what you saw inside.

Take a Cooking Class

Much of travel is experienced through the local foods found in destinations, so think about how much fun it would be for your multigen group to take a cooking class together — with a local chef! For more than 15 years, Ivy of Ivy’s Kitchen has been teaching at the Community Services Center in Taipei, and is ready to customize a class for you and your family. Over the course of three to four hours, you will prepare and eat your culinary creations; Ivy customizes menus to accommodate special diets, as well as cooking comfort levels from novice to experienced. Go on, dig into Taiwanese or Chinese cuisine and take your newfound skills and recipes home with you!