10 Best Family Things to Do in Hua Hin

Hua Hin Beach offers an endless stretch of soft white sand, crystal clear turquoise water, clean conditions and perfect conditions for wading, strolling, sandcastles, sunbathing and swimming. The beach is also lined with laid-back snack and drink stands where you can grab some cool beverages and light bites while you relax in the hot tropical sun. This spot is also renowned for its sunrise views and despite being one of the more famed beaches in Hua Hin it never seems to get crowded.

If you get tired of swimming, you can hop on a banana boat, go for a pony ride or enjoy some water sports. Grown-ups in need of relaxation can even get a massage. It's in the heart of the city centre.

Venezia Hua Hin is a miniature replica of the city of Venice, with all the magic that entails, including famed buildings, canals and tons of rides, fun and photo opportunities. You can take an authentic gondola ride, catch a mini train or visit a 3D museum all onsite. It's better than that, however; the Venezia is also a shopping centre where you can find all your favourite international big brands from electronics to jewellery to haute couture fashion and locally handmade souvenirs all in one amazing fairy-tale-like spot.

You can also grab a bite to eat at one of the onsite eateries. This spot has entertainment galore, and it's just 11 minutes north of the city centre.

The Swiss Sheep Farm is a scenic attraction made to look just like its namesake with a windmill and endless green meadows, plus farm animals and even milk churns. Kids will get the chance to pet sheep and meet goats, horses, rabbits, chickens, alpaca and even take a pony ride. They can even see fish in a small aquarium. While here, they'll learn all about how a farm works and see why it's so important to our society. They'll get to see how milk is produced and how butter is made while exploring the importance of conservation.

This fun spot is educational and exciting for kids of all ages. It's just 30 minutes north of the city centre.

Vana Nava Water Jungle is a gigantic adventure waterpark with thrill rides, water slides, pools and attractions as well as the first ecologically-conscious park of its kind in Thailand. Here, kids can race down Boomerango, one of the longest waterslides in the country, or swing and climb through a rope course that's over 13 metres off the ground. Your family can sunbathe, hop on the thrill rides or just go swimming in calm pools. This location transformed an empty plot of land into a diverse and ecologically-friendly theme park to provide adventure for all.

From waterslides to wave pools, you're sure to find action and adventure here. It's just a 5-minute drive north of the city centre.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is about 60 kilometres from the city centre and offers a range of outdoor adventures and natural wonders, making it a fantastic spot for a day trip with the kids. You can check out the limestone hills along the Gulf, relax amid endless stretches of clear waters and soft sand at Sam Phraya Beach and go spelunking in Sai Cave to see stalactites and stalagmites.

You can explore the mangroves at Pranburi Forest Park or even take a boat trip along the Pranburi River for bird-watching and nature viewing. The park is also dotted with restaurants and accommodation facilities so you'll have all the amenities you need.

Camel Republic is an amusement park and zoo where you can get close to live animals, see exotic birds, enjoy thrill rides and have extreme adventures. The park's first zone is an aviary that is filled with colourful birds like parrots, ducks, swans and flamingoes. You can also wander a zoo filled with animals that you can pet and feed, from the camels for which it's named to alpacas, goats and giraffes.

In the second zone, you can ride thrill rides and engage in extreme outdoor adventures. You can even try your hand at skydiving in a simulator. It's only about 30 minutes to the north of the city centre.

Wat Khao Taklap is a Buddhist Temple located on Khao Taklap, or Chopsticks Hill, and among the more famed temples around, with stunning architecture and tons of live monkeys. The temple stands at the top of a 272-metre hill over the Gulf of Thailand. The lotus-shaped shrine features staggering artwork, Buddha statues and even dinosaur statues. At the base of the hill, your journey begins at a 20-metre-tall golden Buddha. You can shop for souvenirs and grab a bite to eat here as well.

Among the biggest attractions are the hundreds of macaque monkeys on the grounds. While cute, beware of them; they'll try to steal anything they can get their hands on. It's 13 minutes north of the city centre.

Black Mountain River Park offers a wave pool, lazy river, regular swimming pools and lagoons and towering waterslides rising dozens of metres into the air. You can rocket down nine different waterslides, each offering a different experience. Also, float calmly on the lagoon or down the lazy river or swim in the pools. Find time while here to hit one of the biggest waves in the country, riding it out on a wave board you rent onsite. Whatever kind of water splashing fun you like, you'll find it here.

You can even hit up an onsite golf course to work on your handicap for a lazy day out. It's just 17 minutes northwest of the city centre.

Pala-U Waterfall is a massive 16-level fall that's among the highest in Thailand and roars into cool, natural pools of clear water surrounded by a 1,000-year-old forest and nature preserve. This spot is nothing short of magical; on any given day, you can see thousands of brilliantly-coloured butterflies flitting around, and you might see such animals as gibbons and rare avian species throughout the area.

Only the most experienced hikers and climbers should even attempt to get beyond the 3rd level, but for most, that's far enough to make memories that last a lifetime. The falls are along the Burma border about 1.5 hours from Hua Hin.

For Art's Sake is an interactive experience with 4D theatres, hands-on exhibits and tons of installations and galleries that inspire creativity and engage the senses. The attraction is divided into themed zones, including the Behind the Imagination Zone that is designed to engage creativity. The Child Flashback zone returns you to your own days of yore, and The Mirror Climb Zone allows you to walk on the ceiling and walls. The Horror zone will chill and terrify you, and the Buildings Camouflage zone makes small spaces seem gigantic.

You'll explore sound effects, optical illusions, paintings, drawings, sculpture and tons of art and multimedia that are sure to thrill you and trick your senses. It's just 7 minutes north of the city centre.