An Ideal Itinerary

In expectation of lots of visitors this year, I've been trying to create an "ideal itinerary."  For me, this is a combination of getting a feel for the place, learning new insights and experiencing local culture. I love that I have a chance to scope things out ahead of time. Here's my 10-day version of that ever-morphing itinerary in my head.

Saturday: Take a quiet morning Shabbat walk from our house 10 min. down Jaffa St. to the Old City walls for a gorgeous first view of the city. You can also see lots of Jews walking to synagogue in their full Shabbat outfits. Then, attend church with us at the BYU Center, where you get more gorgeous views of the city and start to get oriented to where things are. After lunch, visit the Garden of Gethsemane or do some walking along a promenade to continue to get a feel for the lay of the land.

Sunday: Start early and hit the 3 "holies": the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. If you have energy, take a ramparts tour to get up out of the overwhelming alleyways of the Old City. Attend a Sunday night concert at the BYU Center.

Monday: Drive to Caesarea (1.5 hrs), the Roman ruins on the Mediterranean. Go to Jaffa on your way back to Jerusalem.

Tuesday: Visit the Mahane Yehuda Market near our house. It is fun to see the spice shops, dried fruits & nuts shops, bread shops, snacks and candy shops (plus fresh fruits & vegetables, dry goods, restaurants, etc.) Sample your way through the market for lunch and bring home some unique ingredients for dinner. In the afternoon, visit the Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, among other fabulous exhibits.

Wednesday: You might be ready to venture back into the Old City, but only after a fabulous breakfast at the Ticho House. The Tower of David (a citadel/archaeological site/museum) right at Jaffa gate gives you a great orientation to the Old City and the history of Jerusalem. Then, of course, there are endless shops and alleyways and more churches. St. Anne’s is a beautiful crusader-era church. Take a break at the Austrian Hospice and don't miss the views from the roof.

Thursday: Take a guided tour to Jericho and then Bethlehem and Herodium.

Friday: Drive to Galilee (2+ hour drive). Take a boat ride or go kayaking. Have a picnic overlooking the sea. Visit Nazareth Village. As you return to Jerusalem, Friday night is the start of Shabbat, so the city is very quiet. Drive to a lookout point to see Bethlehem at night.

Saturday: Go to the Garden Tomb before church.

Sunday: Experience the uniqueness of the Dead Sea and visit Masada.

Monday: souvenir shopping, tea at the American Colony Hotel, packing

If you have more time, consider: Petra and other sites in Jordan, snorkeling or scuba diving in the Red Sea, other Israeli cities like Tel Aviv or Haifa, or the many national parks in Israel. Then there is always more to do in and around Jerusalem: Rockefeller Museum, Bible Lands Museum, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Lehi's Cave, Yad Vashem, Western Wall Tunnel, Pool of Bethesda, and so much more. If you have a favorite bible story, there is probably a site dedicated to it. If you have a favorite period of history, there are definitely sites to visit.