Travel Thailand: Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai offers more than you might expect. Family blogger Meegan Harvey takes us on a short trip around this remarkable city and tells us about its best-kept secrets and hidden getaways.
By Meegan Harvey
Chiang Mai …
We only booked a short three-day stay, but all five of us wished we had stayed longer. Chiang Mai provides a welcome change of scene from Bangkok. It has a lot more greenery, it’s not touristy like Phuket or Pattaya and it’s close enough to hop on a plane for a quick weekend getaway. There are no white sandy beaches and the almost obligatory ‘happy hours’ that accompany them but that doesn’t take away from Chiang Mai for us at all. In fact, it’s quite the opposite!
Chiang Mai is charming. That’s the best way I can describe it. It’s Bangkok’s sleepy little sister, who isn’t trying to keep up, but is content in making an impact in her own way, on the people of Thailand. We were all taken by the generosity of the people, the weather, the green spaces, the mountains, the clouds, and the many things we didn’t even think of while researching our destination.
We didn’t know whether there would be enough in Chiang Mai to keep the kids (aka ‘the Clowns’) excited for three days. But we needn’t have worried. While our time in Chiang Mai was limited, we still managed to visit the zoo, eat in amazing out-of-the-way places, learn about elephant preservation, shop a little too much, and enjoy the really small things that Chiang Mai locals probably take for granted.
Where we stayed
We stayed at Furama on a really good deal from Booking.com that included Executive Lounge privileges for the duration of our stay. That meant à la carte breakfast, all-day coffee, tea and snacks, happy hour every day for the kids and the adults, and complimentary late checkout. Needless to say, we took full advantage! It was really good to know that we could pop back to the hotel for a quick break from sightseeing, have a snack and a cool drink, or a coffee, and be energized to keep going for the rest of the day. It’s also good to note that we stayed in a two-bedroom suite. The Clowns’ room felt huge, even with a third bed -- we definitely had plenty of space!
What we did
Chiang Mai Zoo
Chiang Mai Zoo took us a good half day to visit, even with a golf cart, which we hired after reading several recommendations on TripAdvisor. It was well worth the extra Baht! The zoo was not at the top of my to-do list, but when I discovered we could hire a golf cart it seemed like a good payoff. Surprisingly, Marc and I really enjoyed it! Probably more than the Clowns did. The zoo is heavily dedicated to conservation, education, and keeping the animals’ habitat as close as possible to their natural environment. So you won’t get bells and whistles at Chiang Mai Zoo, but you will see some beautiful and interesting animals that are well cared for in their environments. If you have younger kids, we recommend splurging on a golf cart and driving yourselves around the park or better yet, driving your own car around the park. That way, you can stop whenever you want. We also recommend paying the few extra baht to see the pandas. They are hilarious to watch, if nothing else!
Elephant Parade House
As much as the Clowns always whine about it initially, we really like to walk around the local sois of places we visit. Seeing a place the way the locals see it gives you a completely different perspective. We walked from our hotel, all the way down the canal and over the river to the Elephant Parade House. I’d first heard about the Elephant Parade House at a small exhibition that we went to see in Bangkok soon after we arrived in Thailand. The story behind it cemented itself in my memory. This was my must-see/do thing in Chiang Mai. The painted elephants are amazing. Photos just don’t do them justice. If you want to know more about the Elephant Parade, take a look at their website at www.elephantparade.com. And if you ever get the chance, visit!
We were all taken by the generosity of the people, the weather, the green spaces, the mountains, the clouds...
As their souvenir from Chiang Mai, the Clowns chose an activity where you paint your own miniature elephant statue and take it home with you. After spending more than three hours with one of the lovely staff at Elephant Parade, they each came away with a little more knowledge of, and appreciation for, these amazing creatures - as well as an elephant mini-statue that they will hopefully keep for years to come.
Dinner at Dash! and a coffee at Ristr8to
When exploring new places, we love to get recommendations from friends. On the recommendation of family friends back in Australia, we had dinner one night at Dash!, which offers amazing northern Thai cuisine complemented by some great live music. However, unless you knew it was there, you’d never find it!
We also had the pleasure of sampling the coffee at Ristr8to. For those of you who are missing amazing coffee, this is your place! We were so disappointed that we only found this gem on our last day in Chiang Mai. The coffee is the best we have had in Thailand so far, and that is a big call. Again, if you’re a coffee lover or interested in the background behind Ristr8to, take a look at their website at www.ristr8to.com -- and, if you go to Chiang Mai, make sure you head there on the first day of your trip, not the last.
Like most of Thailand, Chiang Mai is easy to get around. There are songthaews (or red cars) that will take you places cheaply, as well as tuk tuks and normal Grab taxis. Easy! Book a long weekend away, or a week ... you won’t be disappointed. We can’t wait to explore more of Chiang Mai!
About the Author
Meegan is a wife and mother to three adventurous children, 8 and 13, who tells their stories of moving to Bangkok through Instagram (@theharveycircus) and her blog (theharveycircus.com), partially to document their adventures for the future, partially to help others in similar situations.
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