Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir

Huay Tueng Thao is the reservoir in Mae Rim, about 12–15 km from town, where locals go to rent a bamboo hut on the water's edge and spend the afternoon eating and swimming. You pay a small entry fee, pick a thatched hut, order food and drinks, and cool off in the shallow swimming areas. If sitting still isn't your thing, there are kayaks, pedal boats, ATVs and ziplines, and nearby there's a park of giant rice-straw sculptures, including a King Kong. It's simple, but it's one of the easiest half-day escapes from the city, especially with friends.