5 Best Sights in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Pennsylvania

There are few American landmarks as moving as Gettysburg National Military Park, where General Robert E. Lee and his Confederate troops fought and lost to the Union forces of General George Meade from July 1 through 3, 1863. More than 1,300 mournful and inspiring markers and monuments honor the estimated 7,058 soldiers killed in the battle. Thirty-plus miles of marked roads lead through the 6,000-acre park to key battle sites; you can traverse them by driving, bicycling, or hiking yourelf or with a licensed guide, or via guided bus tours. In the first week of July, Civil War reenactors dress in period uniforms and costumes to commemorate the three-day battle.

Built in 1889, this indoor farmers' market gave a new home to the city's original open-air market, in operation since 1742. The grand Romanesque building is a city fixture as a place to shop for fresh produce, meat, flowers and baked goods, most of it from the county's farms. In addition to Amish and Mennonite staples like Lebanon bologna and chowchow, there are stalls selling globally inspired prepared foods, from pierogis to Puerto Rican empanadas. It's open 6 am--3 pm on market days (Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday).

The farm residence of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who bought it in 1950, was a weekend retreat and a meeting place for world leaders. The property adjoins the battlefield and the brick-and-stone farmhouse is preserved in 1950s style. Free home tours are conducted Thursday through Sunday, and seasonal walking tours of the farm are offered once a week.

Also known as Soldiers' National Cemetery, this is the final resting place for more than 3,500 Union soldiers who died on the battlefield. Dedicated by President Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address, the cemetery is also where some 3,000 veterans of subsequent conflicts were laid to rest. A stroll through the beautiful grounds past row after row of white grave markers is a sobering reminder of the cost of war. 

Stop in at the winery's tasting room to sniff, sip, and savor the Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and other wines produced at the northern edge of Lancaster County. Fruit wines (elderberry, plum, and others) are a specialty, and mead is another. The centerpiece of the estate is the curious Federal-Victorian mansion and its formal gardens, flanked by medieval-style crenelated towers. Also on the grounds are the winery's Swashbuckler Brewing Company, Spirits Distilling Company, and Lancaster County Cider, so most every category of adult beverage can be had here. Each summer the estate hosts the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.