Gettysburg Trip

[Deleted member 8452]

Well it's official I will be visiting Gettysburg for the first time this summer in mid July, if anyone has any information or tips to what to see and where to go would be appreciated. I will make sure to take photos and upload them, i may visit some battlefield closer to me this summer as well.

 

[Thepatriot223]

Gettysburg is my favorite place to be. How long are you staying? Don't pay for any of the ghost tours, it's not worth it to me. Definitely have to check out devils den. Whatever you do don't trace the rock that has pnoel carved into it. I'm not superstitious, but that rock has brought me and my wife bad things and now we avoid it like the plague. A good place to park to walk to the town is next to a,little gas station that was closed up a month ago in a big parking lot off of the emitsburg rd as your leaving town. I think it gets overlooked by a lot of people. I guess the parking lot is for a big and il say the best souvenir shop in Gettysburg but its free. Enjoy your visit, i been going for years and still haven't found everything. Oh yeah the Jennie wade house up by the big motel is pretty interesting too.

 

[Nathanb1]

Seth, check out the Traveler's Forum for some great threads on what to see and do in Gettysburg. I mean DETAILED itineraries, links, and all kinds of good stuff. Have a great time. It's just an astounding place.

 

[Deleted member 8452]

I really want to visit the place where my relatives who were in Pickett's Division were on the battlefield (they were in the 56th and 14th Va if that helps!)

 

[Spencer]

a bus or audio tour to get the lay of the land and then visit the welcome center to get information on any and all activities and events that will be taking place while you're there. Ranger talks are great but wear comfortable shows and always have water. You might enjoy dinning in the Springhouse tavern in the Dobbin House. I agree, the ghost tours are kind of a waste and they're everywhere. I think best of all is just to head for the battlefield and pay your respects. It is a place that will truly make you think and experience about every emotion possible.

 

[Nathanb1]

I really want to visit the place where my relatives who were in Pickett's Division were on the battlefield (they were in the 56th and 14th Va if that helps!)

Easy...go to the Civil War Trust website (civilwar.org) and look at the battle maps. You can see the exact position of every relative. And they have lots of excellent links to other info, such as the NPS page.

 

[JerseyBart]

a bus or audio tour to get the lay of the land and then visit the welcome center to get information on any and all activities and events that will be taking place while you're there. Ranger talks are great but wear comfortable shows and always have water. You might enjoy dinning in the Springhouse tavern in the Dobbin House. I agree, the ghost tours are kind of a waste and they're everywhere. I think best of all is just to head for the battlefield and pay your respects. It is a place that will truly make you think and experience about every emotion possible.

I have fun on their ghost tours. I don't necessarily believe the stories, but they're good stories and I enjoy walking around the battle field area at night without a ranger yelling at me.

 

[reading48]

Go to the visitors Center First..and see what is offered.....If you decide to get a guide tour It's well worth the money for 2 hrs....

If Its your first trip...Your going to be blind.....Get a Guide...or an audio tape........I hope you enjoy your first visit...

 

[WesB]

Definitely get a Licensed Battlefield Guide and tell them what units you want to focus on or a particular part of the battlefield. I love the Dobbin House and it has a nice atmosphere for dinner. Like a previous poster said; don't do the ghost tours. A few weeks ago I think there were three ghost tour groups in a row and all of them asked me if we were interested. It was a bit annoying actually, but it is a huge tourist destination.

Also; we always like to walk Cemetery Ridge in the evening when most of the visitors are leaving. For some reason it just has a different and actually peaceful feeling.

Going of the beaten trail is cool too. Walk up Big Round Top, follow some of the nature trails cut out along the park. You can walk down trails through McPherson's wood where the Iron Brigade met Archer's and follow trails down to Willouby's run. There are a ton of trails you can find if you have the time.

Take a few bottles of water with you too!

Enjoy your trip! You will want to go back numerous times!

Take care,

Wes

 

[yankee belle]

Personally, I prefer the audio tour. You can go at your own pace. The guides always seem to rush me.

 

[Pvt_McIntire]

Just a tip that others have not mentioned yet--watch out for ticks. Gettysburg is notorious for them. Use a good bug spray before you go walking around the battlefield.

 

[Deleted member 8452]

i want to do the audio tour so i can move at my own pace

 

[Lauren]

Personally, I have some opinions about segways on the battlefield and what I call the "Disneyfication" of Gettysburg in general...but I digress.

When we were in Gettysburg last weekend, my mom (NOT a CW enthusiast) really wanted to do the segway tour, and my dad and I agreed as a concession to her for joining us on the trip. My moral objections to the whole concept aside, its actually a pretty inefficient way to see the battlefield--far too distracting to segway and listen to a guide at the same time.

Hoof it.

 

[Deleted member 8452]

Lauren I 100 percent agree with you, I dont care if it takes me all day to visit the battlefield, I want to walk, the battlefields like my GGGG uncle did 150 years ago (along with some other relatives) I would rather NOT go to Gettysburg than to tour it in an un-natural way.

 

[JerseyBart]

Personally, I have some opinions about segways on the battlefield and what I call the "Disneyfication" of Gettysburg in general...but I digress.

When we were in Gettysburg last weekend, my mom (NOT a CW enthusiast) really wanted to do the segway tour, and my dad and I agreed as a concession to her for joining us on the trip. My moral objections to the whole concept aside, its actually a pretty inefficient way to see the battlefield--far too distracting to segway and listen to a guide at the same time.

Hoof it.

It is definitely a good way to "drag" those along who'd rather not be there. My wife and I toured last year on a coop scooter. She enjoyed the ride. I enjoyed the tour.

 

[Deleted member 8452]

Got Great News, I was able to convince him to do the walking tour

 

[JerseyBart]

Anyone know why the first week in November is darn near booked solid in many hotels?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

It's either the annual apple festival, or there's something going on at Gettysburg College.

 

[W. Richardson]

Seth,

I know you have already been but here is my late two cents worth........

Walk Pickett's charge up to the Angle and with each step think what those men, those brave men were feeling and enduring.............Step over the wall !...........

Visit John F. Reynolds death site and "Forward, for God's sake forward"................

Take a visit to the "Lost avenue" it is still almost as it was in 1863. Mr. Dean Shultz gave me and my family a private tour a couple years back. He is a very knowledgeable man and has many interesting stories.

Go to the top of Little Round Top, stand on Warren's rock, but don't let the rangers see you...lol....and look out acoross the field for the "gleam of bayonets".............

Visit East Cemetery Hill, stand among Wiedrich Battery and feel the attack and repulse of the Louisiana Tigers as they are driven back in frantic hand to hand fighting.........

Take in the deadly and bloody Wheatfield as it changes hands again and again...................

Take a tour up into the copula and view the view that Buford had out across the 1st days fighting..........For on that day..........."The Devils to pay"..........

But most of all..............Feel Gettysburg, Breath Gettysburg.....

Sorry got carried away. I have visited Gettysburg 4 times and I miss it daily until I can get back again at some point.

Respectfully,

William

 

[Deleted member 8452]

Seth,

I know you have already been but here is my late two cents worth........

Walk Pickett's charge up to the Angle and with each step think what those men, those brave men were feeling and enduring.............Step over the wall !...........


Sorry got carried away. I have visited Gettysburg 4 times and I miss it daily until I can get back again at some point.

Respectfully,

William

I did, I put up pictures on the site too.