Taitung Forest Park is the city's easiest escape, a broad strip of trees and lakes between town and the Pacific. The dark whistling pines give parts of it the nickname Black Forest, but the mood is light: locals cycle, jog, watch birds, and drift between Pipa Lake, Egret Lake, and the coastal paths.
It is large enough to justify renting a bike, especially if you continue toward Seashore Park. Go early in the morning or near sunset, when the heat softens and the light starts to show why Taitung feels different from western Taiwan.