Beit Shean is one of the oldest cities in Israel. Over 20 layers of human civilization are tucked away inside its large ancient tell or mound. Spread out to the south below Tel Beit Shean are the extensive ruins of a magnificent Roman city. Beit Shean had all the necessary ingredients for … Read more
The Banias is the term referring to an ancient site that was built around a spring which was once associated with Pan, the Greek god of the wild, the shepherds and the flocks, nature and rustic music. The name “Banias” itself is associated with the pre-Hellenistic Greek god, who is also variously … Read more
The tell (or archaeological mound) of the ancient city of Megiddo hold in its slopes at least 25 layers of human civilization and its origins date back to the Neolithic period. Situated on a hilltop, above an abundant spring, adjacent the fertile plains of the Jezreel Valley and at the crossroads of … Read more
Mount Hermon dominates the view in the northern Golan Heights as it is snow capped for many months of the year. Most of the Hermon lies in Syria and Lebanon. Since the Arab-Israeli war in June 1967, about 40 square miles (100 square kilometers) of Mount Hermon’s southern and western slopes have … Read more
Hof HaBonim Hof HaBonim is without a doubt one of Israel’s best kept secrets. Hof HaBonim is a beautiful beach, with many inlets, interesting rock forms, vegetation and wildlife. There is even a visible shipwreck. There are two short (two kilometers and 4.5 kilometers) family-friendly nature trails. Many people do come to … Read more
Givat Yoav is a moshav (an agricultural town or settlement) in Southern Golan Heights, a ten-minute drive from the Sea of Galilee. One of the more unusual and worthwhile places to stay in Givat Yoav is Genghis Khan. For those who want to experience a bit of Mongolia, this place might be … Read more
Mt. Carmel is Haifa’s huge green lung. Today most of Haifa’s neighborhoods occupy the mountain’s northwestern slopes, but the majority of the Carmel range is park land. Mt. Carmel National Park is recognized as a UNESCO biosphere. The Bible mentions its dense Mediterranean woodland several times, most notably in Joshua regarding the … Read more
In a country like Israel, a mere scratching on the surface of the ground can lead to real surprises. Two such surprises were uncovered at Kibbutz Hefziba in 1928 to 1929. In 1928 while clearing land, kibbutz members discovered the ruins of an ancient synagogue – known today as the Beit Alfa … Read more
When people think of the Galilee they think of rolling green hills, agricultural villages, the Kinneret and less of art museums. Emek Yizrael (the Jezreel Valley) is one of the cradles of the Zionist settlement of the early 20th century. Inhabited with all kind of settlements forms, Kibbutz and Moshav, and younger … Read more
