Thinking of taking the kids to Israel but worried they’re too young for history and monuments in Old Jerusalem and Tel Aviv? Here are five natural wonders, including beaches, grottos and waterfalls, sure to please all the nature buffs in your family.
The Dead Sea
A top attraction that will please everyone from young travelers to grandma is the Dead Sea. At about 1,400 feet below sea level, the sea is the lowest place on Earth, and the water is so salty the experience is more akin to bobbing on the surface than actual swimming. We recommend wearing water shoes, because the seabed is full of sharp salt deposits and be sure to warn the kids not to get water in their mouths or eyes if possible. For a real treat, consider getting everyone up for sunrise on the shore, an especially eerie sight because of the surrounding landscape, which looks like the lunar surface.
The Coral Reefs
The Coral Reefs in Eilat is a nature reserve and conservation area in the Red Sea, some 4,000 feet below the surface. Here scuba divers can swim among a beautiful variety of coral — some 100 varieties in all — as well as more than 600 types of marine life and plants.
© Rafael Ben Ari | Dreamstime.com
Hula Valley
Even kids who don’t think they’re interested in bird watching might get excited about the 200 or so species of birds that pass through the Hula Valley in the far north of Israel’s upper Galilee region. Spring is the best time to visit, as vast swarms of birds migrate through and stop in the valley on their way between Africa, Europe and Asia, depending on the species.
Timna Park
Timna Park, just over 15 miles from Eilat, offers outdoor fun for kids in the Negev Desert. Here families can enjoy pedal boating on a small lake, do some hiking, camp overnight and keep an eye out for wildlife. The area, the world’s oldest copper mine, also offers a glimpse of its ancient history through rock carvings, craft demos and a multimedia presentation on the pharaohs and gods once worshipped in the area.
Rosh HaNikra
The Rosh HaNikra grottoes are famous for the white cliffs and intense turquoise color that changes according to the season and even the time of day. These geological formations, the result of being pounded for thousands of years by the sea, are located on the Mediterranean Sea in western Galilee and are accessible via a trail that visitors can follow on self-guided tours.
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