11 Free summer holiday activities to do with kids in and around Raanana

You know there is no such thing as going out with kids and not spending money, but if the entrance is free you have a better chance. For some of these ideas you do need a car, but the activities themselves are free.

1. Parks. The Raanana Park is beautiful and is full of things to do. You can take bikes, roller blades and skateboards, play on the swings and climbing equipment, visit park Haverim with it's special playground attractions and even walk around the lake. There are also numerous sculptures to show your kids.

If you have already been there a million times try the newer Hertzalia Park next to the Hertzalia Shevat Hakochavim Mall. Here there are exciting slides and walk ways for the kids to climb on, all enclosed so that they can not fall. An added bonus is a coffee shop right next to the climbing apparatus for you to have a sit down.

Apart from these two large parks take your kids around Raanana to one of the parks further from your house which perhaps you haven't been to before. There are nice parks opposite Roy Kline School in Kiriat Sharet; on the corner of Pardes Meshutaf and Hertzel and also on Bar Ilan Street.

2. Library. The library not only has books but free films once a week on a Thursday afternoon, and a play room for younger visitors. There are also computers in the library and some how playing on someone else's computer always seems more interesting.

3. On a Sunday and Tuesday there are free shows outside Supersal Big in the Raananim Mall at 17:30.

4. On Thursday afternoons there is an arts and crafts market along Ahuza and at 17:30 a free show for kids outside Yad Lebanim. For details call 107.

5. Take them on a tour of a factory. For example Osem, Coca Cola and the Electricity Company ( 03-5677777 )give free tours. Here is a full list in English of factories to visit.

6. At home there is plenty to do, and I know however creative you get the kids still distinguish between staying at home all day and going out. If they ask to go to a film, try this movie site where you can watch films on line for free.

7. The beach. The closest beach to Raanana is Hasharon in Hertzalia, and so long as you pack food and hurry past the ice cream shop on the way out, you can have a free day out.

8. Have an animal day out. Go visit the horses at Chavat Hahaim on Kfar Nachman Road or the animals at Kfar Batia opposite the entrance to the Noam School, and even go to a few pet shops. If you drive on Sabbath you can also go see the S.O.S. animal swop on a Saturday morning on Brigada Road  on your right just before the Kfar Shmiriahu railway tracks.

9. Drive out to Nachal Alexander and see the water turtles. Enter either from the coastal road or route 4. From route 4 turn left at Hefer Junction in the direction of Kfar Vitkin, just before the railway tracks turn right onto a dirt road. This is sign posted, and there used to be an event hall here. You will find yourself next to the river with plenty of woods and paths to explore.

10. If you have younger kids they probably love Jimbory, but the one in the Mall is getting more and more expensive and crowded. Try instead the Jimbori at McDonalds in Merkaz Shoshan, on Ahuza, or in the Shevat Hakochavim Mall in Hertzalia. In Hertzalia you don't have to buy anything from McDonalds and there are often free activities for kids in the same area. If in Raanana you do feel obliged to buy something, pop down stairs to the Milky section of McDonalds for the cheapest ice cream in town, 3 shekels. 

11. Kids are fascinated by markets and we have plenty in the area. On a Friday, Shuk Rosh Eyen, Natanya has a Tuesday market, as well as Shuk Hacarmel and the interesting Jaffa Shuk. You can give them 10 shekels each and they will come back loaded with treasure.

Happy holidays