Elections for local authorities: all the activities that await you

Experience nature trips, visits to national parks, and workshops as you spend local election day with the whole family from north to south.

 Tel Amal Wall and Tower  (photo credit: Zvi Henry Cohen)
Tel Amal Wall and Tower
(photo credit: Zvi Henry Cohen)

The Sabbath day on the day of the local elections (February 27) is an excellent opportunity to combine our democratic rights with a trip to the natural and heritage sites that await us throughout the country. Here are some of the activities that await you:

South

Secrets of Tel Ashkelon

Tel Ashkelon National Park will host a special activity and offer a game that will reveal the secrets of the old city to you. The game consists of puzzles and challenging tasks from the content worlds of the escape rooms. You will have to solve problems, open locks and boxes, pull ropes, find differences and touch objects, and this is just a taste. The game set has a map, puzzles and keys and you have to find the boxes and the answers. The game set can be bought for a nominal price (NIS 15) at the tourist service center in the center of the garden.

When: every day from 8:30 to 14:00. On Saturdays you must book in advance.

Duration of the game: about an hour and a half.

 The new track in Masada  (credit: (Photo: Shlomit Shavit, Nature and Parks Authority))
The new track in Masada (credit: (Photo: Shlomit Shavit, Nature and Parks Authority))

Masada National Park - Masada Challenge

After you have chosen the right candidate in your eyes, you can go on the "Masada Challenge" - a route that allows a safe exit outside the walls of Masada and a visit to hidden archaeological complexes, which until today were inaccessible due to their challenging location. In order to make the assemblies accessible, we created a challenging walking route on the edge of Masada's cliff, using ladders and handholds, where those walking on it are connected with a harness (and helmet) to a safety cable along its entire length.Along the route you can enjoy a spectacular view starting in the Judean Desert and ending in front of the Dead Sea.Arrival and walking on the track are by appointment and prepayment only.

The route is suitable for those who are good at walking, and for children over the age of 10.

When: on the dates 2-3.2, 9-10.2, 16-17.2, 23-24.2, 27.2 The challenge can also be booked for groups on other days by prior arrangement, send details and requests to masadaevents@npa.org.il

The Pigeon Hill Lookout, Be'er Tovia Forest

From the top of the hill there is an amazing view of Kiryat Malachi, Gan Yavneh, Ashdod, Bnei Ish and the surrounding settlements are clearly visible from here. On the horizon - the mountains of Hebron. All around - cultivated fields, which are an inseparable part of the beautiful mosaic of the Azrikam forest.

Location: Hill of the Pigeons, Ezrikam grove in Beer Tovia forest

Center and Jerusalem

Choose monkeys

The Israeli Monkey Sanctuary, located at the entrance to Kfar Daniel (Ben Shemen Forest), is an association that deals with rescuing and rehabilitating monkeys. Most of the area of the shelter is not open to visitors, and this is because the physical and psychological rehabilitation of the monkeys is carried out in these areas. Part of the space is open to the general public, and there are even educational tours and fascinating experiences where you learn about the lives of the monkeys, meet some of the monkeys living in the shelter, hear about their personal stories and the success of their rehabilitation.

In the monkey sanctuary, the monkeys and their space are respected. Visitors do not touch them - they are not a petting zoo, and food is not thrown at them.Along the route, the children can enjoy an adventure sports area, a huge gymboree and a craft corner.

Ticket price: NIS 48, you must book a tour in advance on the shelter's website: https://www.ipsf.org.il

Ammunition Hill

On the day of the local authority elections, you are invited to an exciting educational experience with training sessions in the Battle Canal, watching a light and sound show telling the story of the urban line and an independent tour of the anemone and primrose blooming areas on the hill.The activity is suitable for the whole family and is an opportunity to experience up close our urban and national history, to learn about the heroism and courage that led to major victories in the history of the State of Israel and to be impressed by the beauty inherent in the landscapes of Jerusalem.Shlomo Zalman Shargai 5, Jerusalem

Tutorials at: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00. Sonic light show every half hour round

The whole family on one ticket

The Magic Kass indoor amusement park invites families to come and enjoy the park's facilities and unique attractions. As part of a recently launched family ticket, a family that purchases a family ticket that includes 10 entries will receive a discount on each ticket - NIS 109 per ticket instead of NIS 129 when purchased on the website. The ticket includes unlimited use of all amusement and extreme facilities such as Genesis, Looper, Discovery 360 and others, a track of mirrors, City of Horror and Gymboree. In addition, each card is entitled to four free video games.Magic Cass - Ma'ale Adumim.

Opening hours: 15:00-19:00

 Paintball City  (credit: Adam Bar)
Paintball City (credit: Adam Bar)

Extreme in Jerusalem paintball

The Dcity complex was recently renewed with a new paintball complex. The complex offers an experiential, challenging and stimulating extreme activity and is intended for the whole family. The new complex offers a variety of attractions including paintball games, laser tag, jelly ball, water tag, formation activities (ODT), fair inflatables and more. In addition to individuals and families, the activity is also very suitable for fun days for employees, bar and bat mitzvah celebrations, activities for friends and more.

Prices: from one hundred shekels.

For the Jerusalem paintball website: https://www.jerusalempaintball.com/

 Anemones in Beit Govrin National Park  (credit: (Photo: Dina Rosenthal, Nature and Parks Authority), Nature and Parks Authority)
Anemones in Beit Govrin National Park (credit: (Photo: Dina Rosenthal, Nature and Parks Authority), Nature and Parks Authority)

Beit Govrin National Park - independent activity on the subject of blooming

Beit Govrin National Park is known mainly thanks to the wide variety of caves found in its territory. In the winter and spring seasons, fresh green carpets decorated with a multitude of colorful blooms are added to the site's scenery. Using a task sheet suitable for the whole family, you are invited to walk the "Flower Trail", enter the impressive caves and pay special attention to the flowers next to them. Don't forget to take a lot of beautiful photos as a souvenir.When: every weekday in February 9:00 -14:00

Seeking and discovering: Yarkon National Park

Along the hiking route next to Nahal Yarkon is hidden colorful signage with small and cute tasks through which you will experience the national park a little differently. This is a wonderful opportunity to travel independently and discover for yourself another side of the national park, a side that you may not have known yet... Here you will exercise your senses, thought and imagination along with a pleasant and relaxed trip. At the meeting with the orange sign, you will be surprised to see what happens when you step on the wooden pier, at the meeting with the blue sign, you will find out how many family members or friends are required to hug one eucalyptus tree. And what will happen when you meet the green, purple, yellow and pink sign? You will have to come and find out for yourself.

Where: Yarkon National Park - Mekorot Yarkon complex

When: Saturdays in February and election day 27.2 from 9:00 a.m. until closing time

Tower of David Jerusalem Museum

On the day of the municipal elections, the Tower of David, the Jerusalem Museum invites the general public for the first time to go up to the minaret, which is usually closed, and observe the extraordinary view from it. In addition, on election day, theatrical tours for the whole family, a sunset tour on the rooftops, guided tours and a visit to the museum's new galleries.

Entrance fees to the museum: adult - NIS 50, student - NIS 40, child, senior citizen, military, disabled - NIS 25. Ascent to the tower - NIS 15

Departure for tours at: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00. Duration of the tour: about two hours

 David Museum  (credit: RICKY RAHMAN)
David Museum (credit: RICKY RAHMAN)

North

The Rabbit Village Bethlehem of Galilee

The farm was established by Shirley and Oren Nagar and serves as an educational, experiential and therapeutic center. There, rabbits of different and unique breeds from different parts of the world are lovingly raised (giant German, dwarf Dutch, drop-eared, mohair, and more), some of them have been rehabilitated on the farm after being abandoned or abused and are destined for adoption. Among the many activities offered at the farm: a guided tour of the rabbit and parrot complex, children's activities and a craft corner, a beautiful living corner, a rest area and a jamboree.

Hours of operation: 10:00-14:00

Price: 40 shekels.

More details: 050-8198688

Ktofotti

In the fields of Moshav Bethlehem HaGalilit there is a self-harvesting complex that allows its visitors the experience of self-harvesting and tasting fruits, vegetables, spices and flowers. There you can find different fruits such as: strawberries, Osana, strawberry guava, citrus fruits, and grapes. Vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, greenhouse cucumbers, colorful carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, eggplants, zucchini, corn, beets, turnips, collard greens, garden peas, tomatoes, green beans, okra, and more.

Crops are available according to the seasons.

Hours of operation: 09:00-14:00, last tour at 13:00

For more details: 054-5507480

Ktofoti  (credit: MEITAL SHARABI)
Ktofoti (credit: MEITAL SHARABI)

Wall and tower - Tel Amal

On election day, the site of a wall and tower (Tel Amal) in Ha-Shlosha Garden invites the general public to experience the day-to-day life of the pioneers. The activity includes entering the living shack, the kitchen and the dining room, ringing the iron bells in the bell garden, dressing up in pioneer clothes and working with gravel, pumping water from the canal and experimenting with washing with a board and tub, climbing the observation tower.When: Tuesday, 18 Adar A, February 27. Between the hours of 10:00 - 14:00

Ein Afek Nature Reserve - choosing nature

On the day of the local authority elections, you are invited to walk the circular route between the springs and the swamp plants. At the end of the trip, you can choose the person who represents the reserve in the best way. In the program: guided tours, and ballots where you can vote and choose the symbol of the reserve. The results of the vote will be published on the reserve's Facebook.

When: Tuesday 27.2, the tutorials will leave at 11:00 and 13:00 from the picnic parking lot.

The polling station will be placed between 10:30 and 14:30 near the service center

 Hikers in the Ein Afek Nature Reserve  (credit: Tamar Abdat, Nature and Parks Authority)
Hikers in the Ein Afek Nature Reserve (credit: Tamar Abdat, Nature and Parks Authority)

Red and green against the big blue: a boom in the beaver coast

The virgin stretch of beach in the Dor Hobonim nature reserve - where picturesque coves and inspiring kurkar "sculptures" - these days also adds to the equation magnificent flower clusters. Come welcome spring in an original way and get to know the unique blooms of the seashore, learn about the challenges facing coastal plants and if you're lucky - maybe you'll see tulips.

When: Tuesday 27.2 at 10:00, 12:30.

Researchers in Majersah

In the most beautiful lagoon there is, when the stream flows to the Kinneret, you will go on a tour to the mouth of Nahal Daliot to meet the animals of the stream. There you will discover the birds of the reserve, look for traces of wild animals, and go on an independent activity. In the world of amphibians you will discover how important water, silence and space are to our nature and to us. The dry path awaits you on the site - a path accessible and suitable for strollers, excellent for walking even in the winter, during which you will encounter puzzles and activities on the subject of birds, and at the service center you can get a kit for young explorers.

When: in February during reserve activity hours

Required equipment: binoculars

 Nahal Majersa (credit: HADAR YAHAV)
Nahal Majersa (credit: HADAR YAHAV)

Jordan Park

The Jordan Park covers an area of about a thousand dunams, in the northeastern corner of the Sea of Galilee on the eastern bank of the Jordan, and is covered in a dense thicket of vegetation, creating a "forest" of stream banks. Many birds hide in the thicket of vegetation and turtles and fish swim in the water. The park combines a variety of sites and recreational facilities including marked tour routes, a site of ancient flour mills with aqueducts and pools, the archaeological site of Beit Tsida, kayaking and tubing, lawns, picnic tables, small corners along the Jordan River, water taps, children's playgrounds, buffets and toilets public.

Entrance to the park is subject to a fee, the activity is independent.

 Kittamit Baklil  (credit: Ilan Green Soysa)
Kittamit Baklil (credit: Ilan Green Soysa)

Butterfly Park

On the day of the elections for the local authorities, tours for families will be held at the "Butterfly Lake Park in Kiel". This is the first natural ecological butterfly park of its kind in the world, spanning 15 dunams and including natural biotopes and about 180 types of shrubs and perennial and annual plants, expanses of wild flowers and spice plants, adapted to attract butterflies in the area. In the park there are naturally 50 different species of butterflies out of a total of 62 butterflies that exist in the area.

Where: The Butterfly Park in Kilil, Karmie

For pre-registration: *8555