MitzvahChic author, Gail Greenberg, and family visited Israel in August, 2007. Gail reports:

It was an amazing trip largely due to our guide, Itay Ya'ari. Although Itay can provide comprehensive standard bus and package tour, his specialty is trips off the beaten path. 

So if you want to explore Israel on your own as a family and see it through the eyes of a passionate young guy who was born there, I can't recommend anyone more highly. Itay suggested all sorts of cool variations on the standard itinerary, took us to his favorite restaurants, took us to rooftops in Jerusalem to hear the afternoon call to prayer from the minarets, and even brought a memorial candle for us to say the prayers after visiting Yad Vashem.  As a trained teacher and a former soldier, his ability to connect with the kids and hold them in thrall was extraordinary.

We went scuba diving in the ruins of Caesaria, climbed Masada at dawn, swam under waterfalls at Ein Gedi (that's the photo above).  Incredible!  Don't even think of planning your own trip without checking out Itay's site, i-tour, by clicking on the link below!