On Hwy. 2, the highway that skirts the beach, signs announce Nasholim, a kibbutz located on one of Israel's most beautiful bathing beaches, Dor Beach. A wide expanse of sandy beach, it's touched by the gentle waves of natural lagoons. Looming nearby is Tel Dor, a mound containing the remains of an ancient city that was inhabited since Bronze Age times by Phoenicians, Israelites, Greeks, and Romans. The ruins of a massive Greco-Roman temple dedicated to Zeus on a hill at the southern edge of the beach add drama to the site. Entrance is free. Farther to the north at modern Dor is a picturesque area of caves eroded by the sea to form a natural tunnel at the water's edge. Unfortunately, tides sometimes fill the sheltered lagoons with a soup of garbage, and weekends can be dreadfully crowded. There are changing facilities and a simple place for snacks. Admission in season is NIS 20 ($5/£2.50) for adults and NIS 10 ($2.50/£1.25) for children. It's open Saturday to Thursday from 7am to 5pm and Friday 7am to 4pm. Visitors swim at their own risk out of season and after hours.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.