Travel

Is your family road tripping this summer? Some of the Church’s historic sites are just a stone's throw away from popular tourist attractions!

If you’re looking for summer vacation plans that are both fun and meaningful this year, look no further.

Something didn't feel right.

A report from hotel consultants concluded that the hotel would be successful in the early years primarily because of expected “extensive local use of the restaurant and bar facilities.”

Erik Orton jokes that he was once the poster child for failure—literally. In 2006, his face graced the cover of Crain’s New York Business magazine after an off-Broadway musical he produced closed after just five weeks. But that setback worked as a catalyst, leading Erik and Emily Orton and their five children—Karina, Alison, Sarah Jane (SJ), Eli, and Lily—on a decade-long journey and to a 38-foot-long catamaran dubbed Fezywig.

In 2017, Rodd and Ashley Jefferies quit their jobs and sold everything to visit every temple in the world. Now, they are living in an RV and have already visited 70 temples and traveled over 26,000 miles. Over the past year, they experienced many adventures, such as surgeries, RV problems, living at an alligator ranch, finding missing family, and most importantly, building a more meaningful relationship with their Heavenly Father.

Summertime means family vacation time! Here are some trip ideas to check off your bucket list. With both Church history sites and other fun things to see and do, you can be sure to plan a trip your whole family will love.

Over the last 20 years, Randy and Maryanne Ellison have visited 123 temples. Each temple trip has a unique story, but during this journey the Ellisons have found that the more temples and Saints they have visited around the world, the deeper their appreciation grows for God’s works and blessings.

Most parents sidestep large-scale traveling adventures when their children are still in diapers, but not this LDS family. "The Get Up and Go Family," as they are known on Instagram, have traveled to places like Egypt, Thailand, and Paris with three small children in tow. How do they do it? Here are a few of their travel secrets they shared with marsandstarsbaby.com.

In the wake of President Trump's Jerusalem announcement, BYU has created a travel restriction to protect the safety of students and staff.

The Alcantar family—mom Ange, dad Sal, and four of their five children aged 2 to 10—are three months into a two-year adventure around the world visiting as many LDS temples and historical sites as they can.

In the spirit of roadtrips and camaraderie, the Kjar (pronounced “care”) family is hitting the road for a full year and sharing their adventures on YouTube.

When the Tillotson's decided to leave their home behind to travel the world, they knew they would need a nanny to help them with their small children, but they didn't know the job would receive more than 24,000 applicants. However, after looking through the applicants, they managed to narrow the list down to just one.

“Living away from home for another year won’t be easy,” Michael Johnson admits, “but it’s important to focus on others, and not just ourselves. That’s the lesson we hope our kids will take away from this: We’re all in this world together.”

An LDS family has decided to pack up and travel the world over the next year. But with three kids under the age of six, that could be a little challenging for parents Derek and McKenzie Tillotson. That's why they need someone to share in their adventures.

I was at the barber one day in Utah when it came up that I had lived in New York City.

What would you do if the Huffington Post gave you control of their Instagram account for the day? Latter-day Saint Chris Burkard used it as a way to share his testimony of God's presence in various places around the world.

Temple Square is world-renowned for its history and its displays, but did you know you can plan a birthday on Temple Square or visit a splash pad just a few steps away? If you’re planning a trip to Salt Lake, here are nine things you may not have known you can do on your trip to downtown Salt Lake.

Dear Abby: I’m a high-school student who has the amazing opportunity to travel to Spain for a school year as an exchange student. I know I am lucky to have this opportunity, but I am scared about the people there.

Church history sites dot nearly every corner of Nauvoo, Illinois. Upstate New York and Kirtland, Ohio, have their share of historically significant places too. But families living in Utah County don’t need to drive across the country to learn more about the heritage of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

For folks living in the United States, summer is here, and it’s time once again to reach for the sunglasses, enjoy a cold lemonade and, for many Latter-day Saint families, visit Salt Lake area Church attractions.

For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic, serving the Lord is second nature. Here are just five of the many amazing things that set Dominican Saints apart and inspire us all.

Historical sites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have many classic tourist sites: Temple Square, Palmyra, Liberty Jail, etc. The classic tourist sites have more in common than just historical significance; they have crowded visitors’ centers and crowded tour groups, too. However, there are a few under the radar sites for the adventurer who wants to seek some of the less known (and less crowded) scenes of church history.

Quality family time is important to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And if family game night is becoming mundane, why not take your quality time on the road? Here are 13 popular travel destinations with special significance to members of the Church.

Recently, Maria Helena Munoz held in her hand a stand-by plane ticket. She had a big choice to make. The plane ticket was a gift from her daughter who works as a flight attendant for a major American airline. It was an open ticket that would allow her to travel almost anywhere in the world.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a rich history in Denmark. Keep reading for just a taste of what that history means for the Danish Saints.

But it serves a much deeper purpose than the average tourist attraction—not only does it share the diverse cultures of the Polynesian islands with millions of visitors, but it also helps people from all walks of life to feel the spirit of love and connection, family and community.

I was a mischievous boy disturbing Primary classes for conscientious teachers in Southern California when something happened that changed me at a profound level. The Junior Primary chorister came into the class one day and told us she was going to teach us a new song. She would sing it for us and then we would sing it with her. I listened while she sang, “The golden plates lay hidden deep in a mountain side until God found one worthy in whom he could confide.” She had a high soprano voice and it carried me to Palmyra. I could clearly see in my imagination the young Joseph Smith and though I did not comprehend at the time the testimonial endearment that was being instilled in my heart I loved him; believed that what he told people had happened to him really did happen and what’s more I too wanted to be a boy in whom God could confide.

We were in a wooden fishing boat fashioned to resemble those used at the time of Christ. No sign or buoy marked the spot where Jesus walked on the water and beckoned to Peter, “Come.”

Winter camping is a challenging adventure. A camper must have a healthy respect for Mother Nature and plan accordingly. When my dad and brothers go ice camping, they spend days beforehand planning for every situation and working out the smallest details. And their preparation pays off because they always have exciting things to tell us when they get back. Before hearing their stories, I never knew you could sleep safely in a hole in the snow, or stay warm even when you are soaking wet.

One of the most important concepts to remember when planning winter excursions: If there are winter storm warnings and watches don?t travel unless it is absolutely necessary! If you must travel or have traveled into a winter storm, we have compiled some tips to help you survive.

Most of us are caught up in the hustle-bustle of daily living and rightly so. We are anxiously engaged in the daily pursuit of health, wealth, and happiness. During our sojourn there are moments when quite unexpectedly we are confronted with a life changing event. The experience will change the choices we make for the rest of our lives. The life-changing experience could be as simple as a poignant moment derived from watching a movie, reading a novel, perusing the Holy Scriptures or listening to an inspired speaker that jolts us into an introspective search for the meaning of our lives. It may be the awareness of a life threatening personal illness or the sudden passing away of a dear one. It may be as dramatic as a near death experience thrust upon us by a natural disaster such as a tornado, an earthquake or even a bolt of lightning.

When I was young I used to sit enthralled in the auditorium of my high school listening to John Goddard while staring impassioned at his slides. At the age of 15 he made a "life list" of the places in the world he wanted to explore and was fulfilling his dream. He would then share his travels with children all over America. I remember thinking to myself, "I want that job!" My own head filled with the places I wanted to see--Machu Picchu, the Great Wall, Jerusalem, Florence, the Great Barrier Reef. Our house in California was close enough to the railroad tracks for me to hear the whistle at night. What an inviting sound it was. It held the promise of far-away places as it faded into the distance. And I would dream.

Tucked into a corner of Old Town San Diego is a place where people of all ages can step back in time and discover some unsung heroes. At the Mormon Battalion Historic Site, visitors learn about the only religion-specific military unit in American historyand what motivated their 19th-century trek from Iowa to California. The recently remodeled site offers a fun, interactive experience for the whole family.

Martin’s Cove Wyoming: the rugged west, cowboys, horses, plentiful wildlife and a lot of Mormon pioneer history. There are many things to do and learn in the great outdoors in America’s 44th state.

I just returned home from Africa. I still can’t believe it, I was in Africa! Before going there, I didn’t have anything to relate Africa to except the many National Geographic specials I had watched on television since I was a child. What I saw and experienced there, was more than I had ever imagined!

There is no trip one can experience in the world as spiritually refreshing as the Holy Land. There is something wonderfully unique in walking, as we say, in the footsteps of Jesus. Galilee, the Garden Tomb, Gethsemane and Bethlehem will always warm the heart with renewed faith and understanding of the love of God for all his children as that love was manifested in the life, teachings, and sacrifices of His Son. There is perpetual homesickness within me when I think of these places. Yet the great story of Christ did not end when Jesus softly called Mary’s name by the empty tomb on that first Easter morning. It spread forth to distant horizons where searching men and women waited for the good news of God’s divine intervention in the affairs of men. That is a story in and of itself, written on the stones of Ephesus, Cappadocia, Athens, Galatia, Patmos, and Rome. These “holy” places also awaken the divine homesickness within.

Packed into several communities in and around Palmyra, a quiet village of nearly 3,500 people in upstate New York, are well-defined religious historic sites, which are also a part of American history. To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the area surrounding Palmyra has significance few other areas have. It is where a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Smith, serious about following God’s teachings, found a quiet spot in a grove of trees near his home and prayed for answers to many of the perplexing spiritual questions of 1820. It was there Latter-day Saints believe God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to the young Joseph. That experience was the humble beginning of a worldwide religion that dots the globe with more than 14 million members.

I have been thinking of writing about England for some time now, but I love the country so deeply that it has been difficult to focus on a single place to begin, so I keep putting it off. I am sure in the future there will be time and space to express gratitude and respect for all this “sceptered isle” gave to me by way of a legacy. Its history and its literature have been part and parcel of my soul’s furniture for as long as I can remember. Its landscapes and cobblestoned villages, its castles and cottages have enriched my imagination and peopled it with characters as diverse as King Arthur and Ebenezer Scrooge. All my memories of England bring a smile and a welcoming invitation at reflection. So many gifts did God allow this island nation to bestow upon the world that I will inevitably be drawn out into pleasant reverie for hours. So—where to begin? Perhaps, at the ending place would be best.

The Real Odds of an Airplane Accident...

As I get older my memory gets worst. I’m always searching for words that elude me or names I should know and a hundred other things. The following story sums it up.

A lot of rich history is infused into the dozens of well-loved and traveled Latter-day Saint sites. But beyond Nauvoo, Ill., Palmyra, N.Y., Carthage Jail in Illinois and many of the other iconic sites, there are hundreds of lesser-known locations across the U.S. and England. Kenneth Mays, an institute teacher at the Salt Lake University Institute and an LDS history enthusiast, has made touring the LDS historical landmarks, trails and sites a hobby by spending much of his leisure and vacation time discovering and rediscovering history.

There are two basic types of travel insurance: Trip Insurance and Medical Coverage. The cost depends upon the number and kinds of options you choose and the length of time you want the coverage to last. It does not need to be difficult to figure out which one is right for you. As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to choose an insurance company that has been recommended by the tour company which sold you the tour. Tour companies have a history of dealing with different trip insurers. A brief summary will outline the two types of travel insurance coverage available for most travelers.

Several years ago while conducting a tour to the Holy Lands; I had an opportunity of visiting Taba, Egypt for the first time. Taba is located just across the border from Israel at the farthest tip of the Red Sea. Many areas in the Middle East are dry, desolate places, but even I was not prepared for the scene that greeted me as we crossed the border. It seemed that even the words desolate, dry, and barren would not do the place justice. I could not see anything green for miles, nor were there any signs of life except where man had planted a few trees or shrubs to break the harshness of the landscape. We boarded our bus and drove across the desert toward our hotel. I remember looking around, seeing nothing but rock and sky. I searched for a few birds to indicate some form of life but could find none. Nothing seemed to live here. I thought as I surveyed the dry, bleak, austere scenery: “Whoever God assigned to create this part of his world needs to go back and take Creation 101 again, because they didn’t do a very good job here. Maybe they got started and the recess bell rang, and they never came back to add a bit of color or movement!” I do not think I have ever visited a more inhuman, forbidding, vista.