TUACAHN & UTAH MORMON HERITAGE HWY 89
"SOUND OF MUSIC" & "LES MISERABLES"
Plus MANTI MORMON MIRACLE PAGEANT

June 12-15, 2008

We take the newly designated Mormon Heritage Highway 89 south of Salt Lake City. We visit historic Mt. Pleasant, a well preserved Mormon settlement mission at Spring City, The Ephraim Co-op, Snow College, and the Mormon Miracle Pageant at Manti. Overnight in Richfield. We stop at Big Rock Candy Mountain, see Butch Cassidy's boyhood home, learn of the United Order at Orderville, and traverse Zion Nat' I Park. We stay two nights in St. George, so we can see two professional productions at the Tuacahn outdoor theater in Snow Canyon, "Sound of Music" and" Les Mizerables." We do a historic tour of St. George and visit to the Mountain Meadows site is optional. After Sunday morning Church, we head for Salt Lake with stops at Kolob, and Cove Fort. Temple sessions at Manti & St. George are optional

MOUNT RUSHMORE & BLACK HILLS
PASSION PLAY - EASY PACE

June 21 - 29, 2008

North from Salt Lake, we pass through Grand Teton National Park on our way to Yellowstone. The first two nights are a relaxing get-away in Yellowstone with side trips in the Park. Heading across northern Wyoming, we stop in Cody to explore the Buffalo Bill Historic Center also called the II Smithsonian of the Old West." Crossing the border into South Dakota, we spend five nights in the Black Hills with excursions to Mount Rushmore Nat' I Memorial, Borglum Historical Center, the legendary wild west town of Deadwood, The Great Passion Play at Spearfish, the immerging Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park which is habitat to the largest free-roaming bison herd and the" begging burros, Needles Scenic Drive, Badlands Loop and the famous block long Wall Drug. We also enjoy a ride on an 1880' s steam train. Our return route takes us to Thermopolis Wyoming, and Hot Springs State Park. An overnight stay allows for a dip in the largest mineral hot springs in the world. We visit the grave site of Lewis & Clark's famous Shoshone guide, Sacajawea, stop at South Pass City State Historic Site, then head home.

LDS CHURCH HISTORY - COMPREHENSIVE
HILL CUMORAH PAGEANT

July 9-19, 2008

Ken Mays, long-time and very popular teacher in the Church Education System, is a fount of information which he shares in a most engaging manner. His skill, experience and love of the subject matter soon become evident. The tour begins with a flight into upstate New York and the many sacred sites in the Palymra area including the Sacred Grove, Smith Farm, Palmyra Temple, Hill Cumorah and the Pageant, "' America's Witness to Christ." In Fayette we visit the Peter Whitmer Farm where the Church was organized. We see spectacular Niagara Falls on the way to Kirtland Ohio to tour the first Temple and the restored village. The Johnson Farm near Hiram is the where much of the Doctrine and Covenants was received. On the way to Nauvoo Illinois, we stop at Springfield to learn of Joseph's legal challenges and Abraham lincoln's early connection to the Church. We have two nights in Nauvoo and see the new Nauvoo Pageant. On the Iowa Trail we stop at Garden Grove. In Missouri we visit Adam-ondi- Ahman, Far West, Independence and the historic liberty Jail. We fly home from Kansas City. NOTE: Other itineraries are also available.

LDS CHURCH HISTORY
PLUS BOSTON HILL CUMORAH
& NAUVOO PAGEANTS

July 12-25, 2008

Dan Bell was Director of Pre-service Training overseeing all hiring of teachers for the Church Education System in the United States and Canada. Recently retired, he continues to teach because he loves it and is always in demand. Dan directed his first tour more than 25 years ago, and he just keeps getting better. The tour begins with a flight into Boston, the cradle of liberty, and the ancestral home of the Smith Family in nearby Topsfield. We stay two nights. Sharon, Vermont is the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. There’s time also to visit Tunbridge, where Joseph Sr. met Lucy Mack. There’s a stop in Whitingham and the birthplace of Brigham Young. Harmony, Pennsylvania is the first home of Joseph and Emma Smith. It was here on the Susquehanna River that the Priesthood was restored. Moving into New York, we tour the Peter Whitmer Farm near Fayette where the Church was organized. We have two nights in the Palmyra area to visit the Sacred Grove, Smith Farm, Palmyra Temple, Hill Cumorah and see the pageant, “America’s Witness to Christ.” We stop at Niagara Falls on the way to Kirtland Ohio to tour the first Temple and the restored village. The Johnson Farm near Hiram is where much of the Doctrine and Covenants was received. On the way to Nauvoo we stop at Springfield to learn of Joseph’s legal challenges and Abraham Lincoln’s early connection to the Church. We have three nights in Nauvoo and see the new Pageant. On the Iowa Trail we stop at Garden Grove. In Missouri we visit Adam-ondi-Ahman, Far West, Independence and the historic Liberty Jail. We fly home from Kansas City.

LDS CHURCH HISTORY - MISSOURI & ILLINOIS
NAUVOO PAGEANT - EASY PACE

August 2 - 10, 2008

Flying into Kansas City, the tour begins with the Missouri history at Independence, Liberty Jail, Richmond, Far West, and Adam-ondi-Ahman. On the Iowa Trail which the Saints forged leaving Nauvoo, we stop at Lamoni where several of the Prophets children are buried, Mt. Pisgah, Garden Grove and stay in Oceola. We have three nights in Nauvoo for a leisurely visit to all the sites in the area including Carthage and Montrose. There's plenty of time for the temple and the wonderful new Pageant. We travel down the Mississippi to Quincy, rescue location of the Mormons fleeing Missouri. At Hannibal we board an authentic sternwheeler for a ride on the river, then travel on to St. Louis for two nights. We visit Gateway Arch, the restored train station, and the astounding Cahokia Mounds on the Illinois side of the river before flying home.

TUACAHN & UTAH MORMON HERITAGE HWY 89
"BIG RIVER" & "LES MISERABLES"

September 15 - 20, 2008

Heading south from Salt Lake we embark on the spectacular Boulder Loop scenic byway. We stop at Anasazi State Park, and overnight in Boulder. We take a morning drive through Calf Creek, Escalante and Red Canyon. At Orderville we learn the poineer history of the United Order. We stay in Kanab, a Mormon settlement mission and the center of Utah's early movie industry. We visit the Tithing Ranch in Pipe Springs on the Arizona border and stay two nights in St. George, seeing two professional shows at the Tuacahn outdoor theater in Snow Canyon. A temple session is optional. Traversing Zion Nat' I Park, we embark on the newly designated National Mormon Heritage Highway. We stop at the boyhood home of Butch Cassidy, Big Rock Candy Mountain, and stay in Salina; an evening Manti Temple session is optional. We explore Sanpete Valley, Manti, the Ephraim Co-op, Snow College, Spring City, historic Mt. Pleasant, and the world class Fairview Museum.

SACRED GROUND
THE ULTIMATE LDS TOUR

Oct 6 - 18, 2008

Explore for the first time the combined histories of the early LDS Church and proposed Book of Mormon (Nephite) culture sites.

See evidence in the Promised Land (USA) of ancient defensive cities, burial mounds, and temple sites dating back 2000 years.
Walk on the same ground trod by ancient Nephite prophets and the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Learn of newly discovered DNA evidence linking the remnant peoples of the Eastern United States to ancient Israel.

Tour Directors – all experienced lecturers
Rod Meldrum – Scientific Researcher, DNA evidence for Book of Mormon geography
Hartman Rector Jr. – LDS Church Historian and General Authority Emeritus
Wayne May – Book of Mormon Geography of North America and Publisher
Mary Ellen Elggren – LDS Church Historian and veteran Tour Operator

Enjoy twelve nights and thirteen days in the brilliant autumn colors of OCTOBER
Overnight stops are underlined.

Monday, 06: Flight to Rochester NY, 7:30 P.M. dinner and meeting, PALMYRA - 2 nights

Tuesday, 07: Sacred Grove, Hill Cumorah, evidence of final battle

Wednesday, 08:  Niagara Falls (a narrow neck of land), Fairport Harbor, KIRTLAND
  
Thursday, 09: Ancient Chillicothe Road, Kirtland & temple, Hiram, COSHOCTON
  
Friday, 10: Two Newark sites, Great Octagon, Great Circle, Flint Ridge, COLUMBUS - 3 nights

Saturday, 11:   Mound City, Spruce Hill day trips.

Sunday, 12:   Seip Mound, Fort Hill, Serpent Mound day trips.

Monday, 13:   Fort Ancient Ohio, Adena Mound Ohio, INDIANAPOLIS

Tuesday, 14:   Zarahemla (see D & C 125: 3-4), Montrose, Keokuk, NAUVOO – 2 nights

Wednesday, 15:   Entire day in Nauvoo

Thursday, 16: Warsaw, Carthage, Quincy, Zelph Mound, ST LOUIS – 2 nights

Friday, 17: Big Spring – possible Waters of Mormon site.

Saturday, 18: Cahokia Mounds and Museum, Collinsville, evening flight from St Louis

Double Occupancy: $1979 per person*
Triple Occupancy: $1755 per person*
Qaud Occupancy: $1634 per person*
Single Occupancy: $2822 per person*

Deposit: $300 per person

*does not include airfare
   ~Airfare from and back to Salt Lake City is estimated at $480 per person, though cheaper fares may well be available. Airfare from another originating city with a major airport can also be arranged.
     NOTE: Non-refundable air tickets should not be purchased until you receive written notification that the tour is viable.

TEXAS TEMPLE TOUR

October 15-26, 2008

Mark Elggren is the genial Stake President of the Farmington Oakridge Stake who spent several years in Texas. The tour begins with the Oklahoma City Temple and a tour of local sites including the capitol and the National Memorial of the 1995 bombing. Going west on historic Route 66 into the Texas panhandle, we visit the Panhandle Museum and find a stunning little temple at Lubbock. Texas Longhorns as still evident as a source of wealth. In Dallas, it's oil; we visit the JFK parade route and South Fork Ranch. We ride a steam train from Grapevine to the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. We explore Houston Space Center and find another beautful temple. In Monterrey Mexico (passport required,) we find a spectacular city and a temple busy with faithful Saints. Historic San Antonio has the most stunning temple yet. We visit the Alamo and the charming River Walk district. Our last stop is the capitol at Austin and the Johnson Presidential Library.

BIRTH OF A NATION
TO RECEIVE THE GOSPEL

October 16-25, 2008

Bruce Stewart is one of the finest historians and teachers in the Church today. His special expertise is the founding of America in preparation for the coming restoration of the Gospel. Flying into Washington DC, the tour begins at the Colonial Capitol in Williamsburg Virginia and the first successful colony at Jamestown. We visit homes of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. A tour of Washington DC reveals a Masonic imprint and the powerful Christian beliefs held by our nation's founders. Gettysburg is a sacred site where the Lord chose to spare the Union during the Civil War. The Miracle at Philadelphia in declaring independence and establishing the Constitution becomes evident. New York City, our nation's first capital, has many connections to the restoration. Sharon Vermont is the birth place of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1805, just 15 years after George Washington takes office. Boston is the cradle from which our Liberty sprang. It is also the ancestral home of the Smith family in America. It is a great finish to a remarkable tour.

2008 DAY TRIPS

Apr 19, Sat: Thanksgiving Point Tulips and Lunch & BYU Minerva Teichert Art exhibit. $69

May 10, Sat: Golden Spike reenactment at Promontory, Ogden RR Museum & lunch. $79

June 17, Tue: Mormon Miracle Pageant at Manit & Historic Sanpete Valley. $89

July 23, Wed: Camp Floyd - Stagecoach Inn, Nephi Handcart Pageant & 2 meals. $89

Aug 2, Fri: Cache Valley, Broadway hit: "Into The Woods" & Heritage Center lunch. $129

Sept 9, Tue: Free flying Hot Air Balloon Ride, historic Park City & lunch. $250

Oct 2, Thu: Alpine Loop Autumn Colors, Heber Valley Railroad & lunch at the Homestead. $79

Oct 29, Wed: Antelope Island Bison Roundup & Buffalo prime rib lunch. $79

Full payment is required to hold your reservation at the time of booking a day trip.
NOTE: Passengers needing assistance must bring a companion to provide that assistance.

Custom Tours

For families or pre-formed groups, we will customize a tour to your specifications.

Transportation vehicles are adapted to group size. Groups of 10 to 30 can be transported in vans. Groups of 30 or more are required for motor coach transportation.

The itinerary can be identical or similar to one of our scheduled tours, or it can be something quite different. The price range can also be selected. It can be deluxe, standard or economy class. It can be fast paced for the biggest bang for your buck; it can be relaxed and easy pace with lots of free time, or something in between.

Family group tours are particularly successful. Sometimes families work together to raise the money for everyone to go. Sometimes everyone pays their own way. Sometimes the family patriarch foots the bill or part of it. Sometimes it’s a combination of these things. Always it’s a great family memory.

Extended family reunions, clubs, church groups, education classes, business associates, incentive groups, neighbors, groups of friends, all can often bring a viable group together for a custom tour.
If you have an exceptional teacher, author or group leader you would like to direct the tour, we will prepare everything. We can also supply an experienced tour director.