When I decided to take my first mom-cation in years, I knew I wanted more than just mindless relaxation. I mean don’t get me wrong, I love some good solo relaxation, but I’m a vacation Do-er…I have to get out and about and explore, learn and do new and different things.
I have a serious interest in and love for history, politics, learning, and travel, so what better way to bring that all together than choosing Gettysburg as my destination.
I spent 4 days touring the battlefield, exploring the Town’s shops, eating delicious food, and yes, relaxing as well.
Now, first things first – Where is a great place to stay in Gettysburg
There are several cute bed and breakfasts worth checking out, but if you’re looking for a hotel, definitely check out the Gettysburg Hotel, located in the middle of all the action in this beautiful historic town.
Most of the rooms are suite style, with a separate bedroom and living room. There are even fridges in case you collect leftovers as you eat your way through town. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my usual walk-through video because I completely forgot until my last day and the room was not video-worthy by that point. However, I can assure you that Gettysburg hotel hits all the high points when it comes to location, service, and overall pleasant accommodations.
Things To Do In Gettysburg With or Without Kids
Take a Tour of the Battlefield with a licensed Battlefield Guide. To be clear, Gettysburg has so much to do, but the absolute best thing to do during a visit to this gem of a place is to take an organized tour of Battlefield. I spent two days touring the entire battlefield with a licensed Guide (pro tip: Request Joe or Brent, they both are absolutely amazing). The best way to ensure you are getting a licensed Guide is to book here.
The battlefield is huge, and there are thousands of monuments. I must warn you that there will be several confederate monuments as well. The Battlefield is like an outdoor museum and it’s curated to perfection. All of the confederate statues were placed in the actual areas they were stationed during the battle. The same goes for the Union monuments.
If you love history as much as I do, I’d say you need to be prepared to learn more than you think, no matter how much you’ve read or are familiar with civil war history. And, don’t be surprised if you get emotional.
As a black woman, descended from enslaved people, I got emotional as a stood atop Little Round Top and one of the people in my tour group read the words Colonel Chamberlain said to his soldiers right before they would fight off the confederacy and ultimately win the battle. It was one thing to watch Gettysburg and see it on screen, but to stand in the very spot they fought for my ancestors’ freedom, was altogether different. It was overwhelming.
Extra Tip: Make sure your guide walks you through Pickett’s charge. It’s less than a mile walk, but totally worth it. It’s an eye-opening account of the poor decision Lee made in his quest to win at Gettysburg. I still don’t understand how history has not shed a more honest light on Lee’s poor decisions (from the confederate’s position) over the course of the Battle.
Tour the internal areas of the Town For more battle history. The impacts of the battle didn’t just stay on the field, the Towns people were impacted as well. As you tour, you will see several buildings that still have bullets lodged into the mortar. Make sure you get the scoop from your tour guide. There are so many interesting stories to be heard.
Gettysburg Foundation Museum and Visitor Center. You can spend countless hours in this place amongst amazing exhibitions. Make sure to get the ticket for the Cyclorama experience as well. You will not regret it. There is a short film and then a 360 degree experience of the battlefield via an awe-inspiring piece of artwork. Read more about the Museum and Visitor Center experience you’ll have here.
Stroll Historic Downtown. There are so many shops, both the cheesy souvenir kind and authentic relic resellers. I loved both types of stores and spent way too much money on a ton of stuff for myself and the family.
In addition to the shops, there are also historic sites and mini museums to visit such as The David Wills House.
While strolling, I started playing a game of “how many Lincoln busts can I spot”. Spoiler alert — There are too many to count. Gettysburg loves Lincoln.
Take in a Show At the Historic Majestic Theater. The theater is beautifully renovated and modernized while still maintaining the historic charm. You can see a current movie or one of the older shows they offer. Lucky for me, the were screening Gettysburg (the movie) during my stay, so I watched it my first night, which was great preparation for my two days of battlefield touring.
Ghost Tours. Gettysburg loves mystery and the mystical. There are countless ghost tours to choose from, and several kid friendly options if you’re taking the whole family. Unfortunately, I ran out of time, but I was so excited to get in on this type of fun.
Delicious Places To Eat In Gettysburg
One of my favorite parts of solo travel is dining alone. There is nothing like dining in peace while reading a good book or scrolling instagram. Here are the yummy places you must check out for some good food:
One Lincoln – This restaurant is located inside the hotel. They are generous with drink orders when you sit at the bar, and the food is perfect after a long day of walking and mentally weeding through history.
The Hoof, Fin & Fowl – This is the town’s seafood restaurant. it did not disappoint. I treated myself to a four course meal and it did not disappoint. Pro tip for the moms: get the blueberry wine. Pro tip for the kids: get the blueberry cheesecake for dessert.
Dunlap’s Restaurant – This restaurant is a bit farther from the center of the Town, but the homey comfort food is worth the mini trek. And, the prices are very reasonable to boot.
LuLu’s Finest Ice Cream – Weirdly enough, there is an abundance of ice cream shops in Gettysburg. Being the ice cream connoisseur I am, I tried at least four of them (one for every day of my visit, of course). Hands down, LuLu’s was the absolute best. And, fun fact, as you’re standing in front of the building, look up and you’ll see a bullet still lodged in the building.
Lincoln Diner – The Lincoln Diner is a super cute traditional diner that has homemade breakfast and lunch options. I only went for Breakfast and the pancakes were yummy.
Overall, Gettysburg was exactly what I needed. There are so many leadership lessons that can be taken from the battlefield and applied in your every day life. While the history of America is often sad and somber to reflect upon, Gettysburg was the reminder I needed that freedom won, so it’s my duty to keep making my freedom count every single day.
I can’t wait to go back and take the whole family next time. My kids have to get in on this amazingly unique classroom of history.
Let me know if you’ve been to Gettysburg and what you would add to this list!
If you’ve never been, definitely add it to your list! It’s a great itinerary for the whole family or just you!
Happy Travels!
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