If you have children you'll be pleased to hear that there is no such thing as being bored in Chiang Mai. Thailand's second largest city has all the amenities a child could wish for, other than a beach. The following are suggestions for the young and young at heart.

Castle Rock Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary established for the preservation of Asian bears and gibbons. Located 30 km from Chiang Mai with lakeside frontage in beautiful countryside, it provides a perfect spot to spend the whole day relaxing and learning more about Thailand’s animals. There's plenty of space for the kids to run around too. Tel: 053 350 387 for more information.

Chiang Mai Zoo, located about 5 km from Chiang Mai City Centre, occupies 200 acres in the foothills of Doi Sutep and is the largest zoo in Thailand. Landscaped gardens, waterfalls, lakes and views of the city make it a worthwhile visit.

Chiang Mai University occupies a vast space of land on the foothills of Doi Sutep. It is an attractive place with its own lake, waterfall and many good facilities including a sports stadium, food centres, a late night market and an arts centre. Performances and concerts are also held that would interest children and their families. Contact the university on: 053 221 699.

Doi Sutep Mountain and Temple is probably the first feature any first-time visitor to Chiang Mai would notice. It is part of the ring of mountains that surround the city and is home to a spectacular temple. Wat Prathat Doi Sutep is a gleaming temple and guardian of the city that can be seen from any point in Chiang Mai. There are plenty of places to stop and picnic en-route, or see how many different birds and wild flowers you can spot. Located 17 km from the city in a national park.

Elephant rides are a fun activity for the whole family. There are many places offering elephant rides around Chiang Mai. If you don’t want to ride, the mahouts often sell bananas that you can hand-feed to these magnificent mammals.

Horse riding at The Pack Squadron Riding Club has the makings of a lovely afternoon. They have a stable of over 35 horses, many of them thoroughbreds. Contact 053 297 478 for more information.

Huay Keaw Waterfall is a great picnic spot or just a place to go and cool off. It is a relatively small waterfall that flows steadily during the rainy season but tends to trickle down to a small stream in summer. Located near the zoo, 6 km from town, on the foothills of Doi Sutep Mountain.

Montaturn Waterfall is another popular waterfall and picnic spot, located 15 km from Chiang Mai, on the road up to Doi Sutep. It can be hard to access during the wet season, however, the rainy season is also the best time to be at this falls as the water then is more powerful, cascading down from the mountain into a small pool that is wonderfully clean and refreshing to swim in. For a more rewarding time, take a brief and steep climb up the side of the falls. It will lead you to a very private area whereby you can slide down the shoot into the pond. It is also a great place to admire the city below.

Puping Palace is the winter Royal residence located further up the mountain from Doi Sutep. You may visit the palace during weekends and public holidays as long as the Royal Family is not in residence. Completed in 1962 the palace grounds are beautifully in bloom during the cool winter months (December - January).

Space Roller Rink offers inline skating for the young and old in a Discotheque ambiance. Skates can be rented there at a nominal charge. A nice rainy day or evening activity.

Perhaps more than any other place in Thailand, Chiang Mai offers an array of cultural and spiritual courses, enriching one’s holiday experience.

Buddhist Meditation courses are offered at Northern Insight Meditation Centre, located in the large Wat Ram Poeng, nearby Wat U Mong. Traditional Vipassana meditation is taught during 10-26 day individual courses by a Thai monk with western students or bilingual Thais acting as interpreters. Meditation can also be learned from the monks at Wat U Mong. The best way to arrange this is to attend the Sunday talks (see Wat U Mong on our Sightseeing page)

Thai Cooking courses can be found at most hotels and several schools. Typical courses include an introduction to Thai herbs and spices, a market tour, cooking instructions and a recipe booklet, and of course delicious meals! Enquire at your hotel or contact the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School on 053 206 388 / 053 490 456 for more information or E-mail them at cmcook@infothai.com. You can also visit their web-site at www.thaicookeryschool.com)

Thai Language courses can be found at American University Alumni (Tel: 053 278 407. E-mail: aualanna@loxinfo.co.th); Australia Centre (Tel: 053 810 552); Payap University (Tel: 053 304 805 ext 250); and the Chiang Mai Thai Language Centre (Tel: 053 277 810. E-mail: cmat@loxinfo.co.th)

Thai Massage and herbal medicine can be studied or simply experienced at the Old Medicines Hospital (OMH). Traditional 11-day courses run daily from 9am-4pm. Call 053 275 085 for more information. The Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai, located on the University campus, offers certified courses from 18 hours to a full year’s curriculum. The English language standard tends to be very high here. Visit their web-site at www.1thaimassage.com. Another recommended course is that of Lek Chaiya, a woman who has been massaging and teaching for over 40 years. Lek specialises in jap sen (similar to acupressure) and the use of medicinal herbs. Courses take 3-5 days. Call 053 278 325 or visit www.nervetouch.com

Yoga classes are taught at various centres. One is the Marcel Kraushaar Hatha Yoga group that meets at the Pa Daet intersection. Call 053 271 555 or E-mail: marcelandyoga@hotmail.com for more information.

Besides excellent Thai and Asian cuisine, visitors can also enjoy Italian, American, French and German food. Steakhouses, sandwich bars, fast-food outlets, pubs and vegetarian restaurants offer a broad range of dishes as well. International fare is also available in many teahouses and coffee shops. Romantic meals can be enjoyed along many of the riverside restaurants and old teak houses.

Local culinary specialties include highly spiced Naem sausages and mildly curried Khao Soi noodles. Many visitors enjoy a traditional Khan Toke dinner which is accompanied by a display of northern dances. Khan Toke is actually a wooden tray for carrying dishes. At a Khan Toke dinner the guests sit in groups of five or six on the floor. Many dishes include Burmese and northern Thai-style curries, spiced mincemeat dishes, Chiang Mai sausage, seasoned sauces and dips, crispy pork and sticky rice. Diners eat with their hands while groups provide entertainment, performing traditional Northern dances such as the graceful fingernail dance, the candle dance and the sword dance.

Chiang Mai is one of the major centres for quality handicrafts. At any shopping centre or at the Night Bazaar one can purchase a variety of things such as clothing, jewellery, silverware, hill tribe products, basketry, furniture, lacquer ware, wood carvings, parasols, and antiques or items that look like antiques. It's a shopper’s delight.

Thai, Chinese, Burmese and Khmer antiques are excellent buys. Certain categories of antiques are restricted, particularly Buddha images. Others pieces may require an export license, but any reputable dealer will be able to advise you the appropriate restrictions and necessary documentation.

The visitor can watch demonstrations of the various handicrafts being made especially in many of the outlying villages or factories. However, the visitor should be aware that many "factories" along the Bo Sang Road are actually not primarily factories but retail outlets, and they charge not factory but retail prices.

The finest silverware in Thailand is crafted in Chiang Mai by family enterprises that have been in the profession for several generations. Silver shops are concentrated on Wualai Road where silverware artisans and their families traditionally live.

Woodcarving is also a traditional northern Thai art featured in numerous temples and homes. In recent years, wood carving has become popular on furniture, dividing screens, chairs, tables, beds, or anything with a wooden surface large enough to be carved. Carved elephants, figurines and tableware are among many of the items available. Woodcarving and furniture shops are found along the Bo Sang - Sam Kamphaeng Road.

Hill tribe products include silver ornaments such as bracelets, necklaces, pendants, hairpins and pipes of intricate design. Older pieces have been made from melted coins that originated in British India or French Indochina. Other popular hill tribe products are the many embroidered items. Hill tribe items can be purchased directly in hill tribe villages or in Chiang Mai itself.

Chiang Mai is a major centre of Thailand’s pottery industry. Prized items include the distinctive, single-coloured celadon. Celadon, with its inimitable, finely cracked glaze, is produced in numerous forms that include dinner sets, lamp bases and general decorative items.

Orchids and butterflies are preserved and plated with 24-carat gold to create unusual gift items and jewellery pieces.

Going to the Cinema is a great rainy day activity; movies with English soundtracks can be seen at the Vista chain of movie theatres. Call 053 262 661 for more information.

The Peak Rock-Climbing Plaza is the largest rock climbing wall in Southeast Asia stands and at 15 metres high by 16 metres wide. The wall is designed to accommodate beginners as well as experienced climbers. Non climbers can watch from the adjacent bars and restaurants. Tel: 053 820 777.

Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures leads rock climbing instruction trips to a set of limestone cliffs. Excursions include two guides, transport, food, water, equipment, insurance and a souvenir T-shirt. Call 06 911 1470 or visit their web-site at www.thailandclimbing.com

Chiang Mai offers an abundance of trails to peddle along through lush jungle and mountain ridges. Numerous companies provide guided tours or you can rent your own bike from your hotel or at various bike shops scattered around the city. The Chiang Mai Cycle Club organises a trip nearly every Sunday. Their excursions tend to go off the beaten tourist track. Bring a bike and meet them in front of the Tha Phae Gate around 7am every Sunday or call them on 053 943 018. For bike rental, enquire at your hotel or contact the City Bike Shop on 01 927 9211.

NOK Flying and Gliding Club is situated just 10 miles SE of Chiang Mai at NOK Airfield VTCY.

Oriental Balloon Flights arranges one-hour early morning hot-air balloon cruises over the Chiang Mai countryside. Prices include transfers from your hotel plus a champagne breakfast. A spectacular way to start the day! Contact 053 398 609.

The Chiang Mai Flying Club offers aerial sightseeing tours as well as pilot training courses. aircraft hire, foreign license conversion, trial flights, airplane maintenance. 

Golf is always a popular activity. Lanna Golf Course (7,174 yards, par 72) enjoys a truly spectacular setting at the foot of the famous Doi Suthep Mountain just outside the city. The course is moderately difficult with more than 20 lakes and water hazards, many trees and elevated greens. Open 6:00am-8:00pm. Tel: 053 921 911. Yim Cana Golf Course (9 holes) Also known as the Gymkhana Club, this course offers the uncommon setting of a large cricket ground surrounded by mature trees, and a pleasant clubhouse.

Horse riding at The Pack Squadron Riding Club has the makings of a lovely afternoon. They have a stable of over 35 horses, many of them thoroughbreds. Contact 053 297 478 for more information.

Popular jungle treks, lasting from 2 to 7 days, take visitors through forested mountains and meadows and include visits to remote hill tribe settlements. There are currently three main trekking routes: the Chiang Mai - Mae Taeng route which usually includes a raft trip down the Mae Taeng River; the Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Song route through spectacular mountains and some rough terrain; and the Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai route with its exciting long-tail boat ride on the Kok River. Other trekking areas are in Chiang Dao, Mae Chan, Ngao, Phrao, Wiang Pa Pao and Lampang.

Elephant rides are a fun way to see the fauna and flora of the area. The guides are often hill tribe youths who speak English, Thai and various tribal dialects. There are a number of places offering tours that involve elephant trekking.

River cruises are offered by Mae Ping River Cruises at the small pier on the Ping River behind Wat Chaimongkhon. Two-hour cruises in roofed boats stop at a small fruit farm where free samples and a beverage are provided. A Thai dinner cruise offers a set menu and goes from 7:15pm-9:30pm nightly. Call 053 274 822 for more information. The Riverside Bar & Restaurant also offers dinner cruises along the river. It’s a popular favourite among Thais and foreigners with a jovial atmosphere and live music nightly. Dine on land or just board the boat anytime after 7:30pm as it launches at 8pm. Call 053 243 239 for more information.