By: Rebecca Zola
Chances are, when you’ve travelled on vacations in the past, no matter where you went in the world you’ve heard someone speaking Hebrew. That’s because Israelis LOVE to travel, especially in great springtime weather.
The inability for Israelis to travel outside of Israel since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a huge challenge, along with the obvious challenge of not having visitors in town. Thankfully, with the easing up of restrictions owing to the high vaccination rates, many families and friends can set off in their cars and caravans to travel within this beautiful country. Spring is a particularly special time for travel in Israel with the beautiful greenery following the rainy season, and it is also a period with lots of vacation because of the Passover, Shavuot, and Yom Ha’atzmaut holidays.
1. Zimmer Stays - The Israeli Bed & Breakfast Experience
One unique way to travel in Israel is by staying in a Zimmer (also spelled tzimmer, if you are searching, which comes from the German word “room”), which in Israel essentially equates to a bed and breakfast. Zimmers are typically family-owned compounds of cottages or apartments in regions all over the country, often found in the countryside - from Moshavs or small villages, to the Judean mountain range or the mountains in the north, to the desert in the South, near Eilat, the Dead Sea. The glory of the zimmer is that it typically includes relaxing amenities like jacuzzis, and zimmer owners treat their guests like family, and offer fun ideas for activities in the area that the whole family can enjoy.
Last spring, I stayed at a Zimmer in a Moshav in northern Israel called Amirim - which is actually an entirely vegetarian Moshav! Everyone who chooses to live in the Moshav is vegetarian and also works to preserve nature, and the Moshav is full of fruit trees and wildlife. The Moshav is on a mountain with a breath-taking view overlooking the sea of Galilee - a place many Israelis love to visit and go camping at in the Spring while the weather is warm but mild.
2.Israel in Bloom! Flower and Fruit Picking
Spring is also a great opportunity to visit local agriculture, and pick your own fruit and flowers! Springtime in Israel is the season for ripe, juicy Strawberries, and I went strawberry picking this year at Meshek 6, a farm not far from Netanya which grows the most delicious strawberries I’ve ever eaten. There are many more fantastic farms to visit for fruit picking, including “Kesem Hapri” or “Beresheet Apple Factory” in the Golan, “Kotofofi” in Beit Lechem Haglilit, and “Kfar HaRoeh.”
3. Hiking on the Shvil Israel
Spring is very short in Israel, because the Summer heat comes fast, so Israelis make sure to take advantage of this special and bountiful season and head outside to nature. Israel is full of hiking paths of different lengths - from hour-long hikes to multi-day and even week-long hiking and camping trips along the Shvil Israel (Israel national trail). One trail for example is the Golan Trail, which is a 120-kilometer trail from Mount Hermon at the north of the trail, to the Sea of Galilee at the southern end. This trail typically takes 5-7 days for seasoned hikers, and is perfect for Spring with the cooler temperatures. This trail includes unbelievable views of northern Israel, and at its highest point, you can see Israel’s northern neighbors, Syria and Lebanon.
4. Enjoy a Picnic at the Beach or Park
With some seasonally warm days, it is just getting comfortable enough to swim at the beach, but Spring in Israel is perfect picnic weather! One of my favorite things that Israeli cafes have started to offer following the Covid pandemic are ready-to-go picnic baskets, including everything you’ll need for a delicious picnic! One cafe in Jerusalem called Meshek Ofaimme runs their own goat farm in Southern Israel, which supplies them with a selection of incredible goat cheeses and produce. You can simply pick up a picnic basket from them which includes cheeses, fruits and vegetables, fresh-baked bread and pastries, and even orange juice, and head to your favorite picnic spot! My personal favorite picnic spot is “Mitzpe Hakochavim,” the star observatory in Givatayim, which includes a hill-top park with a view of all of Tel Aviv, and in the evening, an amazing spot to stargaze.
The beaches in Tel Aviv can get crowded in Springtime, but a quick drive out of the city limits will provide you with sprawling quiet beaches and boardwalks, both to the north of the city in Herzliya or Caesarea, or to the south of the city in Bat Yam or Rishon Lezion. Some beaches have boardwalk bike paths, and I love to pack a picnic, go for a bike ride along the coast, and find a spot along the beach to eat lunch with friends
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Whether it’s staying at a Zimmer with family, picking fruit and flowers at a local farm, hiking on one of Israel’s trails, or picnicking with friends at the beach or park, Israelis know how to take advantage of the short and sweet Spring season. Just be warned of the traffic at this time of year if you are coming home on a weekend afternoon!
