Visiting LDS Church history sites is more than just walking through restored homes and listening to the history.

There are pageants in a handful of cities from New York to Arizona; the pioneer pastimes, wagon rides and other activities in Nauvoo; and interactive visitors centers across the U.S. that help explain Mormon history. And, they don't have to break the budget, either.

More than 5 million people come to Temple Square, which earlier this month was ranked 16th on Forbes.com's list of the top 25 most-visited tourist attractions. In Nauvoo, Ill., about 200,000 people visit the tiny city in the bend of the Mississippi River each year, said Elder Dean Hughes, a public affairs missionary for the Nauvoo Illinois Mission.

There are families with small children to teenagers who visit along with empty-nesters, and those whose interest in the city comes from it being a historic landmark, Hughes said.

Then there is the spiritual connection.

"It's a sacred story that should never be forgotten," said Kenneth Mays, an instructor at the Salt Lake University LDS Institute of Religion. "There is a tangible connection by being at the site. It becomes more real."

The Sacred Grove, Liberty Jail, Nauvoo Temple, Winter Quarters, the John Johnson farm, the Mormon Battalion trail and many other sites have a significance for visitors -- whether they have pioneer ancestry or are recent converts.

"It's the principle that why would we go to the Holy Land if Jesus hasn't been there for 2,000 years," said Mays, who has taken his family on different church history trips and enjoys photographing the historical sites, including those that are lesser-known.

"It's one thing to talk about church history and another ... to glance up and see the (Nauvoo) temple on the hill," Hughes said. "You can go into a house and think, 'The prophets were here and they touched this railing that I'm touching.' It's a cool feeling."

And visiting church history sites doesn't have to be expensive.

All of the sites run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are free, Hughes said. (Some of the sites run by the Community of Christ have $2 preservation fees.)

In Nauvoo, visitors to the blacksmith receive a prairie diamond ring, and Nauvoo bricks are handed out at the brickyard, Hughes said. There are free concerts and musical presentations from the "Sunset on the Mississippi" to the brass band, Sunday socials and other performances, Hughes said. A schedule and list of activities are on www.historicnauvoo.net.

Ideally, church sites would be visited chronologically, Mays said. But if getting to Vermont isn't quite in the plans, not all of the stops have to be made in one trip.

Pairing the New York and Ohio sites and the Nauvoo and Missouri sites is a logical way to divide the eastern U.S. destinations, Mays said.

There are a few things to keep in mind in planning a trip to see historic sites, Mays said.
Find a good guide and plan ahead, whether one of the guidebooks or the information online at www.lds.org/placestovisit.

Mays said he uses the books in the "Sacred Places" series by Lamar C. Berret and other authors that have the background and correlates the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants with the site, he said.

Spending a little time before the trip with research makes a big difference in the trip, said Becky Cardon Smith, who authored the "The LDS Family Travel Guide" series, which includes maps, background and area restaurants and attractions.

Also, know what activities are available and when pageants and performances are held, as crowds tend to follow and increase attendance at nearby sites, Mays said. Some of the sites, like Nauvoo, have campgrounds nearby or picnic tables.

There may be other things close that can be interesting, like the lock on the Erie Canal near Palmyra, Smith said.

Summer is typically the busiest time of of year, with pageants, performances and other activities.

"Things get busy in the summer," Hughes said, adding there is the Nauvoo pageant, young performing missionaries and other groups which come through.

Practically all of the sites the church maintains have missionaries to give tours and provide information, including maps, about the other sites in the area, Mays said.

Keep in mind your children's age, Mays said. When children are in junior high or middle school, they are generally old enough to appreciate and remember the trip.

After that, they may have a summer job or other activities that might prevent them from going.

Don't forget to plan for the weather, Mays said.

Missouri and Arizona can be pretty hot in the summer and New York and Vermont will be quite cold in the winter.

However, smaller crowds and snow on the ground can make for a different experience at the sites, said Hughes. He and his wife, Kathleen, were recently called to serve as public affairs missionaries and have enjoyed seeing Nauvoo during other seasons.

"There is just a feeling about this place," he said.

E-mail: crappleye@desnews.com