Vicky,

Hershey is not much over an hour from Gettysburg, but personally I wouldn't stay there to see the battlefield. To really see it well, plan for at least a full day, although I know a lot of people rush through it in less time. I spent 1 1/2-2 days seeing it and would have loved to have another day. We took our 2 year old to Hershey Park one evening, and she loved it. I haven't been there during the reenactments yet, but my guess is that it will be jam packed with people. It was crowded when we went in mid-October last year, but not overly so on weekdays. There is a way to see any tourist site (popular with photographers but not most tourists) - get up early and stay out late. The battlefield is open at all hours, and you can see it with fewer crowds. I bet your kids would love Little Round Top first thing in the morning. I second the vote to add Antietam battlefield (very authentic, easy to see in half a day, and not very far away). I have seen some reenactments at Gettysburg (just camps and demonstrations on a small scale) and saw a major encampment elsewhere. Camps are nice. From what I have seen from photos, the battle reenactments look pretty interesting, but if you don't want crowds just watch the movie "Gettysburg" and go on another date (weekdays preferred). See the map presentation, and allow a couple of hours for the visitor center displays. If you want to read one good history on the battle that is fairly short, accurate, and great reading, take a look at "Stars in Their Courses" by Shelby Foote. I have detailed travelogues and photos from Gettysburg, Antietam, and a few others on my Web site at www.oneeyed.homestead.com.

Hi Vicky,

My parents took me and my three sisters to see Gettysburg when we were in our early teens and to this day I still remember the eerie feeling of walking on "hallowed ground" across the deserted foggy fields, and especially seeing two bullets in the museum that had collided in mid-air. That symbolic piece of history really made the battle come alive to me. I think it is great that you are taking your boys there. (We also loved Hershey, Pennsylvania). Have fun!

Vicky,
Your trip is just right for one of the trip planning software packages. They are really great.

We have most of them (don't ask!) and like Delomre's the best. The 2 package version has been on sale at Costco / BJs for a great price.

Your kids can do all the work on the PC - to get them involved and excited.

The software will let you plan many 'what ifs' to see how long it takes to go from point a to b; scenic and shortest times; nearby attractions, plus give very precise directions that are (normally) good and fun. Take your laptop with you.

The program is extremely accurate on driving times and finding the quickest way to go. I am always surprised.

There are many choices in how you get to southern PA from Boston. The software will really give you a good feel how much longer or shorter it will take if 1) you go west then south, or 2) head south then west.

You can also 'avoid' areas. Just use the program to choose the highways or cities (e.g., NYC) you don't want to traverse.

Also, Wal*Mart sells an Interstate Exit Guide for $8.xx that lists all the 'stuff' on most of the major exits. Although the trip software may do the same thing, you really need a book to see where the next "Taco Bell" is if you kids have a craving for that little dog's food. hehe

Thank you for all the awesome ideas. We are planning on being in G'burg from Saturday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon but spending most of the day Sunday watching re-enactment.

Is that enough time to see everything? We could steal a day from the Amish leg of the trip if G'burg is more interesting, not sure how much the boys will like Amish country- any thoughts?

Hi Vicky!

My husband and I went to Gettysburg in August. We highly recommend the CD Audio Tour. We had a slight problem getting to the 1st stop (you get a map in the booklet provided) but once we were on our way, we had a great time. The tour was about 3 hours we started at 5 p.m. and were done at about 9 p.m. Good thing we had flashlights in our car. Being out there at night added to the experience.

We also went to Amish country and loved it! I'm sure your kids will enjoy it. Lots to do. We highly recommend dining at Good & Plenty in Lancaster. One way of meeting new people (there seating for 12 at one table) it's all you can eat. Pass one the Plain & Fancy (same idea but the food is not as good).

If you have the time, visit the Strasburg Railroad. Strasburg is next town So. of Lancaster. You can take a 1 hour (round-trip) ride. There's a new
museum right across the street. It's enormous since they house older trains of all types.

Saturday to Tuesday is more than enough time. If you want more Civil War, I would definitely plan to visit Antietam as well, or the new National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg (haven't been-I think it is open), or Harper's Ferry (beautiful town), or the medical museum in Frederick, MD. You can see Gettysburg in a few hours, but here is how much I think you should spend at the battlefield area to really see it well:

Visitor Center (including map presentation) - 3 hours.

Battlefield - One full day or slightly more (including the cemetery)

We saw all the first day (July 1, 1863)sites in the last couple of hours of our first day in town, after 2-3 hours at the visitor center and a short trip to the Land of Little Horses for our daughter. The next morning, we covered Culp's Hill and Seminary Ridge. Then we had lunch and picked back up at Little Round Top. Devil's Den, The Wheatfield, and Cemetery Ridge took the rest of the day, along with a late evening stop at Seminary Hill for more photos. We did have a 1 1/2 year old with us, and I am really into photography and the Civil War, so those slowed us a little more than average. The following day we visited East Cemetery Hill and the National Cemetery, before heading to Hershey for the afternoon and evening. On our last morning, we spent 2-3 hours at a reenactment on the way out of town.

Just returned from 3 days in Gettysburg what a wonderful trip beautiful country. We did pay for a battlefield guide ($35 for 2 hrs.) and it was well worth it. If you had a question about anything you had your answer right then and there. Stayed at the Holiday Inn on Baltimore St. worked out well for us (3 women) we were able to walk the town do some shopping as well as visit the "Shriver House" not to be missed. The house was there during the battle and the family that occupied it at the time had a fairly interesting story. We talked with the owner (she was also our guide) who gave us an idea of what the civilians of the town must of been going thru during the time of the battle. Confederate snipers set up a position in the attic of this home and were fired back at by the Northerners evidenced by many bullet holes on the south side of the home. Make sure when you are touring the battlefield that you get out of your car at Devils Den and climb up onto the rocks and see and feel what both armies had to deal with. I can't say enough about this place, the history alone.

Good report.

Did you feel any sense of connection between your Gettysburg visit and the loss of life at the World Trade Center?
I still recall the place I stood when I viewed the bloody cornfield at Antietam. I imagined how all those 23k bodies were 'there'

But now, after 9/11, we are the souls of someones "Gettysburg" one hundred and fifty years from now.

Did you imagine what it took to live with war in the town, like the house your described? All the death and casualties; The birth of the Red Cross. People coming together..

Did you make any comparison, naturally?

I can't imagine anything less like Disney than the re-enactments. We tried to go one year when there had been a lot of rain several days before the 4th of July. The re-enactments are out in fields--no parking lots and no sidewalks. Not that there should be, the battles happened in fields, not in parking lots. But most of what we saw were tractors pulling cars out of the mud. We didn't even attempt to park. I was so disappointed. We did get to hear some cannons going off, and as we were leaving, we circled around on another back road behind the battle--not knowing that that was what we were doing. I looked out across the field and saw troops marching toward where we had come from. It looked so real. I envy you going. We'll have to try it again someday.
Also, try to make it to Harper's Ferry. It's a beautiful town and just as full of history.