Dor Beach – more than just a refreshing swim

There's no doubt that the ultimate vacation spot, especially during hot temperatures and extreme humidity like we have experienced these last couple weeks, is the beach. Luckily, Israel is home to a long strip of beaches along the coastal plain where we can relax and disconnect from this hectic world. However, most of these beaches do not cater to people looking for a luxury weekend. On most beaches, the most comfortable way to spend the night is by setting up a tent or renting a bungalow that hasn't been renovated in decades. I've recently come to terms with the fact that I'll probably never make it to Thailand, and so I've lowered my expectations. And in that mindset, I found myself at the Nahsholim boutique hotel on Dor Beach, and discovered that it's still possible in 2015 to be pleasantly surprised in Israel. The hotel, owned by Kibbutz Nahsholim, is located right on the beach and consists of two two-story buildings. The suites on the bottom floor are suitable for couples and come with a private pool; the suites on the upper floor are larger and can accommodate families. The boutique hotel was designed by architects Yehuda and Yoel Feigin, who are renowned for their design of the Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem and the Beresheet Hotel in Mitzpe Ramon. The suites, which were designed by Nir Gilad, blend in naturally with the beach just below and are equipped with every modern convenience imaginable. The boutique hotel, which is situated adjacent to the older Nahsholim Holiday Village, is one of the only luxury hotels built right on the sand. Of course, there are also other benefits to staying in this hotel, such as its proximity to the nature reserve, the Mizgaga Museum, water attractions and an archeological excavation site. The Dor-Nahsholim beach is situated on a natural lagoon and is naturally protected from the wind, making it the perfect place to engage in sea sport activity. For a number of years, a scuba diving club called North Wind has been offering kayaking, scuba diving and snorkel lessons and equipment rental. Guided kayaking adventures are kid-friendly (for 10-year-olds and older), and groups can go all the way to the nearby islands and Habonim Nature Reserve, if wind conditions allow. If you love snorkeling, then you'll love swimming out to the ship that mysteriously sank just off the coast. The tour lasts 90 minutes and costs NIS 250-350 (discounted prices available for hotel guests). If you're an archeology buff and not afraid of a hike in the hot sun, then I highly recommend climbing up to see the Tel Dor antiquities. The hike up to the ruins is pretty short, but it does involve climbing up a steep hill. The ruins, which have been beautifully preserved, date back to the biblical city of Dor, which served as an important strategic crossroads for traders crossing from Asia to Africa. One can climb up to and enjoy Tel Dor on one's own, but if you're interested in going with a guide and hearing explanations, every Shabbat morning renowned historian and archeologist Kurt Raveh leads a group from the hotel. If you happen to be staying at the hotel for Shabbat, I highly recommend joining this incredibly interesting outing. Whether or not you join the guided tour, if you're already up on the mountain, it's worthwhile to continue along the path to the absolutely breathtaking lookout point from which you can catch a glimpse of the Blue Grotto. You can also see the ancient aqueducts and the chain of islands in the sea not far from the coast. As you stand looking out at the sea, you can see in your imagination all the ships that must have passed by here over the last 5,000 years; the remains of some of them sit at the bottom of the blue sea not too far from shore. During excavations carried out by archeologists on site, many objects were found from ancient times all the way back to 1100 BCE. Layers found under the ground date back to the Bronze, Iron and Roman periods, proving how important this city was in ancient times. Some of the findings that were uncovered in excavations are on display at the Mizgaga Museum (called this since it used to house the old glass factory), which is located on the kibbutz next to the hotel. The Mizgaga is a fascinating nautical museum that sits on land purchased in 1891 by Baron Edmond de Rothschild who wanted to build a bottle factory there. Rothschild did fulfill his dream, but it was short-lived; just two years later, he was forced to close his factory in the Holy Land due to high production costs, the malaria that befell many workers, and other constraints which he could not have foreseen. After the factory shut down, the two-story building stood vacant for many years until 1980, when archeological excavations began at Dor Beach and it was decided to use the building to store artifacts. The museum displays all the artifacts found at the site. There's a collection of anchors from a few different periods, clay jugs, parts of ships, and even a ring adorned with a scarab, a beetle that was sacred for the ancient Egyptians. In the museum, there's an entire room devoted to the Baron Rothschild and the factory that operated in this building. Another room houses ancient glass bottles, including a rare tear bottle collection and glass ornaments. The last room shows mosaic floors found in Tel Dor and changing exhibitions of glass artwork. Another section of the museum displays weapons dating back to 1799, when Napoleon was defeated trying to lay siege on Acre. Apparently, some of the French soldiers threw their weapons into the water. Another section of the museum is dedicated to Christian artifacts, including a baptism pool and relics from a church. It takes about an hour to pass through the museum, and at the entrance visitors are handed a map of the museum, which makes it a little easier to navigate the maze-like rooms. The museum is open every day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hours on Shabbat vary, so call ahead. Cost is NIS 12-20. LOCATION: DOR-NAHSHOLIM BEACH TYPE OF OUTING: LIGHT HIKING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, ARCHEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS AND SEA SPORTS LENGTH: ALL DAY PLUS OVERNIGHT DIFFICULTY: EASY Directions: Go north from Faradis junction, and then turn left toward Kibbutz Nahsholim and Moshav Dor. Continue for another 2 km., cross over the railroad tracks and pass through the gate at the entrance of the hotel. Translated by Hannah Hochner.

Dor Beach – more than just a refreshing swim

"I found myself at the Nahsholim boutique hotel on Dor Beach, and discovered that it’s still possible in 2015 to be pleasantly surprised in Israel."

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