Visiting Israel for the 14th or 40th time? You’ve probably toured most, if not all, of the holy sites, as well as explored the standard tourist fare. You’ve climbed Masada, waded through Hizkiyah’s tunnel, hiked Ein Gedi, and gone snorkeling in Eilat. If you’re looking for something new to do while in Israel, this list is for you. We spoke with locals and surveyed regular Israel goers and tour guides and came up with a selection of low-cost destinations in Israel that you won’t find in your Lonely Planet guide.

The Supreme Court, in Jerusalem, offers a free, one-hour tour in English on Sundays through Thursdays at noon. Architecture buffs will appreciate the skillful way that the Tel Aviv-based architects Ram Karmi and Ada Karmi Melamede blended the storied Jerusalem stone with more modern elements. The brother-and-sister team was inspired by metaphors in Tanach that describe justice. For example, the set-up of the Courtyard of the Arches reflects the verse from the Book of Psalms (85:12), “Truth will spring up from the earth and justice will be reflected from the heavens.” As at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum in New York City, circles are a key element, this time inspired by the verse in Psalms (23:3), “He guides me in the circles of justice for the sake of His name.” Since most court proceedings are open to the public, you may even be able to sit in on a Supreme Court case!
For more information, visit elyon1.court.gov.il/eng/siyur/index.html or call 02-675-9612/3.

Most Jewish visitors to Israel (and Israelis, too) have never set foot in east Jerusalem. Ir Amim (“City of Peoples”) is an Israeli nonprofit that provides free, four-hour study tours that focus on the historical, geographical, political, urban, economical and social developments in Jerusalem since 1967. Ir Amim’s tour guides attempt to show both sides of the conflict, particularly when it comes to the construction of the security barrier, which you’ll see up close from various vantage points. The tour takes you from Gilo in the South to Pisgat Zeev in the North, through the Jewish neighborhood of Har Homa and Arab neighborhoods of Tzur Baher and Abu Dis, and finally to a view overlooking the Shuafat refugee camp. Bring water and a hat, as you will be getting off the air-conditioned bus at several points during the tour.
An English-speaking tour is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 21, from 9:30a.m. - 1:30p.m. Visit www.ir-amim.org.il to sign up.

Located on the Mediterranean coast, midway between Haifa and Tel Aviv, Caesarea is a port city so named by Herod the Great in honor of the emperor, Caesar. Today, Caesarea National Park boasts breathtaking relics from the great Herodian amphitheatre, where concerts are now held, to excavated bathhouses and palaces complete with intricately designed mosaic floors. Walk along the promenade and be sure to watch the kid-friendly “Travel Through Time” multimedia show, which serves as a good background on the history of this port city. The artists’ yard features jewelry shops, restaurants, and the Dreydel House, which doubles as the workshop where Eran Grebler crafts his innovative dreidels. After touring the ruins, dive into the waters and visit The Underwater Archeological Park (book in advance by calling 04-626-5898), or drive to a free beach nearby. Tickets to Caesarea National Park, which include admission to the “Travel Through Time” exhibit, cost $9 for adults and $5.50 for children.
For more information, log on to www.caesarea.com.

While up north, take a 15-minute detour to the town of Zikhron Ya’akov, named for Jacob Rothschild, the father of Baron Edmond de Rothschild. The Baron and his wife are buried at Ramat Ha-Nadiv, an area featuring beautiful gardens.

Billed as a “sensory experience for those who’ve already seen it all,” the “Dialogue in the Dark” exhibit at the Children’s Museum in Holon may be a life-changing highlight of your trip. A blind or sight-impaired guide takes you through this pitch-black exhibit, where you are armed with just a walking stick and find yourself utilizing underdeveloped senses as you traverse a walk in the rainforest, a marketplace and a boating excursion. At the end of the tour, you’ll find yourself in a café, where blind waiters sell soda and snacks (be sure to bring small change!). Our tour guide was a man in his 30s who had lost his eyesight only four years beforehand due to a degenerative disease. “I spent two weeks in my bed, bemoaning my fate,” he told us. “But then I realized that I can’t stay in bed forever.” “This exhibit is not meant to show you what it’s like to be blind; that’s impossible,” he told us. “It’s meant to highlight how easily the body adapts to new realities. Often, we are afraid to move forward not due to inability, but rather due to fear of the unknown.”
Tickets are $11. Reserve at least two weeks before your flight, since English tours get booked quickly. Call 03-650-3010 or e-mail zvia@childrensmuseum.org.il.

Heading to Tel Aviv and want to continue the sensory adventure? Make reservations at BlackOut, the pitch-black restaurant with a staff of blind waiters, located at the “Nalaga’at” Center (www.nalagaat.org.il).

If you have young kids who love animals, Gan Garoo is a nice change of pace if you’ve already been to The Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem. Located in Israel’s Beit Shean Valley, the kangaroo petting farm features fauna and wildlife native to Australia, including a Koala bear. Tickets are $8 per person. If you love waterfalls, visit nearby Gan Hashlosha, a water park that features natural pools of water that are fed by hot springs. The entry fee is $8 for each adult and $5 per child. History buffs who prefer not to get wet can visit the Museum of Mediterranean Archeology, located on the premises. The museum’s collection includes ancient Greek artifacts and findings from the Beit She’an Valley. You’ll also find a replica of the 1930s kibbutz Tel-Amal, where you can climb the watchtower and observe the grounds from above.

Get your hands dirty by signing your family up for the “Dig for a Day” program offered by Archaeological Seminars (www.archesem.com); $30/adults, $25/children. Transport yourself to the Hellenistic period as you dig up the ancestral home of King Herod in Tel Maresha, in Beit Guvrin, which is near Beit Shemesh. While there, visit the National Park of Beit Guvrin ($6 adults, $3 children), where you’ll find the Bell Caves, large, airy caves made of limestone.