There are some wonderful outdoor activities that children can enjoy in Chiang Rai, from visiting wildlife centres to riding on elephants. The best local waterfall is located on Buffalo Horn Hill, and facilities here allow for hiking, picnicking and swimming. Any of these activities can be arranged through local tour companies.

Doi Tung Zoo
This facility is sometimes referred to as the Doi Tung Wildlife Station. It covers 80 acres of watershed forest that run alongside Highway 1149. Numerous rare and endangered species indigenous to Doi Tung are bred and cared for here. Highlighted species include hogdeer, sun bears, muntjak (or barking deer) and the Siamese fireback pheasant. This is a great place for families to spot local, indigenous wildlife that is rare and therefore difficult to come across in the wild. Several walking trails are incorporated into the viewing areas.

Elephant Trekking
Elephant treks are easily arranged in Chiang Rai, and local tour companies can set you up with a variety of packages. Most elephant rides are included as a leg of a longer trek, the lengths and routes of which vary considerably. Chiang Mai city is surrounding by dense, mountainous jungles that run alongside the Mae Kok River and ultimately culminate in the Golden Triangle and Mekong River area. Children have opportunity to see how the elephants are bathed, fed and cared for, and there's also the possibility that you'll see a mother and baby.

Khun Kon Waterfall
Situated 19 miles south of Chiang Rai city, Khun Kon Waterfall is the perfect destination for a family daytrip. At 230 feet high, this is the highest waterfall in Chiang Rai province. The cascade is most impressive during the rainy season (May to October). The waterfall is accessible by car up until the last half mile, which has to be hiked. There are a few hiking trails that circumvent the falls and extend further into the jungle, and swimming is possible in a few pools at the base of the falls. This is a nice place to plan a picnic at any time of year.

Chiang Rai and the surrounding countryside is a culturally rich place. This was once the seat of the prosperous Lanna Kingdom, and many of the temples in this area are part of a legacy that dates back 1,000 years. Once renowned for its opium trade, several focused initiatives have helped local communities turn to more acceptable cash crops and even capitalise on the tourism industry in a way that strengthens and promotes their own cultural heritage.

Doi Mae Salong
A fascinating mountain outpost north of Chiang Rai city, Mae Salong hosts a blend of hill tribe farmers and Chinese pioneers. The latter were part of the Chinese KMT nationalist army that fled the homeland during China's Great Leap Forward. Storefronts display Chinese and Thai script, and most merchants speak a smattering of multiple languages including Mandarin, Thai, Akha and English. Mae Salong grew in relative isolation for several years until the 1980s, when a sealed road scaling the mountain was opened. Oolong tea is grown on the fringes of town, and numerous vendors operate tea shops that serve the delicious tea.

Hill Tribe Museum and Education Centre
This non-profit organisation is dedicated to strengthening ties between Thailand's ethnic minority groups and the greater international community. Onsite are a number of exhibits related to the customs and culture of Chiang Rai's multiple hill tribe groups. A vast collection of traditional handicrafts are also on display, all of which are for sale. Phone: +66 53 719167.

Mae Salong Ancestors Museum
To learn more about the unique demographic on Doi Mae Salong, visit the Ancestor Museum situated next to the town market. Local Chinese are proud of their heritage, and this institute diligently follows the lives and struggles of the Kuomintang soldiers who founded this village. The museum has several exhibits and a total of 500 photographs chronicling this unique community's evolution. Phone: +66 53 765114 9.

Wat Phra Kaew
Located on Trairat road, this temple lays claim to the origin of the Emerald Buddha. Legend has it that lightening struck the temple in the 15^th century. The force of the strike split open the chedi, revealing a sacred jade Buddha image. Over the centuries, the Emerald Buddha was transported throughout the kingdom of Siam, ultimately coming to rest in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew. Today, this temple in Chiang Rai houses a replica of the Emerald Buddha along with a 700-year-old copper and brass Buddha image called Phra Jao Lan Thong.

Wat Phra Sing
This temple sits on Singkhlai road in downtown Chiang Rai and dates to the 14^th century. The Bodhi tree in the courtyard was sent from India, and in its shade is a collection of Buddha images. However, the most impressive Buddha image is kept inside the temple. Replicas of the Pra Singh image, a purple jade Buddha, and an ebony and gold 'twin Buddha' image are kept in the temple. These images are modelled after Buddha statues that were kept here at one time before being relocated to other temples.

Wat Phrathat Doi Tung
A sacred mountain-top temple, Wat Phrathat Doi Tung rises more than 6,500 feet above sea level. This area was considered sacred long before Buddhism arrived in Thailand, and the temple itself dates to the 10^th century. A golden chedi rises above the temple, blending Burmese and Lanna architectural styles. Legend has it that an ancient Lanna prince followed a wandering elephant to Doi Tung along the River Kok and saw that this was an ideal spot to erect a temple and build the city that would eventually become Chiang Rai.

Wat Rong Khun
Chiang Rai's ‘White Temple’ is still under construction. This modern temple is immaculately white, setting it apart from other Buddhist temples in the region. The architect is striving to create a tribute to heaven and the Buddha's purity in a sort of heaven-on-earth environment. The interior is lavishly decorated with paintings that suggest the transcendence of earthly desires. The roof is guarded by four animal sculptures, each of which represents an earthen element: the swan (wind); the lion (fire); the elephant (earth); and the mythical serpent, or naga (water).

Shopping facilities in Chiang Rai specialise in handicrafts sourced from across the province. Craftspeople and local artists bring their work into the city to sell them to tourists. Local hill tribe merchants market their wares as well, often clad in traditional dress—an interesting aspect of dealing with local vendors.

Products you are likely to find in Chiang Rai include Thai silk, sold both as fabric and clothing. Pha sin wraparound skirts are popular, as are traditional triangular pillows known as mawn sam liam. Silk wall-hangings and tapestries make nice gifts and loose-fitting fisherman's trousers are also a popular purchase.

Jewellery—including gold, silver and jade—is widely available across Thailand. Beware of expensive jewellery sold from less than upscale vendors, as fakes can be quite convincing. Regardless, Thailand is one of the world's leaders in the export of gems, and fantastic deals are possible.

Hill tribe products can be purchased virtually anywhere, and wherever you travel you're likely to be confronted by hill tribe merchants selling handmade jewellery and knick-knacks. The Hill Tribe Museum boasts an impressive array of handicrafts, all of which are for sale. Prices here are fixed, so tourists don't have to trouble themselves with bartering, and patrons can rest assured that the proceeds from these sales are used to bolster local hill tribe economies.

There is also a modest night bazaar in the Chiang Rai city centre. A large portion of this market is uncovered, and you won't find many vendors when it's raining. Otherwise, goods here range from local artworks and handicrafts to Western style clothing and faux-designer apparel and accessories.

There are several eating establishments in Chiang Rai, though you won't find the kind of variety that exists in Chiang Mai. Most of the restaurants are centrally located along the main road, thanon Phaholythin. There are also several waterfront establishments situated along the Mae Kok River.

The full gamut of Thai cuisine is available in Chiang Rai, but this is also a good place to try a few Northern Thai specialties like khao soy (a Burmese-influenced chicken and noodle curry); naam prik noom, a mild dipping sauce eaten with fresh, local greens; and northern style sausage. Follow the locals to find the best establishments.

There is a food court adjoining the night bazaar, and numerous hawkers operate here, dealing in everything from Western snacks to spring rolls, pad thai (fried noodles), fresh fish and delicate sweets. Draft Thai beer is available, and life performance (traditional dance and music) is often featured on stage.

As Chiang Rai continues to gain momentum in the tourism industry, an increasing number of restaurants offer international fare. There is a popular Italian restaurant on the main road Phaholythin road where pizzas are cooked in a charcoal oven. The main road also hosts a Lebanese restaurant where patrons can order homemade hummus and falafel.

First and foremost, Chiang Rai is the gateway to the rugged jungles of Northern Thailand. The city itself is semi-metropolitan, but you don't have to travel far to escape the city life. Cycling, rafting and jungle trekking are popular pursuits, and local tour companies are constantly coming up with new ways to combine these with visits to authentic hill tribe villages and quintessential landmarks like the Golden Triangle. Elephant rides are another fun way to see the countryside, a novel way of experiencing the outdoors.

Cycling
Cycling is an excellent way to tour Chiang Rai city, as most of the city's centralised attractions are within close range of one another. The roads through town are relatively flat making cycling easy. Those who crave steep hills and more rugged terrain can head a few miles out of town on organised mountain biking tours. Inquire with local tour operators for details. All of the necessary equipment can be hired in town at rentals shops, hotels and guesthouses.

Rafting
Rafting on the Mae Kok River with a tour operator is an exciting experience. Along the way, you'll enjoy views of the dense and mountainous jungles that characterise this part of the country. The rapids are best during the rainy season, when the rains swell the river and send it tumbling through the mountainous terrain. Bamboo rafting is equally popular and is often included as part of a jungle trek. Typically, tour groups park their rafts at a riverside hill tribe village or semi-remote outpost where lunch and handicraft shopping is available.

Trekking
There are numerous worthwhile treks throughout Chiang Rai province, with trekking being one of the best ways to experience the outlying jungles and mountainsides. Many of these overland excursions visit the Golden Triangle, passing through Karen and Akha hill tribe villages and often incorporating river rafting, elephant riding or both. The length of treks ranges from a few hours to several days, and overnight lodgings along with meals are typically included in the cost. Usually, the travel agency will provide transportation from a centralised beginning point in Chiang Rai to the starting point of the trek.