Building My Bento, I'm the opposite, I vastly prefer Taiwan over my couple visits to China.

OB One, excellent suggestions, most of those I haven't done, I'll need to look through those links in more detail. I haven't been to Jiefun in many years, I think it is worth a return visit. The hiking I'm likely to do will be shorter and less intense than yours.

My trip changed a bit, I'll now be there for 3 weeks instead of 2 so more opportunities. I also just found out my SiL and her boyfriend who both live in Switzerland will also be visiting for part of the same time as me. We may join them on a 2-3 day trip to Kaohsiung and Kenting during the week. I haven't met him before and believe he's only been once or twice to Taiwan so may do some typical touring with him.

I'll have semi-access to a car. I won't be the one driving and its usually with my in-laws so I just go with the flow. Trips I make on my own or only with a couple others will be using public transport and mid-week. Weekend trips will likely be larger group and further out. Not 100% completely set in stone, may be possible to get my BiL to take the day off and just 2 or 3 of us drive somewhere mid-week.

We will be doing at least one mid-week trip outside of Taipei for a couple days (that will include wife and kids ages 7 to 13) whether or not we go to Kaohsiung and Kenting.

Sent the wife and kids off yesterday, now about 1.5 weeks of bachelorhood before I join them.