The Lowest Point on Earth

Have you ever wondered what it's like to float without exerting any energy?  Or have you ever considered what it means to be at the lowest point on Earth?  Have you ever had skin so soft that it feels as though you just spent the last week at a spa? If so (or even if you're just curious), we have just the place for you!  

A close 1.5 hour drive from Jerusalem, tourists and locals alike visit the Dead Sea for some rest and relaxation (literally).  The Dead Sea is quite long -- it's full a 42 mile coastline and in 2010 alone, it hosted almost 1.8 million people.  Thanks to a recent PR campaign, the number of annual visitors will surely rise, however the water level of the Dead Sea continues to drop - at a rate of 3.3 feet per  year.  Additionally, the lake's surface area has been reduced by one third since the 1960s and in 2007, it measured just 246 sq miles compared to 366 sq miles some four decades earlier.

The Dead Sea is famous for being one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world - and therefore - an excellent natural medical treatment for the skin.  It also produces the famous Dead Sea MUD which is seen shmeared on people in photographs all around the world!

So on your next vacation to Israel, be sure to visit and float in the Dead Sea.  It's an experience that is not to be missed!!

Eat (and Drink) Your Heart Out!

For those of you who are traveling through Israel for the first time, you'd be missing out on some of the best that Israel has to offer if you don't try the different foods that are found around the country!  From the freshest fruits and vegetables (they are seasonal!) to the chumus and falafel to the many other delicious treats (savory and sweet), it's a MUST for any trip to Israel.

While there is no special food that is considered "Israeli cuisine," over the years, immigrants have influenced the cuisine by bringing their own recipes and adapting them to make them feel more Israeli and 'at-home.'

Here are some suggestions for the basics AND the "off the beaten track" venues and foods to taste:

-- Falafel and chumus are the obvious choices for experiencing Middle East cuisine, but for something a bit different you should try Shakshuka (meaning: all mixed up).  This dish, served sizzling hot in the pan, is a combination of eggs, tomatoes, and spices that are sure to leave you wanting more.

-- Shuk Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem and Carmel Market in Tel Aviv.  Both of these outdoor markets offer the best in fruits and vegetables.  And what's special about them you ask?  Fruits are seasonal in Israel, so when it's "mango" season ... they are the best you'll ever taste!  Come in the summer and taste strawberries, watermelon, pears, and mangos.  Come in the winter, and your tastebuds will get a kick from bananas, apples, oranges, and more!  And year-round, it's hard to resist the hot and fresh-out-of-the-oven cakes and rugelach.

-- If you like wine, there are many amazing wineries you can visit in Israel.  Starting up in the Upper Galilee region, you can stop at the Dalton Winery Visitors Center where you can be treated to an overview of the production process and a tasting to top it off!  Also in the north, you can visit the Golan Winery where you can have a private tour and tasting.  Heading a bit south, you can visit Zichron Ya'acov and head straight to the Tishbi Winery.  There, you can enjoy a tour, tasting and lunch in this magnificent setting.