Travel

Fun
June 02, 2023 07:00 AM MDT
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!
7 Min Read
April 20, 2022 11:58 AM MDT
If you’re looking for summer vacation plans that are both fun and meaningful this year, look no further.
4 Min Read
September 04, 2019 09:48 AM MDT
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.”
3 Min Read
March 04, 2019 10:00 PM MST
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.
15 Min Read
By  Yvonne Liu
June 05, 2018 03:00 PM MDT
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.
6 Min Read
Fun
June 02, 2018 09:00 AM MDT
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.
15 Min Read
By  Yvonne Liu
May 18, 2018 01:32 PM MDT
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.
4 Min Read
April 19, 2018 12:44 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
December 08, 2017 03:00 PM MST
In the wake of President Trump's Jerusalem announcement, BYU has created a travel restriction to protect the safety of students and staff.
1 Min Read
November 11, 2017 05:00 PM MST
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.
8 Min Read
Fun
By  LDS Living
September 14, 2017 03:33 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
March 14, 2017 07:05 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
March 02, 2017 06:18 PM MST
“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.”
1 Min Read
February 13, 2017 02:38 PM MST
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.
1 Min Read
Fun
By  Zack Oates
December 28, 2016 10:00 PM MST
I was at the barber one day in Utah when it came up that I had lived in New York City.
4 Min Read
Fun
October 15, 2015 03:20 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
Fun
May 09, 2015 09:20 AM MDT
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.
3 Min Read
February 11, 2015 01:54 PM MST
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.
1 Min Read
Fun
June 12, 2014 06:14 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
Fun
May 30, 2014 06:19 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
May 29, 2014 04:00 AM MDT
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.
2 Min Read
Fun
May 16, 2014 06:34 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
Fun
May 05, 2014 05:41 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
April 14, 2014 03:58 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
April 10, 2014 04:50 AM MDT
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.
3 Min Read
October 08, 2013 04:58 AM MDT
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.
8 Min Read
January 30, 2013 05:03 AM MST
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.
2 Min Read
March 14, 2012 07:10 PM MDT
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.”
2 Min Read
January 17, 2012 05:04 AM MST
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.
4 Min Read
January 03, 2012 05:04 AM MST
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.
6 Min Read
October 26, 2011 04:04 AM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
September 07, 2011 04:04 AM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
July 21, 2011 02:12 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
July 14, 2011 02:13 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
July 07, 2011 03:43 PM MDT
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!
1 Min Read
July 07, 2011 03:39 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
June 09, 2011 02:38 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
June 04, 2011 01:51 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
June 04, 2011 01:45 PM MDT
The Real Odds of an Airplane Accident...
1 Min Read
June 04, 2011 01:44 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
May 10, 2011 02:18 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
April 21, 2011 07:06 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
April 21, 2011 07:03 PM MDT
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.
1 Min Read
April 12, 2011 02:57 PM MDT
One of my favorite church historical sites is Palmyra, New York. As I’ve walked the streets and paths of this beautiful little town, I’m reminded of stories filled with joys and sorrows of those magnificent Mormons who contributed to her history.
1 Min Read
March 12, 2011 05:05 AM MST
Nickelodeon Family Suites:
8 Min Read
February 17, 2011 04:07 PM MST
I would first like to express my deepest and most sincere gratitude to all the people whose prayers, love, and concern for Laurie and I over the last ten months have wrapped us in a halo of comfort and light and saw us through a most difficult period. I am thankful for the hundreds of people with whom we have traveled and whose friendship has enriched our lives with such pleasant recollections. What a blessing it is from life and the Lord to hold dear people from Vienna to Cairo, from Ireland to Guatemala.
1 Min Read
January 25, 2011 05:03 AM MST
Once known as the Kingdom of Siam, the country was renamed Thailand in 1939 but has also been known as the Land of Smiles, the Land of the Yellow Robes, and the Land of a Million Elephants.
7 Min Read
January 25, 2011 05:02 AM MST
Bridge on the River Kwai
1 Min Read
January 13, 2011 04:35 PM MST
BYU ranked once again among the top 20 institutions nationwide for sending the most students on study abroad programs during the 2008-09 academic year. According to “Open Doors 2010,” a survey conducted annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE) with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, BYU ranked 14th in mid-length, and 13th in short-term study abroad programs. Overall, BYU ranked 15th in the total number of study abroad students, sending out 1,957 students. Only students who enrolled in credit-earning programs were counted in the survey.
1 Min Read