Summer vacation is over, but Rosh Hashanah is coming – the best sites for a family trip

How do you find the right balance between wanting to show them the beauty of the country and the physical limitations that come with age? The answer is simple: Not every trip has to be an obstacle course. On the accessible and easy trails, you can find the deepest and most meaningful experiences. In Israel, there is an abundance of sites that allow you to enjoy breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and amazing nature – all at a pace suitable for everyone. Especially in the pleasant season ahead, when temperatures drop and the air refreshes, trips become more enjoyable and accessible for all ages.

The Einot Tzukim Nature Reserve in the northern Dead Sea offers one of the most accessible experiences in the country. The reserve is designed like a well-kept garden – an accessible concrete path leads directly from the entrance to the clear water pools. This is a place where the entire family can easily and comfortably reach the interesting spots.

Along the pleasant trail, there is a lookout overlooking the remains of an agricultural farm from the Second Temple period – a great opportunity to tell the grandchildren about life here thousands of years ago. At the end of the trail awaits Tamar Pool, open for swimming in season and with a lifeguard present, a perfect place to refresh in clear waters and admire the unique nature of the area. There are also shaded resting areas and comfortable seating areas, inviting a family picnic. The reserve contains diverse habitats with riparian vegetation and wildlife typical of the region. For those interested in more and who have time, the southern part of the reserve, called "the hidden reserve," opens only with a guide and offers a unique and fascinating view of the receding Dead Sea shores – an impressive geological phenomenon.

If you are looking for a place where the temperature is always pleasant, Gan HaShlosha (Sachne) is the perfect solution for a comfortable family trip. The natural springs here are a wonder of nature. Their water temperature is constant and pleasant – 28°C – throughout the year, so even in the coldest winter or hottest summer, the waters are always inviting.

The famous pools are just a short walk from the entrance, surrounded by wide lawns and large shade trees, creating a true vacation atmosphere. The paths here are comfortable and accessible, some paved and suitable for strollers, easily leading to the clear and inviting waters.

Between refreshing dips, you can visit the "Homa u'Migdal" site and hear fascinating stories from the settlement days in the valley during the 1930s, a period when young men and women established a kibbutz and settlement under challenging conditions. The site also includes a regional archaeology museum, displaying finds from ancient periods, and a restored working flour mill powered by the Amel stream. The mill provides a fascinating glimpse into how people made bread in the past – an experience that children especially enjoy.

When "Masada" is mentioned, the first image that comes to mind is usually the exhausting climb along the Snake Path in the early morning, when the sun is already rising and sweat is pouring. But there is another way, much more comfortable and pleasant – especially for families with grandparents.

The hike up Masada is reserved for young hikers, but those who prefer a relaxed experience can take the cable car directly to the top platform of the historic mountain. The cable car ride itself is an experience – offering a panoramic view of the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. From there, you can comfortably explore the upper platform trails, see the remains of Herod’s northern palace, the ancient synagogue, and public buildings – all at a pace suitable for everyone, with stops for photos and rest in the shade.

Masada was built by King Herod and served as the last stronghold of the Jewish rebels in the Great Revolt against the Romans around 2,000 years ago. The visitor center museum provides a good introduction, especially if you want the grandchildren to know the fascinating story of the site before experiencing it firsthand. It’s important to note that in summer, opening hours may change due to heat, so it’s advisable to check the authority’s website before heading out.

The Ein Afek Nature Reserve offers one of the most relaxing and peaceful experiences in the country. Here, time seems to stand still, and nature presents itself gently and quietly. The short and pleasant "Marsh Trail" passes over well-built bridges above clear waters, allowing close and safe observation of turtles, birds, and colorful water plants.

Along the way, there are comfortable and well-planned observation points – some covered – inviting you to stop, sit, and quietly watch the life around the water. It’s a wonderful opportunity to teach the grandchildren about patience and the beauty of quiet nature. The route also includes a fascinating visit to the restored flour mill, originating from the Crusader period and renovated during the Ottoman era. The mill tells a story of hundreds of years of life and work in the area.

For those wanting to extend the experience, there is the option to continue to Tel Afek and the plant sanctuary for endangered species – a place presenting a stunning variety of local and rare plants. The quiet of the area and rich vegetation create a truly serene atmosphere, especially suitable for families.

A short drive from Jerusalem, on the northern shores of the Dead Sea, awaits Qumran – the site where the Essene sect lived in the last centuries BCE and wrote the famous Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in the 20th century. It is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of modern times.

The trail at the site is accessible and comfortable, allowing a leisurely pace among the remains of ancient living quarters, public halls, ritual baths, and the watchtower, with an impressive view of the nearby scroll caves and the breathtaking desert scenery of the Dead Sea and surrounding mountains.

You can see the remains of the famous scribe’s room – where the scrolls were likely written – the public halls where the community ate and prayed, and the sophisticated water channels that brought floodwater from the nearby stream to the settlement. The visitor center displays fascinating excavation finds alongside a detailed and engaging reconstruction of the scroll-writing process on parchment and papyrus. This is a place that combines ancient history, modern archaeology, and desert nature in a way that captivates both adults and children.

A few minutes from Jerusalem, among agricultural terraces and orchards, is the site traditionally believed to be the burial place of the Prophet Samuel. You can wander among the remains of the Crusader fortress and the Hellenistic street, stop in a garden to observe rare plants, and enjoy wide views of the Jerusalem hills. The walk is done in short sections, making it easy to adapt the trip’s duration to energy and comfort. The site reveals diverse layers of settlement – from burial caves from the First Temple period, through Persian-period finds, to the fortress and church structure from the Crusader and Mamluk periods.

For those wanting to hike without traveling far on foot, the colorful area of Ramon Crater offers a perfect solution. A marked path leads to viewpoints of colorful rock formations, old mining sites, and scenic overlooks. At each stop, a short and easy path leads to the point of interest, allowing the whole family to enjoy the impressive geology effortlessly. The crater is the largest of its kind in the world, a result of unique erosion processes.

On particularly hot days, it is recommended to go out during the cooler morning or late afternoon hours, bring sufficient water, a hat, and sunscreen, and check the trail conditions and instructions on the authority’s website beforehand.

As the weather becomes more pleasant in the coming weeks, additional options for trips during the late hours of the day will open, allowing greater flexibility in planning visits with the grandchildren.

It is also important to remember that even on the easiest trails, everyone should wear comfortable and suitable walking shoes, bring light and healthy snacks, and plan rest breaks in shaded areas. It is especially important to listen to the body and not insist on continuing if someone feels tired or uncomfortable. The pace should always be adjusted to the slowest person in the group so everyone can enjoy the shared experience.

The secret to a successful family trip is not in the distance traveled or the difficulty of the path, but in the quiet moments of shared observation, in stories exchanged under the shade of a tree, and in smiles that appear when a grandchild discovers something new in nature or when a grandmother shares a memory from the past.

Sometimes, precisely when the step is small – the experience is the greatest. In places where no great physical effort is required, space opens for other experiences: For conversations, laughter, small discoveries, and magical moments remembered for many years. And right now, as the pleasant season and Tishrei holidays approach, it’s the perfect time to start.