At cultural and historical crossroads, this ancient city is constantly reinvented. Every visitor to Jerusalem arrives with an expectation and leaves boggled by how vast and complicated this jewel in the rocky hills truly is. As the home of three major world religions, Jerusalem attracts people from far and wide.
No two travelers to the city leave with the same experience, nor do they leave as the same people they were when they arrived. See the top 10 things to do in Jerusalem. National Geographic has supported my research related to tsunamis that impacted the coastline during ancient times.
For more than a decade, we conducted underwater archaeological excavations and offshore geological collections. If you stay in Tel Aviv or stroll the beaches in Ashdod or Ashkelon, you will notice tsunami information signs and evacuation guides that are the direct result of these efforts.
Read our travel guide to Israel. Planting trees is an old tradition in the region, and travelers can arrange to plant their own through the local arbor association. However, a quick way to do some good is to fill a bag with trash as you walk the beach. You can contribute a selfie to 2minutebeachclean , an international effort hosted locally by Eco Ocean. You can also support local dual narrative tours that highlight both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, designed by National Geographic Emerging Explorer Aziz Abu Sarah.
I may sound like Sherlock Holmes, but I always carry a small magnifying glass, or loupe. Getting up close to objects, whether looking at ancient stone, beach sand, flower petals, or jewelry, gives a whole new dimension. And if there are kids in tow it can keep them very busy! I also carry a Rite in the Rain notebook. In serious expeditions, this is essential for taking notes in all weather conditions, but even for casual travel it avoids running ink disasters if your water bottle leaks.
