The best family trips and nature routes for Rosh Hashanah

After the holiday meal and before the next one, it is also possible to step outside for a bit. Rosh Hashanah offers a great opportunity to swap the dining table for scenery, air conditioning for the open air, and staying indoors for a family trip. Across the country, Nature and Parks Authority sites offer a variety of short trails, historic sites, flowing water, and activities suitable for children and parents.

Here are a few options for Rosh Hashanah outings, from a trip in the footsteps of the First Jewish–Roman War in the Galilee to kites over the Jordan Valley, with the option even to stay overnight in nature.

Ancient Yodfat National Park offers an easy circular route about a kilometer long, taking about an hour to walk. The trail passes among the remains of the city that served as one of the centers of the First Jewish–Roman War against the Romans in the Galilee. Yosef ben Mattityahu made his residence here, and the residents of Yodfat managed to stand firm for 47 days against the forces of the Roman general Vespasian.

Along the route, visitors can see sections of the ancient wall, cisterns, caves, and an underground shelter used by the rebels, alongside the remains of residential houses and artifacts attesting to the battles that took place at the site. Galilean landscapes can also be viewed from among the ruins, and during the visit, you may be able to enjoy the blooming of squills scattered throughout the area.

The trail is suitable for families and anyone interested in a short trip combining nature, scenery, and one of the most fascinating stories of the Second Temple period. During the holiday, an NPA information station will operate at the site, where hikers can receive information and guidance before setting out on the trail.

Nahal Tzalmon is one of the few streams in the Lower Galilee with water flowing year-round. It offers a pleasant route combining water, nature, and history. In the central section of the stream, there is an easy route about 1.5 km long alongside streams, riverbank vegetation, shaded orchards, and ancient flour mills that once operated there.

Along the way, visitors can stop to wade in the natural pools, including the large pool at the foot of the carob tree shading the water, and discover the remains of an ancient aqueduct. Those wishing to extend the trip can continue to Hurvat Tzalmon, an ancient site from Second Temple times located on a hill overlooking the surroundings, which contains the remains of a fortified settlement and a view of the stream valley. The combination of flowing water, vegetation, and historical remains makes the trail a relaxed and varied trip in the heart of the Galilee.

The bird migration season is in full swing, and Belvoir Fortress National Park, located on one of the main migration routes in Israel, offers a good reason to look up during the holiday. During the day, guided tours will take place where visitors can observe the birds migrating over the Jordan Valley, learn about their journey, and understand the importance of Israel on the global migration map.

Alongside the tours, a family kite workshop will take place, where participants will build and design a kite inspired by the birds and fly it over the valley. Games and activities on the topic of birds and migration will also await visitors across the site. Every family that registers in advance will receive one free kite, and additional kites can be purchased at the service center.

The activity will take place on Sunday, September 13. The guided tours will take place at 10:00, 12:00, and 14:00, and the kite station will operate from 11:00 to 15:00. The activity is at no additional charge beyond the site entry fee and free for Matmon subscribers.

At the Yarkon National Park, in the Tel Afek complex, visitors can turn the holiday visit into a family activity. In honor of Rosh Hashanah, visitors will meet Booga, the collector of wishes, and prepare a mobile together where they can write greetings and wishes for a sweet and happy new year.

The activity will take place on Sunday, September 13, from 10:00 to 14:00, at no additional charge beyond the site entry fee and free for Matmon subscribers. During the visit, visitors can also walk along the trail of the British waterworks, learn the story of the facility established to convey water to Jerusalem, and view the new display in the underground water reservoir.

For those wanting to add some riddles to the visit, "Mysteries in Time" awaits in the Tel Afek complex, an interactive family game where participants embark on a journey following the stories and events that shaped the site. With the help of a clue map and a special bot accompanying the family on WhatsApp, players move between various points at the site, solve riddles, and discover the connection between water, roads, battles, and conquests throughout history.

The game is suitable for children aged 7 and up and lasts about an hour and a half to two hours. Participants must bring a smartphone with WhatsApp. The price of the game kit is NIS 25 per family and NIS 20 for Matmon subscribers, in addition to the site entry fee.

For those wishing to turn the Rosh Hashanah trip into a longer outing, the campsite at the Hurvat Tal National Park allows visitors to remain in nature even after visiting hours. The campsite offers field lighting, hot showers, and orderly restrooms, and visitors can sleep in a private tent or choose additional options, including an air-conditioned bungalow and parking spots for private caravans.

The site includes a field kitchen, sinks for washing dishes, work surfaces, and refrigerators for campers' use, alongside drinking water fountains and mobile phone charging points. Benches and picnic tables, charcoal collection points, and the option to light a grill using personal equipment are also scattered throughout the campsite. To reserve a place at the campsite, visit the reservation system on the NPA website.

Most importantly, there is no need to wait for Hol Hamoed to go hiking. Rosh Hashanah, when summer is still here but the upcoming seasonal change can already be felt in the air, is a good time to take a few hours outside the house. You do not have to plan a long trail or drive far: Sometimes a short path between ruins, flowing water, a scenic view, or an activity that keeps the kids busy is enough to create a small break from routine.

There is also something nice about these trips not requiring you to give up spending the holiday with family. You can wake up the morning after the holiday meal, head out into nature, and burn off all the calories weighing us down.