Gordon-Frishman Beach, Tel Aviv

If Jerusalem is Israel's responsible, buttoned-up firstborn child, then Tel Aviv is the fun, freewheeling youngest sibling. On warm days, Tel Avivians are quick to hit the city's 13 beaches that span more than eight miles along the Mediterranean. And Gordon-Frishman Beach, closest to the city core, is one of the hippest places to be seen. Beach bars, DJs, and volleyball courts draw a cosmopolitan crowd, and on weekends you have to arrive early to stake out a spot on the wide beach.

What to Do: Come for an early-morning workout in the saltwater outdoor pool. Stop at a cafe along the seaside Tayelet ("promenade" in Hebrew), or follow the path to adjacent beaches where you'll see kite surfers and people playing a type of beach tennis called matkot, unofficially the country's national sport.