EL AL | Atmosphere

See the Sights I Eat, Travel, Enjoy

07 HaNadiv Park For a day of outdoor fun

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Photos: Eran Turgeman

The lavishly renovated Gordonia Hotel Perfect for a romantic Valentine’s weekend

Photo: Ariela Aflalo

Ramat HaNadiv lies between Zikhron Ya’akov and Binyamina and spreads over a thousand acres of land. An oasis of green expanses and wild nature, it was first established in honor of Baron Edmond de Rothschild. HaNadiv Park, nicknamed “the Versailles gardens of the Carmel region”, possesses a multitude of paths and trails across five different sections including a rose garden, a waterfall garden, a palm tree garden, a herb garden, and a rare iris garden that is awe-strikingly beautiful in February and March when the flowers are in bloom. The park is also home to the mausoleum erected in memory of the Baron de Rothschild and his wife, and its visitors’ center screens a documentary telling the incredible story of the Rothschild family. There’s also a games’ park, a wishing well, and the remains of an ancient Byzantine villa. When: Sundays to Thursdays, Saturdays and Holidays: 08:00-16:00; Fridays and Holiday Eves: 08:00 14:00 Where: the district of Haifa, between

Nestled in the heart of the Jerusalem Hills, the Gordonia Hotel has undergone many changes since it was first established as a nursing home in the 1940’s by members of the Ma’ale HaHamisha kibbutz. A few months ago, the hotel underwent extensive renovations and refurbishments (costing no less than NIS 20 million), doubling the number of suites so that it now offers 40 of them, 27 of which include their own private pool and hot tub. The beautiful views are only one of the reasons to come to the Gordonia. The other ones all have to do with the extreme levels of pampering. All

the suites have a mini bar, hand-sewn bed linen, (guests can even choose their pillows’ level of softness). The hotel has a 15 m heated infinity pool overlooking open views, aside a giant hot tub and sauna with a view on the Hills of Jerusalem. The Gordonia has also acquired a new “buffet salon” where guests are invited to enjoy food and drink whenever they please (at an extra cost), a spa that offers all sorts of treatments (the spa is also open to non-guests), a Jacuzzi, and a dry sauna. There’s also a bike rental service if you feel like a romantic cycling tour of the valleys and hills. The Gordonia Hotel is for adults only (18+) and offers various package deals: some include a stay and spa treatments, others also include a tour of the nearby vineyard or a tasting tour at the Mahane Yehuda market. Prices range between NIS 1,800 for a mid-week stay in a suite without a pool and NIS 5,000 for a stay in the presidential suite on a weekend. Where: The Gordonia Hotel, Ma’ale HaHamisha Info: gordoniahotel.com

Zikhron Ya’akov and Binyamina Info: ramat-hanadiv.org.il/en/

18 ATMOSPHERE FEBRUARY 2023