During Hol Hamoed, Israelis have an almost ancient tradition: Getting into the car to "get out into nature," only to spend an hour and a half with thousands of other people who thought the exact same thing. But in the Gaza border area, you will find several wonderful attractions that are relatively quiet and free of crowds.
It is impossible to travel in this area today as if nothing happened, but not every visit has to become a memorial journey. Alongside the sites that have already become part of the national story, the Gaza border region is also an area of agriculture, nature, local initiatives, food, and people who are trying to continue building a routine here. Here are five places worth entering into your Waze during Sukkot.
The Salad Trail: Starting where the salad is still connected to the ground
The Salad Trail in Moshav Talmei Yosef is the kind of place where children discover, to their amazement, that a cucumber is not born in the supermarket.
During Sukkot 2026, tours of the greenhouses are taking place at the site, including harvesting and tastings of vegetables, colorful carrots, and additional family activities. The activities will take place between September 27 and October 2 at 10:30 a.m., by advance registration and coordination.
Beyond being an attraction for children, it is also an opportunity to go behind the scenes of one of Israel's most identifiable agricultural regions. In this case, you can also eat the scenery.
Giller's Farm: Giving the kids a little work during the holiday
From there, you can continue to Giller's Farm in Netiv Ha'asara. The site offers tours and activities centered around farming and agriculture, including a farm visit, workshops, making pita bread in a tabun oven, and hands-on experience with agricultural work.
The farm is open Sunday through Thursday, and activities take place by advance reservation. Some are conditional on a minimum number of participants, so it is less of a place to show up at randomly after seeing a road sign, and more of a spot where you should reserve a place in advance.
After a few days with the kids on vacation, when parents have already exhausted the phrase "maybe put TikTok away for a bit," getting them to make pita bread and do some work on the farm suddenly sounds like a pretty good family outing.
The Honey and Bee House: What does a bee do on Hol Hamoed?
In Yad Mordechai, they offer one of the region's oldest attractions during the holiday: The Honey and Bee House. Between September 26 and October 3, activities will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., including a meeting with a beekeeper, an introduction to the beehive, observing bees through glass, and making beeswax candles.
You can combine the visit with additional activities at the visitors' center and a visit to "House of Kibbutz of Yore." Overall, it is quite an elegant way to get children to learn something during the break, even if homework is still waiting for them at home.
Cafe Chico: Coffee and remembrance facing the view
After the activities, you can stop at the Sderot Lookout, where Cafe Chico recently opened. It is a coffee cart in memory of the late Capt. Shilo "Chico" Cohen, a fighter and commander in Shaldag who fell in battle in Be'eri.
The cart is located at an overlook facing the area's communities, about 17 kilometers from the location where he fell. Stories from his life are integrated into the space, and all proceeds from the initiative are dedicated to activities for at-risk youth and the elderly.
Alongside the remembrance, however, it is also a place where you can simply stop, order coffee and a dessert, sit facing the view, and continue on your way. Sometimes that, too, is part of the region's story.
Simchat Torah in Sderot
If you are already traveling in the Gaza border region during Hol Hamoed, you can also stay for the second holiday. This is the third year that Sderot is hosting thousands of guests from all over the country during the holiday, and this year the events are expanding to include youth and young adult groups as well.
During the day, discussion sessions will take place at several locations in the city with Doron Sheffer, Hila Gonen-Barzilai, Rabbi Hagai Lundin, and other guests, dealing with topics such as crisis and growth, identity, love of Israel, and joy. Visitors will also receive a booklet with a city map, activity locations, and lodging options. On the night following the holiday, the Hakafot Shniyot will take place, an event that since October 7 has become a local tradition drawing thousands of celebrants to the streets of Sderot.
Registration is on the Reut website: 052-6998489.