By Merritt Gurley
Jan 9, 2017
1. Singha Park
You don’t often find zebras grazing rice terraces, but you just might at Singha Park Chiang Rai (free entry, tram rides Bt50 per person), an agricultural tourism attraction in Northern Thailand. This 13-kilometer chunk of farmland has a wealth of nature-loving activities for the kids, including a swan lake and fields of wildflowers to explore; a fruit and vegetable garden where kids can pick and plant fresh produce; a farm house and a zoo full of all kinds of exotic and barnyard animals; and cycling tours, zip-lining and rock climbing for young adventurers.
2. Anantara Golden Triangle
Is there any animal more capable of capturing the imagination of children than the majestic never-forgetful elephant? The Anantara Golden Triangle (rooms for families of four from Bt72,300) has an on-site elephant camp designed like a traditional mahout village that offers guests an interactive experience with the gentle giants, and the setting, on a hillside overlooking two rivers, has one of the best views in town.
3. Mae Salong
Right by the border to Burma, the sprawling hillside rice terraces of Mae Salong (part of Diethelm Travel’s Northern Thailand Off the Beaten Track tour; diethelmtravel.com; four nights from Bt24,264 per person) paint a pictorial scene. It was founded in the 1960s by a force of 15,000 anti-Communist Chinese soliders who escaped from Yunnan and settled in these hills. At 1,800 meters above sea level, the area is cool enough for sakura cherry trees, oolong tea, and sunflowers to blossom. Between the rich fresh air, tea tasting, Chinese temples, open-air bazaars and surrounding hill-tribe villages, you too may be tempted to settle here.
