Gettysburg Recommendations

[Jynohn]

I just visited Gettsburg for the first time last week, and did the audio-CD driving tour on the recommendation of other DIS'ers. I thought it was well worth the money and gave us a much better appreciation of what it was that we were seeing. I highly recommend it.

We had nice meals at both Dobbins Tavern and Farnsworth House, although I would NOT recommend the Farnsworth Ghost Tour. We were all very disappointed in it. We knew going in that the chances were slim that we'd actually see a ghost, but we were at least expecting an entertaining guide and some interesting stories. Unfortunately we didn't get either.

 

[wdwmom2]

The new visitors center has a lot of really cool and accurate historical displays. Plan on spending a lot of time there. We could have spent a day there. The cyclorama alone- the big painting is worth the visit. It is an absolutely amazing depiction of the battle.

Totally agree with visiting the new visitor's center!!!

DH and I live very close to Gettysburg and often make the short trip over there on our motorcycle to ride around the battlefield and visit the Harley Davidson store on the other side of town.

Last year we ran into the new visitors center by accident, didn't realize they built a new one, and paid our money to go through. I swear I learned more about the civil war in that visitor's center than all my years in school!!! It was very, very interesting!

 

[Kathi OD]

I've started researching, and the Dobbin House is on my list to try (either the main dining room or the Springhouse). What about The Pub & Restaurant on Lincoln Square? Has anyone eaten there?

DH and I were in Gettysburg 1.5 years ago w/ my parents. We ate a late lunch/early dinner at The Pub and it was quite good, and not too expensive.

I'll agree with the others on the self-guided car tour. You can go at your own pace, and yes, it is now available as a CD. Also agree about the new visitor's center. You could spend a full day there and not really "see" everything.

We also visited the Eisenhower National Historic Site, which is a farm and the home of former President Eisenhower. Pretty interesting to see how the President and his family lived when they weren't in the White House.

One other stop for us was the Gettysburg National Cemetery, which includes the spot where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. Very solemn, but interesting. The soldiers are buried according to which state they were from.

Also, the cyclorama is now at the visitor's center and not in the old building near the National Cemetery.

 

[neodisneyfan]

Its been a while for me but one of my favorite things to see is the Jennie Wade house. She was the only civilian casualty of the war. I think its on the main road right by the holiday inn. It is a short tour of her house and where she was killed (in the kitchen) but the feeling you get there stayed with me all these years. Also the cemetary is amazing to walk through and they usually have a guy that looks like Abe Lincoln giving the Gettysburg address in the cemetary. Also the audio tour is great to go at your own pace but the bus tour is nice too. We have done them both.

 

[fluffycow333]

I took Miss Betty's ghost tour recently, and I highly recommend it. She is great, and she doesn't go to the more "touristy" places, she takes you out of the mainstream where you are away from the crowd and things are more likely to happen...

http://www.missbettysghostsingettysburg.com/

Also, be sure to take the tour of the Shriver House. It is very interesting to learn about the effect of the battle on a normal family.

We ate at the Farnsworth House tavern, it was very casual and the food was good. We had sandwiches on potato bread. It was a great place for lunch.

http://www.farnsworthhouseinn.com/farnsworthhousegettysburg_019.htm

As for the battlefield, I reccomend Little Round Top. The view is spectacular.

I forgot to add something about the ghost tour. Miss Betty is friends with some of the inn/bed and breakfast owners so she can take you to places where the other tours can't or won't. She is an independent ghost tour, she doesn't work for any of the companies so her tours have a more personnal approach.

 

[bukosluvswdw]

Take a ghost tour and I do not know if they still do this but we had one of the park rangers drive us around the battlefiled and give us some the the background of the different battles. There was a cost but it was well worth it. I think you can go to the visitors center and get info.

 

[Pikester]

Spent 1 day in Gettysburg last month. We did the double decker bus tour through the battlefield that was OK. We sat on the bottom which was fine with us because it was a very warm and sunny day. So happy not to have the sun beating on us. If you are interested in being able to get out and walk around the battlefield do not take this tour. There are two stops that are made during this two hour tour and one of them is a bathroom break at a little store. The other is a 10 minute stop near Little Round Top. We booked this tour through the Gettysburg Tour Center.

We also toured the Jennie Wade House which wasn't bad. It was interesting to hear the story of Jennie Wade and I believe on the weekends they even do a ghost tour there.

Run don't walk from the Soldiers National Museum. This is a musuem that has Dioramas of the civil war. LAME! LAME! LAME! My kids could have built better dioramas! My DS12 did enjoy the diplays of memorabilia from the different wars but other then that it was a bust.

Both the Jennie Wade House and Soilders National Museum had AAA discounts if you showed your card.

I would have LOVED to do a ghost tour but we were staying in Grantville, PA to be close to Hershey. The drive was longer then my DH wanted to make so late at night.

 

[Mosca]

I'll give highest dining recommendation possible to Chubby's BBQ, about 20 minutes south and just over the PA/MD border on Rt15. Chubby's is highly recommended on Roadfood:

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/tm.aspx?m=448023&high=chubby's+bbq

Disclaimer: I've known the owner, Tom Caulfield, first as a "forum friend" and then as a friend, for about 3 years.

Regarding Gettysburg itself: it is a great visit, very humbling. We did the regular bus tour with a very knowledgeable docent, who really made a difference in the experience.

 

[tmbcole]

Don't miss the Dobbin House . . . it's a great place to dine. I haven't been there in a long time, but it's very historical. You won't be disappointed. The vistor's center is not far from the Dobbin House nor is the battlefield.

Gettysburg is a great place. Enjoy.

 

[Amy]

Hey - I was looking around at stuff to do in Gettysburg, and I saw they have Segway tours of the battlefield! Anybody do this? It's sounds like a different way to tour the battlefields and might give you a better perspective of how it was for the soldiers. Prob. wouldn't want to do it if it's too hot or rainy.

 

[wdwmom2]

Hey - I was looking around at stuff to do in Gettysburg, and I saw they have Segway tours of the battlefield! Anybody do this? It's sounds like a different way to tour the battlefields and might give you a better perspective of how it was for the soldiers. Prob. wouldn't want to do it if it's too hot or rainy.

Didn't do it ourselves, but when DH and I went about a month ago, we ran into them. The tourists seems very comfortable zipping around on them. They were listening to the tour through earpieces. They did have a guide with them. It seemed like it would be enjoyable. But personally, I would never do it in the middle of summer. Way too hot!!!! Fall would be wonderful with all the foliage changing colors!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Does anyone have an address for the new visitors center?

 

[franandaj]

I notice a number of people only spent one day in Gettysburg. We are planning a trip to the DC area and were considering driving up for a day trip. I know it's not enough time to really see the town and the sights, but can you see the Visitor's Center and the audio CD drive plus have a meal at the Tavern in one day or would that be too much?

 

[MariDisney]

Does anyone have an address for the new visitors center?

Are you looking for a mailing address or physical address? It's in the middle of the park. (well, probably not really the middle) So, if you're trying to find it via GPS or something you'd put in the park as a POI.

 

[skater]

I'll give highest dining recommendation possible to Chubby's BBQ, about 20 minutes south and just over the PA/MD border on Rt15. Chubby's is highly recommended on Roadfood:

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/tm.aspx?m=448023&high=chubby's+bbq

Disclaimer: I've known the owner, Tom Caulfield, first as a "forum friend" and then as a friend, for about 3 years.

Regarding Gettysburg itself: it is a great visit, very humbling. We did the regular bus tour with a very knowledgeable docent, who really made a difference in the experience.

I'll second the Chubby's recommendation!

 

[wdwmom2]

Does anyone have an address for the new visitors center?

This should help you out. http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/visit-museum.htm

 

[Ceila]

I notice a number of people only spent one day in Gettysburg. We are planning a trip to the DC area and were considering driving up for a day trip. I know it's not enough time to really see the town and the sights, but can you see the Visitor's Center and the audio CD drive plus have a meal at the Tavern in one day or would that be too much?

If you get an early start then you should be just fine!

 

[Octoberbride03]

OK, we have about 2 weeks left before we head up. Who's back since this thread started and how was the trip?

Dh and i cannot wait to go

Question about Miss Betty's. Is there a place in town to stop and reserve her tour or is phone/email the only option. I didn't see any locations listed on her site except for the touring partners/inns specials that were listed. And do we drive ourselves on the tour or does she have a van or bus that we can board?

Oh and if anybody has done both Ms. Betty's and the Ghosts of Gettysburg I'd love to hear comparisons. Pictures of orbs on Ms. Betty's site don't mean anything to me. I don't buy into that theory.

Thanks

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We went in the middle of August and had a nice time. We only stopped for the day on our way home from Hershey, so we didn't do everything there is to do.

Here is what we got to do~


Gettysburg National Museum and Visitor Center:

The Jennie Wade House:

The town:

And a battlefield:

 

[MariDisney]

We're back and we had a great time.

Things we loved:
Farnsworth Inn for dinner
Double decker bus tour (we did the value package that includes tickets to some of the other museums.
Ghosts of Gettysburg ghost hunt

Things we didn't like at all:
Land of the Little Horses
Super 8 Hotel *worst hotel we've EVER stayed at