There is no doubt that this is a great time to take out the mat, pick up some cheeses and dips, grab a good bottle of wine and go out to eat in nature. Whether for a romantic family picnic or an intimate outing with friends - restaurant blogger and culinary entrepreneur, Neta Slonim (@thefoodnett), has compiled for us the best places and some tips that will close a corner for you (in nature) for the perfect picnic.
"You can't ignore the fact that it's hot during the day, so it's better to leave early and sit in places where there is a lot of shade or go out towards sunset and enjoy its beauty," Slonim says, adding that "overall, we are in a pleasant season and totally suitable for a picnic. I actually went for accessible places a short drive from the center."
Neta Slonim, Photo: Oz Ohayon
Featured Picnic Places
HaPisgah Garden in Jaffa
"Right between Clock Square and Kedumim Square, in the heart of Jaffa, lies Pisgah Park. It's a green hill with grass that's fun to sit on. It overlooks the sea and Tel Aviv's line of buildings – an unusual view, from which you can see the whole city. The garden is built on an incline, so from every point where you sit, you gain the view. The place is also nice for a spontaneous picnic or one for the 'lazy,' because a short walk away there arelots of places from which you can gather food - Alma Deli, Abulafia Bakery and more."
Tel Aviv's line of buildings, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Park Italia – Alexander River
"Parallel to the stream that runs through the large park, a convenient and very accessible promenade was built for strollers and small children. Alexander River is a nature reserve that also has some protected animals that you can encounter. The place has a shaded area and very pleasant for a picnic with trees and tables. I recommend walking along the flat promenade, reaching the Turtle Bridge where the stream turtle park is located and watching the sea turtles. There are also terraces with a deck where you can sit and watch the stream and a small wooden building with a small view of the landscape.
Alexander River Promenade, Photo: Neta Slonim
Adjacent to the Tzvi Nahal Park is Vitkin Winery, where you can pop in to buy wine. The Achukpa coffee cart is also located right in the middle of the promenade. You can find coffee and drinks, pastries and various sweets, or for example, a farmers' breakfast dish. I recommend coming to the place with the picnic basket from home and upgrading it there."
KKL-JNF website
Sharon Beach National Park
"A stunning nature reserve located near Kibbutz Shefayim, with a gorgeous landscape with a lot of green and untouched nature. You can see the beautiful sea from it and if you stand at the end of the promenade, you can even see Hadera. Upon arrival, leave the car in a suitable area and reach on foot a thin promenade built on the cliffs facing the sea. The view in the garden is amazing at all hours of the day, but sunset time is really the highlight. You don't need more than a bottle of wine at sunset for the perfect picnic."
Israel Nature and Parks Authority website
Picnic at Hof Hasharon National Park // Photo: Neta Slonim
Tel Afek (Antipatris) compound in Yarkon National Park
"For those willing to invest a few dozen shekels, this is an organized historical and archaeological site. When you get there, you will feel that you paid to enjoy a special location and gained comfort and less clutter and noise. There are easy trails, a paddling pool, shaded picnic areas, a lake and an ancient fortress. You can come to it for a picnic in front of a stunning lake or sit in shaded and organized corners with a view facing the lake and the ancient fortress there."
Site
Hod Hasharon Ecological Lake Park
"The park, which was built about four years ago, is a regulated location with lake views and shaded corners. There's even a nice coffee cart where you can enjoy iced coffee, popsicles and more, and use it to add picnic snacks. I recommend walking towards the garbage mountain that is nearby and find hidden corners to sit in order to gain the beautiful view created around the lake. You can also find hidden corners right next to the water."
Site
Picnic at Hod HaSharon Lake Park // Photo: Neta Slonim
Locations with a picnic basket ready
Sade Lavender Farm
"This is a farm in Moshav Kanaf in the Golan Heights, where lavender is grown and aromatic oils are extracted from it. It also holds tours and workshops on the subject. The place has stunning lavender carpets that you can sit in for a picnic. The picnic basket is usually ordered through the farm in advance and is filled with local produce – from Felter Winery wine to Mattarello pastries, cherries from the Golan Heights and more. Don't forget to bring a mat. You should also contact the farm people on Instagram to see if there is any lavender left."
Farm website
Picnic at Sade Lavender Farm // Photo: Neta Slonim
Bezeq Winery – Tel Gezer
"This is a family boutique winery in the community of Carmei Yosef in the lowlands. The winery offers picnic baskets made locally and, of course, wine tastings. You can buy a picnic basket, drive to Tel Gezer National Park, find the spot you want – and just sit down. The view is beautiful from every angle. The winery prepares wine, salty pastries, vegetables and cheeses of very high quality, as well as all kinds of spreads and a variety of confectionery that the family prepares themselves."
To the winery website
Picnic at Bezeq Winery // Photo: Neta Slonim
Star Farm in Moshav Burgata
"The farm is located in Moshav Burgata near Netanya on a family's private property and offers self-picking, at the end of which you can prepare a salad from all the produce at a kitchenette station – and it will be the freshest salad you will eat! There are greenhouses with seasonal crops, fruits, vegetables, root vegetables and pumpkins. Around the greenhouse on the side of the house there is a spacious lawn with seating areas, so you can just sit on the lawn wherever you want in an intimate, light and real atmosphere, and just enjoy nature. The experience is worthwhile, possible and even recommended to upgrade with the picnic basket of the place. It is full of things prepared by the farm owners themselves and local produce: dips, fresh bread, wine, cheeses and more."
Farm website
Picnic at the Star Farm // Photo: Neta Slonim
Want to upgrade your picnic? These are the tips that will make it perfect
- You can findready-made packagesin a variety of delis that include sliced cheeses, dips, delicacies and more. Save the work and effort.
- Frozen grapes:In order for the ice not to melt you when the drinks become hot, you can freeze grapes to replace it. It upgrades and adds style and style to the whole picnic experience.
- Serving in a muffin pan: Instead of carrying around lots of boxes, starting to move food to plates, or returning home with quantities of food, you can simply prepare a muffin pan at home to serve as a snack tray. You can fill any hole or hole, make any wild mix you want and nylon. It's an inviting tool that doesn't pollute the environment. After adopting it once is difficult, go back.
Muffin pattern, photo: Neta Slonim
- I once bought a checkered cloth in Nahalat Binyamin and turned it into a map that always sits in my car, for every spontaneous picnic. Leave a mat in the carregularly – if you have a checkered tablecloth, you're already one foot on a picnic.
- Stock up on plenty of water. I recommendfreezing the bottles in advanceto keep them cool for a long time.
- Always takegarbage bagswith you to pick up after you.
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