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TOURISM

Summer with the Kids

OK, so you want to spend quality time with the kids this summer. Whether you live in Israel or are coming for a visit with the family, summer with the kids in Israel involves lots of swimming, outings, and festivals.

by Yael Kalev and Yadin Roman

 

Summer programs for the young have been part and parcel of the Israeli tourism scene since the post-Six-Day-War euphoria. The Jewish Agency for Israel, Camp Ramah, universities, kibbutzim, youth movements – you name them, they had a summer program in Israel for the young. Most were for the high-school and pre-college crowd and included hiking, swimming, touring, dancing, and generally having fun. Running them was a nightmare and guiding them was a Herculean task, but they were, and still are, a lot of fun and provide teenagers with an experience they will remember for decades.

Until recently, the options for the younger set were more meager – they were restricted to tagging along on family missions or on visits to relatives in Israel who lived near a beach. Over the years, however, the local tourism market has become more sophisticated, partly in response to the Israeli obsession with family and kids. As a result, there are now tons of ways to have fun in Israel with the kids.

In order to really have a good time, it is important to follow a few important guidelines. First of all, cut schlepping to a minimum. Distances in Israel are short – there is no reason to change hotels every night. Plan a trip with two accommodation sites: one in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, and a second in the Galilee. If you are also traveling to the south, add a third in Eilat. Try to select  different types of accommodations. While the Tel Aviv or Jerusalem stay warrants a hotel, the Galilee leg of the trip is the perfect time to look for a good bed-and-breakfast establishment (called zimmer in Hebrew). Thousands of them have sprung up all over the Galilee over the last decade; prices range from NIS 150 a night for a room to NIS 1,000 a night for a log cabin that sleeps five and has a jacuzzi, private garden and amazing location. Prices are lower on weekdays and most places offer a discount to guests who stay for more than a few days. While the most popular way to make a reservation is through the internet, be careful when doing so. Like most internet advertisements, what you see is not always what you get – especially  when it comes to bed-and-breakfast establishments. The promised view might be blocked and the nearby barnyard, with its constant cackle of geese and lowing of cows (not to mention the smell), might not be mentioned. The best way to check if a bed-and-breakfast is worth staying at is to get recommendations from friends or to phone the local tourism board, which can provide recommendations tailored to individual tastes and needs.

Fun walks and hikes abound in Israel, but beware of nature walks that involve a long haul before you get to see a spectacular view, gorgeous flower, or rare bird. Kids like action, meaning sites that are easily reachable and have interesting activities like crawling through tunnels, climbing up rocks – preferably with ropes and ladders, wading through water, and exploring caves and underground caverns. Fortunately, there are numerous options for this kind of fun   throughout Israel.

One final caveat – don’t forget that kids have to be fed. And, amazingly, spicy ethnic food, cooked slowly in a special oven, is not their idea of good food. They prefer French fries, hamburgers, pizza, and spaghetti. Luckily, Israeli kids have similar taste and so many restaurants offer such fare on their children’s menus. When making a restaurant reservation, don’t forget to ask if there is a children’s menu and what exactly that means.

Apart from the above, everything goes. The ERETZ staff has collected a few suggestions for fun things to do with the kids in Israel this summer. For additional suggestions and advice, feel free to write to the “Ask the Guide” section on the ERETZ website. Just don’t forget to include your email address so that we can answer you.

 

 

NORTH

Along the Northern Coast

 

This short 5-kilometer hike includes a miniature train ride, a cable car ride, and a short walk along a beach promenade.

Getting there: The area can be reached by car from four different points. To reach the northern end, enter by the Rosh Hanikra Holiday Village. To reach the center, take the road to Bezet Beach that passes through the Liman Campsite. To start in the south, enter from the Yad Leyad Youth Hostel or from the Achziv National Park.

The hike: Only 5 kilometers of beach separate the Sullam Range, the northern edge of Israel’s coastline, from Tel Achziv. But this is one of the more interesting shorelines of Israel. The rocky coast is full of grottos, underwater caverns, and little inlets (some rocky, others sandy), and has a limestone range where some very rare plants grow.

Start from the Rosh Hanikra parking lot. After taking in the view of the entire northern coastal plain all the way to Haifa, make your way to the bus station, where there is a path that leads down the slope to the beach. The path is an ancient one, the camel caravans of old would use it when crossing the Sullam Range on the way to Lebanon.

The path descends, with the aid of stairs, to a track that used to be part of the Haifa-Beirut railway. March north about 100 meters and climb the steps leading up to the limestone ridge. The path at the top of the steps leads to a small inlet and an observation point that overlooks the shore. In the center of the observation point is an ancient rock-carved olive press. The site also has benches and drinking fountains. A little further on, there is an additonal observation point.

You are now nearing Betzet Beach, an official swimming beach that is manned by lifeguards during the summer. The promenade continues south for another 3 kilometers until it reaches the riverbed of Nahal Kziv – the longest riverbed in the Galilee. On the other side of the riverbed is the Achziv National Park, the end of this route.

Kibbutz Rosh Hanikra operates a “mini train” which consists of a number of trolleys pulled by a tractor. The train makes the trip from Rosh Hanikra to Achziv and back at various times during the day. The first train leaves at 10 a.m. and the last departs at 5 p.m. The train operates from mid-July to mid-August.

 

The Gesher at Nesher

 

This is a fun half-hour- to hour-long adventure on a rope bridge that leads across a deep ravine in a forest full of trails and observation points. The 70-meter-long rope bridge swings and sways as you cross it.

Getting there: From the new road to Haifa University, turn left at the traffic light in the direction of Ramot Yitzhak. At the square, turn left into Haharuv Street and continue until you see the sign for JNF Park-Nesher. From the parking lot, follow the path for about 15 minutes, in the direction of the signs leading to Nahal Katia.

 

Top Rope: The Kfar Blum Adventure Park

 

The Top Rope facility has 20 rope bridges of different kinds, difficulty levels, and heights. Plus there is a 90-meter omega into the waters of the Jordan River and a climbing wall. The site is at the end of the Kfar Blum kayak route on the Jordan, but can also be reached by car. The bridges and ladders are for children over 5 years of age. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult on the rope bridges. Of course, a kayak trip along the Jordan can be included in the visit. The site is swamped in summer, but a lot of fun.

To order tickets, call 170-050-6611 (tickets are cheaper when purchased in advance). For more information, see www.kayaks.co.il

 

Manara: The Highest Cliff in Israel

 

The Manara cliff looms 800 meters above Kiryat Shemona. The attractions here center around the three stations of the Manara Cable Car, which rises from Kiryat Shemona to a height of 740 meters. The first station on the cable car route offers a trip in mini-jeeps along the Manara cliff, a bungee trampoline, and an extreme 1,200-meter-long mountain slide.

The middle station offers rock climbing and rappelling, a 200-meter omega, and a climbing wall.

At the upper station, there are two options to hike along the cliff with a local guide. In the summer, visitors can join in the apple picking in the orchards of Kibbutz Manara. The top station also includes a park of inflatable slides, a swimming pool, and workshops for children. For details, call (04) 690-5830. More information is available in Hebrew at www.cliff.co.il

 

Haifa Extreme

 

A new extreme sports park recently opened in Haifa. The park includes a climbing wall, a rope bridge park, an 80-meter-long omega, three paintball venues, and more. For details, call 054-522-4281. More information is available in Hebrew at www.xpark.co.il

 

JERUSALEM AND THE JUDEAN MOUNTAINS

 

The Mysterious Ein Zova

 

The spring of Ein Zova emanates from an underground cave that can be reached through a tunnel. Hundreds of these systems were built in the Judean Hills during the Roman period.

Getting there: Kibbutz Zova is in the Jerusalem Mountains, not far from the Harel Junction on the main Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway. Enter the kibbutz, cross it, and drive for about 800 meters along the old road that once led to the kibbutz. Park in the small parking area near the gate leading to the spring.

A 40-meter-long tunnel leads to the cave with the spring. The kibbutz members have put lighting into the cave and tunnel and open it to visitors for a small fee. The entrance to the tunnel is low, but as you continue it gets higher, leading to a cave in which you can stand up.

Near the parking lot there are two  things to see – the crusader castle  of Zova and a grand old oak, one of the oldest in the country. The site is open in the summer from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Kiftzuba at Kibbutz Zova

 

The amusements at the Kiftzuba park at Kibbutz Zova include air-filled slides, mini-motorcycle rides, bumper cars, and a mini-train. There is also a games hall filled with every game you can imagine. Finally, there is a small petting zoo for kids who want to get their hands on something less plastic than a joystick.

For details, call (02) 534-7952. More information is available in Hebrew at www.kiftzuba.co.il

 

Ein Handak

 

Ein Handak, another of the tunnel-fed springs of the Judean Mountains, is near the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem neighborhood. The area surrounding the spring hasn’t been developed, making this a lovely natural site.

Getting there: Drive from Hadassah Hospital along the road to Even Sapir. Continue 500 meters past the hospital parking lot and turn left. Follow the road for 200 meters to the parking lot.

Equipment: Bring flashlights, wading shoes, and bathing suits.

A flight of steps leads down into a large pool. The pool is 30 meters long and 3 meters deep, with water flowing into the pool from two separate tunnels. The tunnel on the left has two branches, the right branch, the longer one, is 30 meters. The tunnel opposite the steps is even longer.

The tunnels are dark, so use flashlights when exploring them. The water in the tunnels is about 1 meter deep. Be careful as you walk along the longer branch of the tunnel – it has an underwater step.

After exploring the tunnels, walk down the ravine, heading away from the parking lot for 5 minutes, until you reach a 9.5-meter-high terrace, built out of massive stones that looks like a miniature version of the Western Wall. The terrace is ancient, probably from Roman times. A terrace of this size constructed out of such huge stones has yet to be found in any other place in Israel.

 

Mini-Israel

 

Like many other places in the world, Israel has a miniature park with elaborate, detailed models of the most important and interesting buildings and sites around the country.

Getting there: The park is near the Latrun Junction, off the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway. Follow the signs from the Latrun Junction to the park.

Mini Israel is one of the biggest attractions for kids and grownups in Israel. The spacious park includes 360 models on a 1:25 scale. The site also offers various activities for kids. For details, call (08) 922-2444 or see  www.minisrael.co.il

 

 

JERUSALEM

 

The Time Elevator

 

The Time Elevator is an interactive, multimedia show that takes visitors on a journey through 3,000 years of Jerusalem’s history. Narrated by Haim Topol, the Time Elevator includes moving chairs and other special effects. Even though it sounds very touristy, the presentation is original and highly recommended. It’s a great way to introduce the family to the history of Jerusalem. For details, call (02) 624-8381.

 

The Bloomfield Science Museum

 

The museum’s hands-on exhibits introduce visitors to a myriad of scientific phenomena. For the older kids (and adults), the Einstein exhibit provides a glimpse into the world of E=MC2. This summer there is a special exhibition that will answer questions about wind, what it does, when it is beneficial and when it is destructive, how it can create electricity, and more. For details, call (02) 654-4888 or see www.mada.org.il

 

The Herzl Museum

 

Recently opened to replace a tiny, stuffy, old exhibit, the brand new imaginative and innovative exhibit on Theodor Herzl is a must see. The lines are long, but it is well worth the wait. The whole family will enjoy this site. Advance booking is imperative. For reservations, call (02) 620-2330.

 

Chain of Generations

 

A fantastic exhibit just opened by the Western Wall that explains the chain of generations of the Jewish People, from Abraham to the present. It features glass sculptures, music, and lights. The exhibit is located in the tunnels that run underneath the Western Wall plaza. This site is appropriate for older children and, of course, for adults. For details, call (02) 627-1333.

 

Davidson Center – Southern Wall Excavations

 

The Davidson Center, located at the Southern Wall Excavations in Jerusalem,  includes an informative multimedia presentation on the Temple. The guides, exhibits, and explanations may make the center seem slightly more appropriate for a school outing, than for a vacation activity, but it is a worthwhile learning experience for families interested in activities with substance. For further information and details, phone (02) 627-7550.

 

The Ramparts Walk

 

Take a jaunt along the walls of Jerusalem and peer into backyards, hidden courtyards, and churches. The ramparts offer fascinating views ranging from the Wall to the desert to the modern city. The entrance is by the Jaffa Gate. There are two routes – the route from the Tower of David to the Zion Gate is the shorter route and recommended for families.

 

Dig into History

 

Visitors to the Emek Zurim Park can participate in a special kind of archaeological dig: sifting through the debris taken out of Solomon’s Stables under the Temple Mount. In the shade of a large tent, visitors wash the debris and sift through it to find ancient artifacts. So far, many exciting objects have been found, from Second Temple pottery to Crusader ceramics, not to mention an inscription or two, coins, and all types of other things that were thrown into the cisterns under the Temple Mount platform over the last 2,000 years. This is an easy, fun, and very  exciting activity. Come for an hour, a day, or a week – you will find yourself washing dirt like crazy and enjoying it. For further details, call (02) 626-2341 or fax (02) 627-4365.

 

 

CENTER

 

Caesarea

 

In the past two years, Caesarea has been upgraded and has transformed from a stuffy national park into a fun site. Today, you can take a swim in the bay, talk to laser-generated characters from Caesarea’s past, watch a multimedia presentation, and put on a snorkel and mask to participate in an underwater archaeological tour. The site also offers a variety of restaurants, art stores, and, of course, antiquities. 

 

Tel Aviv Port

 

The in-place in Tel Aviv in the summer is the port, with its huge wooden deck over the sea. The deck is a place to bike, roller skate, catch an outdoor performance, dine at a restaurant, have coffee and cake at a café, or wander through the 30 or so stalls exhibiting the work of local artists, that are spread throughout the port. Ride Club, a shop at the entrance to the port,  rents out bikes.

 

Tel Aviv Bike Trail

 

Rent a bike at the port and set out on the Yarkon Bike Trail along the river. The trail takes riders past bridges, amusement parks, a climbing wall, a small zoo, a bird safari, a mini-golf course, a lake with boat rides, and many more exciting surprises.

 

SOUTH

 

A Night at Solomon’s Pillars – Timna

 

During the summer, the Timna Park is lit at night and offers two evening and night tours. One starts at 5 p.m. and includes a short tour of the park with dinner in the Bedouin tent near the Timna Lake. At 7:30 p.m., there is a night hike through the park. The night tour also ends with dinner and drinks at the Bedouin tent near the lake. For details, call (08) 631-6756.

 

Dolphin Reef – Eilat

 

The Dolphin Reef is a nice, well-tended beach with an enclosed bay in which the nine resident dolphins swim. You can swim with the dolphins in the water or just sit on one of the wooden floating docks and watch them frolic around you. The reef also offers detailed explanations about dolphins, a diving school, and more. For details, call (08) 637-1846 or see www.dolphinreef.co.il 


This article appeared in ERETZ Magazine 104. To subscribe to ERETZ Magazine, click here.

 

This article appeared in ERETZ Magazine 104. To subscribe to ERETZ Magazine, click here.

 

 

 

 

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