hello, we are 2 40 something travelers from Miami in the US visiting israel for 2 weeks (1st time) in mid april, after passover. We are moderately active, interested in religious and cultural sights, general sightseeing, enjoying local cuisine and nightlife, moderate museums, some physical activities (easy walks.hikes/biking). We prefer independent travel, but will utilize day tours and local guides when necessary (such as to the Dead sea/Masada, etc, and in Jerusalem). We will consider renting a car to explore regions outside of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, but would prefer to keep this to a minimum. Since I have a lot of hotel miles that I am able to use in Tel Aviv, we plan to spend 5 nights in tel aviv, using it as a base if possible to visit other areas, and am thinking 3 nights in Jerusalem, with the remaining nights for elsewhere. we also want to visit Petra for at least 1 night, possibly 2. We are not interested in scuba diving, and being from Florida we are less interested in the beaches so visiting Eilat is lower priority. The Haifa/Akko area and the Golan Heights/Galilee areas have been recommended to me by other travelers to israel and also a co-worker that lived in Israel.

Can I get suggestions on
1)filling in the portion of the itinerary other than Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, including suggestions on which towns to stay in, and whether using a car is necessary for this portion of the trip
2) which day trips from Tel aviv are most advisable (although staying 5 notes in tel aviv don't necessarily want to spend 5 days touring the city)
3) where best to fit the petra trip in the itinerary. Also, since not planning to visit eliat, best to use a tour company from tel aviv and fly to Eliat to pick up a tour?

though I'd like to use the hotel points for 5 nights in Tel Aviv, could also reduce to 3 nights and reallocate 2 nights elsewhere.

thanks for any suggestions!

3) where to fit in the Petra overnight trip, and logistically the easiest way to do this (seems using a tour company may be best - possibly fly from tel aviv?)
4) any other "must sees" (Negev Desert?)

Although I prefer to use the hotel points for the 5 nights in Tel Aviv, am flexible on this if it would be more ideal and can reduce tel aviv to 3 nights, leaving more nights for the rest of the country.

thanks in advance for suggestions!