Summer in the Center of Israel: Going Beyond the Big Cities

Summer 2025 in Israel - Part 2
Click here for Part 1

As our days and weeks in Israel continued, we tried to keep this refreshing approach to this trip going. Everyday we set out on a new adventure with our hearts and minds set on deepening each of our connections to this incredible country.

Every day for our first two weeks here, we did something new —

whether it was trying something I've never done before, or visiting somewhere I've not been before.

We embraced being tourists, and did hands–on workshops, unique experiences, & visited interesting places — all by pushing a little bit further past our comfort zone — branching out only slightly from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. 

Row through 1,200 years of history at the Pool of Arches in Ramle

Rowing a boat under ancient stone arches, underground, is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. We kayaked through the oldest water reservoirs found in Israel, dating back to the 8th century, making it over 1200 years old. The entire structure was built using stone and lime plaster, without modern cement, yet it still holds water today. That's incredible engineering for the 8th century! The symmetry and acoustics here are just perfect. This place is not huge, and overall it's a short and easy experience—but the cool factor here is just unparalleled. 

WHERE TO EAT WHEN YOU’RE DONE:
Nina Bianca
In an industrial zone, in the middle of a not-so-popular area, sits this amazing restaurant bursting with flavors like polenta pizza, leek tortellini, and sweet potato pillows with sauces that are just perfection. 

Make, Create & Appreciate:
Workshops and a museum we loved

We crafted our own Havdalah candles from scratch at this candle-making workshop in Modiin.

Choosing the colors and designing each candle by hand made the experience feel truly personal, and lighting them will be even more meaningful because of it. My girls carefully selected their color palettes, dipped the wax, and shaped the candles themselves using knives and their own fingers. They twisted and sculpted each one with such focus and creativity, revealing beautiful, layered designs that were entirely their own. The whole way home, they discussed who they would be gifting their beautiful creations to. 

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The Castel Museum, located in Ma'ale Adumim, is dedicated to the life and work of Moshe Castel, an Israeli artist whose powerful creations reflect his love for the land, the people, and the spirit of Israel.

Castel’s art is unique in that he often used materials sourced directly from the Land of Israel.

One of his signature materials was volcanic rock from the north of the country. He would grind the rock into a fine powder and incorporate it into his paintings, giving them texture, depth, and a literal connection to the land he loved. 

The museum itself is a beautiful structure, surrounded by sweeping views that Castel himself cherished. 

This same rock came to life when we traveled and hiked in the Golan (more on that in the next newsletter). My kids found the stones lying on the floor, and it quickly took them back to their learning about it at the museum- truly a full circle. 

WHERE TO EAT WHEN YOU’RE DONE:
Moshe Pizza
Authentic, no frills and everything they do is perfect. Did I mention the view? 

I have gotten sucked into watching epoxy videos online as part of “satisfying” videos, and this is exactly what I experienced on this epoxy workshop.

Pretty simple, and similar in method to the Beton Bakery. In Beit Shemesh, Alvin Schamroth has taken on epoxy as his new hobby. He has many molds to choose from, and you can pick from candle holders, mezuzahs, business card holders, you name it—you can make it. Outside, he has wood that he dries out, and then you can design your own wood and epoxy creation combo—and there’s no room for error here. This is the type of piece that will stay with you forever and remind you about your amazing trip to Israel at the same time. 

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WHERE TO EAT WHEN YOU’RE DONE:
Mamo
This food truck set up in a beautiful space has great coffee, pizza, and pastries, and is a nice, slower-paced food truck to help you enjoy the moment, our surroundings, and the company.

The Land of Milk & Honey

When the bible refers to  Israel as “ the land flowing with milk & honey,”- it is not referring to cow’s milk and bee honey. What this specifically refers to is the land of goat milk and date honey. 

Iza Peziza

If you yearn for a slower-paced life and getting back to basics, Iza Peziza in Tel Shachar is a perfect place to spend your day. Here 60 goats produce the fresh milk that is used to produce yogurts and cheeses. We got hands-on in the goat cheese making process- separating the curds from the whey, seasoning it ourselves, and then packing it up to take home- we were involved from start to finish. 

WHERE TO EAT WHEN YOU’RE DONE:
Once we finished, we had lunch at their restaurant!
They have so many things to pair their varieties of cheeses with, and the amount of different goat cheeses they have is more than you thought could be possible. 

Khatamar

Situated in the Jordan Valley between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, this farm is home to 350 date trees that have been growing here for 21 years. Date trees are part of the seven species found in Israel, and is where we get the lulav from for the holiday of Sukkot. 

These trees create very strong roots in the ground, making them grow tall and straight. Different from other trees, they can consume salt water, which is why they grow in the desert. Their fruit ripen and dry naturally on the trees, but not all at the same time. 

We got to turn the fruit into silan or date honey in its purest form, and it was delicious. 

Fun Fact: Israeli Medjool dates account for most of the medjool dates in the world. 

Herzliya:
Israel’s Quieter, Calmer (and Fancier) Coastal Sister

FULL DISCLOSURE — I haven’t been to Eilat in 20 years, and the reason why is that every time I plan a beach trip in Tel Aviv, I end up in Herzliya at the
Dan Accadia.

To me this hotel is nostalgic- I stayed there as a child multiple times. The chalet rooms, set off to the side of the main building of the hotel, are the perfect setting to watch the sunset in your pajamas- an experience my girls will never forget. 

Herzliya, is much less hustle and bustle than Tel Aviv. The beach is less crowded, more accessible, and still offers the same Mediterranean Sea. 

If I hadn't taken this picture myself, I would have thought it was a postcard.

In conclusion…

As a travel planner, part of why I do what I do is to give people the gift of time. Time to experience, time to relax, time to be present and enjoy the ride—all instead of spending time working out the logistics. 

I always try to take time to recharge, reset, and just go out and explore. There is so much to see all around us—you just have to dig a little deeper, and drive a little further—and so many unexpected places and experiences open up. 

I can’t wait to share with you all the fun we had nearing the end of our trip, and help you start planning yours!

More adventures from summer 2025 are coming soon — and trust me, you won’t want to miss what’s next.

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