The Gulf Coast Beaches
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Gulf Coast Beaches - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Gulf Coast Beaches - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
This crescent-shaped stretch of sand is the only real beach on the western side of the island, and it's a beauty. Quieter than the beaches in the island's northeast, it's a hit with couples who come for candlelit dinners on the sand, a real highlight for many. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: sunset.
If you want to see elephants and monkeys in one trip, head to the small zoo at Nong Nooch Village. Despite its touristy nature—the elephants do silly tricks like driving scooters—this is a pleasant place, particularly if you're traveling with children. Two restaurants serve refreshments you can enjoy beneath a coconut tree. Hotels arrange transportation for morning and afternoon visits to the zoo, which is 15 km (9 miles) south of Pattaya.
The city's namesake beach fronts slightly murky waters, but its sand is golden and fine, and safe swimming areas have been added in recent years. You can rent shaded deck chairs by the hour, and food vendors and trinket merchants wander up and down the beach. The bay is usually crowded with small boats, Jet Skis, and other diversions. Parallel to the shore, Pattaya Beach Road has a landscaped walkway that separates the beach from the restaurants, shopping malls, and resorts on the opposite side. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: walking.
This elephant sanctuary's few dozen pachyderms display their skills in a two-hour show. Demonstrations include bathing, the elephants' roles in ceremonial rites, and their usefulness in construction. Everything is staged, but it's amusing to see the animals at work and play. Unlike other places with elephant shows, this one has a reputation for treating its animals with respect. Tickets are available from most hotels and travel agents in town. Between 8 and 5, you can take a one-hour elephant ride for an extra B1,200.
Curiosities from all over are on display at this centrally located attraction that's a worldwide tourist-area staple. The authentic items and novelties run the gamut from shrunken heads to optical illusions.
Every night the sleepy downtown turns into an electrifying street fair centered around the San Chao Night Market, which is illuminated by the lights of numerous food stalls and shop carts. The market is popular with tourists and locals, especially for the tasty seafood meals on offer.
Wealthy businessman Lek Viriyaphant started building this massive teak structure in 1981, and it's still not finished. The aim of the sanctuary, whose intricate carvings blend modern and traditional styles, is to make a statement about the balance of different cultures. The waterfront setting north of Pattaya is pleasant.
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