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Photo: Ben Herzberg, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The first Kibbutz. It houses Gordon House which is a regional museum of nature and prehistory.
Degania Alef is a kibbutz in northern Israel. The Jewish community (kvutza) was founded in 1910, making it the earliest Labor Zionist farming commune in Palestine. Its status as "the mother of all kibbutzim" is sometimes contested based on a later distinction made between the smaller kvutza, applying to Degania in its beginnings, and the larger kibbutz.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Christian site not to be missed. The baptismal site described in the Gospels is a few miles away in Jordan though. Bring swim wear and a robe if you plan on having a baptism in the river. An excellent restaurant is on premises: "Tmarim" fuses French cooking techniques with local ingredients.
Kayaking and other water activities on the Jordan River.
Khirbet Kerak
Ancient tel.
Overlooking the See of Galilee. A number of early Zionist leaders and pioneers are buried here, including Berl Katznelson.
A small museum documenting the Levant's most prominent Neolithic culture. Located in Kibbutz Sha`ar Hagolan.
Gadara hot springs
The hot springs here have been a tourist magnet since Roman times. Current attractions include Israel's largest spa complex, Roman ruins, a large crocodile and alligator farm, and a water park. Hamat Gader very close to the Jordan border (but is perfectly safe). The Roman city of Gadara is in Jordan (see Irbid), in the hills above Hamat Gader; there is no access between the two. As a mnemonic, Hamat Gader is where you can see 'gators.