One of the things that you will notice about the country of Israel right away is that it truly values its children.
School teachers are more like another parent to their pupils, freely handing out hugs and parental devotion. Neighbors and colleagues are always waiting to greet your kids with open arms. The entire country itself is one that is warm, loving, and welcoming towards children.
Because of this, you will find a great number of family-friendly activities to do with your children in Israel. Remember to also include Israel’s amazing religious sites on your agenda as well. Many people assume that their children will not be interested in exploring these ancient sites, then find that this is not the case. Even young kids can be captivated by the beauty and history that these sites behold.
As a general recommendation, visit only one religious site per day, and visit in the morning when your kids’ minds are freshest and Israel’s temperatures are coolest. Then, devote the rest of the day to some of the following amazing and fun kid-friendly activities.
(1) Play paintball
If you have action- and adventure-loving children, then they are sure to love Paintball, Israel’s special program that is designed for children ages 6-12. The 2-hour activity is designed to mimic a novice soldier’s basic training course.
The program involves completing an army-style obstacle course, climbing a rope bridge, jumping from a diving tower, going through a shooting-on-the-run course where each combatant receives 20 paintballs, and more. For information, you can visit the Israeli Paintball Center’s website at http://www.paintball.co.il/index_en.asp
(2) Ride a roller coaster at Luna Park
The Tel Aviv Luna Park is a beautiful amusement park filled with an array of attractions for all ages. Everyone from your preschool-aged children to your grandma and grandpa can find something to do here.
Luna Park is owned by Entertainment Town Ltd, a company which also owns four other amusement parks within Israel: Super Land, Iskate, Tzafari, and Memadion. Visit Luna Park’s website here for more information and to find the park that best suits your family: http://www.lunapark.co.il/?categoryId=34335
(3) Zoom on a zip line
Both adults and children will love the freeing, flying sensation of sliding along a cable right by a rushing waterfall. Older children may enjoy a bit more of a challenge, such as rappelling or rock climbing. For more information on these awesome adventure activities, visit the Ashdot website: http://www.ashdot.info/eindex.html
(4) Swim, skate, and squash
The Canada Center in Metulla is a terrific place for a whole array of fun activities. The Olympic-size skating rink has a schedule for both hockey and family free-skating time. The center also features both an indoor pool with a hot tub and an outdoor swimming pool with a water slide along with saunas, squash courts, table tennis, workout rooms, a soccer field and a shooting club. For more information: http://www.zimmer.co.il/galil_lang.asp?site_id=1130&lang=1
(5) Admire exotic birds
The Hula Nature Reserve is a swamp reserve ideal for bird watchers since it’s a stop for many migrating species. It is located near the village of Yesud Hama’ala, the valley that sits between Lebanon and Syria. Equip your kids with binoculars, bird calls, and cameras, or even sketch books and colored pencils to make them feel like true naturalists. For more information about the Hula Nature Reserve:
http://www.parks.org.il/BuildaGate5/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~25~~355534781
The waterslides at the Hurshat Tal National Park are among the highest in the country. Plus, the park is a wonderful place to fish, camp, and swim, too. Take a peek at the website to see all the neat things you can do: http://my-country-israel.com/en/North_Kineret/Park-Hurshat_Tal_National_Park.aspx
(7) Speed down a ski slope
Skiing in Israel? If you visit Israel in the wintertime, the answer is “yes!” And won’t your kids’ friends be surprised when your kids reveal that they went skiing in the Holy Land? The skiing (and snowboarding) here has been compared to New England because the snow tends to be powdery.
Visit Mount Hermon, which is the highest point in Israel. It is a great place to ski in the winter, as well as a hiker’s paradise in spring, summer, and fall. Just look at the beautiful, towering snow-capped peak: http://www.hermon.com/mt_hermon/
(8) Get up close and personal with a zebra
For families visiting Israel, the Ramat-Gan Safari is a must. The safari grounds are organized like a long winding road. You can drive your own car, and watch as exotic animals come right up to your car window!
At the center of the safari is a zoo where you can observe lions, chimpanzees, elephants, hippos, and rhinos, amongst many others. The Ramat-Gan Safari offers a unique opportunity to get close to these beautiful wild animals: http://www.safari.co.il/content.php?id=3
(9) Float in the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is a wonderful place to both rest your weary bones (parents) and splish splash around playfully (children.) Your kids will also think it’s really cool that they can so easily float on their backs in the very salt-dense sea.
Other attractions within the Dead Sea region include a Dead Sea cruise, horseback or camelback riding, a petting zoo, a water park, a go-cart track, and a sound and light show that portrays the life and struggle of the heroism of the people of Masada: http://www.dead-sea.net/f-tourism.htm
(10) Pet a dolphin
Kids ages 10 and older can snorkel at the Dolphin Reef in Eilat on the shore of the Red Sea. The snorkeling dive takes about half an hour, and the center provides all of the equipment needed. Divers just may come face to face with a bottlenose dolphin!
Kids under the age of 10 can still enjoy a wide array of activities, including taking a soothing dip in a relaxation pool or observing the dolphins from one of the lookout points: http://www.dolphinreef.co.il/Default.aspx?tabid=1
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