Middle East - Southern Israel suggestions

I'm looking for ideas for off the beaten track things to do - or (kosher) restaurants worth a detour - in Southern Israel, for a family w/2 teenagers. (Picture taking in Dimona is not a welcome suggestion!)

We've been to Sde Boker & Mitzpe Ramon; we're spending a few days in Eilat, and want ideas for what to do either as day trips or en route to/from TA/Jlem.

Petra/Jordan is not an option, due to scheduling.

Thanks for any ideas.

mrsmicah and I had a great stay at Succah Bamidbar near Mitzpeh Ramon (http://www.succah.co.il/en/) a few years ago. Even if you've been to Mitzpeh Ramon before, the hiking and desert art installations in the area are both accessible and rewarding even if you're not a hardcore hiker.

I'm not sure if the dining facility is under kosher supervision (probably not), but it's vegetarian and therefore kosher by some interpretations.

At the very least I'd vary your driving route. Take Route 40 one way and 90 the other way so you get to see the Ramon crater one way (even if you don't stop off for a night in a succah) and the Arava the other way. Both are incredible landscapes. I also really like the small crater, which isn't much of a detour from Route 90. And of course if you're headed to/from Jerusalem using Route 90, there are the Dead Sea resorts for a good float and Ein Gedi for another awesome hike (with a cool biblical narrative to go with it).

You should check out one of my favorite spots, Masada. Its in the Dead Sea region not too far from ein gedi. You can easily make it a day trip if you choose to hike up and down the plateau (about a mile or two) or you can take the cable car up to the top. Either way you get to see some pretty impressive roman ruins. If you use the cable car you can easily hit ein gedi and/or the Dead Sea in the same day.

Drive to Yerucham and meander through the MAhktesh HaGadol (the big crater). Tough road, but magnificent drive. All the colored sand for the millions of bottles you see everywhere come from there. In Yerucham in the town center are kosher places to eat, thereis a large kolel and Yeshiva there.

Yes, there will be portion of the ride that you cannot take photos, but a great diversion.

In Beer Sheva is the War of Independence Monument in the shape of a playground. Always random camel families hanging out there as well.

To the right of the access road in Masada, there are tremendous geological formations called hoodoos. The only ones that can truly comparet them are the ones in Canada. Fun to hike through, but of course time of year will determine how long you can be outdoors.

If you meander back to Route 90, there is a quaint rest area layed out like a Mexican farm, with a courtyard and all sorts of random animals roaming around. Oh! and ice cold Coronas. (or ice cream)

I would recommend against crossing over into Egypt frm Eilat, as there is little to nothing right there, and no where worthwhile to drive to.

And despite the magnificent views and hiking from taking the western border roads from Eilat going north, I would again advise against this.

Thumper - what's the concern re the west road in the Negev?

Soundman - This is trip #7 for me, #12 for Mrs CO FF, and 4/3 for our kids. I had to climb Masada separately with each of them...and while Ein Gedi is just as pretty each time, I'd swear the snake path gets longer every time. (BTW, we always do the climb at dawn, the Dead Sea, and Ein Gedi all in one day, and then treat ourselves to a nice dinner in JLem that night...is there another way to do it?

More ideas, anyone?

Thumper - what's the concern re the west road in the Negev?



Unfortunately, since I posted, the Israeli government announced the suspension of school trips to the area as well. The unfortunate issue is physical securty and the strong potential for infiltration attempts right along the highway.


http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/12/05/3090567/school-trips-near-eilat-cancelled-over-terror-threat

From time to time the alert level there is raised, and motorists leaving Eilat were registered at a checkpoint point outside of town. At other times various bans are enforced, the most recent one being last week.

Please note that this alert does not include Eilat. The only dangers there are moral ones.

Another gem that is little known. When you take Route 1 down from Jerusalem, before you come to Route 90 South to Eilat, there is the left turn onto Route 90 North.

Go approximately 2 kilometers north and you will come to a right turn which will take you to the River Jordan Baptismal sites, about 2 kilometers down the road. It is a part of the Parks Authority, and is really a beautiful area as well.
Entire visit would be less than one hour. After you return to Route 90 going south, about 10 to 15 miles south on the way to Eilat is the Ahava factory outlet. Incredibly cheap Ahava products, and great ice cream.

For something non-touristy and perhaps appealing to the kids, you could visit Kibbutz Lotan, which is doing amazing cutting-edge ecological projects. You could participate in making mud bricks, and in other hands-on things. When we brought a group there a couple of years ago, the teens enjoyed that activity. They also have a very good lunch there with very fresh yogurts, cheeses, fruits and vegetables.

We're doing another trip starting next week, and one of the stops we're making is at Mitzpe Revivim, which has a museum dedicated to telling the story of the early settlement days and defense of the Negev. It has caves, trenches, and other military type stuff.

There's also the Bedouin camel/eat in the tent experience, which is fun, even if you've done it before.