Today we get to explore our Nation’s Capital! You will be free today to enjoy the Smithsonian Museums (Natural History, American History, Air & Space, National Gallery of Art, etc.), Holocaust Museum, Washington Memorial, White House, Capital Building, Arlington Cemetery or whatever your heart desires. This afternoon as a group we will visit the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean War, Jefferson, and WWII Memorials together. Following our downtown visits we will travel to Philadelphia and overnight.

Today we begin our day at the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall [where the Declaration of Independence & Constitution were signed]. From here we will cross over to New Jersey and into New York City. This evening you will be free to do as you would like; take in an additional Broadway Play, etc. We will overnight in NYC near Times Square and the Theater District of NYC.

This morning you are free to venture out and explore the ‘Big Apple’ as your heart desires. For those interested Dr. Anderson will lead us to Ground Zero, Battery Park, Trinity Church, Wall Street, the First US Congress Building, St. Paul’s Church, etc. He will also share the Church History information relative to NYC. You will then enjoy the afternoon time as you desire visiting the Empire State Building, Broadway, Times Square, Central Park, Madison Square Garden, Statue of Liberty, the LDS Manhattan Temple, etc. This evening we will enjoy a Broadway Show together. We again overnight in NYC.

Today we depart NYC and travel up to Harmony, Pennsylvania/Susquehanna River where, among other things, the Priesthood was restored. After enjoying the new Visitors Center there and lunch in the area, we will take a beautiful drive up 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 overnight in the Palmyra area.

Today is an amazing day visiting all the sites in the Palmyra area. We begin by attending a worship service in the chapel next to the Palmyra Temple. Next we will visit the log house of Joseph Smith Sr. and enjoy some reflection time in the Sacred Grove. Following this experience we will visit the new Palmyra Temple and then take in the E. B. Grandin Press and Print Shop. Nearby is the grave site of Alvin Smith [brother of Joseph]. We will next visit the Hill Cumorah and review the historical accounts of events. Those who brought their clothing can enjoy doing some Temple work in the Palmyra Temple (baptism clothes provided). We again overnight in the Palmyra area.

This morning as we travel to the majestic Niagara Falls where we will take a voyage on one of the ‘Maid of the Mist’ boats that take you right under the falls. From here we travel south to Kirtland, Ohio. This area is amazing as we visit four different sites where the Father and Son appeared. Our first stop is the new Historic Kirtland Visitors Center near the Newel K. Whitney Store. We spend some time in the ‘School of the Prophets’ room where the Father and Son appeared. We overnight in Mentor, Ohio.

Today we begin with a visit the John Johnson Home [D&C 76] in Hiram, Ohio. Next we visit the Temple Quarry before going into the Kirtland Temple, which was the first Temple built in this dispensation [D&C 109 & 110]. We will also visit the Temple Quarry. We will conclude our day with a stop at the Morley Farm and then enjoy a relaxing evening at our hotel.

Today we are traveling through Amish country and cross Ohio into Indiana. We have an incredible experience as we stop in Shipshewana, Indiana for an Amish cooked meal. We first enjoy a tour of the MENNO-HOF (Mennonite-Amish) Visitors Center and Museum. This museum shares a great presentation of the history of this very fascinating people as well as many other religions throughout the Dark Ages. Following our home-cooked Amish meal we leave Amish country and pass by South Bend, Indiana, which is home to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. We enjoy some time and dinner at the famous Navy Pier in Chicago and overnight in Joliet, IL.

Today we will make our way across the State of Illinois. When we arrive in Carthage we will reflect on the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at the Carthage Jail. Following this sobering experience we will venture over to Nauvoo and re-experience history as we view the majestic Nauvoo Temple! Time permitting we will visit the LDS Visitors Center where we will see the model of 1846 Nauvoo and the magnificent sculpture garden that features the Monument to Women. This evening those interested may enjoy one of the productions put on by the local Missionaries (“Sunset by the Mississippi” or one of the other Pageants). We overnight in Nauvoo.

Today we spend our day soaking in the sights and sounds of Historic Nauvoo. For those able and interested the day will begin with a Temple Session or Baptisms at the remarkable Nauvoo Temple. In Historic Nauvoo there are over 30 sites to see and choose from; several Historical Homes and sites, Community of Christ (RLDS) Visitors Center, a horse and carriage ride, a good local fudge factory, etc. For those interested in the Missionary Productions [“High Hopes and Riverboats”, “Anna Amanda”, etc.] will also be able to attend those. These sites should keep us all busy for the day. Dinner is a pleasure at the buffet in the Hotel Nauvoo. Our evening will be a memorable one as we experience the new Pageant, “Nauvoo”. We again overnight in Nauvoo.

Today we make our way down to Missouri and pass through Hannibal, which is home to the famous writer Samuel Clements [Mark Twain]. Our historical sites begin today where the human race began at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. We will then venture over to Far West where, among other things, the cornerstones for a temple were laid. Following our stop there we will enjoy the Temple Prison; Liberty Jail (D&C 121-122). Following dinner we will explore the Independence, Missouri area with a visit to the Community of Christ Temple and Headquarters (formerly RLDS) as well at the ‘Temple Lot’ and the newly remodeled LDS Visitors Center. We overnight in Liberty, Missouri.

Today we make our way to Omaha, Nebraska to visit the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters. It was here where the Saints who fled Nauvoo ended for the winter of 1846-47. Here we will also see the Pioneer Cemetery and Winter Quarters Temple. Following our visit we will begin to retrace the route of the original Pioneers as they began their journey west following Brigham Young’s leadership. We will enjoy a worship service and also read the Pioneer accounts and journals as they made their way west. We will follow their journey as far as Grand Island, Nebraska where we will overnight.

Today we see a good portion of the Pioneer trail as we make our way across Nebraska and into Wyoming. We will venture across the ‘Trail’ we will enjoy and share stories of our Pioneer heritage. One of our stops today will include the Guernsey Ruts where you can still see the grooves in the rocks made by the Pioneer wagons. We will also admire Signature Cliffs, where hundreds of immigrants signed their names to the rock. In Casper, Wyoming we will visit the newly constructed Trails Center where we will learn about the five trails used by the early settlers as they migrated west. We overnight in Casper, Wyoming.

What better way to anticipate the celebration of Pioneer Day than traveling the actual trail and arriving in the Salt Lake Valley!? Today we travel the last leg of the Pioneer Trail. On our way to Martin’s Cove we will see more of the Mormon Trail when we pass Devil’s Gate and Independence Rock. At Martins Cove we will reflect on the unforgettable events that occurred there. It was here where the Martin & Willie Handcart Companies were stuck in the early snow storms of 1847. Following this sobering experience we will continue to follow the trail until we eventually reach Immigration Canyon and enter the Salt Lake Valley! Our Tour concludes at the “This is the Place” monument. We should arrive around 6pm.