Once again, Webb Tours is excited to offer this inspirational, scenic and historical tour which traces church history from the east coast to the Midwest. Here is a sampling from prior year participants:
I had no idea what to expect as this was my first tour. This experience surpassed anything I could have hoped for. I really can’t think of anything you missed. Karen’s knowledge of church history and her excitement to share it has left a lasting impression” G. Squires
“Karen Lesser is the perfect tour director. Her knowledge, personality and spirit added immensely to our tour. Everything was so enjoyable.” S. Adams
“We watched quietly as Karen consistently went out of her way to do special things for people. She is so thoughtful, and we loved her enthusiasm as she taught us. F. Winslow
As you’ll note, the tour visits virtually all of the critical church history sites, but at a relaxed pace. In fact we stay for two consecutive nights in Boston, Palmyra, Kirtland and Nauvoo. That means we have plenty of time to enjoy those areas thoroughly and we aren’t constantly on the move. AND WE ENJOY TWO FABULOUS DAYS IN THE HEART OF NEW ENGLAND DURING AUTUMN FOLIAGE. This tour is directed by Karen Lesser who has directed the tour many times. Karen has taught church history for many years and has directed multiple groups to all of these sites. You won’t find a person with her unique skills. She is unanimously loved by all those who travel with her.
It’s the perfect combination: Church History and Autumn Colors! Temperatures are pleasant, fall is in the air and the summer crowds are gone. There isn’t a better time to visit the region.
This brochure describes TWO DIFFERENT TOUR OPTIONS.
Option #1 (recommended): October 7-20 – Fly to Boston and home from Kansas City. This is for those who want to see it all including Boston, Sharon, Palmyra, Niagara, Kirtland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Nauvoo and Missouri sites.
Option #2: October 7-15 – Fly to Boston and home from Kirtland (Cleveland). This is for those who want to focus on church history sites in the east (Sharon, Palmyra, Kirtland). It is for those who may have been to Nauvoo or prefer a shorter tour. Price for the shorter tour is $450 less per person as follows:
October 7: Salt Lake to Boston: Today we’ll get an early start as we board our flight to Boston, Mass, arriving about 6:00 local time. Our luxury touring coach will be waiting for us. We’ll go directly to dinner at famous No Name Restaurant on Fish Pier. This will be a great start to our tour. Our hotel is in a nearby Boston suburb. Tour to pay for dinner today.
October 8: Boston all day. No city in the United States has more history than Boston, and we’ll spend the day taking it in with our knowledgeable and entertaining local guide. We’ll see Lexington and Concord where the Revolutionary War began. The setting is spectacular any time, but especially in the fall! The first two weeks of October is PEAK time for fall foliage in New England. We’ll also see the Old North Church, USS Constitution, Paul Revere’s home, and much more. We’ll enjoy a unique lunch and browsing experience at Quincy Market, near the old Fannuel Hall. We’ll stay in the Boston area again tonight. Tour to pay for city tour and breakfast today.
October 9: Boston to Lebanon, NH: This morning we’ll drive about 30 minutes to the northeast and make an interesting stop in the town of Topsfield where Joseph Smith’s ancestors settled. They lived on the same homestead from the 1660’s (Robert Smith) to the early 1800’s (Joseph Smith Sr.). There is a plaque commemorating five generations of Smiths that lived here and worshiped in the Congregational Church. We then continue to beautiful Wolfeboro, New Hampshire on the shores of scenic Lake Winnipesaukee. We’ll board the George Washington and enjoy lunch during our 75 minute cruise across the lake to Weirs Beach where our driver will meet us. Lunch is included on the cruise. We continue north the Bretton Woods Ski Resort where we’ll take a ski lift to the top of the mountain to take in spectacular views of the Mount Washington Valley with tree covered hills as far as the eye can see. The combination of green pines and maples of every color is a New England site you’ll not forget. We then enjoy a scenic drive to our hotel near Sharon. Tour to pay for breakfast and lunch.
October 10: Sharon to Green Mountains to New York. We begin our day in Sharon, where we’ll visit Joseph Smith’s birthplace (20 minutes away). The setting is delightful this time of year (especially with the fall colors). We’ll have plenty of time to see the Visitor’s Center, monument and grounds. We will then continue south into Whitingham, Vermont which is not only the birthplace of Brigham Young, but one of the highest rated areas for fall colors. Weather permitting, we’ll have a picnic lunch in the area (made by the Young Women in Sharon). Our afternoon drive takes us to upstate New York into Bainbridge for the night. Tour to pay for breakfast and lunch today.
October 11: Bainbridge to Palmyra. If time and schedule permit, we’ll attend Sacrament Meeting this morning. We are less than an hour from the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site in northern Pennsylvania on the Susquehanna River. Much has been restored here and a new Visitor’s Center has been built. It is a peaceful setting and an important stop on our trip. We’ll have time to see it thoroughly as there is much to see. We’ll then cross back into New York and head for Palmyra. Upstate New York is covered with trees and the drive is lovely this time of year. We’ll arrive in Fayette at about 3:00 and visit the Peter Whitmer Farm where the church was organized and much of the Book of Mormon translated. We’ll be in the Palmyra area for two nights. Dinner is included this evening overlooking Seneca Lake near Fayette. Tour to pay for breakfast & dinner.
October 12: Palmyra area: After breakfast this morning, we’ll visit the historical sites of interest in the area. We’ll begin with the Sacred Grove, the restored Smith cabin and the frame home. You’re used to seeing this area with green foliage, but it’s also beautiful with fall colors (if nature cooperates)! We’ll see the recently refurbished Hill Cumorah Visitors Center and go to the top of the Hill Cumorah. After an included lunch at the Yellow Mills Café, we’ll visit the Grandin Press (where the first copies of the Book of Mormon were printed). Your director has been in this area over 40 times and will show you and teach you about many things that are significant in this area. After a rest at the hotel, those interested can attend a session in the Palmyra Temple (you must bring your own clothing). Tour to pay for breakfast and lunch today.
October 13: Palmyra via Niagara Falls to Kirtland: This morning we drive up to Niagara Falls, arriving on the New York side around 10:00. We have included a ride on the exciting Maid of the Mist which takes us to the face of the world’s most impressive waterfall. We’ll then have time for lunch and falls viewing in the lovely park. After lunch, we’ll drive along Lake Erie toward Kirtland, Ohio where we’ll arrive about 5:00. We’ll stay in the Kirtland area tonight. We have a treat tonight as we’ll be joined by Karl Anderson, a celebrated Kirtland author and a fascinating teacher. He will prepare us for our experience in Kirtland tomorrow. Tour to pay for breakfast and Maid of the Mist today.
October 14: Kirtland all day: There is much to see in Kirtland as much has been recently restored. We’ll start at the Visitors Center built in the form of a 19th Century grist mill. The town streets have been rerouted creating a pedestrian area from which to enjoy all of the sites. We will also enjoy a guided tour of the Kirtland Temple, the Newell K Whitney Store, the Isaac Morley Farm, and the newly restored Johnson Inn. Kirtland is a quaint town, covered in trees and foliage. Again, this time of year offers autumn beauty which will enhance your historical experience. After a rest, we’ll visit the John Johnson Farm where we’ll review the important history that happened here. This evening we visit an authentic Amish Community where we’ll enjoy dinner with an Amish family at their farm. It is one of the tour highlights. We’ll stay in the Kirtland area again tonight. Tour to pay for breakfast and unique dinner.
October 15: Kirtland to Indiana: Those departing today will be transported to the Cleveland Airport. For the others, we’ll continue our journey west. About 45 minutes south of Kirtland is Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You may not be familiar with it. It is protected, tree-covered forests that turn brilliant colors in the fall and our schedule puts us there at the statistical peak week for fall colors. Our first stop will be Brandywine Falls which is lovely especially with the autumn colors in the trees. We’ll then drive along scenic Riverview Road making picture stops along the way including scenic Kendall Lake. We’ll stop at Ledges for a delightful picnic lunch in the midst of the scenery. Those interested can take a 1/2 mile walk to the Ledges Overlook. Our afternoon drive will take us into the Indianapolis area where we’ll stay tonight.
October 16: Indianapolis to Springfield to Nauvoo: This morning we make our way into Springfield, Illinois which of course is the Land of Lincoln. We’ll see the excellent visitors center, the home where he lived and make a stop at the Oak Ridge Cemetery to see his tomb. This afternoon, we’ll drive into Nauvoo arriving around dinner time. Those who are interested can attend a session in the Nauvoo Temple this evening. We will stay for three nights in Nauvoo. Tour to pay for breakfast and dinner.
October 17: Nauvoo. We have two full days to enjoy this area. We’ll attend church this morning which is always a treat in Nauvoo. We’ll then see the Visitors Center and enjoy an orientation tour of Old Nauvoo, including a chance to stroll down Parley Street reading the poignant signs as we walk toward the river. Late this afternoon, we’ll visit the Community of Christ Visitors Center with a chance to see the Mansion House, Homestead and Smith Family Cemetery. Dinner is included today at our hotel. We stay in Nauvoo again tonight. Tour to pay for breakfast and dinner today.
October 18: Nauvoo all day: This morning, we’ll visit the Nauvoo Burial Grounds on our way to Carthage where we’ll have a guided tour of the jail. We’ll make a stop in Montrose to enjoy the views of Nauvoo from across the river. After lunch, you’ll have the rest of the day to see the sites that are of most interest to you with shuttles going back to the hotel every hour. Tonight we have dinner at Hotel Nauvoo (famous buffet). Those interested can see the play at the Cultural Hall. Others can relax this evening. Tour to pay for breakfast and dinner today.
October 19: Nauvoo to Independence. We’ll get an early start today as we travel west toward Jackson County. We’ll then visit Adam-Ondi-Ahman, a place of great historical and future significance. A short drive from there are the remains of Far West, a once bustling city with thousands of inhabitants. If time permits, we’ll visit Richmond and see the monument to the Three Witnesses and other interesting things. We’ll then continue toward Independence where we’ll spend the evening. Tour to pay for breakfast and dinner.
October 20: Independence to Salt Lake: This morning, we’ll visit the LDS Visitor’s Center which was recently completely revamped. We’ll also see the temple lot, as well as other highlights in the area. After lunch, we’ll visit Liberty Jail. Known as the prison-temple, The Prophet was incarcerated here for 4 1/2 months. It is one of the most profound places we’ll visit, and a fitting place to end our tour. You will have an enhanced appreciation of church history and the people that made it possible. The Kansas City Airport is nearby. Tour to pay for breakfast.
Registration Information:
To make a reservation, simply fill out the attached reservation form and send it to us with a deposit of $300 per person. When we receive your deposit, we will mail you a receipt confirming that you are registered for the tour. A letter with instructions, hotel itinerary flight information (if applicable) and luggage tags will be sent roughly 60 days prior to departure at which time the balance will be due. You do not need to pay the balance until after you receive that packet. We require final payments in the form of a check. If that is not possible, arrangements can be made to use a credit card. Webb Tours accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. A 2% fee applies to final payments made by credit card.
Cancellation Penalties
We understand that you may need to cancel your trip for whatever reason. If it is 60 days or more before departure, all money will be refunded. If airline tickets are purchased prior to that time (with your permission), they become the property of the traveler and are not refundable. All other funds will be returned if cancellation occurs outside of 60 days. If it is within 60 days, we will charge you only what Webb Tours cannot recover. In some cases, we can recover all of it. In others, we cannot. Cruise lines, airlines, hotels and other service providers require funds in advance and have their own rules about what will be refunded once paid. We must follow their guidelines. For airlines, specifically, tickets are generally non refundable when purchased. However, most airlines will allow the value of the canceled tickets to be reused for future travel, though a penalty may be assessed to reuse the tickets. If you have to cancel, Webb Tours will work with other providers to obtain as much refund as possible for our travelers. Our travelers know us to be very fair in this regard.
Cancellation Insurance:
Cancellation insurance is also available should you be interested. The insurance provider that we us is Travelex Insurance. You can learn about them at www.travelexinsurance.com. With this insurance, most of your money will be returned to you in case you have to cancel for covered reasons (illness or death of an immediate family member) at the last minute. The price for the insurance varies based on the price of the trip and the age of the participant (at the time the insurance is purchased).
If you are interested in the insurance, you can purchase it through Webb Tours at any time. The insurance goes into effect once purchased. If you have any pre-existing conditions, it is best to purchase the insurance within 14 days of making your initial deposit as that will cover an illness that may result from a pre-existing condition. If you don’t have pre-existing conditions, you can purchase the insurance any time between now and the time you make your final payment. Insurance cannot be purchased after your final payment is made. Webb Tours is not the insurer and acts as agent for Travelex. To activate your insurance, we need your premium and your birth date. Insurance also includes the following items:
Trip interruption up to 150% of the cost of the trip (if you have to leave in the middle of the trip)
Per person prices are as follows:
|
Trip Cost |
Ages 35-59 |
Ages 60-69 |
Ages 70-74 |
Ages 75-79 |
Ages 80-84 |
|
$1,000-$1,500 |
$103 |
$140 |
$198 |
$245 |
$348 |
|
$1,501-$2,000 |
$135 |
$181 |
$248 |
$306 |
$428 |
|
$2,001-$2,500 |
$168 |
$227 |
$306 |
$377 |
$522 |
|
$2,501-$3,000 |
$190 |
$256 |
$342 |
$421 |
$581 |
|
$3,001-$3,500 |
$217 |
$293 |
$389 |
$478 |
$656 |
|
$3,501-$4,000 |
$241 |
$326 |
$430 |
$529 |
$723 |
Mail deposit and enclosed reservation form to:
WEBB TOURS
2378 Evergreen Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Tel. (801) 278-3101
or Toll Free 1-800-658-8519
Or call us and register over the phone. We hope you can join us.
