ISRAEL

Information from Lisa Crawford.


Our kids loved Jordan. If you are flying into Amman, you should see Jerash (incredible Roman ruins) before you head down to Petra. (Also, if you have an extra hour in Amman, we loved King Hussein’s auto collection—amazing!) After Petra, there is Wadi Rum (like a southern Utah desert playground) and then Aqaba on the Red Sea (snorkeling, etc.). Aqaba is the easiest border crossing into Israel.

As you head north to Jerusalem, be sure to stop at Ein Bokek to float in the Dead Sea and Masada. If you have time, Ein Gedi is also a nice hike. Then go north to Sea of Galilee area. As long as you are in Israel proper (not West Bank areas) renting a car is very easy and gives you a lot of flexibility. I don’t know about your kids, but mine get bored quickly with tour guides or sites that don’t have an interactive or exploring aspect to them. Being in Jerusalem for Easter week could be awesome or could be insane. Sorry I don’t have experience with it yet. You can find out about Christian services and church opening times at http://www.cicts.org/ What I think we will do is treat Saturday as Easter, since that’s when church is anyway. And, then maybe the Garden Tomb won’t be mobbed.

Here’s an itinerary I would recommend (all my kids' favorite things):

F 4/12 (I think church in Jordan is on Friday—don’t know if you’ll get there in time)

Sa 4/13 Jerash, Amman (stay in Amman or Wadi Musa)

Su 4/14 Petra (stay in Wadi Musa or bedouin style in Wadi Rum)

M 4/15 Wadi Rum, Aqaba (stay in Aqaba)

T 4/16 Dead Sea, Masada, Ein Gedi (stay in Jerusalem)

W 4/17 Jerusalem Old City (Dome of the Rock, Tower of David Museum, ramparts walk, St. Anne’s/Pools of Bethesda) (stay in Jerusalem)

Th 4/18 Nazareth Village (a living museum demonstrating what life was like for Jesus growing up), Sea of Galilee (we loved a boat ride by Galilee Sailing), Capernaum (stay in Tiberias)

F 4/19 (Good Friday) Tel Dan, Nimrod’s Fortress, Caesarea, Jaffa for dinner (We love Old Man and the Sea) (stay in Jerusalem)

Sa 4/20 Garden Tomb, 10am church at the BYU Jerusalem Center, Mt. of Olives (Garden of Gethsemane, Orson Hyde Garden—never crowded and beautiful!) (stay in Jerusalem)

Su 4/21 (Easter Sunday) City of David, Davidson Archaeological Park, Jewish quarter (stay in Jerusalem)

M 4/22 shopping and depart