Tell me about Gettysburg

[Octoberbride03]

Got the visitors guide in the mail yesterday and it looks like an awesome place to go. Definitely different from anything else I was looking at vacationwise. So who's been there? I'm looking for best time to go and whatever values you know about. I really have to go through the book tonight and hit some of these websites. Dh was thinking it'd be about 6hr drive from here. Sound right?


TIA

 

[amyy]

I highly suggest also going to Shanksville, PA. I was moved by Gettysburg but even more so at Shanksville as I remember that day. It is about 108 miles away.

Our biggest mistake was to not plan enough time for Gettysburg. We only stayed one night. Plus I hadn't really researched it out first. If we went back I would rent one of the CDs you can play in your car that will guide you on a tour. I would probably do a ghost tour too. We also liked poking around in the shops downtown.

 

[golfgal]

Four Score and Seven Years ago....

 

[pat fan]

We took the kids there a few years ago and it was great! We were there around the 4th of July (not the actual 4th, maybe a few days before or after) and there were a lot of re-enactments going on. We didn't get to watch one, but saw them from a distance.

We did buy the tape (that's how long ago it was!) that you listened to while you drove around seeing the sights/memorials. It was supposed to be a 1-2 hour drive, but we stopped at almost every place so it took a long time and we never did finish the tape.

We stayed at the KOA Campground right in Gettysburg and it was amazing.If you're a camping family I highly recommend it. They have the cabins as well if you want to semi-rough it, although I would never say staying at a KOA was roughing it

I've always said I want to go back there, we just haven't made it yet.

 

[PaulaSue]

Sad to say lived near amost of my life and don't respected it like I should. Can you tell I have taken too many school trips to the fields?

I do know July 4th is a BIG weekend with Re-enactors, etc... Book you room NOW if you want to come and be prepared for LOTS of people.

Lots semi close by like Hersheypark/Hershey, Harrisburg, York, Lancaster/Amish.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I used to live in PA but never ever got to Gettysburg. I was thinking of a 3 maybe 4 day weekend considering the drive time. Probably won't do the re-enactment this year. I imagine that'll cost a bit more than usual. Trying to keep to somewhat of a budget.

 

[monkeyboy]

As a history buff it was one of the best trips (actually several) ever

 

[JEmaryland]

We live very close by to Gettysburg and make several motorcycle day trips every few weeks or so. One thing I must recommend is visiting the newly rebuilt Gettysburg museum and seeing the cyclorama. It is a 360 degree painting of the battle that is over 350 feet around and 42 feet tall. I also agree that camping would probably be the cheapest way to go and there are tons of campsites nearby.

Edited to include link: http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/index.html

 

[Pikester]

Going to Hershey Park and spending some time at Gettysburg at the end of June. Can't wait to hear more about what to do there!

 

[M&N]

They have a double decker bus tour that's great. You can visit Pres. Eisenhower's home. I visited the Lincoln Train Museum my last visit and enjoyed it. The Gettysburg Diorama was interesting when I saw it before. I thought they redid the electric map but I'm not sure.
I would not go around July 4th because of the crowds.
I think 6 hr would be about right...maybe a little more.

 

[ambgoph]

If you want a really in depth tour, hire a tour guide. They ride in your car and take you all around the battlefield and stop at the important spots. I learned things I never knew, I'm a history buff.

Also, take a short trip (15 min. from the battlefield) and visit the Boyds Bear store. It's huge and fun to walk around for an hour or so.

 

[minniebeth]

Subscribing, DS=Civil War buff

 

[manning]

If you want a really in depth tour, hire a tour guide. They ride in your car and take you all around the battlefield and stop at the important spots. I learned things I never knew, I'm a history buff.

Also, take a short trip (15 min. from the battlefield) and visit the Boyds Bear store. It's huge and fun to walk around for an hour or so.

YES definitely. We were there last May with friends and was using the CD tour. I was standing next to a group with a guide at one spot. He went into great detail on what happened.

 

[monkeybug]

I haven't been to Gettysburg yet (we are going in March if the snow ever melts!), but we go to Lancaster a LOT! If you haven't been you should check it out!
They have wonderful working farms that are also bed and breakfasts. For as low as $100 a night you get a great room, a huge farm fresh breakfast, and things like buggy tours, bonfire's, and farm "chores" if you like.
The last one we stayed in the lady told us her neighbor offered guests of the farm the opportunity to have dinner with her family (Amish) for a small fee.
There is also lodging over the shops in Kitchen kettle village, which is really nice.
The Strausburg railroad is awesome. A nice steam train ride through beautiful country.
Dieners is yummy down home PA dutch cooking, and a super value.
Anyway...lot's to check out in Lancaster if you have time to visit.
Have you thought about a ghost tour in Gettysburg? We also frequent Williamsburg, and although neither my husband and I necessarily believe in the paranormal, the ghost tours there are always on our list. So fun, and actually pretty educational!

 

[Pikester]

I've been doing a lot of research on the Ghost Tours and was wondering if anyone had a recommendation. I've heard good things and bad things about all of them. We would be going on a Wednesday night.

Has anyone done the Hall of Presidents and First Ladies?

 

[kilee]

We have been there for trips (we usually go for a week at a time) and are actually looking at going back this summer again.

We stayed at the KOA Campground right in Gettysburg and it was amazing.If you're a camping family I highly recommend it. They have the cabins as well if you want to semi-rough it, although I would never say staying at a KOA was roughing it

This is ALWAYS where we stay too down there. You can truly do the camping thing. We usually rent a 2 room cabin. They have AC. However they even have deluxe cabins that bathrooms and kitchens too. It has a great location and it's on such pretty ground.

You have to do the battleground tour. This can be done by various tour buses or you can rent the tour and play it in your car while drive it yourself. This takes several hours, but it's truly amazing. If you stay at the KOA, they have the tour for your own vehicle right there for rent.

We also like the proximity of it to take day trips to Hershey and Lancaster.

If you like to shop there are great outlets in both Gettysburg and Lancaster is filled w/ them.

For the Ghost Tour we did the Mark Nesbitt one and really enjoyed it. It was not "scary" but the stories were very interesting. I've done a lot of these different ghost tours in many cities and mostly they usually are more about really great historic stories than ghosts. This particular one was way better than any I did in Savannah, and that is supposed to be even more haunted.

We usually go over summer. However, I would shy away from the 4th of July personally. I think it would be great to see the re-enactments. However, it is defintely going to be more crowded at all the attractions and more expensive too. Remember the Battle of Gettysburg was July 1-3 so that is very busy time there w/ events.

They also usually do a big motorcycle even there the second week of July.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

we love Gettysburg. Our boyscout troop is actually camping out on the battlefield in the fall.

 

[Ghstrdr57]

Great, great place. Take some time to do some research on the battle. The unit monuments are amazing. The history behind each one is fascinating. Plan on a couple days at least. Personally, I would avoid the 4th of July weekend. It is too crowded to move and do anything.

 

[Octoberbride03]

We have been there for trips (we usually go for a week at a time) and are actually looking at going back this summer again.




This is ALWAYS where we stay too down there. You can truly do the camping thing. We usually rent a 2 room cabin. They have AC. However they even have deluxe cabins that bathrooms and kitchens too. It has a great location and it's on such pretty ground.

You have to do the battleground tour. This can be done by various tour buses or you can rent the tour and play it in your car while drive it yourself. This takes several hours, but it's truly amazing. If you stay at the KOA, they have the tour for your own vehicle right there for rent.

We also like the proximity of it to take day trips to Hershey and Lancaster.

If you like to shop there are great outlets in both Gettysburg and Lancaster is filled w/ them.

For the Ghost Tour we did the Mark Nesbitt one and really enjoyed it. It was not "scary" but the stories were very interesting. I've done a lot of these different ghost tours in many cities and mostly they usually are more about really great historic stories than ghosts. This particular one was way better than any I did in Savannah, and that is supposed to be even more haunted.

We usually go over summer. However, I would shy away from the 4th of July personally. I think it would be great to see the re-enactments. However, it is defintely going to be more crowded at all the attractions and more expensive too. Remember the Battle of Gettysburg was July 1-3 so that is very busy time there w/ events.

They also usually do a big motorcycle even there the second week of July.

Dh and i have never done the camping bit. I haven't actually camped since Girl Scouts 100 yrs ago I'm looking at the KOA site now and does look nice. We don't have an RV or anything, and lord knows I'm not about to go camping in a tent. So what all would we need if we did the 1 room cabin?

ETA: I see that doing KOA would enable us to bring our dog if we wanted to. Have any of you brought pets?

 

[pauly's girl]

We live about 2 hours from gettysburg and go often just for the day. We have stayed several times too. We love it! The days of the battle, July 4th weekend is very busy. It's good for reenactments. It is alot more expensive though. We were going to go this summer but we decided to go back to disney instead. We will take a day or to and go up anyway.The difference in price was about 60 al night between the last weekend in june and the 4th of july. If you don't mind a motel the travelodge is great right in town!!It has only been there a few years. It is easy to walk to many of the museums from that location. If you have little ones the land of the little horses is wonderful for them. We are always sure to do the zoo it's about 45 mins passed gettysburg in catocotin md but it is a beautiful zoo. Hope this helps ....any questions I'd be happy to help you! Good luck!