Israel has a very special place in my heart. I grew up traveling to Israel during my summers off school to visit my dad’s side of the family and I have so many amazing memories that have impacted my life and helped shape who I am today. Israel is, and will forever be a part of me. I feel very connected when I go there, and I think it’s truly one of the most fascinating and beautiful places in the world.

Many people I talk to don’t know anything about Israel or what it’s like. They call me “brave” when I tell them I am going, and think it’s only desert, sand dunes and war tanks. It’s crazy to think how the media has portrayed Israel, and it’s sad that the majority of people have major misconceptions of how it really is. My goal for this trip was to show Israel how I know it. If I could live anywhere in the world besides America, I would choose Israel in a heart beat. There is so much history and beauty. Walking the streets in Old City Jerusalem transports you back in time thousands of years. It’s remarkable to think you can walk in the same footsteps as Jesus, and touch the Western Wall, the last standing wall of the second temple built around 516 BCE. Tel Aviv feels like any other metropolitan city with beautiful beaches, lively nightlife, and good looking people. It actually reminds me a lot of Los Angeles. On the way to the Dead Sea you pass the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, scrolls of the Bible that were written two thousand years ago… the Dead Sea itself is one of the most amazing natural wonders of the world. Past the Dead Sea in southern Israel on the border of Jordan and Egypt there is Eilat- a fun resort beach town where you have crystal clear water and some of the best snorkeling in the world. I can go on and on, but these are just to name a few of my Israel highlights.

I will be breaking down my trip in a new post coming soon, but in the meantime check out my Israel video and pictures below!

Special thanks: 

Dan Hotels– Thank you for your hospitality and making my trip so much more enjoyable. I love your hotels and had such an amazing experience at The King David & Dan Tel Aviv. You are truly an exceptional hotel chain, the very best in Israel!

Chef David Bitton & La Regence-  At La Regence restaurant in the famous King David Hotel in Jerusalem, I got the opportunity to watch Executive Chef David Bitton in action!  I watched and helped him cook some of his favorite and most popular dishes on the menu, and dine at La Regence for dinner which was an  incredible culinary experience. Chef David Bitton’s creativity and presentations were on another level. To see more of my dining experience and what I ate, see my next post about Dan Hotels coming soon!

Itai Kadosh– Thanks to the incredibly talented Israeli photographer Itai Kadosh who took amazing photos of me in the Red Sea while I was in Eilat. Also thanks for setting me up with the Dolphin Reef for an unforgettable experience. That day was one of my favorite days of the trip. Can’t thank you enough!

Dolphin Reef Eilat-  Diving with dolphins was one of the highlights of my trip. Your place is a gem in the middle of paradise. Thanks so much for having me!