Spring Break 2026

The relaxation is the point, right?

For the third year in a row, our family headed back to Taiwan during spring break to visit Grandma (my mom) and to travel with her. It’s a way for the kids to connect to my roots even while growing up American. This year, we added a side quest to Japan because Grandma was tired of being landlocked. The trip felt exceedingly short due to all that we packed in. Join me for a highlights tour!

The highest drivable point in Taiwan. We scrambled to buy jackets the night before because we only packed for typical Taiwan weather. It was FREEZING.

Duck parade at Flying Cow Ranch in Maoli province. I’m usually a bit weary about animal treatment at for-profit tourist attractions, but the animals here seem happy. Watching a flock of ducks waddle on cue is adorable.

Mom booked us on a cherry blossom Japan tour, so the itinerary was planned to maximize our chances of catching flowers in full bloom. This was our first sighting, and it was magnificent.

We visited many shrines while in Japan. The grounds are all beautiful. The kids marveled at the architecture.

Strawberry picking and tasting. Japan is known for expensive fruit. Strawberries are considered an affordable option at around $1 each. We were given 30 minutes to pick as many as we could eat in a greenhouse. I think I got my money’s worth.

Mt. Fuji, as photographed by my son. I was prepared to be underwhelmed by his documentary skills, but he surprised me. I learned later that he picked up this reflection the day before from his photog dad.

I recently learned that Din Tai Fung, a dumpling restaurant started in Taiwan, is America’s top earning restaurant brand. We finally decided to take the kids to experience the deliciousness while in Taiwan this time. The smiles afterward prove that the xiao long baos are worth the 90 minute wait.

I finally figured out how to book a massage in Taiwan (I’m functionally Chinese illiterate), so I went to the one owned by this fluffiest of cats 3 times in 5 days. The cat’s owners are a husband and wife team who work 7 days a week from 11am to 11pm. The cat only wakes up to play when there’s a break between clients. That break is when the humans rest.

One of the best parts of Taiwan is how everyone treats you like family and you quickly get to know them as such. It’s very different from how we interact with service people in the US. My kids love it.

Looking back at vacation pics, I realized that I didn’t take as many as I usually do. Part of it has to do with the kids getting older and not wanting to be bothered. And there’s the other part where I just want to enjoy the vacation rather than worry about taking proper documentation. The pics are not as composed, but the memories are just as real. ‘til next year!