The first thing anyone would tell you about summer in Israel is that it's hot. Not hot like, “Don't forget your hat and sunscreen.” We're talking hot like walking into a pool of bubbling lava. But we Israelis are so used to it that we've learned to adjust, surviving by spending as little time as possible outside, skipping from one air-conditioned place to another and, of course, using our Jewish-born privilege to complain.

During the summer, teenagers from all over Israel divide their time between the beach, movie theaters and their shade-protected homes. Some might even try to earn money by working at their local mall. But I would like to share with you the ultimate summer experience in Israel: the famous road trip to Eilat.

Almost every high school kid in the country will take this five-hour bus ride at least once in his or her life, at the end of which they will step into the parallel universe of Eilat. As Israel's southernmost city, Eilat has a Coral World Underwater Observatory, an IMAX theater and scuba diving at Dolphin Reef.

But enough with the tour guide commentary. The real reason why teens go to Eilat is because it gives us a sense of independence, a genuine “I'm on my own” vibe. I sure felt that way when my friends and I did the trip last summer.

But once the high of being on your own with your friends in a cool city wears off, reality kicks in. I mean, the trip was cheap for a reason. Our rooms were tiny, the sheets were never replaced, breakfast was just weird (pasta for breakfast?) and the cherry on top—the pool. The pool at Red Mountains Hotel fit five people at most and had a spectacular view—of the parking lot. The plus side was that when it was empty we chose to look at it as our private Jacuzzi.

But all of this is irrelevant to having fun, because being with my friends, going to restaurants and visiting every store and stand at the boardwalk was absolutely great. One time my girlfriends and I decided to pretend to be tourists and watched how the prices of souvenirs and random merchandise suddenly went up and how the guys suddenly showed a special interest in us.

The days, however, were far less interesting because of the heat (did I mention it's hot in Israel?). You couldn't possibly spend more than 15 minutes outside until sundown. That's why barbequing ourselves on the beach was not an option. In spite of the heat, we did go to the beach one time at 6 a.m., when the sun hadn't yet reached its full grilling capacity.

Flash forward: This summer, my art class is planning a trip to Venice. Yes, Italy! I can hardly believe it. The main attraction is the Venice Biennale—a major contemporary art exhibition, plus museums and a road trip with a Renaissance art theme.

Eilat and Venice are separated by 1,642 miles, four countries and about five hours of flying, but also by an entire year in which I hopefully became more mature, a little more independent and definitely wiser.

Summer is our time to let loose, have fun, clear our minds for the upcoming year and get a little inspired before returning to our regular routine. On that note, I hope to send you off to an excellent summer full of experiences and friends and also a newfound appreciation for the Divine creation of the air conditioner.