Moms Travel TipsTravel Tips and Vacation Ideas for the Whole Family

Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is one of the most amazing cities in the world.Jerusalem remains a chief site of the major religions of the world, as it is surrounded by a history of thousands of years of culture and civilization.  This unique city has been sought after by kings and countries for centuries.  Perhaps this helps explain why Jerusalem remains one of the most interesting and relaxing vacation spots in the world.  The history of its culture takes one into a world of what “was” and the stresses of everyday life seem to melt away while soaking in the current civilization of Jerusalem’s interesting lifestyle and people.

King David decided back in 1010 BC that he wanted Jerusalem to be the capital of his country, Israel.  A man of war and motivation, David defeated the Jebusites and made plans to build a temple of worship in the city.  His son, Solomon, deemed the wisest man in the entire world, actually built the temple during a peaceful time in Jewish history.  This temple is still a place of worship today, a landmark to the people of Israel.

Due to a civil war, the Israelite nation was divided into two parts after the death of King Solomon.  Jerusalem remained a part of the southern kingdom of Judah until nearly 700 BC when the Assyrians conquered the country.  In 600 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took away all rights of the city when he invaded Jerusalem.  Zedekiah, a Jew, was placed in charge of the country, but only as a puppet ruler.  Zedekiah refused to comply and finally, eighteen months later, Nebuchadnezzar leveled the city of Jerusalem and deported most of the population to Babylon.

There were many similar battles that took place in Jerusalem’s history until the Roman army, under King Herod’s rule, took control of the city.  Herod rebuilt the second Great Temple and doubled the size of the original Temple Mount, surrounding it with great protective walls.  The wall on the western side is the longest and is the area where the Jews still meet to pray.  They have prayed the same prayer three times per day for thousands of years, “To Jerusalem, thy city, shall we return with joy”.  This wall is considered the holiest place in Judaism and it still exists today as the last wall of the Jewish temple.

For the next several hundred years, the Romans maintained control of the country.  Islam began to rise in 600 AD and the Jews joined with the Muslims to defeat the Persians.  Once again, the Jews were able to settle in Jerusalem.  However, in 1099, the pope unified crusades to kill all the Jews by burning them alive in one of their synagogues.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the Ottoman Turks took over Jerusalem.  They then began to require huge taxes of the Jews because they were only interested in the Holy Land as a place to prosper financially.  Finally, the Zionist movement allowed the Jews to return to Palestine so they could establish what is known as the first modern Jewish settlement.

In 1917, the British took control of Jerusalem and it became a part of the British Mandate.  Their war for independence in 1948 divided Jerusalem between Israel and Jordan.  Finally in 1967, the Jordanians were driven out of the country and Jerusalem was again united under Israeli rule.  Regardless of the issues the Israelites have faced, they remain unanimous in the fact that Jerusalem must always remain the undivided capital of Israel.

Although Jerusalem has had her difficult times, she remains one of the most interesting and diverse cities in the world.  The Old City of Jerusalem, with its four walls, is now surrounded by modern Jerusalem.  The Western Wall, where Jews meet to pray, the Temple Mount, and the Al Aqsa Mosque are a few of the holy sites in the area.  There are multiple places that will be of interest to tourists by providing hours of entertainment and education.

Other interesting places to visit include the Mount of Olives and the West Wall Tunnels, where there are regular tours.  Yad Avshalom, believed to be the tomb of Absalom, King David’s son, and Zedekiah’s Cave are both sites worth visiting.  Mount Zion is of great interest to tourists, as this is the location where Jesus partook of the Last Supper with his disciples.

You will be able to enjoy a relaxing, carefree vacation at one of the comfortable hotels in the area.  There are hotels in Israel of every size and price range to meet the needs of tourists.  Dead Sea hotels are plentiful as well, where you will find luxury rooms, spas and accessibility to all your traveling needs – just 30 minutes away from Jerusalem.  Finding a hotel in Jerusalem is not difficult and you will find that there are hotels in every location – in the midst of the bustling metro or inside the old city.  Wherever you decide to stay, you will not be disappointed as you discover a modern city abounding with culture, history and life.

Humans, by nature, love to travel. We all have the urge to explore our surroundings in order to satisfy our hunger to discover new things. This is true regardless of age, gender, principle or creed. We travel to different places to learn about the many interesting cultures of the world and get awestruck by its magnificence and beauty.

Traveling does not need to be extravagant. It is not only for the rich and famous as the thought of traveling is generally perceived to be. There are hundreds of travel companies today that offer great deals to accommodate the budget of travelers of different social status. More interestingly, there are now various tours that are themed to cater to the special interests of the traveling public such as historic and architectural tours, island-hopping excursions, fitness travels, Jewish vacations and so on.

Much to the joy of the Jewish and Samaritan communities, there are many Jewish travel opportunities that do not compromise their traditional and observant lifestyle. These travel opportunities allow them to see the beauty of the world without having to neglect their religious obligations as Jews, especially on Jewish holidays.

Holidays are the best when they are spent with the people that matter most to you. Going to a vacation destination that allows you to veer your thoughts away from your daily stresses with the people that mean a lot to you connotes a perfect vacation. More often than not, though, Jewish holidays entail many important religious practices that must be strictly observed.

Luckily, there are dozens of kosher resorts around the world that understand both the vacation and spiritual needs of every faithful Jew. Various religious services such as Shabbat and Seders during the Rosh Hashana and Passover respectively are observed in kosher resorts in accordance to traditional practices. The places where these resorts are situated alone are hard to resist. It does not matter whether you are heading to the most remote and pristine corner of the globe or to today’s hottest and crowded tourist destination. Wherever you go, there is sure to be a kosher resort waiting to accommodate you and serve you the best of the destination’s local cuisine incorporated with glatt kosher standards.

Jewish travel destinations are aplenty the world over. These destinations each have something unique to offer their visitors, but are all completely kosher. They guarantee that, no matter where in the world you wish to spend your vacation, you are sure to have a world-class travel experience that coheres with your Jewish customs and traditions.

Adventurous Jewish travelers often choose Africa or Costa Rica as their point of destination. These are two places in the world that allow visitors to experience nature at its finest with wildlife roaming around the vicinity. The thought of Africa alone already gives one the sense of a great adventure. It is the haven of marvelous close-encounters with wild animals, refreshing botanical gardens, impressive architecture, historic sites and exciting nightlife! Africa, without a doubt, is one of the places in the world where natural wonders and modern luxuries collide harmoniously.

Jewish holidaymakers en route to Costa Rica, on the other hand, are welcomed by lush and mountainous rain forests, breathtaking volcanoes, and refreshing hot springs. This is a great opportunity for every traveling devout Jew to be one with nature as they conquer heights through various hiking and climbing activities.

Perhaps, not a single soul would dare to argue when one says that the ultimate Jewish vacation of all is a trip to the Holy Land. No matter how often we hear about the political instability of Israel, it still remains to be among the best travel destinations in the world. As a solid valediction of this statement, it is a popular destination of choice not only of Jewish travelers, but also of people of different religions. The walking tours, nature hikes and driving adventures allow visitors to see Israel’s hidden beauty.

Many people have claimed that a trip to Israel can change your life. There are a number of tours offered in the country that not only provide the members of the Jewish and Samaritan communities their kosher needs, but also lead them towards good health. As a matter of fact, the Dead Sea, one of the most popular Israel destinations, is located in the lowest point of the world. This means that the climatic conditions of the region are ideal for everyone who is looking for a relaxing and rejuvenating good time. The long list of Israel hotels that are more than happy to accommodate your Jewish needs is astounding. No matter which city you decide to book, you are sure to find a comfortable place to stay during your vacation.

There are dozens of Jewish vacation opportunities today that you can learn about and join. These Jewish tours are expected to even grow in number and improve in the years to come. Whatever your field of interest is, there is a specific Jewish tour that will certainly take you where you wish to go without letting you compromise your faith.

There is no question that Israel is one of the best travel destinations in the world. Fondly dubbed as the Holy Land, Israel puts theme parks with mascots in the back seat. It offers thousands of years of history and culture that everyone who visits leaves the country having learned something new. Despite the seemingly endless tumultuous political situation, Israel remains to be the most sacred place the world over. It serves as a home to Christianity, Judaism and Islam, which are three of the world’s biggest religions. All of which unambiguously greatly contributes to the sights, sounds and aromas of Israel.

Israel’s travel scene mainly consists of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Haifa, Massada, Eilat, Jordan, Galilee and so on. These places are, without a doubt, flocked by vacation-goers every passing year. Their itineraries often include the very popular and highly recommended Dead Sea, the Carmel Market, the Wailing Wall, the Red Sea and the various religious infrastructures like the Church of Holy Sepulchure, the Church of the Annunciation, the al-Aqsa Mosque and so on. These are Israel’s gems that hundreds of thousands of tourists go through the hustle-and-bustle to see and experience. This article, however, veers away from these popular destinations and introduces a couple of Israel’s hidden treasures: Herzliya and Netanya.

Although not so popular among the vacation-goers, Herzliya and Netanya each offer every visitor remarkable travel experiences that will forever be etched in their memories. They may offer a quieter place for a vacation, but that does not mean they also offer less fun and adventure. Let us take a closer look at these two cities that perhaps can only be found in the Israel hotels travel brochures which usually remain undiscovered in your hotel room.

Herzliya, named after Theodor Herzl the founder of modern Zionism, is a city located on the central coast of Israel, north of Tel Aviv. It is made up of the city itself and Herzliya Pituach, the high-end suburbia. Going to the city is very easy. As a matter of fact, Herzliya is just a thirty-minute drive from Tel Aviv with good traffic conditions either by bus or by shared taxi vans called “sherut”. There are so many things to do in both the main city and the suburbs that you can easily and conveniently spend most of your vacation time in the area. Herzliya has several cultural attractions that the culture hungry can go to. Some of them include the Sidna-Ali Mosque, Apollonia-Arsuf and the Herzliya Art Museum. On the other hand, there are plenty of things to do to release the adrenaline rush. Herzliya beach offers a lot of water activities that you can engage in. Some of them include matkot (Israeli paddle ball), sailing, snorkeling, surfing, diving and a lot more. Those who are not so athletic, but have a lot of energy to release can simply move to the groove of some salsa and samba in Dabush Beach. Being the ‘Silicon Valey’ of Israel, Herzliya is crowded with luxury bars and restaurants of all kinds, with rich nightlife. No need to worry about accomodation as there are plenty of beachfront hotels in Herzliya to choose from, offering a spectacular view of the Mediterenian sea .

Netanya is called Mediterranean’s diamond. Like Herzliya, going to Netanya is very easy. It is, in fact, just ten minutes from Tel Aviv. The city lies on the Mediterranean Sea, which means that it has several beaches to accommodate large number of tourists. Squabbling over the perfect spot to sunbathe is not necessary. There is a lot of space in the sand for you. Netanya’s galleries, museums and events centers make sure that cultural offerings are as amazing as that of Herzliya’s. Retail and dining are also phenomenal. Looking for a great place to eat is so easy as some of the best restaurants are located just inside the hotels. This could be one of the reasons why Netanya hotels are always booked! As a bonus to your convenience, several marketplaces are stretched throughout the Mediterranean Sea. This is a good time for you to buy your souvenirs that will remind you of your extraordinary Israel trip whether for yourself or your loved ones.

Perhaps every country has unsung locations that make for great travel experiences. Herzliya and Netanya are just two of them. In fact, these two less popular cities are a great starting point for a relaxing trip in Israel. Herzliya and Netanya are, indeed, Israel’s precious secret jewels. Go see for yourself!