<p>We’re planning to go in a few weeks. I’ve sorted out our itinerary in a general way–really like the option of having an official guide drive our car for a two hour tour–but I’m wondering if anyone who has been in the area for sightseeing or college visits has any insider info to offer on the area, anything from don’t-miss eateries to worthwhile nearby attractions (the Utz potato chip factory tour certainly has some appeal…).</p>
<p>We enjoyed visiting Eisenhower’s house–you take a bus from the battlefield visitor center.</p>
<p>I took a walking tour with a ranger, who was very knowledgeable. IIRC, it was free and I could reserve a spot online.</p>
<p>Visit the Intercourse Pretzel Factory in Intercourse, PA (I kid you not!)…you can learn how to twist a pretzel and get some delicious samples! 
</p>
<p>When I went with a friend a few years ago from his place in the Philly area, we planned it so could hit as many of the sites on the Gettysburg battlefield site as possible in one day. </p>
<p>He had a car and we used that to tour all the sites from arrival at 10 am till around a bit before 7 in the evening. While it can be exhausting and a manic pace for some, we ended up visiting every site on the tour map without feeling rushed. </p>
<p>Even ended up getting an impromptu car tour of Gettysburg College when we took a wrong turn and decided to drive around the campus. </p>
<p>It’s better if you can stay for a few more days so you can ease up on the pace, have the option of not going when it gets really hot around noon/early afternoon, and visit other interesting sites in the area. </p>
<p>We bought the (Amazon) CD guide to Gettysburg (Battlefield). You just pop it in your car CD player and take off. We liked it because we could go at our own pace and skip sites if we weren’t particularly interested… then stop for a snack and linger for as long as we wanted at other sites or even stop for a picnic lunch (which we did). And the CD guide is much cheaper than having the paid guide in the car or riding a tour bus. Most importantly, don’t miss going into the museum. It was so interesting. You could stay there for hours. DH loved the battlefields but honestly I enjoyed the museum more.</p>
<p>I went with my younger son on his school field trip and loved it. Of course, they had a big bus with a tour guide. We also went to the Cyclorama which was fascinating. I would recommend reading up, looking at maps etc beforehand because the battle was very complex.</p>
<p>I’m actually reading a recent book on the battle to prep for the experience–and oh my, yes, complex doesn’t begin to describe it—and Iplan to watch the 1993 movie to get a bit of visual fix. I agree that the Cyclorama will be helpful. Looks like we’ll visit the museum one day and the battlefield the next. Despite the cost, the personal tour appeals to me since we’ll be able to ask questions and delve deep when we want to, and it will be a kick for H, who is a Civil War buff. </p>
<p>Potato chips vs. pretzels–decisions, decisions!</p>
<p>Any ideas for non-touristy food?</p>
<p>I was going to suggest that you watch the movie, but you beat me to it. I highly recommend the book The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara, upon which the movie is based. But I’m willing to bet you’ve already read it. :)</p>
<p>We did a Segway tour, guided by an official Park ranger. Very good, and there’s something about gliding through the fields silently.</p>
<p>For small,but delicious, cupcakes
Gettysburg Cupcake Cafe
430 Baltimore St,</p>
<p>We went last year during the 150th anniversary festivities. We only had the one day. By some miracle, we got a Battlefield guide—to drive our car—without a prior reservation. We really enjoyed it. She was very knowledgable and we had an awesome personalized tour on a very hot, incredibly crowded day. She made sure we made the most of the time we had and her knowledge allowed us to avoid the worst of the crowds and still have a meaningful tour. We also visited the museum and Cyclorama before our tour time. The museum is excellent and the cyclorama is not to be missed. We didn’t explore the surrounding area since we just had a day, but we’d love to go back sometime. We did drive back to Philly through Amish country and stopped at a roadside tourist trap as well. :-)</p>
<p>I was also going to suggest Killer Angels (and the movie). The book, particularly, really does a great job of making the whole complexity clear, which is not easy since the battle moved from day to day and covered a great deal of ground. The book was my son’s favorite for many years–and he watched the movie an amazing amount of times; when he was nine, he could recite and act out long speeches from it.</p>
<p>Depends on the individuals, of course. H is history buff. He had us do the museum, bus tour and cd with our car tour over 2 days. He would have stayed longer, but we had to get to my conference. I was ready to leave anyway. :)</p>
<p>We did a battlefield tour on rented bikes with an outfit called Gettys Bike. They use certified (I think that’s the term) battlefield guides and you ride around with just your group (in our case me and my kids) and the guide, stopping to learn about what you are seeing. I thought it was very well done.</p>
<p>“Killer Angels” is one of the few books that made me cry. The friendship and affection between Armistead and Hancock just killed me…</p>
<p>The battlefields at dusk are hauntingly beautiful.</p>
<p>Yes!!!</p>
<p>Museum is a must see. Devils Den, under Little Round Top, a must see too. Doing Pickett’s charge and imagining the courage that it took to hike across an open field towards the dug in troops on the higher ground as they poured down cannon and gun fire is quite an experience as well. We always found both the Marriot and the Wyndam to be very clean and friendly places to stay. Many good places to eat in the area and we found that it pays to go just a little off the usual dining hours to avoid the lines a good idea… Best of luck to you, enjoy! </p>
<p>Thanks so much, everyone. This kind of prompt, helpful and kindhearted response is why I still frequent the CC forums even though I no longer have anyone in college. Now if you could all just pray for moderate temperatures and no rain in Pennsylvania for the weekend after next?</p>