A ‘date’ in Jerusalem

In honor of Tu B’Shvat I want to share one of my favorite Fun In Jerusalem DATE stories.

As the person behind the Fun In Jerusalem website, I get emails every day from people asking for activity advice. They are usually families in the US looking to plan their next trip or from tourists currently in Israel looking for something fun to do. Advising families and tourists about the most exciting Jerusalem attractions and activities is what I do best. That is why, the phone call I received last week caught me off guard but also made me laugh.

Last week we published our new Fun In Jerusalem Reservations phone number. We have a local number 050-884-2323 and a US Tollfree number 1-855 FUN-JSLM. On Monday morning we were excited to get our first call.

The caller had a deep voice and I could hear a sense of uncertainty on the phone. “So I have a date tomorrow and I am looking for something fun to do. Last week I took her to a hotel lobby but it wasn’t very exciting. I would like to show her the “lighter and fun” side of me and I need some recommendations. Can you help me?”

I never thought of my website as a source for dating advice but I was happy to help out. Of course I had lots of great ideas for him but what type of message does he want to give his date? Choosing the right activity could be the make it or break it for his new relationship. I will never forget the date that I went on in NYC when my date took me to a Chinese restaurant just to order dessert. That definitely left an impression.

What characteristics and personality do you want to show your date? What type of activity do you enjoy? The following is a list I put together based on my experience in Jerusalem.

Want to show her that you are ADVENTUROUS? Take her on a Segway Tour of Armon Hanetziv. This activity is a perfect date. The tour takes you to beautiful outlooks over Jerusalem and you will enjoy learning a little bit about the history of the city from that vantage point. Segways are fun to ride, each person rides their own and a great way to have fun together.

Want to show her that you are THOUGHTFUL and CARING FOR OTHER PEOPLE? Choose a volunteer activity to do together like packing rice for the needy at Pantry Packers or packing food and supplies for terrorism victims at Ohr Meir and Bracha.

Want to show her that you APPRECIATE YUMMY FOOD? Take her to a hands-on chocolate workshop at the new Galita chocolate factory in Tzuba.

They have workshops for all ages and they give you many chances to taste the chocolate. If you also love wine ask them about the Wine Tasting tour at the Tzuba Winery. When you are done if you want the date to last longer, you can take a hike around the hills of Tzuba and see the beautiful views and the natural spring.

Want to show her that you are CULTURED and an APPRECIATOR OF ART? Take a guided art tour of Talpiot Artist Studios or Nachlaot Art Galleries. If you think she would enjoy a hands on art workshop then try a Basket Weaving Workshop in a Mongolian Tent in the Gush.

Want to show her that you LOVE NATURE? Try a Bird Ringing session at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory. Located on the hill next to the Knesset, overlooking Jerusalem, this workshop teaches you about the birds of the area and how the JBO tracks their flight. This activity requires good weather. When you are done you can take a walk or a picnic lunch to the Wohl Rose Garden near by.

Want to show her that you are SERIOUS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP? Take a guided behind the scenes tour of the Yvel Jewelry factory and make sure to buy her a memento, a piece of beautiful Jewelry at the factory store.

There is a delicious café near by in Motza called Derech Hagefen that she is sure to enjoy.

But by far my favorite date activity in Jerusalem is the Biblical Zoo.

The beautiful grounds and the space allow a couple to go on a nice long walk with fun distractions along the way.

I hope I gave him the right advice and that he had a good date.

So if you have a date to go on and are looking for a fun activity, all the information you need is in the FUN LIST at www.funinjerusalem.com. For reservations feel free to call the numbers listed above.

Readers if you have other dating tips about choosing the right activity feel free to comment here.