Chon Buri

Chon Buri province is dominated by Pattaya — Thailand's most notorious beach resort, now reinventing itself beyond its reputation. Walking Street's neon-soaked nightlife is still the main event after dark, but the city has added family-friendly attractions like the Sanctuary of Truth (an all-wood carved temple), Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, and a growing food scene around Jomtien and Na Jomtien beaches. The annual buffalo racing festival in Chon Buri town each October is pure chaos and completely worth the trip.

Beyond Pattaya, Koh Larn (Coral Island) is a quick ferry ride for better beaches and clearer water. Koh Si Chang, further up the coast, is a sleepy island with royal palace ruins and almost no tourists. Bang Saen is where Bangkok families beach on weekends — cheap seafood and a boardwalk vibe. Si Racha (yes, the town that inspired the sauce) has excellent Vietnamese-Thai crab dishes and a cliffside temple, Khao Khiao Open Zoo in the hills behind Pattaya is one of Thailand's best, and Silverlake Vineyard offers wine tastings with a surprisingly picturesque lake backdrop.