If you go . . .

If you go THE BEST WAY TO THAILAND From LAX: Connecting service (change of planes) to Chiang Mai is offered on Thai, Eva and Korean. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $820. The Thai Elephant Conservation Center is in northern Thailand, about 375 miles north of Bangkok. The nearest major city is Chiang Mai, about 45 miles to the northwest; the closest town, Lampang, is 20 miles southeast; The center is on Highway 11, which connects to Chiang Mai and Lampang.SEEING ELEPHANTS Fifteen to 20 elephants perform for 45 minutes in an open-air show. Shows are at 10 and 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily.Elephants are bathed at 9:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. daily.The general one-day admission, which includes most of the activities above, is about $2.55 for adults and $1.70 for kids; elephant rides are extra, about $12 for a 30-minute ride. For multi-day stays to apprentice as a trainer check the website (reservations for this must be made far in advance), www.changthai.com. One-day training starts at about $105.OTHER ELEPHANT OPS The Royal Elephant National Museum in Bangkok displays the history of white elephants. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission is about 15 cents. For information: 011-66-2-282-3336.TO LEARN MORE Tourism Authority of Thailand, (323) 461-9814, www.tourismthailand.org