Holy Land Staycations
Living far from home during a global pandemic, we've not been able to return, but we have the privilege of time, energy and funds to take vacations. The Israeli side of the Holy Land has a well-developed tourism industry and a vibrant national park system. But with no tourists and no lineups, there's plenty of socially-distant staycations to be had. The first place we went after the end of the first lockdown was the Alpaca Farm in Mitzpe Ramon. A visit to the crater on horseback was just what the doctor ordered. While the land is dry, springs are abundant: a visit to Ein Gedi or the West Bank's Ein Prat (Wadi Qelt) will provide relief on a hot day, but the naturally hot springs of Gan HaShlosha (Ein Sakhne) are worth visiting almost year-round. The walled Crusader city of Akko was a trip through time and its castle was completely empty. Akko's tranquility was punctuated only by the music and shouting from speed boats filled with Arab-Israelis that cruis...