Top 5 things you can’t miss on your next spontaneous trip to Israel

We’ve got the hottest spots in Israel to make your vacation a once in a lifetime experience you’ll just have to tell all your friends about.

JULY 26, 2016 09:28

Updated: JULY 26, 2016 09:29

Tel Aviv (photo credit: REUTERS) — Tel Aviv

(photo credit: REUTERS)

Maybe this is your first time, or maybe you’ve been here before, but the excitement and feeling of anticipation before a trip to Israel is unmatched by any other.

We want to share with you the must-see attractions to make your trip unforgettable.

While it may be home to many stunning historical sites, Israel’s tourism accessibility is anything but rooted in the past. Your pre-travel worries will melt away when you find out that from the Golan to the Negev and from the Jordan Valley to the Mediterranean Sea, vendors everywhere accept credit card.

1. Off the beaten path

If you’ve been to Israel before and you’re looking for something new to amp-up your vacation, then look no further:

A cool hour and half drive down south will land you in the striking scenery of the Negev where you’ll find the well-kept secret: of the Kornmehl Goat Farm.

The farm, situated among the remnants of terraces dating back 4000 years BCE, provides an experience that satisfies both mind and stomach. The farm is also home to a gourmet farm-to- plate restaurant with a menu that features Israeli goat cheese with a French twist.

Handicap accessible: Yes

Accepts credit card: Yes

(Credit: http://www.kornmehl.co.il)

Head up north for a visit in the pastoral and romantic Yiftah’el Winery. Modeled after a winery in West Virginia that dates back to the 1800s, the winery effuses rustic charm.

Today, the charming locale is a part of Zvika Ofir’s farm at Alon HaGalil and produces gourmet wines from five homegrown varieties of grape as well as honey.

Once you’ve sampled the wines and dabbled in the honey, we recommend you check out the second floor of the winery, which houses exhibitions of local artistry.

Handicap accessible: Yes

Accepts credit card: Yes

(Credit: http://www.westgalil.org.il)

2. For the grumbling stomachs

Check out Saba Jebeto, Beersheba’s very own sandwich shop. The restaurant, eccentrically adorned for a unique aesthetic experience to accompany their unmatched sandwiches, shares its location with a favorite watering-hole of the local residents and students alike: the eco-bar BarBaSaba Beer Garden.

You can’t miss Bar Basaba’s Friday afternoon experience, where you can enjoy an afternoon steaming plate of grandma’s couscous paired with artisanal beers enjoyed under a living canopy of trees.

Handicap accessible: Yes

Accepts credit card: Yes

(Credit: Facebook)

Another must-eat is Café Xoho in Tel Aviv. This little “piece of home” is nestled in the heart of Israel’s “White City” and specializes in homemade, gourmet comfort food with an emphasis on seasonal ingredient and vegan options.

Handicap accessible: Yes

Accepts credit card: Yes

(Credit: Facebook)

3. The Great Outdoors

You’ve been in the cities and now you’re craving a little time in nature. Get your hiking gear and head to Ein Akev, next to Sde Boker in the Negev. A hike of moderate difficulty, the trail winds hikers alongside several springs into the belly of the striking canyons that adorn the desert of Southern Israel.

Some of the hike’s limestone cliff faces even house the caves of Monks from the 6th century AD from nearby Avdat. And the end of the trail brings hikers to the remnants of a Roman fortress.

While you’re there, you should check out the Tomb of David Ben Gurion, which also offers travelers a stunning view of Wadi Zin below.

Handicap accessible: Certain parts of the hike are accessible

(Credit: Yoni Cohen)

----

No Israel experience is complete without a visit to a kibbutz. For a different kind of kibbutz experience, Kibbutz Lotan is a one-stop-shop.

The kibbutz, whose mantra is “Where spirit and earth meet” is a socialized community where sustainable living and an eco-friendly lifestyle is the focal point.

With the Edom Mountains and Jordan setting the backdrop for this unique desert community, visitors can choose to stay in their EcoCampus: a sustainable micro-community that resides in geodesic straw and mud rooms. Each room is intricately decorated and offers an experience unlike any other.

Handicap accessible: Yes

Accepts credit card: Yes

(Credit: kibbutzlotan.com)

During the days in the Arava desert, the kibbutz offers such activities as bird-watching, relaxation in their solar tea-house, guided tours, and “watsu treatment”--or shiatsu water sessions.

4. Rest and Relaxation

Need a little personally time to relax from all the excitement of travelling? Stop by Neve BaMidbar Negev Baths at the northern tip of the Negev. The bathhouse slash spa offers a variety of essential mineral pools for you to soak away all your stress and a spa where you can book rejuvenating treatments like a traditional massage or if you’re feeling adventurous one of their more specialized treatments like an aromatic massage or a seaweed face mask.

Handicap accessible: Yes

Accepts credit card: Yes

5. A Taste of Israel’s Nightlife

If you’re craving the atmosphere of Israel’s thriving nightlife, the Kuli Alma is a must. A veritable who’s who of the art and music scene, the underground bar and dance club is located in Tel Aviv’s up-and-coming Gan HaHashmal neighborhood.

Kuli Alma offers a wide variety of music from a rotation of the city’s newest DJ’s and often hosts eclectic art shows and has even housed grassroots political events. With two fully-stocked bars and homemade, hand-thrown pizza, you can’t miss out.

Handicap accessible: Yes

Accepts credit card: Yes

(Credit: Facebook)

----

For a night-on-the-town experience with a more neighborhood pub feel, Maoz is the place to go. Decorated in the style of someone’s apartment, Maoz truly evokes the feeling of hanging out on your neighbor’s patio.

With its excellent food and drink menu and its mellow atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to pop into for a weeknight nightcap. Don’t forget to check out its backroom, fully-equipped with couches and video games to really round out your “home away from home” experience.

Handicap accessible: Yes

Accepts credit card: Yes

Compiled by Hannah Broad and Karat