Valentine’s Day

All that’s left to do is take your loved one in hand and set out for a romantic adventure.

By MEITAL SHARABI
Valentine’s Day (photo credit: MEITAL SHARABI)
Valentine’s Day
(photo credit: MEITAL SHARABI)
Finding the right person to spend the rest of your life with is not an easy task, but once you do, finding a romantic place in Israel to celebrate Valentine’s Day is a cinch – especially if you read this column.
At this time of year flowers are blooming all over the country thanks to the copious rain that has fallen this winter.
The rivers and pools are full, and pretty much everywhere you walk these days you’ll find green grass, fragrant flowers and gushing water.
All that’s left to do is take your loved one in hand and set out for a romantic adventure.
Wine and Cheese
If your image of a romantic outing involves a winery, then I recommend beginning your Valentine’s Day weekend with a breakfast at Dalton Winery today. This is a great way to be romantic and spontaneous.
Visitors to the winery on Friday can warm up with a complimentary glass of wine, or a plate of cheese and crackers for two, plus two glasses of rosé wine, which the winery offers for only NIS 45.
In addition, visitors can join a 60-minute guided tour of the winery, during which they will be invited to taste a few more types of wine.
Price: NIS 20.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Details: 04-952-7107.
Galilee and wine
If you love cheese and wine, but spontaneity is not your strong point, booking a tour at the Galil Mountain Winery is the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day on Sunday, February 14.
The visitors’ center at the winery offers a romantic meal for two, including an assortment of cheeses, a vegetable platter, dips, crackers, and two glasses of Galil rosé wine. After the meal, guests are invited on a private tour and presented with a Galil Mountain wine-bottle opener as a special gift.
Located on Kibbutz Yiron, the winery has representatives on site who will explain how the wine is made from start to finish. The guided tour ends with a wine tasting and a view of the surrounding hills.
Price: NIS 116 per person.
Pre-registration necessary: 04-686-8748.
Frolicking among the flowers
What’s more romantic than sending a beautiful bouquet of flowers to your sweetheart? Obviously, it’s going out on a walk together in a field of beautiful flowers! If you fancy spending Valentine’s Day on a group tour, the KKL-JNF, Nature and Parks Authority, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Kfar Etzion Field School are holding a flower celebration at Adullam Park.
On Saturday, February 13, a number of tours will take participants through spectacular fields of blossoming flowers and incredible views.
At 10 a.m., the tour of Hurvat Midras will begin in the Hurvat Midras parking area. At 11 a.m, the tour to Hurvat Itri will begin at the Hurvat Itri parking area, and at 12 noon, another tour will leave for Hurvat Midras. For late risers, there will be a fourth tour at 1 p.m. to Hurvat Burgin, which will start at the Hurvat Burgin parking area.
There is an information booth at the entrance to Adullam Park, so if you’re interested in hiking on your own, you can stop and get information about the different trails. I recommend bringing snacks and even a bottle of wine, so that you can fully enjoy the beautiful day.
To reach Adullam Park, drive south on Road 38. After Moshav Givat Yeshayahu, turn left onto Road 3544 and drive another 10 minutes until you see the turnoff for the park.
The tours are free and do not require preregistration.
For more details: 1-800-350-550.
Picnic in the city
Another great picnic spot that’s also an excellent place to take a short walk can be found in the center of the country, next to the Yarkon River.
Most of us don’t realize how lovely Yarkon Park is. It has plenty of perfect spots to spend a few romantic moments, as well many trails for a romantic bike ride for two. Or you can walk down the magical paths towards the springs, the flour mills and the incredible water-lily pools.
You can reach these places from all sides of the park, so depending on where you come in from, you can decide where you feel like going. But no matter where you end up walking inside Yarkon Park, you’ll find lush, serene greenery. And if you keep your eyes peeled, you might even catch a glimpse of some of the local wildlife.
Throughout the park, you’ll find signs placed by the Yarkon River Authority to help you choose the path best suited to your tastes.
Don’t forget to pack some good food and a picnic blanket and enjoy a day out in nature.
The Cyclamen Trail
For couples looking for a hike that’s a little more secluded and off the beaten track, I recommend the Cyclamen Trail in Migdal Ha’emek, which is full of beautiful woods and forests. This is probably the best time of year to walk around this area, since it is absolutely overrun with white and pink cyclamens and red anemones.
As a result, the KKL-JNF – in conjunction with children living in Migdal Ha’emek – decided to establish a hiking trail here so everyone can climb the hill and enjoy the gorgeous view.
The 250-meter-long trail is located near the Rabin-Hasharon Park in the Kiryat Rabin neighborhood, where Hasharon Street intersects with Snir Street.
Menara Lodge
It’s not easy to find the right time to take a break from the rat race, and therefore it’s important to make an effort to plan a special day to spend with that special person.
This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday, which means it’s the perfect opportunity to go away for a long weekend and create even more time for love. But don’t worry if this weekend isn’t actually the best time for you to get away. Several venues are extending their Valentine’s Day activities to next weekend, too.
One such place is Menara Lodge, which knows how to combine romance with some adventurous activities.
The weekend's activities are geared towards couples who want to experience an adventure that is both empowering and also incredibly romantic.
During the weekend of February 18-20, Menara Lodge will welcome guests with hot cider and roasted chestnuts in the hotel’s luxurious lobby. The first activity, in the Geology Garden, will be a rock-climbing workshop meant to strengthen one’s body and one’s confidence.
After the sun sets, there will be a romantic walk among the oil lamps, and in the morning a romantic breakfast in bed.
During the day, couples will be invited to participate in exciting extreme activities.
Price: NIS 650 per couple.
Directions: Drive north of Rosh Pina on Road 90. Turn right onto Route 899, and then another right onto Route 886.
Hefer Farm
Edna and Eyal Hefer run a farm in Mitzpe Abirim called Place in the Heart, where they offer a variety of unique romantic attractions.
The Hefers raise milk goats on their farm, located in the Alonim Forest just above the Kziv River. Guests are invited to go horseback riding in the forest that spreads around the farm for thousands of hectares.
Or if you prefer, you can take a Tomcar, which the Hefers refer to as the Romantic Car. The Hefers have prepared a map which shows you how to navigate a 20-kilometer circular trail through the forest.
After Edna milks the goats, she prepares amazing cheeses and yogurts which she’s more than happy to sell to guests, along with boutique wine from nearby wineries.
Location: Abirim in Upper Galilee.
For more details: 077-996-4504. ■
Translated by Hannah Hochner.


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