Israel's seas

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We always like when our clients, especially kids, share their vacation experiences. Here is the blog post  about trip to Israel written by our your blogger Anastassia Kostin.

You arrive at the Holy Land, exhausted from the seemingly never-ending 14-hour flight and the, well, passable airplane food. Relaxation, it seems, is of utmost priority. But where does one go? Well, in Israel, there are a variety of large, open body bodies of water, which inevitably call for beaches. And what better place to go to when you have 80 degree weather in the summer almost every day and 60 degree weather in the winter? Why the beach, of course! The only problem? There are plenty of them. Not to fear though, as there are three main seas, all with great beaches - the Sea of Galilee (actually a lake), the Dead and the Med(iterranean).

Let’s start with the most famous one, the Dead one. I’m sure every traveler has seen at least one picture of a person floating in that sky-blue sea, reading, or perhaps just flailing about, and thought, wow, now doesn’t that look fun! The name seems daunting, yes, however I can assure you that it is much harder to drown than it is to not. I mean, the dense, salty water (which has about 30% salinity, by the way) keeps you afloat and literally pushes your body up so you can’t sink down.

Just to be prepared, bring your own towels – both to sit on and dry off. There are little chairs, and most are occupied anyway. However, there are canopies you can sit under and use to escape from the heat. Next, BRING SUNSCREEN! (Coming to Israel, you should have some prepared either way unless you want to leave looking like a tomato). At least SPF 30+ I’d suggest, and make sure to reapply it often. Finally, this is something that applies specifically to the Dead Sea: do not get water in your eyes! It will hurt. Kind of like putting hand sanitizer on when you have a cut, just in your eyes. Yeah…ouch. Bring goggles if you are really worried (You never know, there’s always crazy, hyper children that think the sea is one big pool and splash each other continuously, unaware of others that swim by).

Now, on the other hand, I’m sure you have also heard of how mineral-rich the Dead Sea water is but did you know that it contains essential minerals for the body, such as zinc, calcium, iodine and potassium? Not just that but the Dead Sea mud (yes, you heard right – mud), has these glow-enhancing minerals that everyone – women, men, and kids – coats themselves in until they are covered with it, right on the beach. Make sure to try it out, it’s like a DIY spa treatment! Traveling in the winter? Although the sea water is warm year-round, there are plenty of resorts and hotels nearby with spas that have indoor pools featuring salt water. So don’t worry about the perfect month for traveling to Israel. It’s always, and I mean always, warm (if not downright hot).

Although there are many beaches on the Mediterranean coast, Herzliya beach is one of the best! My family’s vacation home was actually right across the street from the beach in the Herzliya Pituach area, and it was only a five minute walk. The beach is lined with numerous cafes and restaurants, all with gorgeous views. Oh, and how can one forget the two-story mall with beautiful condo buildings overlooking the bay filled with yachts, sailing into the harbor? Shoppers and those who want to try some traditional tabouli salad or pita sandwiches with hummus can walk along the warm sand from the mall at one end to all the cafes in the other. The water, however, is a bit chilly, so the best time to go would be in the morning or in the afternoon. Also, beware of stray jellyfish! Conveniently, this beach is also the center for nightlife with various music performances when it gets dark or even festivals. Altogether… beautiful views, beautiful music and beautiful sunset!

The third major beach being the Sea of Galilee, those with a limited number of days may want to visit it instead of the Red Sea. Also, did you know that the Sea of Galilee is actually a lake? Not only that but it is a historic site where Jesus had walked on water and performed some of his famous miracles. It’s famous not only for religious sites and beaches though. Many restaurants in the city of Tiberius serve seafood such as St. Peter’s fish, which comes from the Sea and is a staple food of locals. There is also the option of cycling on the Shvil Sovev Kinneret (60 kilometers), which goes around the Galilee sea, or even just taking a stroll on the beaches. Perhaps you may even want to see the 2,000-year-old Jesus Boat that is in the Yigal Alon Center. And do not worry! Walking to all these attractions will pay off. There is always the beach to relax afterwards! ;)

Finally, definitely make sure to visit the Red Sea too if you have time. I personally haven’t been there (it was a four to five hour drive from Tel Aviv) but I’ve heard many good things about it.

There are so many beaches to see in Israel – within 24 hours, you can enjoy the sunrise and sunsets at four different seas – the Sea of Galilee, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. They are all very different yet all beautiful in their own way. So much history is associated with each of the seas as well. Visiting each one and learning about its past will definitely be an unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime experience for any traveler.