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| Northern Israel | |||
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A green, mountainous area with waterfalls, rivers, and mineral baths, parks and reserves: a wonderful combination of history and nature. Another great feature about this area? All the choices for where to stay. You set up a tent in a camp site, stay in a Kibbutz (collective farm) or relax in a world-class hotel. Hike, boat, fish, there are lots of choices for travel with kids in northern Israel. Most of all, come here to enjoy nature. |
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Sea of Galilee | ||
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Metulla – Israel's mountain resort city (530 meters above sea level), this is also a great center for touring Galilee, the Golan Heights, and Mt. Hermon. The town has been built to recreate a European alpine atmosphere with stone houses and tile roofs. In the summer Israeli's escape the heat in the rest of the country to this mountain area. In spring it's filled with the scent of fruit tree blossoms. In the winter, it's a ski resort. | ||
 The Canada Center of Metulla offers sports and recreation as well as
cultural and tourist activities. Here's a sampling: Olympic size skating
rink (with hockey and family skating schedules), both an indoor pool
with hot tub and an outdoor swimming pool with a water slide, saunas,
squash courts, table tennis, workout rooms, a soccer field and a shooting
club. |
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| From
Metulla, take a day trip to Kal'at Nimrod National Park. Located
on the slopes of Mt. Hermon, overlooking the Hula Valley and the Galilee
Panhandle, the park contains a beautifully preserved 13th century fortress. |
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| Tel
Dan Nature Reserve – This reserve starts at the source of the Dan
River (another one of the River Jordan's tributaries). Visit Layish,
the ruins of a biblical city from the days of King Jereboam. |
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Mount Hermon – The highest point in Israel, a ski resort in winter and a hiker's paradise the other three seasons. Drive across the flat land and, in the distance, Mount Hermon rises up unexpectedly. The chair lifts run all year long but even in summer you'll need a sweater in the evenings – a rarity in Israel. The mountain offers beautiful views of Lebanon, Galilee, and the Golan. | ||
| Skiing – Skiing in Israel? Well, no one's going to claim it's a world-class
ski spot, but if your family loves to ski and you're in Israel in winter...
imagine the looks you get when you show the pictures to the folks back home.
The skiing (and snowboarding) has been compared to New England: you might
find powder or ice -- check out Nahal Sion, one of the better areas and
go on a weekday. It's the only ski resort in Israel, so Saturdays the five
slopes here are crowded. Ski equipment rentals and lessons are available
for kids and adults. |
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| Har
Habtarim – Climbing Katef Sion, that reaches 1,296 meters above
sea level, you'll pass the Banias Springs, the Ka'alat Namrud, a well-preserved
Crusader fortress, you reach the spot where tradition holds that God promised
Abraham Israel for his descendants. You'll find an ancient tomb on the spot
surrounded by enormous oak trees. Check out the quarries where the ancients
made makeup from kohl. |
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| Nahal
Iyon Nature Reserve – Created around Mt. Hermon and the Hermon
River (a tributary of the Jordan). The Hermon river carries snow melt waters
into the valley where it creates lush land. The area is named for the Roman
god Pan (Banias) and you can still find Pan's temple at the source of the
river. Follow the trails to bridges, walls, towers built by European Crusaders
in Medieval times. Then, take a break at one of the wonderful bakeries –
have a picnic with fresh, hot pita bread stuffed with local produce. |
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| Ein
Kinya – A Druse village where you'll enjoy their famous pita breads,
baklava and rich coffee. Have a picnic at the tomb of Nebi Hazuri and don't
miss the exhibits of Druse life. |
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| Neve
Ativ – A great town for art galleries and artisan workshops, especially
for glass crafts. The kids will enjoy watching the local artisans at work
in many spots. |
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| Moshav
Sha'al – Just like in many other mountain areas, this is a favorite
spot for berry picking! Bring along sturdy, comfortable shoes and water. |
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Hula Nature Reserve – Not a space warp to Hawaii, it's a swamp reserve ideal for bird watchers since it's a stop for many migrating species. Find it near the village of Yesud Hama'ala, the valley sits between Lebanon and Syria. You'll find a visitor's center in the reserve. | ||
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Tel Hazor National Park – The ancient Canaanite and Israelite biblical city of Hatzor once dominated the valley here. The Hazor Museum is filled with artifacts found in the area through 21 historic layers, organized from the 27th century BC to the 2nd century AD, including bronze weapons, ceramics, bone and ivory utensils, statuettes, seals and scarabs. Modern folk live in the Kibbutz Ayelet Hashachar. | ||
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Hurshat Tal National Park – Time for a break from century old sites? How about taking the kids fishing or slushing down a waterslide? Here's the place! Hurshat Tal, located at the Hagoshrim Kibbutz, includes an artificial lake and waterfalls, lovely lawns with picnic areas, water slides and a fishing pond. | ||
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Nazareth – This is a pilgrim's destination, as Jesus' hometown, with religious sites aplenty, but certainly not the prettiest town in Israel. | ||
| Basilica
of the Annunciation – Where the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. |
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| Beit
She'an. Another wonderful spot for exploring history, with a Roman amphitheater,
Byzantine baths and an ancient temple. |
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Fun food – |
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A big local favorite is the grilled "suniya" – kabab-style meat in tahini sauce. A warning: "suniya" is a general term which could mean brains, or organ meats. For the less adventurous, the locals swear their falafels, shawarma and houmas in pita are the best in Israel. Good news is these are ideal grab 'n' run snacks since you're just holding a stuffed pita. |
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The best dessert around? A cheese and noodle dish served warm called "kanafe," as well as that Middle Eastern staple, "baklava" – done Lebanese style here. |
travel for kids | israel | northern israel |
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