Kiryat Shmona, in Upper Galilee, Israel: HaGoshrim Kibbutz & Resort Hotel; hotel review

HaGoshrim Kibbutz & Resort Hotel 

12225 M.P., Kiryat Shmona, in Upper Galilee, 972-4-6816000.  161 rooms.  No children under 14; no pets.  

HaGoshrim Kibbutz & Resort Hotel in Kiryat Shmona, Israel

Located on the ruins site of Emir Fa'ur 's winter palace (the Emir controlled the northern Hula Valley in the days of the Ottoman Empire), in the Galilee Hills a few miles from the Lebanon border, this simple but comfortable hotel lies in the center of a valley facing the Golan Heights and the snows of Mount Hermon.  It combines ancient and modern architecture with a pastoral landscape, splendid views, and crystal-clear air.  

Facilities include two swimming-pools (outdoor and indoor), sauna, Jacuzzi, gym, basketball court, squash court, and spa.  Guests can visit the property’s flour mill, horsetail plant reserve, and nature reserve with springs, babbling streams, and the tributaries of the Jordan River, and a tractor-drawn wagon tour of the kibbutz is offered in spring and summer.  A mini zoo on a Dan River tributary is home to a variety of birds and animals.  

The hotel is kosher and has a synagogue.  An expansive breakfast buffet is served in the lobby restaurant, and the fish-and-cheeses Gosh Restaurant on the banks of the Koren Stream flowing just below the hotel serves a refined cuisine.  



More things to do in Galilee area of Israel.

More ideas for exploring the Middle East.

image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Sights to See: Zippori National Park, Lower Galilee, Israel

Zippori National Park  

In the western Lower Galilee, 04-6568272. 

Zippori National Park displays the remains of a large ancient city that is believed to be the home of the parents of Mary, mother of Jesus.  Rosemary grows wild here, as it does almost everywhere in Israel.  The site has a small amphitheater dating to 20 BC and glorious mosaics.  A small fortress offers a panoramic roof-top view that includes the main excavation, Nazareth, and Hosaya--a modern orthodox village with a nice B&B and the ancient Kefer Kedem tourist village. 



More things to do in Galilee area of Israel.

More ideas for exploring the Middle East.

image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico: Río Secreto; things to do

Río Secreto  

3 miles south of Playa.  Operated by a local cooperative, this cenote was discovered in 2007.  It is the longest partially-flooded cave in the Yucatan and a protected nature reserve.  Most caves here are completely underwater, requiring specialized training in cave diving to explore, but Secreto has more than 7.5 miles of semi-sunken cave that can be explored by walking and swimming.  Water shoes, a wet suit, a life vest, and a helmet with light are all loaned to you as part of the admission package, and changing rooms, towels, and snacks are included.

Río Secreto cave tour in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

More things to do in the Riviera Maya.

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image c2012 Rio Secreto