Ein Hemed aka Aqua Bella National Park

Length: 2.5 hours (or overnight option)

Mode of Transport: Partially stroller accessible; carrier preferred

Why Go? Nature, springs, peaceful and shaded

Toilet: Yes

What to Bring? Packed lunch and bathing suit

Entrance Fee: 22 shekels for adults; 11 shekels for kids (5-18)

Fun thing to jump on, uh, I mean 900 year old oil press

I had to get out of the house, despite the August sauna. We packed food, rallied the troops and arrived at Ein Hemed by 9:30am. Located in the hills outside Jerusalem, there was a surprising breeze and no one melted. The park follows an easy to navigate short walking path, that I could walk by myself in 15 minutes tops. But with the kiddies and sites along the way, we spent the entire morning there. Part of the path is paved, making it stroller friendly, but overall the terrain is totally doable for toddlers and older folks.

Looking for an excuse to pitch a tent? The park allows camping on Friday nights only.

From the parking lot, you hit the public restrooms. And from there, you have the Aqua Bella springs. The water is super shallow, with some running spouts (think water fountain) and a few pools to wade in. You can pack a suit or let the lil' ones run around al natural...we opted for the later. It was enough for me to just rock the Chacos and get my feet wet. There is one pool that goes up to the waist, if you are daring enough to "get in".

From there the path takes you to a Crusader farmhouse or castle that dates to 1170. Interesting nerd fact:* The structure was built there as to overlook and protect Jerusalem, which was the goal of the Crusaders - to protect the holy sites in the land*. There are just a few rooms to explore, including an olive press and the dining hall, but alas, my nephews and nugget ran around like they were discovering America.

Thank you Crusaders for providing entertainment to wipe my kid out for a 3 hour nap. Amen.

The trail then loops back to the springs, but there are a few options for trails you can choose. The whole site is covered with fig, carob, pine and olive trees, and dotted with solid picnic benches. It's green, shaded and fabulously serene. The population included sweet families, dogs, older Israeli groups and an overall lovely vibe. And of course, the REAL reason we went was to get hummus at Abu Ghosh, just across the street! Just kidding...but it was a nice end to the trip. I highly recommend the site for a slower paced way to enjoy nature, suitable for all ages