Our Trip

Day 1 (Sat. July 12): FLY to BALTIMORE, MARYLAND AND WASHINGTON D.C. TEMPLE
This afternoon we fly to the BWI airport in Baltimore, Maryland. Following our arrival we will go to see the amazing Washington D.C. temple and have a catered BBQ picnic dinner at the chapel just north of the temple. We will enjoy an evening view of the temple and have a Family Home Evening together. We will then go to our hotel and enjoy a good night’s rest in preparation for a marvelous two weeks together. We overnight in the Washington DC area.

Day 2 (Sun. July 13): WASHINGTON D.C. / FREE TIME / D.C. TEMPLE
After a good breakfast and attending church, we will begin our touring day at our Nation's Capital. We start with a group picture at the Capital Building and then you are free for the rest of the day to enjoy Washington D.C. To help with your tour experience you will be given a trolley pass for the famous Old Town Trolley. The trolley will give you the opportunity to get off and visit memorials, museums, and historical points of interest; as well as opportunities for shopping and dining throughout the city. (The tour has 17 stops and includes an exciting fully narrated tour of Washington D.C. covering over 100 points of interest). At 5:30pm we will meet as a group to have a picnic on the mall surrounding the monuments. After dinner we will tour the Monuments at night as a group. When the sun goes down, Washington turns into a different city. As a group you'll see some of the city's most popular monuments such as the Capitol Building, the White House, the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument. We will also make stops at the FDR Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Iwo Jima Memorial, allowing you to see these sights in a different light. We will overnight in the same hotel in the Washington DC area.

Day 3 (Mon. July 14): GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD / HERSHEY, PA/PHILADELPHIA
Today we make our way over to the historic and unforgettable Gettysburg Battlefield and Visitors Center. We will experience an Electronic Map that will help us understand the events that took place here. Afterwards we will visit Little Round Top where the battle actually took place. Lunch is a pleasure at General Pickett's Buffet in Gettysburg. We will then travel to Hershey, Pennsylvania for a brief stop at the famous HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD! Chocolate ... chocolate ... and more chocolate! Hershey’s Chocolate World has been satisfying cravings for the world's greatest sweet treat for 30 years. That evening we will spend some time in the amazing city of Philadelphia. We overnight in Philadelphia.

Day 4 (Tues. July 15): PHILADELPHIA / LIBERTY BELL / FERRY TO NYC/ ELLIS ISLAND/ STATUE OF LIBERTY / NYC TOUR
Today we start our morning in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where we will visit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall [where the Declaration of Independence & Constitution were signed]. Next we cross over to New Jersey where we will take our Ferry Boat into NYC. This will not only provide us with transportation into New York City, but will also allow us to stop at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty and see the beautiful New York skyline. Upon arrival to NYC, we will be make a brief stop at Ground Zero and then catch the subway to our hotel to eat and change for the Broadway Play, Wicked ! We overnight in New York City in the upper Westside.

Day 5 (Wed. July 16): FREE TIME IN NYC / MANHATTAN TEMPLE / BROADWAY SHOW
This morning you are free to venture out and explore the 'Big Apple' as your heart desires: (Ground Zero, Empire State Building, Wall Street, Broadway, Times Square, Central Park, Madison Square Garden, the LDS Manhattan Temple, etc.). For those interested baptisms for the dead or a session may be done in the Manhattan Temple. Maps, suggested itineraries and ideas will be provided to help you enjoy your free day in NYC. Anyone who wishes to take in another Broadway Play are welcome to do so. We again overnight in the upper Westside.

Day 6 (Thurs. July 17): BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS / FREEDOM TRAIL/TUBING ON WHITE RIVER
Today we leave Manhattan and travel up to Boston, Massachusetts. With it's crowded, narrow, winding streets and colonial-era buildings, Boston brings American history alive for everyone who visits. We will relive Boston's role in the American Revolution at the many stops and options along the Freedom Trail. There are 16 historical sites to choose from including; the New England Aquarium, the Children's Museum, the Old State House, and Paul Revere’s House. Other options nearby are the Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, JFK Library and Museum, Boston Public Garden, Boston Common, the New England Holocaust Memorial, Old North Church and the USS Constitution. We will then drive to Vermont, where we will enjoy a tubing adventure down the beautiful White River. We will also have a BBQ dinner and bonfire in a meadow in the beautiful green state of Vermont. We overnight in the most darling country inn in White River Junction.

Day 7 (Fri. July 18): VERMONT WARD/JOSEPH'S BIRTHPLACE: SHARON, VERMONT
After a true Vermont breakfast we will have a quick bus tour of Dartmouth College.We will visit Tundbridge, VT where Lucy Mack first met Joseph Smith Sr. Lunch is a local, quaint establishment in the hills of Vermont that you will talk about for days. We will then get the opportunity of visiting Joseph Smith’s birthplace in Sharon, Vermont. This great Prophet of the Restoration began his mortal sojourn here and we will enjoy a day of reflection as we view the Monument and Visitors Center there. We will then make our way over to Albany, New York to spend the night.

Day 8 (Sat. July 19): HARMONY, PENNSYLVANIA: SUSQ. RIVER / FAYETTE
Our first visit of the day is Harmony, Pennsylvania/Susquehanna River where, among other things, the Priesthood was restored. From here we are off to the grassroots area of the Church in upstate New York. Our first site in this area is Fayette, New York. The Church was officially organized here in 1830 at the Peter Whitmer Sr. Log House. We will conclude our day at the famous Hill Cumorah Pageant. We overnight near Palmyra, NY.

Day 9 (Sun. July 20): PALMYRA: SACRED GROVE / HILL CUMORAH PAGEANT
Today is an amazing day visiting all the sites in the Palmyra area. We begin at the log house of Joseph Smith Sr. and enjoy some reflection time in the Sacred Grove. Following this experience we will visit the Palmyra Temple and then take in the E. B. Grandin Press and Print Shop, and possibly Seneca Lake and the Erie Canal. Nearby is the gravesite of Alvin Smith [brother of Joseph] and the famous corners of the 4 churches. Following lunch we will visit the Hill Cumorah. We will attend church in the Palmyra area as well. We will again overnight in the Palmyra area.

Day 10 (Mon. July 21): NIAGARA FALLS / IMAX / SKYLON TOWER / MAID OF THE MIST
This morning we will travel to the majestic Niagara Falls. When we arrive we will ride to the top of the Skylon Tower to their observation deck and see a spectacular view of the falls. We will then go view a 4-D movie on Niagara Falls, which is sure to be memorable and fun! Lunch will be pizza and buffalo wings from the famous Canadian Pizza place, Zappi’s. We will eat at a park with a view of Niagara Falls. We will the take a voyage on one of the 'Maid of the Mist' boats that takes you right near the powerful mist of the falls. From here we will travel south and overnight in Mentor, Ohio, near Kirtland.

Day 11 (Tues. July 22): KIRTLAND, OHIO SITES: TEMPLE / WHITNEY STORE / HIRAM / AMISH
Today will be a very memorable day, as we visit four different sites where the Father and Son appeared. We will visit the new Historic Kirtland Visitors Center near the Newel K. Whitney Store (school of the prophets) and Isaac Morley Farm. We will then visit the Kirtland Temple which was the first Temple built in this dispensation [D&C 109 & 110]. We will also visit the John Johnson Home [D&C 76] in Hiram, Ohio. That evening we make a short drive to Middlefield, Ohio to visit Amish country and have dinner at a delicious Amish restaurant. We overnight again Mentor, OH.

Day 12 (Wed. July 23): FLIGHT TO KANSAS CITY, MO / INDEPENDENCE / FAR WEST/ LIBERTY/ ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN/QUINCY, IL
This morning we fly from the Cleveland, Ohio airport to Kansas City, Missouri. We will explore Independence, Missouri with visits to the Community of Christ Temple and Headquarters (formerly RLDS) as well at the 'Temple Lot' and the newly remodeled LDS Visitors Center. Next we will see Liberty Jail, known as the Prison Temple (D&C 121-123). We will then venture over to Far West where, among other things, the cornerstones for a temple were laid. Next we see the amazing Adam-Ondi-Ahman. Later we will travel to Quincy, IL where we will stay in a fabulous lodge!

Day 13 (Thurs. July 24): NAUVOO TEMPLE/FREE TIME IN HISTORIC NAUVOO/ PAGEANTS
Today we will make our way to Nauvoo where you will have a chance to start your exploration of Historic Nauvoo. In Historic Nauvoo there are over 30 sites to see and choose from; several Historical Homes and sites, Community of Christ (RLDS) Visitors Center and sites, a horse and carriage ride, a good local fudge factory, etc. These sites should keep us all busy for several hours. We will check-in to our hotels and prepare to attend the amazing Nauvoo Temple. After our temple experience, we will have dinner at the famous Hotel Nauvoo and then attend the incredible Nauvoo Pageant. We overnight in Nauvoo, one block from the temple!

Day 14 (Fri. July 25) ATTEND NAUVOO WARD / FREE TIME IN HISTORIC NAUVOO CARTHAGE JAIL
Today we will spend our day soaking in the sites and sounds of Historic Nauvoo. We will visit the Nauvoo Burial Grounds and then in the afternoon, we will head to Carthage Jail for an amazing, yet sobering experience as we reflect on the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. We will have dinner together at the new Zion’s Mercantile with a view of the temple as our backdrop. We may take a stroll down Parley Street together and enjoy the sunset on the Mississippi River. This evening we will have a testimony meeting and our closing banquet. We will again overnight in Nauvoo.

Day 15 (Sat. July 26): NAUVOO TEMPLE/ ST LOUIS, MISSOURI / FLIGHT HOME TO SALT LAKE CITY
For those able and interested, reservations have been made for an endowment session again at the Nauvoo Temple. There will be a few hours for taking in some more of historic Nauvoo. We will then board the bus and travel to St. Louis, Missouri. Time permitting we will tour the city, see the famous Arch and hopefully the St. Louis, Missouri Temple. We will then fly from the St. Louis airport to our homes to be reunited with our loved ones that evening.