Does any know if Huay Tung Tao lake is a good option? Or perhaps huay kaew water fall. Or does everyone just go to the moat and the river.

go to top of pornping hotel..open air restaurant. you may need to book.

main place is between taphae gate and all along the river... lots and lots of people. to be honest you will see it everywhere you go...

will tiny kids... if you want to avoid the crowds stay away from river... maybe try the night bazaar? close enough to the river, but not crazy like on nawarat bridge. (the main spot in town)

Excellent question, and not an easy one to answer.

First of all, I just don't know if Huay Tueng Thao is an option (never mind if it's a good one); normally it's only open during daylight hours. Perhaps someone can weigh in.

Second, the moat is NEVER an option; water doesn't flow and its hard to get to; nobody floats in the moat except lost tourists from Bangkok.

Third, near the main bridges in town is not suitable for small kids. Crowds too big and firecrackers being thrown all over the F'ing place including where you're walking. It's insane.

So that leaves you with four reasonable options:

1. On the river but either North or South of town. South of town the Pa Daed area is reasonable, that's near the bridge with Aom Muang Rd (road from Airport Plaza to the Superhighway)

2. At a restaurant on the river. You need to book these. I called Sergio yesterday (Buonissimo) and he's doing a buffet, 650 baht pp and he was all but sold out!!

3. Find a small stream somewhere in the surrounding villages.. A lot of villages (parts of Chiang Mai now I guess) would have a scaffolding/pier made to float from. Your mileage may vary here; it can be perfect, or it can be annoying drunk guys being a pest.

4. Resorts and stuff... Oriental Dhara Dhevi for example is organizing something that looked magical. It wasn't even THAT expensive. (Note: Even though it's super high-end as a hotel/resort, there's a lot of stuff around there that's priced at a distinctly sub-stratospheric level. )

go to top of pornping hotel..open air restaurant. you may need to book.

main place is between taphae gate and all along the river... lots and lots of people. to be honest you will see it everywhere you go...

will tiny kids... if you want to avoid the crowds stay away from river... maybe try the night bazaar? close enough to the river, but not crazy like on nawarat bridge. (the main spot in town)

Where does one float ones boat in the night bazaar?

Foxy. Oh wait.. Wherever you float your boat, don't float in the Mae Kha canal.

Foxy. Oh wait.. Wherever you float your boat, don't float in the Mae Kha canal.

and is foxy a place for small kids?

Excellent question, and not an easy one to answer.

First of all, I just don't know if Huay Tueng Thao is an option (never mind if it's a good one); normally it's only open during daylight hours. Perhaps someone can weigh in.

Second, the moat is NEVER an option; water doesn't flow and its hard to get to; nobody floats in the moat except lost tourists from Bangkok.

Third, near the main bridges in town is not suitable for small kids. Crowds too big and firecrackers being thrown all over the F'ing place including where you're walking. It's insane.

So that leaves you with four reasonable options:

1. On the river but either North or South of town. South of town the Pa Daed area is reasonable, that's near the bridge with Aom Muang Rd (road from Airport Plaza to the Superhighway)

2. At a restaurant on the river. You need to book these. I called Sergio yesterday (Buonissimo) and he's doing a buffet, 650 baht pp and he was all but sold out!!

3. Find a small stream somewhere in the surrounding villages.. A lot of villages (parts of Chiang Mai now I guess) would have a scaffolding/pier made to float from. Your mileage may vary here; it can be perfect, or it can be annoying drunk guys being a pest.

4. Resorts and stuff... Oriental Dhara Dhevi for example is organizing something that looked magical. It wasn't even THAT expensive. (Note: Even though it's super high-end as a hotel/resort, there's a lot of stuff around there that's priced at a distinctly sub-stratospheric level. )

Thank you, great help.

Third, near the main bridges in town is not suitable for small kids. Crowds too big and firecrackers being thrown all over the F'ing place including where you're walking. It's insane.

Indeed. Went there with my daughter some time back and we/she had the opportunity to witness a couple of serious injuries from fireworks thrown into the hair/clothing of fellow revelers. We haven't been back since.

If going to the center of things, wear a hat with a drooping brim and shoes that can withstand a blast or two as things have been a bit out of hand for some time now. Ask any Emergency Room nurse...

Foxy. Oh wait.. Wherever you float your boat, don't float in the Mae Kha canal.

and is foxy a place for small kids?

Nah, they're all over the hill.