Haifa is the city for kids and the young at heart, looking for all around the clock action packed vacation from sunrise till you drop
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Long sandy beaches? Check. Dozens of family oriented attractions? Check. Peaceful co-existence of cultures and religions? Check. A variety a public transportation means to satisfy any young explorer? Check! Haifa has got it all. It’s a big, lively city with the serene atmosphere and hospitality of a small town. Haifa may not be a drama queen like her sisters (in the trio of Israel’s big cities) Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, but don’t be misled: it is very difficult to get bored here. Welcome to high-fun Haifa.
Good morning
There is more than one way to enjoy the sea of Haifa. The most obvious choice, of course, would be taking a dip. Haifa has been blessed with a long shoreline, and the most protected beaches – where the quiet waters make for a perfect family beach-day – are those located inside Haifa Bay, facing north: Bat Galim Beach (access through Ha’aliya Hashniya Street) and The Quiet Beach (access through Heil Hayam Street). Both offer beach services and lifeguards on duty, in addition to soft yellow sands and refreshing blue waters.
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If your family’s maritime interests stretch beyond a mere swim-and-play experience, visiting The Naval Museum (204 Allenby Road) could be a great idea. Not all children find the history of the Israeli navy equally fascinating, but few kids can resist the temptation of entering a real missile ship or submarine!
For children who are old enough to enjoy museums, there is one more must-visit in this city. Madatech (25 Shmaryahu Levin street), the Israel National Museum of Science, Technology and Space, is – ironically? – located in a stately early 20th century building, halfway up the Carmel mountain. The exhibitions are always top notch, and curious kids will not be easily persuaded to leave.
Time for lunch
Falafel is considered by many to be Israel’s national food. The competition for the title “Best Falafel in Haifa” (and some would say – in Israel) is fierce, but both pretenders to the throne – Falafel Hazkenim (18 Wadi street) and Falafel Michelle(21 Wadi street) – offer the same freshly fried falafel balls in pita bread, accompanied by an impressive array of salads and pickles at your choice. Eat it while it’s warm and crunchy, and don’t worry about the tahini running down your sleeves – standard table manners don’t apply here.
If you still prefer your lunch on a plate, The German Colony – on both sides of Ben Gurion boulevard – offers a generous choice of nice local restaurants in beautifully restored stone houses, and you can be sure all of them have “Children’s Menu” to cater for your hungry young explorers.
Afternoon
A morning in the city may call for an afternoon in nature. Luckily, nature is close by. The hike in Nahal Kati’a is a moderate forest walk, suitable for inexperienced young trekkers as well, but the greatest attraction here is a marvelous steel hanging bridge, 70 meters long, guaranteed to excite the more adventurous little souls in your party. All of that is to be found inNesher Park, a few minutes’ drive from Haifa University, accessible through road no. 705. If you wish to avoid the crowds, try to schedule your visit accordingly (not on weekends and holidays).
Botanists and adventurers satisfied, it’s time to appease the young zoologists. Haifa Zoo (124 Hatishbi street), perched on the slopes of the Carmel mountain, wishes to educate its visitors on local wildlife and protecting the environment. Night safari is on offer at summertime.
Another, half-urban half-nature option would be a trip up the mountain in a cable-car, and back down by foot. Boarding is at the lower cable-car station at Bat Galim promenade, and from there you slowly ascend to the impressive old convent atStella Maris. Children would just love the ride in the cable-car’s glass balls, and the city and port views are amazing. Parents may appreciate a sip of coffee in the Santa Maria café (right by the church), before going back down in a very pleasant footpath. Eliyahu cave, a sacred site for Christians, Muslims, Jews and Druze, is worth a peep on your way down, and springtime offers the extra delight of blooming flora.
Haifa Transportation
Evening
The annual Haifa International Children’s Theater Festival boasts an ultra-rich program of shows by local and guest theaters from all over the world, so language is not necessarily a barrier. It is held in different indoor and outdoor locations during Passover (usually in April), so the best thing would be to consult the festival site (http://www.haifakids.com/) upon arrival to the city.
Wow, it’s been a long day… nothing like a good pizza to calm everyone down. Pizza Linga (40 Yafo road) is an honest, friendly pizza place downtown. You can enjoy your well-earned dinner here or order it to your hotel room, if the kids are too tired to be displayed in public.
Now you can really call it a day.
