If you've ventured out into nature in the last few weeks, then you've surely come across oodles of beautiful wildflowers that abound following the great amounts of rain we were fortunate to receive this winter. Passover is the perfect time to enjoy these natural treasures found in Israel's national parks. Here is my shortlist of amazing places from the North to the South that are worthwhile visiting during the intermediate days of the holiday. Urban nature The Even Bagalil Sculpture Festival, now in its 25th year, will take place this Hol Hamoed on the banks of Monfort Lake in Ma'alot-Tarshiha. Monfort Lake is man-made and it fills up with rainwater and since we had a tremendous amount of rain this winter, it is almost overflowing. In addition to the pedal boats available for rental all year long, during Hol Hamoed the surrounding area will be brimming with sculptures, food stands, picnic areas, a petting zoo, go-carting, moon bounces, ice-skating, art workshops and children's activities. In addition, 14 artists from around the world have been working for the past month on sculptures that will be displayed at the festival and will then be placed in various locations around Ma'alot afterwards. And if you're already in the area, I recommend joining a guided tour of Zman Galil Ma'aravi, which will conduct tours of Ma'alot on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of Hol Hamoed at 10 am. Tours cost NIS 60 (children under 12 are free). Preregistration required: 054-654-9191. The festival will take place April 5 to 7. Jump on the shuttle Another great activity in the North is walking in Nahal Kziv (yes, in the water). Twice a year the Israel Nature and Parks Authority opens the path to Nahal Kziv, which is located on the outskirts of Ma'alot-Tarshiha. During the festival, Otzrot Hagalil will be operating free shuttles from the parking area to the river. Directions to the parking area are available on the Otzrot Hagalil app. The shuttle stops near the Ein Ziv spring, which has a small waterfall, and from there you can follow the green trail markers by foot. On your way down, you will enjoy the lush green foliage and Judas trees, which are currently covered with bright pink flowers. You can stop to admire the old flour mills if you so desire. There are three springs that flow into Nahal Kziv, the longest river in the Upper Galilee: Ein Ziv, Ein Tamir and Ein Hardalit. There are a number of walking paths along the river, but the most popular and easiest one to walk (and the one the shuttle brings you to) is the one that ends up at Ein Tamir. Nature park hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shuttles will operate from 9 to 5 on April 4 to 7. Around the Kinneret If you have a soft spot for the Sea of Galilee and its surroundings, you'll be happy to know that there will be guided tours along the perimeter of the Kinneret during Hol Hamoed (April 5-8). Every morning between 9:30 and 10, guided tours will leave from a number of locations (Gofra Spring, Miriam's Well and Amnon Beach). The tours are appropriate for the whole family (but not with strollers) and include a ride to and from the parking area. Preregistration required: *55477. Who and Moo Farm in Yavne'el The Kramer family runs a dairy farm called Who and Moo and they will be offering guided tours during Hol Hamoed in which participants will be able to feed the cows hay and give the calves milk. There's also a petting zoo for little kids. Open from April 5 to 9, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Price: NIS 30 per person. Under age two is free. For details: (04) 670-8141. Caesarea Ancient Times Festival The Caesarea National Park is inviting archeology lovers to participate in a journey back to the days when the Roman Empire ruled. Over the four-day festival, there will be humoristic theatrical performances, a Roman open air market that will bring the port back to life and story-telling accompanied by music, song and dance. In addition, there will be spectacles including fire throwing and gladiator battles. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All activities included in entrance fee. Ever sat on top of a tractor? Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund is inviting the public to participate in the First Tractor Festival that will take place in the northern Negev. Visitors will see 50 tractors and other old agricultural tools at the Water Museum in Nir Am, such as Rafael Eitan's tractor and Meir Shalev's Sand Box tractor. In addition to the tractor exhibition, the “Pessahaklai [Passover Agriculturalist]” Festival includes fruit picking, tours of hothouses, fields of herbs, hikes and other desert activities. For more details, check out the Festival Darom Adom app. Flowering desert The Negev hills are currently covered with green following the huge amounts of rain we had these last few months, so I recommend getting out this week to catch a glimpse of this unusual phenomenon, because the sun will soon dry it all up. Because the Negev is incredibly beautiful at night, there are a plethora of tours that begin just before sunset. At the Neot Farm, for example, you can watch the animals being milked and taste the cheeses (for free). You can also go to the Bateva center and take part in an activity where you'll learn all about astronomy and get to see endless stars. Those of you who are into extreme sports can enjoy a ride in a hot air balloon, sand surfing or a buggy ride. For details: www.negevtour.co.il. Nature and heritage Tourist sites in Samaria combine nature and stories of events that took place in biblical times and a new lookout will be inaugurated in Eilon Moreh. There will be guided tours every hour, actors will mingle with the crowd and children can participate in fun activities. On Tuesday of Hol Hamoed, a spring festival will be held at Mevo during which families can hike up to Khirbat Akada and the Upper Hadera River. In addition, a happening will be held in Mevo Dotan with moon bounces, juggling, petting zoo and an African circus. There are a number of events and guided tours for the whole family that will take place free of charge. The Nahal Kana Nature Reserve will set up a booth that will offer information about the plants and animals living in the area. Samaria tourist information: 1-800-800-019. ■ Translated by Hannah Hochner.
Water activities abound on Monfort Lake in Ma’alot-Tarshiha.(photo credit: MEITAL SHARABI)