There’s family fun to be had all around Hua Hin. Starting with the beaches where children can enjoy the sand and water in safety to the well-equipped parks and playgrounds, parents will be pleased with the facilities on offer. There are cycling paths that everyone in the family can enjoy and banana boats rides on the water for thrill-seeking young ones. Elephants and horseback rides are available and are often a highlight of a visit to Hua Hin.

Beaches
Hua Hin’s main beach stretches for around two and a half miles (four kilometres) from the centre of town to Khao Takiab. The sunrises here are spectacular and the beach never becomes overcrowded. Its white sand makes this one of the finest lengths of beach on the Gulf of Thailand. The name Hua Hin was derived from the rocky formations found on the beach at the Sofitel Central Hotel. This is also a place at which you can hire beach umbrellas, chairs and sun loungers for a reasonable hourly fee. Farther south, behind Khao Takiab, you’ll find Suan Son beach, named after the numerous pine trees lining the beach. Suan Son is more popular with Thais than foreigners.

Banana Boat Rides
Some of the best fun your family can have on the water is to go on a banana boat ride together. The inflatable ‘boat’ is pulled along by a speedboat, which provides a fast, bumpy and twisty ride that’s sure to bring excitement, laughs, and maybe a spill or two. Numerous operators can be found along Hua Hin beach.

Elephant Rides
A short drive from Hua Hin, Elephant Village offers you a once-in-a-lifetime ride atop one of the gentlest creatures on earth. The elephant’s trainer, or mahout, will take you on a trek that goes past a Buddhist temple called Wat Itisukato, then through a forested area and up to the top of a mountain for panoramic views of the town and sea. You’ll then wade through a shallow river and head back to camp for an elephant show that demonstrates the elephants’ playfulness as well as their intelligence.The elephants will take care of the balancing act: all you need to do is hold on to your seat and enjoy the view. Phone: +66 32 561 181

Go-karting
JWS Motorsport is located opposite Hua Hin’s new airport, and its go-kart track is immensely popular with Thai and foreign families. The setting itself, with a backdrop of mountains and beachfront nearby, is spectacular but not the main draw. The facility’s track is 750m in length and features a challenging layout that includes a high-speed, banked curve. Karts are on offer that will suit all driver ages and abilities as well as double karts, allowing an adult to drive and a younger child to enjoy the thrill as a passenger. Instructors are available and full safety equipment is provided. There are floodlights for evening rides and a beer garden and dining facilities on the premises. Phone: +66 32 547 199.

Kidz Paradise
The Hua Hin Hilton offers special treatment for younger guests at their supervised Kidz Paradise. Young travellers from 4 to 12 years can enjoy the toys, games and arts and crafts activities on offer here. In addition, there’s supervised swimming and diving, a fun rope bridge and coconut bowling. Phone: +66 32 512 888.

Movie Time
The Siam Adventure club boasts a movie theatre for kids, located on the mezzanine level of the Hua Hin Hilton. The town’s only cinema features a range of selections from cartoons to classics and comedies to documentary films. This is a great place for the kids, but parents are sure to enjoy the offerings here as well. Major sporting events are also shown and there are beverages and light snacks available. Phone: +66 32 512 888.

Cultural activities in the Hua Hin area are varied and plentiful. You’ll find a major arts and crafts centre, museums and galleries, and more unusual options including a dinner theatre and Thai cooking classes. Both contemporary and classical Thai culture are featured at numerous venues.

Hua Hin Arts and Crafts Centre
The works of many contemporary Thai artists are on exhibit in this gallery, housed in a traditional Thai house located on Naepkhehat road. There are also collections of antique furniture and old photographs of Hua Hin’s past. Fine examples of Thai handicrafts are also highlighted at the centre.

Klaikangwon ‘Far from Worries’ Palace
This palace, built in the 1920s in the Spanish style, is the current summer residence of the royal family. Rising from its seaside location and surrounded by manicured gardens complete with sculptures, visitors are able to stroll around the grounds although tours of the palace itself are no longer conducted. The adjacent Maruekkahathaiyawan Palace offers visitors the opportunity to stroll along golden teak walkways and through its open-air pavilions. The architecture of this palace is a blend of Victorian and traditional Thai. Phone: +66 32 511 155.

Khao Wang Museum
An interesting daytrip will take you north to Phetchaburi town, either by local bus or car, here you’ll enjoy a visit to King Mongut’s palace overlooking Phetchaburi. The palace, known as Khao Wang, sits atop a hill and houses a museum that’s open to the public. From the grounds great views of the area surrounding this provincial capital can be enjoyed. The top of the hill can be reached by cable car or on foot, if you’re feeling energetic.

Sasi Dinner Theatre
This unique dinner theatre showcases Thai talent and traditional culture through performances of music and dance. This venue is located close to the Hyatt Regency hotel in the centre of Hua Hin and is one of the most popular evening spots. Other shows are featured at a number of local restaurants and near the night market, with everything from traditional to cabaret performances. Phone: +66 32 512 488.

Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villas
In the lobby of the historic Sofitel Central Hua Hin Hotel is a museum dedicated to the building’s past as a railway hotel, built by the British at the turn of the 20^th century. The style is British colonial although Thailand never was a British colony. It’s possible to have tea here in the afternoon, and both residents and non-residents are welcome. Phone: +66 32 512 021 38.

Thai Cooking Classes
You can learn how to create classic Thai dishes while you’re on holiday in Hua Hin. From choosing the ingredients to the blending of herbs and spices, the secrets of traditional Thai cuisine are shared by expert chefs at many of the town’s best resorts and cooking schools. Cooking schools that are operated by the resorts are typically more expensive, but you’ll find that meals are usually included in the cost. Some courses are ‘hands-on,’ meaning you’ll have the chance to prepare food yourself and then sample it. Chiva-Som International Health Resort is one such hotel offering Thai cooking classes.Phone+66 32 536 536.

You’ll find the best food in Hua Hin in the market area, along the main road and near the big fishing pier. Chatchai Market is a good place to go for seafood, especially in the evenings. The end of the Chomsin, near the city’s big fishing pier, is another good choice, where boats unload fresh fish, as is Khao Takiab fishing village.

A good selection of medium-priced restaurants is found along Damnoen Kasem road, most of which feature both Thai and western foods. Other spots offering up international cuisine are also located in this area and Jed Pee Nong. Choices include Chinese, French, Indian, Italian and Japanese.Vendors also sell fast food along the beachfront.

Although shoppers will find less choice in Hua Hin than in Bangkok, a lot of merchandise is on offer in a relatively small market and shopping area. The majority of shoppers typically venture out to the night market or the small shops that line the streets in the vicinity of Hua Hin’s Hilton Hotel. There are however a few modern shopping complexes springing up in the town centre.

If you’re in search of clothing, there are numerous tailors in Hua Hin that will make clothing to measure for you from a wide array of fabrics and in a short amount of time. Typical turn-around time for custom-made clothes is 24 hours, and your measurements will be kept on file in case you want to place another order once you’ve returned home. Plenty of inexpensive, ready-made clothes are also available from street vendors and at small shops throughout Hua Hin.

There’s no shortage of Thai and other Asian handicrafts here from small, unique pieces of jewellery to larger items such as paintings and sculptures that can be shipped overseas for you. In addition to the shops that carry regional arts and crafts, many young artists sell engravings, jewellery and other items on the street.

Hua Hin and the immediate area around the resort town boast loads of outdoor activities to keep visitors pleasantly occupied during their holiday. You can relax on any one of a number of golden sand beaches, engage in a variety of water sports and cycle or hike through nearby national parks. The golf courses around Hua Hin attract large numbers of enthusiasts and the resort is gaining a reputation for quality kitesurfing.

Golf
Golfers will find a number of courses in the area, but the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course typically draws the greatest interest. Catering to every need, this course was opened in the early 1920s. It’s the oldest course in the country, and it’s as challenging today as it was when the first golfers played here. One of Thailand’s top-rated courses, it’s also visually striking with tree-lined fairways and topiary in the form of animals and birds everywhere.

Kitesurfing
Recently, both kiteboarding and kitesurfing have become extremely popular in Hua Hin. Two schools offer kitesurfing lessons and the steady thermal winds of March and April bring droves of kitesurfing enthusiasts to this resort. The conditions here are considered ideal, as the ocean floor is quite flat and shallow for some distance from the shore.

Mountain Biking
As the sun comes up the area around Hua Hin is at its most tranquil: the perfect time to head out with friends on a leisurely cycle tour of the local highlights. Before the temperature starts to climb, head to the hills and visit some of the exotic temples and traditional villages nearby. Along the way you’ll see fine examples of Buddhist architecture and icons, and an early start will have you back in time for lunch by the sea and an afternoon at the beach.

Sailing
The Gulf of Thailand is popular with the yachting set, and Hua Hin along with Pattaya feature several yacht charter operators offering their services. Still not as popular as Phuket, where the annual King’s Cup Regetta is held, Hua Hin nevertheless attracts more Europeans interested in sailing each season. Sail boats can be hired with or without crew, and the numerous nearby offshore islands are popular destinations for day cruises.

Tennis
Most of the better hotels and resorts feature facilities for playing tennis. Although most reserve their courts for paying guests, some allow non-residents to play for a fee. Equipment and lessons are available, but it’s a good idea to try reserving a court and equipment at least a day or so in advance. The early morning and late afternoon are the best times to play, as the temperatures are more pleasant and the sun isn’t too strong.

Water Sports
Hua Hin and the whole of the Gulf coast are synonymous with water sports. Parasailing and windsurfing are particularly popular, aided by strong north-easterly winds. Major hotels hire out equipment and provide lessons in these sports as well. Other sports on offer include jet-skiing and waterskiing, both of which also provide an adrenaline rush.