Chiang Mai Zoo If you like animals or are traveling with children, the zoo at the edge of town has a good collection of bird life, fish, reptiles and mammals. Feature exhibits are the Humboldt penguins, fur seals, Gibbon Island and a children's zoo.

Orchids & Butterflies These nurseries and aviaries in the Mae Sa Valley are commercialized but still offer a pleasant afternoon. But commercial or not, the orchids and butterflies are beautiful.

Chiang Mai National Museum has a Lanna Thai art collection, ancient Buddha images and weapons of war. Closed Monday, Tuesday and for lunch.

Outside Chiang Mai City

Doi Inthanon (60 km) When it's hot in the city this mountain park is cool. To the pleasing climate add beautiful waterfalls, diverse wildlife, forests, wild orchids, hill tribe settlements and visitor facilities and you have a great destination.

Mae Klang Waterfall (60) At the base of Doi Inthanon and regarded as Chiang Mai's most photogenic waterfall. Take lunch and have a picnic.

Mae Sa Elephant Training Center (30 km) Elephant skills demonstration each morning. Gallop through the jungle atop one of these fellows ... okay, ride one on a walk through the forest. Riding an elephant is a unique and singular experience.

San Kamphang Hot Springs (35 km) Trees, hills and hot mineral water baths are the attraction of this resort. A swimming pool, dining facility and accommodations for overnighters. Tel 661 510-0418

Taeng Dao Elephant Camp (55 km) Elephant demonstrations and rides as well as river rafting and trekking hill tribe villages

Chiang Dao Caves (70 km) Actually a network of caves extending deep inside Doi Chiang Dao. It has sacred Buddha images as its primary attraction. Hired guide can take one deeper into the tunnels. The cave has an interesting legend

Doi Ang Khang (160) A royal agricultural station which is a research and demonstration site for flowering plants, temperate zone fruit trees, vegetables and crops. The station enjoys patronage from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Fang Hot Springs (160) As many as 50 hot springs on a 10 acre plot of forest. Three of the springs boil continuously at 90 - 100 degrees celsius and smell of sulphur.

Ob Luang Gorge The Grand Canyon of Chiang Mai province, surrounded my mountains and a teak forest.

Tribal Research Center Part of Chiang Mai University. A cultural exhibition of northern hilltribes. Closed weekends and lunch time.

Chiang Mai City Temples

Wat Phra Singh Circa 1350, this attractive temple is especially popular during Songkran when celebrants bathe the Phra Singh image. Lanna style murals and excellently crafted wood carvings adorn the Lai Kham chapel. The temple also has scripture repository.

Wat Suan Dok Dating to the 14th century temple was built as a garden for the monarch of the era. White chedis and nice sunsets make nice photo opportunities. The bronze Buddha image, one of Thailand's largest is five centuries old.

Wat Chiang Man The oldest temple in Chiang Mai possibly dates to the latter part of the 13th century and served as the residence of King Mengrai.

Wat Chedi Luang An earthquake partly destroyed the original pagoda, almost 300 feet high, in the middle of the 16th century. The revered Emerald Buddha image which is now enshrined in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaeo was once kept here.

Wat Jedyot The seven spied square chedi design of this 15th century temple inspired by Bodhagaya, the place where the Buddha found enlightenment. Lanna architects designed the temple after visiting the holy place.

Wat U-Mong Unique among other major temples of Chiang Mai, this meditation setting is serene with its forested grounds.