If you haven’t been stuck in cyberspace for the last couple of months or so, it
probably has not escaped your notice that this winter has been a particularly
good one in terms of the amount of precipitation we have had. Besides bringing
traffic to a standstill on the Ayalon Freeway in Tel Aviv and causing flooding
in other parts of the country, it also means we are likely to have a wonderful
florally blessed spring. That means it will soon be time to hit the road and
head for the verdant expanses of the North, and you could do a lot worse than go
to the Western Galilee to grab a few lungfuls of fresh air and some eyefuls of
Mother Nature’s precious seasonal gifts.
Actually, the said region has
plenty to offer in terms of fun and interesting tourist attractions, even
without the pleasing amount of rain of the last few weeks. Consider, for
example, the spectacular aesthetics to be had at and around Rosh Hanikra at the
northernmost part of our coastline.
The eponymous grottoes are a good a
place as any to kick-start your Western Galilee jaunt. The cavernous geological
formation is located at the foot of steep cliffs, where the sea has eroded the
soft chalk rock and created a tunnel-like structure that meanders and stretches
a full 200 meters into the cliff side. Access to the grottoes is by cable car,
which is one of the world’s steepest. The interior of the cave can also be
viewed from closer quarters in rented kayaks. There is also an impressive sound
and light show on offer, and bicycles – including the electric variety – can be
rented for trundling along the coastline.
While you’re in the
neighborhood, you may want to pop along to Goren Park, in the Nahal Kziv Nature
Reserve, which takes in a delightful forested area of oak trees and offers
plenty of hiking and biking trails. One of the most striking features of the
nature reserve is the Montfort Castle, which was built by the Crusaders in the
12th century and was subsequently renovated and extended by the Teutonic
Knights. The fortress is an ideal spot for viewing the rolling hills of the
Galilee and the Golan Heights, and even the snowy cap of Mount
Hermon.
There is more rustic scenery to be had a little farther south at
Moshav Ben-Ami, where you can rent mountain bicycles, and all manner of
accessories thereof for cycling trips around the area. Guided bike tours for
families and groups are also available, and there are tricycles and tandems for
rent as well.
There are also plenty of attractions for art lovers and
fans of cultural endeavors. For starters, there’s the Davidson Sculpture Garden
and Gallery at Kibbutz Eilon. The outdoor exhibition facility incorporates some
300 works of art, from sculptures and mosaics to masks and totem poles of all
shapes, colors and sizes. The indoor gallery is housed in the home of Ruth and
Meirka Davidson – the latter was a member of the Palmah – and serves as a
reminder of kibbutz life in years gone by.
Meanwhile, if modern dance is
your thing and you fancy getting a better handle on what makes dancers tick and what it takes to put a production together, you can go to
Kibbutz Ga’aton, the home of the Kibbutz Dance Company. The visitors’ package
includes a guided tour of the dance village on the kibbutz, a glimpse of the
company’s rehearsals, a show and an informal session with some of the dancers
and the company director. The more adventurous, or body movement inclined, can
avail themselves of a workshop with one of the dancers.
The kibbutz also
run the Ga’aton Fruitwines enterprise, which manufactures and sells liqueurs
with a wide range of flavors and raw materials, including kiwi, lychee, almonds,
dates and pomegranate. The store also sells citrus honey and honey and
apple-flavored wine.
Over at Abirim, the Cheers Winery sells all sorts of
fruit-based wines and preserves. All Cheers products are made by
traditional methods and contain no chemicals. The winery has a small visitors’
center.
The Achziv Winery, at Kibbutz Gesher Haziv, also has some quality
wines on offer, and visitors can also enjoy some wine tasting and get
explanations about the production process.
All that sightseeing, cycling,
walking and wine tasting, not to mention modern dancing, will surely work up a
hearty appetite, and there is an abundance of good eateries around the region.
There’s Arnold’s kosher restaurant, at Kibbutz Netiv Hashayara, which serves a
bistro menu, with some added French and Middle Eastern touches, in addition to
locally brewed beer. And if you fancy some homemade pastries, along with an
eclectic gastronomic selection, the Banahala restaurant nestled in Nahariya’s
leafy old quarter, provides that aplenty.
Meanwhile, Kibbutz Lohamei
Hagetaot offers plenty of insight into the Holocaust at the history museum
there. The kibbutz also runs the Bayit Vekayit restaurant, which is famed for
its brunches, as well as bed-and-breakfast accommodation.
There is a wide
range of accommodation in the Western Galilee for visitors planning to spend a
few days in the region, from luxury hotels to more rustic style
accommodation. The former includes Acre’s Hof Hatmarim (Date Beach)
Hotel, which comes complete with swimming pool, private beach, spa and
entertainment, while just up the coast there is the comfortably furnished
Carlton Hotel in Nahariya. Kibbutz Yehiam’s Teva Beyehiam-Countryside hotel
treads the fine line between luxury accommodation and rural beauty, with
Crusader-style rooms, as well as more rustically designed suites. More basic
places for sack time include the Travelers’ Hotel at Kibbutz Gesher Haziv, and Kibbutz
Shomrat has some welcoming rustic-style rooms.
If it’s history, culture
and impressive aesthetic surroundings you’re looking for, Acre has that in
buckets. For starters, there’s the Hospitaller Fortress and its spectacular
Knights’ Halls, with its arches and masonry that simply reek of Crusader
history. Bathhouses were an important part of daily life in the Middle
East in days of yore, and Acre houses the beautifully preserved Hamam al-Basha,
which was built in the late 18th century. The 350-meter long Templars’ Tunnel is
also well worth a visit, as is the recently renovated 18th-century Ramhal
Synagogue. Acre is also one of the holiest places for followers of the Baha’i
faith, and the local Baha’i Gardens are a veritable oasis of man-made beauty and
tranquility. There are also plenty of walking tours around Acre, such as the
Jewish Route, the Walls & Wars Route, the Napoleon Route and the Classic
Route.
So whether it’s urban historic treasures, trekking, culture or
rustic sightseeing, the Western Galilee has plenty of offer to suit all pockets,
interests and tastes.
Contact information
Rosh Hanikra grottoes – 073-271-0100
Rosh Hanikra kayaks – 052-379-8610
Ben-Ami
Bicycle Rental and Tours – 054-444-1587
Davidson Sculpture Garden and Gallery –
052-366-4609
Kibbutz Gaaton dance village – (04) 985-9730/7
Gaaton Potions –
(04) 875-9873 and 052-241-4845
Cheers Winery – 050-470-3818
Achziv Winery –
050-771-3687
Arnold’s restaurant – (04) 952-2211 and 050-322-5544
Banachala –
(04) 951-2074
Bayit Vekayit – (04) 993-3271
Hof Hatmarim Hotel – (04) 987-7777
Carlton Hotel – (04) 900-5555
Teva Beyehiam-Countryside hotel – (04) 985-6057
Travelers’ Hotel – (04) 995-8568
Kibbutz Shomrat – (04) 985-4897
Acre –
www.akko.org.il – B.D.
For more information, go to www.gogalil.org and www.goisrael.gov.il The
article was made possible with the help of the Israel Ministry of Tourism.