The Ta'amim Ba'amakim experience offers culinary tours, artexhibitions, Wild West folklore, horseback riding and much more -- all amid the Jezreel Valley and the Gilboa.
By MEITAL SHARABIDag Bakfar, fishing park, located near the biosphere reserve of Ramat Menashe and Yokne’am(photo credit: MEITAL SHARABI)
From January 29 until February 11, the 13th annual Taste of the Valleys Festival will take place throughout the Jezreel Valley.One of Israel’s most successful food festivals, the Ta’amim Ba’amakim festival draws thousands of visitors who come in search of delicious new tastes and to meet up with friends and family in some of the region’s best restaurants.Dozens of eateries participate in the festival, including Octogon in Nahalal, Bella in Beit She’arim, Limousine in Ramat Yishai, and Kimmel in the Gilboa. There will also be a variety of activities related to food tourism, such as culinary tours on the Tastes Train, art exhibitions in participating restaurants, spice tours in Beit Lehem Haglilit, and free Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund Friday tours. Here are some of the best options.Dubi’s RanchAt Kibbutz Ramot Menashe, an incredible folklore experience awaits you and your family.The horse ranch is surrounded by luscious greenery, springs and streams. In the middle of the ranch is an old-fashioned American-style cabin fit for a real cowboy.All staff members – led by Dubi himself, who worked for years as a stuntman in movies – are experienced riders and are dressed in Wild West fashion. You’ll actually feel like you’ve just entered the scene of an old Western film, with country music playing in the background.In addition to offering horseback riding, Dubi offers games for children, bowand- arrow contests, and lasso lessons.Dubi’s Ranch has been around since 1984, when it was founded at Bat Shlomo. Dubi and his staff train horses and teach visitors how to communicate with them. Since the farm is located in such beautiful natural surroundings, it’s an amazing place to go for a ride on horseback.Prices: 60 minute ride, NIS 150 (group price: NIS 120). A two-hour ride for a couple, including cheese and wine, is NIS 600.For details: (04)989-5743.Dag BakfarThe Dag Bakfar fishing park, located near the biosphere reserve of Ramat Menashe and Yokne’am, offers a variety of family-friendly activities at the huge fishing lake, a fun kids’ play area and a nice picnic station. Everyone is allowed to fish in the lake and then either pay for the fish or throw them back in the water.You can also rent pedal boats and pedal your way around the lake.Visitors are allowed to make barbecues and set up tents. Children are invited to join guides who will show them how to fish, shoot bows and arrows, or just stick their hands in the pond and feel the fish when they swim by. In the summer, visitors are allowed to wade in the pool, and in the winter there are little boats for children to sail around in. There’s also a snack bar and tackle and camping shop that has everything you could possibly need.Price: adults, NIS 35; children, NIS 49. Overnight camping: NIS 89. Equipment rental: NIS 22 to NIS 27. Bait: NIS 9. Details: (04) 989-4095.Ofer & JeepThere are a number of fun outings visitors can take in the Gilboa. You can join a walking tour, or a mountain bike ride, or even take an exciting jeep ride.Ofer Vered (from Ofer & Jeep) is a knowledgeable tour guide, which makes it easier for him to organize tours that are perfectly tailored to your family’s needs. He can even take you rappelling.The two-hour tours pass over Infiltrators Stream (called such since many people cross over here from Jenin), drive along hidden paths and pass by grazing cows.Coffee/herbal tea breaks in the middle of nature are included in each tour.Price: NIS 700 per family for two hours, NIS 160 for every extra hour. Details: (04) 607-0159, (04) 607-0094.Ein Harod museum of art When you’re touring around the Gilboa, you can’t help but notice how enchantingly beautiful the hills are.There are, however, attractions other than nature in the region – namely, the Mishkan Museum of Art in Ein Harod, founded by Haim Atar.Considered the third-most important art museum in the country (after the Israel Museum and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art), the Ein Harod museum sits high above the Jezreel Valley, and there’s an incredible view of Mount Gilboa. In addition, even when you’re inside the museum, you feel connected to the region through the sunlight that shines through the huge windows. The building was constructed in 1948 by architect Shmuel Bickels, who utilized the natural light in a very creative way.The building includes several exhibition halls, courtyards with ancient mosaics, and a library.There are workshops, and patrons are welcome to enjoy a pleasant coffee break in the cozy courtyard café.The museum’s collections include Judaica from around the world, modern and ancient art, and on January 21 a special winter exhibition will open titled “The New Barbizon – a Return to Life.”Among the artists who will be showing their works are Natalia Zorbov, Asia Lukin, Olga Condina and Anna Lukshovski, all of whom were born in the Soviet Union and made aliya in the 1990s. In their artworks, the artists express the struggles they encountered while attempting to get settled in a new land.Exhibition is open all week long.Price: NIS 15 to NIS 30.Kimmel BagilboaOne of the restaurants participating in the festival that should not be passed over is Kimmel Bagilboa. Owned by chefs Shaul Ben-Aderet and Ben Shaham, Kimmel Bagilboa has an incredible view and offers an eclectic menu made from local raw materials, quality meats and local fish, herbs and spices.Details: (04) 689-5566.Doron BarOn If you want to feel nature and to taste delicious vegetables that were picked from nearby fields, you might want to try out Doron and Anat Bar On’s restaurant in Moshav Yogev, which serves breakfast and lunch on Thursdays and Fridays.Their menu includes a variety of vegetable dishes, cheeses and olive oil, all made from produce grown in the Jezreel Valley. Meals are NIS 80 per person and include an appetizer and a main dish (Croque Madame with smoked salmon, burekas, tamale or buckwheat crepe) in an atmosphere that reminds one of Tuscany.Details: (04) 989-3247.Translated by Hannah Hochner.
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