I couldn’t remember how young I was when I first learned about the Dead Sea. I recalled having a sense of dread about its name. “Do you die when you swim in that sea?” I recalled asking my older brother. His explanation escaped my interest that time as I remained fixated on its morbid reputation. As I grew older, it occupied the top tier of my mental bucket list of places I desired to tick off one by one. Therefore, when I was assigned to join a Holy Land trip for a travel writing gig and saw our itinerary, two places other than the Walled City of Jerusalem stood out to me: Petra in Jordan and the Dead Sea.

When one mentions the “Holy Land,” the first thing that comes to mind for most Christians is the birthplace of Jesus Christ in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem, which is situated ten kilometers from Jerusalem. While this is indeed true, the scope of a traditional Holy Land journey encompasses three countries: Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. This route includes stops at a few historic locations in addition to retracing the footsteps of Christ, Moses, John the Baptist, and Mother Mary. Here are a few locations to inspire your own travel to the Holy Land.

I can’t remember exactly where and when I first learned about the Wailing Wall. I’m sure it was sometime during my childhood. Being an earnest reader of history books, I came across the fascinating account of Israel, from its birth as a nation in 1948 to the Israeli-Arab Wars and going back to its ancient times. Early on, I was already made aware of its significance as one of the leading emblems of Judaism, and that it also plays an integral role in other religions such as Christianity and Islam.

Savoring my first breath of air in the very birthplace of Jesus Christ, I instantly noticed the sudden shift of scenery as I stared out the window of our chartered bus. What arrested my attention was the fusion of colors representing the fertile lands dotting the countryside of Israel. The new topography that replaced the red desert dunes that dominated the landscape of Jordan provided a new visual spark for me to scrutinize. While I would miss the staggering golden tints characterizing the spectacular backdrops of Wadi Rum to Petra and to Amman, this fresh set of scenery added to the high I was feeling at that moment. Coupled with a realization about how this trip was turning into something increasingly epic, I gazed at the backdrop with intent focus. Within moments of tracking the path of Jesus Christ, an emotional air caught hold of me—and knowing how extraordinary it is for anyone, regardless of faith, to step into the very heart of the Holy Land—I felt all the good karma overwhelming me.

Before proceeding to Mount Carmel in the city of Haifa, we made a pit stop at the ruins of an ancient city founded by Herod the Great in twenty-five BCE. Caesarea Maritima is an ancient city situated on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea on the edge of the Sharon Plain. Despite being flattened by the passage of time with scattered ruins today, this old city—formerly known as Strato's Tower—still abounds with historical remnants of a glorious past.