Geting around Gettysburg with a fake hip?
 

My husband and I recently moved to Annapolis, MD. My age-50-something parents are visiting from Arizona next weekend (yup, Labor Day weekend), and my dad loves civil war history. My husband and I like history, too. My mom will just have to suffer through. So we're psyched to visit Gettysburg, which, from what I can read, sounds like one of the most interesting and moving battlefields around. My big concern, though, is with my dad's mobility. He recently had a brand spanking new hip installed, and though he says he gets around just fine, I can remember that white, strained look of pain in the poor guy's face when I made him walk around a zoo on our last family outing a few months ago.

I know we can drive through the battlefield at Gettysburg with a real live guide or real live CD. But how enjoyable is that, really, without getting out to climb up the impossible-to-take hills and all that jazz? Are there places where my dad could get out and feel the majesty without having to break a sweat--or the hip? And if there aren't places like that, how quickly will we breeze through the park?

This is pretty much my plan for the entire day. Gettysburg. Then dinner somewhere in PA before we drive back home to Annapolis. If you think we'll have a ton of extra time, should I plan a second outing for that day, like to Antietam (which I hear is even easier to see from a car window)?

Or does someone have a better idea? Day one of their visit I plan to give them a personally guided golf-cart tour of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, followed by a visit to the William Paca House and Gardens in Annapolis, followed by a two-hour sailing tour of the Chesapeake, capped by dinner somewhere fishy and crabby (that's what daddy likes!).

Thanks in advance. I read many previous posts about Gettysburg, and yes, even picked up a guidebook. Nothing seemed to specifically address mobility issues.

The licensed battlefield guides are just amazing. They kept high school kids enthralled for the whole time, so you know they're pretty good.

There are some areas where he might have difficulty climbing, particularly the Little Round Top lookout, but other parts are just gently rolling fields. I'm sure the guides would work with you on this, and even just the "riding through" and listening part would be of a lot of interest to your dad, I'd think.

Best wishes to him...I hope he has a wonderful time!

We've been twice to Gettysburg from, you guessed it! Arizona! One time we were on a tour out of DC and the other time we had our own rental car....both times the guides were absolutely terrific and we could get out anytime we wanted, but could see almost everything from the car/bus. You can get out anytime, stay as long or liuttle as you want, so I would think your dad would have no problems.

We did the Gettysburg thing a few years ago with car CD and were just there college-shopping with our daughter.

I would do the self-tour car CD thing. We found the narration to be fascinating (and I am definitely not a history person) and one could stop/start when you wanted. There are a zillion "stops" along the CD - just skip the ones that look too difficult for walking - most have parking very close.

If he has a disabled placard in his home state (the kind that hangs from rear view mirror) have him bring that - then you can park even closer at each stop.

Now - things you did not ask. Can he get an aisle seat on the plane so that his operated upon leg is the one on the aisle. Then he can stretch it a bit during the flight.

What kind of vehicle do you have - slightly higher cars (think small SUV height) rather than low smaller cars are easier to get into and out of. This will be important since he will be getting in and out quite often at Gettysburg - if it is questionable, consider renting a car for the trip.

The Gettysburg narration had enough non-history stuff to interest most people - how they slept, what they ate, that kind of stuff - not just who planned what battle to shoot whom. So your mother might still find it interesting.

That said, sounds like she is getting dragged thru battlefields and restaurant choice is "just what daddy likes" as well. Not trying to disrupt family dynamics, but there are some really interesting non-chain, non-touristy, local antique, craft and consignment shops just off center of town that might interest her as well.

Just checked mapquest - it is just under 2 hours from Annapolis to Gettysburg. There is no chance you will have any extra time on a day trip - and may even feel rushed.

faile626
We took the drive thru with CD and truly enjoyed it. You can stop at what looks good or keep going. My knees are not good and I had no problems because there's no long distance walking/climbing.

A good place for dinner/lunch before heading back would be the Farnsworth House in Gettysburg. It's historical, the food is good and it even has the bullet holes from the war in it's outside walls. http://www.farnsworthhouseinn.com/

Fodorites rock.

I'm so pleased that Dad will be able to have a good time without popping too many pain pills! He'll have just finished a cruise to Bermuda, so he should be just about as happy as a clam. Mom will probably still be drunk -- err, tipsy -- so she'll be fine dozing in the back of our Vibe while we cruise through a battlefield. Good to know that there are little craft shops in town, too. She likes to quilt and might like to browse a bit.

I'll make live guide vs. CD a game day decision. I hear the guides "run out" on busy days, though, so the decision may be made for us by virtue of my parents' love of sleeping in.

I've heard lots of recommendations for Farnsworth House, but their website isn't that impressive. The pics of their dining room don't make it look terribly authentic. Is that a wallpaper border I see at the top of the walls? And the menu looks like it never changes. Is it truly a good, high quality meal, or just sort of interesting and touristy to sit in a place that was shot up during the war?

When I was a kid you could actually stay in these little cabins on the battlefield. We used to get up at dawn and roam. Went often since my dad and brother were Civil War buffs. A few years ago my sister and I returned and had the private guide and it was wonderful.

Everyone I know who has had a hip replacement operation, is in good condition. If your 50 year old dad says he is in great shape, it is true. I'm sure his previous pain is gone, and the new hip makes his walking much better. You are very considerate to think of him in your planning. Hope you have a great time.

"Is it truly a good, high quality meal, or just sort of interesting and touristy to sit in a place that was shot up during the war?"

LOL! I think that was the main attraction and it's reputation for being haunted. Also,it is very small but I did enjoy our meal, some kind of game stew that was tasty and something we would not make at home.

Just don't forget the Cemetery where Lincoln made his Address. We did and only had time to drive past instead of going in.

I am ashamed to say that when we visited Gettysburg a few years ago, it was 99 degrees in the shade with humidity and we stayed in the air conditioned car with the a/c on high. We used the CD and found it very worthwhile. The kids tried to go out a couple of times but quickly got too hot. Make sure you visit the Visitor Center and do the diorama, should be easy with mobility issues, as it is a ramp no stairs. Can't remember the name of the place we had lunch, but it was in the middle of the town. We found Gettysburg just perfect for a drive in, drive out day trip, very touristy IMHO.

I've toured Gettysburg twice, once in a car and once on a bicycle. You can get close to most of the sites in a car. The map and self-guided tour handed out in the welcome center is pretty adequate, but if you have the interest, James McPherson's short (140 pg) history, <i>Hallowed Ground</i>, will fill in the details. Read it before you go. If you wait until you get back, you'll want to return. Or it might make a nice gift for your father.

Those hip replacements &quot;get better&quot; and a few months can make a lot of difference.

Not only are most of the so-called hills, not all that high (Cemetery Ridge, Seminary Ridge, Cemetery Hill, for example), but even where they are high you don't have to climb all that much. You can walk up on Devil's Den from the level rear side, you can drive right to the top of Culp's Hill, and Little Round Top is not really much of a climb just to get a view (now there and at Devil's Den, more active visitors can climb around some).

I have dined at the Farnsworth House twice. It is not a fancy dining experience. Really the attraction is eating in a historic home and eating &quot;period&quot; type foods, like game and peanut soup. It is not gourmet, but it is good. The Cashtown Inn, which appeared in the movie Gettysburg, is a similar place on the outskirts of town on Confederate approach route, but Farnsworth is better for a short visit.

While it is possible to do Gettysburg and Antietam in a day, I wouldn't recommend it. Antietam is a great place to visit though. Have a good time!!

Hi all,

Went to Gettysburg with the fam yesterday. Dad's hip isn't really very good. Neither is his knee. Or his shoulder. Or his heart. He kept popping pain pills all day. He's sort of in decline, I'm afraid. He was even having trouble sitting in the car during the auto tour.

So we bought the two-hour tour CD and listened to every second. It amazed us how accessible everything was -- and how small the &quot;hills&quot; and &quot;ridges&quot; were. Our minds were blown by the thought of walking in straight lines up a hill to be shot to pieces by the defenders sitting on top, or blown to bits by artillery from a mile away. I suppose the defenders were occasionally routed, like on ... Oak Ridge? -- and pushed off their little hilltop, but man!

We also arrived barely in time to witness an artillery demonstration by a great group of reinactors. Super loud, very informative, probably the highlight of the day, and a great way to start the tour. If you get the chance to see any sort of demonstration, be sure to do so.

The audio tour was generally well-paced and informative, but by the time we hit Auto Tour stop 15, the last stop on the tour before the cemetery, the narrator had a ton of battle left to summarize. Unfortunately, our attention wandered, and dad almost fell asleep. Or passed out from pain pills, whichever. So after a short jaunt through the cemetery, we headed back home to Annapolis rather than trying to eat at Farnsworth Inn, though that did sound like it would have been a fun time. Dad woke up and was his usual jovial self on the drive home, thankfully.

All in all, a great day. The park was more accessible than I could have hoped -- perhaps more than I do hope for, because I hate to think that all those cars and footprints are damaging such sacred ground. My mom kept on saying that she wouldn't be surprised if it was shut down to everything but formal bus tours in a few years. But, it was heartwarming to see so many interested Americans and, perhaps, foreigners, visiting something other than Hershey Park.

faile - it is distressing to me that your father, who you describe as 50 something (my age as well) is &quot;in decline&quot;. I am guessing you must be 20-something and even from that perspective, 50 should not appear ancient. I hope he is getting competent medical advice because what you describe would be more reasonable in someone decades older than he is.

On the Gettysburg topic - interesting to me that you mention sacred ground - a term easy to throw around, but for me nothing has felt more fitting to the term than Gettysburg. I remember standing on a battlefield and almost feeling the blood and spirits of the hundreds of young men who had died there - an incredibly spiritual experience.

Glad at least some aspects of the trip went well.

We just got back from Gettysburg and loved our stay. We too did the auto tour and loved it. We could get out anytime we wanted. Then there was a delightful, small town, parade that was great fun. We stayed at the Farnsworth Inn which we found out was haunted. We even went on the haunted tour and slept like babies all night anyway. The ghosts managed to leave us alone all night. In fact, we slept better than we had slept in a long time. Probably all the walking around and late hours. I would stay here again in a heartbeat. The facility was charming, food was good and staff were wonderfully fun. They really get into their history. Some of the other guests actually come to try to have encounters with ghosts and are a little over the top about it. If I had know of the hauntings, apparently 14 ghosts reside here, we may not have stayed here...but as it turned out it was a great place to stay. Lots of fun and historical.