What to Do On Your Second Visit to Israel

Bernie Mermelstein is the chief executive officer and owner of MZ Berger & Co, a privately held New York City-based business with employees and offices around the world. Bernie Mermelstein enjoys traveling and has visited Israel several times.

Most first-time visitors to Israel see the major attractions, such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Dead Sea. However, there is much more to the country and plenty to see on a return visit. Here are some lesser-explored options:

1. Kishle prison excavations - Go back to Jerusalem and take a look at the newest addition to the Tower of David Museum, an indoor excavation site that showcases Jerusalem history from the First Temple Era (1000 B.C.E.) through the British Mandate period in the early 1900s.

2. Appolonia National Park - North of Herzliya Pituah, Appolonia National Park is best known as the site of a Crusader-era fortress. It is set upon a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and affords panoramic views.

3. Jisr al-Zarqa - Go off the grid and visit one of Israel’s poorest towns, which also offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. As they are rarely visited, these beaches are nearly untouched. The area also includes the Nahal Taninim Nature Reserve, full of clean coastal streams.