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The Best of Vacationing
Best Amusement Parks Busch Gardens Tampa, Florida and Williamsburg, Virginia Take your kids here if you’d rather see animals than people dressed as them. These parks are heavily themed with plenty of nature thrills. Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio You’ll feel right at home here if you’re a die-hard when it comes to roller coasters. This park has more than 68 rides including 16 roller coasters—more rides than any park in the world. Discovery Cove and Seaworld Orlando, Florida www.discoverycove.com and www.seaworld.com Discovery Cove is where you’ll want to go to beat the lines. This small amusement park, connected to Seaworld, only allows 1,000 in at a time. It has a series of lagoons, beaches, and coral reefs for guests to swim in. Guests can also get wet at Seaworld’s famous animal shows. Look out for Shamu! Disney Land and Disney World Anaheim, California; Orlando, Florida; Tokyo, Japan; and Paris, France There is a fifth park, on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, China that is to open in late 2005. In August, Walt Disney World in Florida will debut a simulated rocket trip to Mars called “Mission: SPACE” at Epcot. Kennywood West Mifflin, Pennsylvania Kennywood offers everything from kiddy rides to thrill rides. It even has a railroad tour featuring Southwestern Pennsylvania history. Lake Compounce Bristol, Connecticut This park is one of the oldest in the world. Surrounded by lakes and mountains, it was first opened in 1846 as a picnic park. Today it features a wooden roller coaster, an antique carousel from 1911, and a steamboat ride. And, soda is served free everyday! Universal Studios Florida and California www.themeparks.universalstudios.com For avid moviegoers, this is a great park to hit. Here visitors get a chance to be part of their favorite movies. Best National Parks Yellowstone National Park Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming 640,000 years ago a massive volcanic eruption left all of the western United States, much of the Midwest, northern Mexico, and some areas of the eastern Pacific covered in ashes. This was one of the several processes that originally shaped Yellowstone—the world’s first national park. Yosemite National Park Yosemite, California Known as the “Crown Jewel,” earthquakes, glaciers, and other forces of nature have left permanent marks on this landscape, which is the size of Rhode Island. It offers expansive wilderness as well as guest services and amenities you would find at a year-round resort. Zion National Park Utah The definition of Zion as a sanctuary accurately describes this park’s spectacular landscape, sculptured canyons, and soaring cliffs. It has unique geography and unusual plant and animal diversity attracting nature lovers from all over. Big Bend National Park near Marathon, Texas Big Bend is one of the largest yet least visited of America’s national parks despite its massive canyons, vast desert expanses, and the entire Chisos Mountain range. Mount Rainier National Park Ashford, Washington www.nps.gov/mora Mostly wilderness, this park includes Mount Rainier, an active volcano covered in over 35 square miles of snow and ice. Whether mountaineering its flanks, climbing its summit, or cross-country skiing on its slopes, nearly two million people come to enjoy the majesty and splendor of Mount Rainier each year. Denali National Park and Preserve Alaska Featuring North America’s highest mountain, 20,320-foot tall Mount McKinley, this park includes countless mountains and many large glaciers. It also has a sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, and moose. Best Beaches Hanauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii Hanauma Bay is an extinct volcanic crater now filled by the Pacific Ocean. With over 450 species of tropical fish, it is a popular spot for snorkeling and scuba diving. And about 20 to 30 percent of the fish at Hanauma Bay exist only in the Hawaiian Islands. Coronado Beach San Diego, California Swim, surf, sail, body board, fish, or just fall asleep in the sun as it sets over the Pacific Ocean at this beautiful beach. Caladesi Island State Park Dunedin, Florida Here is the home of the fourth best natural beach in the U.S. Beach lovers can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing. You can also fish from your boat or throw a line out into the surf. Ocracoke Island Ocracoke, North Carolina Here you’ll find 16 miles of sun-swept wilderness beaches that are great for swimming, fishing, surfing, or simply sun bathing. Main Beach East Hampton, New York This long, golden, and clean beach has beautiful sandbanks and some of the best waves in New York. Coast Guard Beach Cape Cod, Massachusetts Coast Guard Beach is a leading swimming beach during the summer, but know that from mid-June to Labor Day, the parking lot is closed, and access is provided by shuttle bus from the Little Creek parking area. Best Church History Sites Palmyra and Manchester Townships, New York This area is known as the cradle of the restoration because it is here you can visit the Sacred Grove, Joseph Smith's house and bedroom, the E.B. Grandin Press, and the Hill Cumorah. You can now also visit the beautiful Palmyra Temple, which was dedicated in 2000. Nauvoo, Illinois Beginning in 1841, Church members made incredible sacrifices to build the Nauvoo Temple. After the Saints left the temple to make their flight West, the temple was destroyed by fire. Now, the Nauvoo Temple stands again and is a sacred site filled wiht Latter-day Saint history. While in the area, you can also get your picture taken next to a historic Sunstone and visit the Legacy Memorial Garden. Harmony Township, Pennsylvani Now called) Oakland Township, Pennsylvania Many significant events happened in this area, as it is here that most of the Book of Mormon was translated. Here you can see the Joseph and Emma home site (which is next to the Aaronic Priesthood Monument), as well as the Josiah Stowell home, where Joseph worked for more than a year and where he and Emma spent their honeymoon. The Carthage Jail Carthage, Illinois Joseph Smith and his brother were cast into this jail on false charges of treason. A few days later, a mob of about one hundred men with blackened faces stormed into the jail. Both Joseph and Hyrum were shot to death, and John Taylor was wounded several times. Liberty Jail Liberty, Missouri Joseph Smith and five other brethren were imprisoned within the thick walls of this jail. They were confined to the dungeon where they slept on the cold rock floor with little light and little protection from the winter. Temple Square Salt Lake City, Utah The list of things to do here is endless. To name a few, be sure to visit the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the Conference Center, Brigham Young Historic Paro, and the Museum of Church History and Art. Kirtland, Ohio Here you'll find the Kirtland temple, the first temple built in this dispensation. It served the Saints for about two years before they left Kirtland because of persecution. Best Educational Trips Visit Washington, D.C. Here’s one of the places you must go to have the American experience. With its celebrated symbols of patriotism, your family will be inspired by America’s incredible history after visiting D.C.’s historical sites and museums. Attend Family Dino Camp Fruita, Colorado 1-800-344-3466 There are five-day trips with classroom, lab, and dig components which cost anywhere from $850 to $1200 per person for ages 13 and over. The five-day dino camp for families costs $375 for kids and $850 for adults. Guests will receive professional paleontological leadership in a diversified and experienced program. Go on an Oregon Trail Adventure Wyoming This is a wonderful family adventure! The cost of the trip includes 5 days and 4 nights on the trail and all meals. Go back in time and relive history along the Oregon Trail! Tour an Indian Reservation New Mexico, Montana, Minnesota, Alaska, Idaho, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona Learn about how Native Americans have preserved traditional languages, arts, spiritual practices, crafts, and hunting traditions. Many programs include hands-on instruction. Best Vacation Deals Divi and Tamarijn Aruba All-Inclusive Resorts Aruba www.diviaruba.com and www.tamarijnaruba.com Family packages allow one or two kids up to age 18 to stay, eat, and play for free when sharing a room with two paying adults. Pittsburgh Getaway Package Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania For $131, a family of four can purchase the Kidsburgh Getaway Ticket Package and enjoy nine Pittsburgh attractions including the Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center and UPMC Sports Works, National Aviary, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, and Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center. ASTONishing Kids Stay, Play, and Eat Free Program Hawaii Program allows children ages 12 and younger to receive free activities, meals, and merchandise when accompanied by a paying adult purchasing at equal or greater value. Kids are entitled to free admission to Sea Life Park, Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, and the Maui Ocean Center. Novotel Deal 200 different properties throughout Europe Children ages 16 and under staying with their parents or grandparents at a Novotel property worldwide receive free lodging and breakfast daily. 50/50 Weekend Escape Program any Wyndham Hotel Enjoy a weekend escape at your favorite Wyndham Hotel and receive 50/50 savings. Bring the kids and get 50% off a second room or save 50% off a second night. Passbook to Savings The Entertainment Book offers significant savings on hotels, meals, admission to attractions, and travel. Depending on when you buy, books range in cost from $9.99 to $45. Portofino Bay Hotel Deal Orlando, Florida If you book at this hotel for 4 or more nights you get free theme park admission. Prices for May 1–August 20 start at $284. LDS Living Magazine
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Today's date: March 19, 2010
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