Things to do in Gettysburg

[Hanover]

Thanks for all the ideas. I have lived about 1 hour from Gettysburg for 8 years and have yet to do much there. Plan on taking my parents when they visit this summer.

I love the idea about the train exhibit. DD9 was just saying about taking Poppy (my dad) to Lancaster to see trains (which DH and I did with her last summer) since he loves them. Now it will be new to everyone!

Your dad would probably love the historic Gettysburg train station where Lincoln arrived before he gave the Gettysburg Address. It's on Carlisle St.

 

[OHJulie]

We were in Gettysburg last Fall and had a great time. We loved the battlefield tour that we followed on CD and also the Cyclorama at the visitors center.

We also did Lincoln's Lost Treasure and had so much fun! You get to go to different shops and meet some really interesting characters. Let yourself get into the theme and you will have a wonderful time.

 

[WaltsMartini]

Here's a link to the guided tour cd that we used:

http://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Expedition-Guide-Travelbrains/dp/0970580908/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336787530&sr=8-1

You can buy it for about $15 on Amazon. The CDs can also load into your home computer for "exploring," and maps and guides are included as well. It is well worth the price - we also have the guide for Antietam, though that tour didn't take nearly as long.

There is also a house tour in downtown Gettysburg done by people in period costume - I thought it sounded cheesy but it was GREAT.

http://www.shriverhouse.org/

It talks about Gettysburg from a civilian perspective, specifically the Shriver family, whose daughter kept a diary detailing the events that took place in town during the battle. At one point the guide reads from a letter saying that they watched the soldiers march down the road from the attic window, and they have you look out the same window in the attic and down the same road - pretty neat.

Finally, if you have time, the Civil War museum is about 45 minutes from Gettysburg in Harrisburg. The museum is VERY well done and walks you through the entire war.

http://www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org/

 

[tlh0726]

definitely make stops and get out and explore.
walk across the field at Pickett's charge. It makes me tingle everytime.



to all the local DISboarders
Littlestown here!

 

[gk90]

One of the best budget experiences in Gettysburg: the free Park Ranger tours. The rangers were very friendly and informative.

 

[magicaddict]

So glad I stumbled across this post since we'll be doing a day trip to Gettysburg this summer. Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions.

 

[Ginny Favers]

Wow, this is awesome luck! I was just invited to speak at the PA Library Association's annual conference there this year and was thinking about making a weekend trip out of it. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[gillenkl]

We have done all the things others have mentioned....love the exhibits in the visitor center. We also rode over to Cunningham State Park and hiked to McAfee Falls after spending a few hours at Catoctin Zoo - really liked this zoo!

 

[paminpa]

There are 2 free monthly publications that list all the events taking place in Gettysburg and the surrounding area- pick it up at many places in town- probably visitors center too.
There is a trolley that runs between many tourist attractions including the Visitor center - where you can also get a bus to the Eisenhower Farm ( President Dwight Eisenhower"s home)
Lots of good restaurants in town- many small family run- El Costeno, Ernies as well as the chain restaurants- Ruby Tuesday, Friendly's, etc.

 

[wvjules]

We went to dinner at the square in Gettysburg 2 weeks ago. It was my first time actually downtown. I can't wait to go back and spend the day in the town so don't skip that.

The day we went to Gettysburg for dinner I had spent the morning/early afternoon near Antietm. I where I live.

 

[ctinct]

There are 2 free monthly publications that list all the events taking place in Gettysburg and the surrounding area- pick it up at many places in town- probably visitors center too.
There is a trolley that runs between many tourist attractions including the Visitor center - where you can also get a bus to the Eisenhower Farm ( President Dwight Eisenhower"s home)
Lots of good restaurants in town- many small family run- El Costeno, Ernies as well as the chain restaurants- Ruby Tuesday, Friendly's, etc.

Where exactly is the Friendly's in town? I've tried to find it a few times but my GPS sends me everywhere BUT to Friendly's.

Also, to anyone visiting who has students in high school, you might want to check out the college. I overheard a conversation in the dining hall during Parents Weekend. One parent was asking a young man at his table how/why he chose Gettysburg. The young man said his family was on vacation and they heard there was a college in town. They swung by on a whim, he loved it, and he ended up attending. Hey, you never know.

 

[Octoberbride03]

OH gosh, can't remember the name of the street, but its the street that has all the little shops and the Dobbins Inn. You just keep going up and its just past the McDonald's. Easy Peasy

 

[Gorechick]

Love, Love. Love Gettysburg! Went as a kid in the early 80's, driving with my Dad in his brown Granada up the Chambersburg Pike and renting a cassette tape player and tape for the car audio tour. Memories...

 

[Hanover]

Where exactly is the Friendly's in town? I've tried to find it a few times but my GPS sends me everywhere BUT to Friendly's.

Also, to anyone visiting who has students in high school, you might want to check out the college. I overheard a conversation in the dining hall during Parents Weekend. One parent was asking a young man at his table how/why he chose Gettysburg. The young man said his family was on vacation and they heard there was a college in town. They swung by on a whim, he loved it, and he ended up attending. Hey, you never know.

It's a really beautiful, very good college---but beware it has a $55 K price tag each year.

 

[Hanover]

OH gosh, can't remember the name of the street, but its the street that has all the little shops and the Dobbins Inn. You just keep going up and its just past the McDonald's. Easy Peasy

It's on Steinwher Avenue. We had one in our mall in Hanover, but it closed in the last 6 months. So far the one in Gettysburg has stayed open.

 

[ctinct]

OH gosh, can't remember the name of the street, but its the street that has all the little shops and the Dobbins Inn. You just keep going up and its just past the McDonald's. Easy Peasy

It's on Steinwher Avenue. We had one in our mall in Hanover, but it closed in the last 6 months. So far the one in Gettysburg has stayed open.

Oh, thanks! I know exactly where you are talking about. My GPS must have had the wrong address, because it didn't send me anywhere near there.

 

[ctinct]

It's a really beautiful, very good college---but beware it has a $55 K price tag each year.

Yes, but Gettysburg is known for really good financial aid. I am paying pretty much my calculated federal EFC. It is actually cheaper for my daughter to attend there than it would have been at our state flagship, and she got a full tuition scholarship at our state school. What's important when looking at colleges is % of need met. She also applied to several other schools that were cheaper on paper, but would have ended up costing us over $20000 a year, which was not at all feasible.

It certainly IS pretty, isn't it? She loves it there!

 

[Octoberbride03]

It's on Steinwher Avenue. We had one in our mall in Hanover, but it closed in the last 6 months. So far the one in Gettysburg has stayed open.

THANK YOU!

Drove me nuts trying to think of it. Been more than a year since we visited but i can still see everything in my head, EXCEPT for the street sign