A few weekends ago, my friend Sheri and I took a 6 hour roadtrip from Columbus, Ohio to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was our first time visiting this historic landmark, and we had a wonderful time. There is so much to see and do, no matter what your interests; history, shopping, breweries, ghosts…Gettysburg has it all! Read on for my list on the top things to do with a weekend in Gettysburg.
Tour the Gettysburg Battlefields
When you think of Gettysburg, you probably think of the battlefields of this infamous Civil War site. The Battle of Gettysburg occurred over July 1-3, 1863. Over 6,000 acres are accessible to visitors, who can tour a multitude of ways. There are park-ranger led tours group tours, tours on horseback, bus tours, segway tours, or tour it on your own with an audio guide. Or tour it the way Sheri and I did- via a licensed personal guide. Visit the website to determine the best way for you to visit, to purchase tickets, to see maps of Gettysburg and to plan your trip.
Some of the iconic Gettysburg Battlefields to tour are The Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Little Round Top and Cemetery Ridge. Check out my blog post all about touring the Gettysburg Battlefields.
Gettysburg National Military Park
Along with visiting the Gettysburg Battlefields, make sure you stop into the Gettysburg National Military Park. This is the place to start to watch videos about the Gettysburg battles, learn more about the Civil War, and see artifacts of that time.
The National Military Park is also the home of the largest Cyclorama in the US. At 377 feet long, this painting depicts the last battle of Gettysburg. It was incredible to see!
Gettysburg National Cemetery
While in Gettysburg, visit Gettysburg National Cemetery. This cemetery is the final resting place of over 3,500 Union soldiers killed during the Battle of Gettysburg. The cemetery is also the site of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.
Downtown Gettysburg
If shopping is more your speed, downtown Gettysburg is a darling area lined with shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Streets stretch out from the historic Lincoln Square, and there is so much to see and do. There are many stores that feature Civil War artifacts and memorabilia.
Here are some of my favorite places to visit in downtown Gettysburg:
Eating and drinking in Gettysburg
- Ploughman Cider Taproom
Located in Lincoln Square, Ploughman Cider Taproom serves their own ciders and local beers, wine and spirits. They are open every day except Wednesday. I enjoyed a flight of delicious ciders.
- Gettysburg Chocolate Café
Gettysburg Chocolate Café offers coffee, ice cream and of course- lots of chocolate from across the world.
- Fourscore Brewery
Located further down the historic Washington Street, Four Score Brewery was my favorite brewery in Gettysburg. They offer food, and over 14 beers on tap. I loved all the beers in my flight!
- Mason Dixon Distillery
Located in a century-old furniture factory, Sheri and I enjoyed a lunch inside at Mason Dixon Distillery. They offer vodka, rum, whisky, gin and more. They are open from Thursday-Sunday, and they hope to start giving tours again soon.
- Reid’s Winery & Cider House
Gettysburg offers two cideries! Reid’s Winery and Cider offers ciders of the sweeter variety than the aforementioned Ploughman Cider Taproom, and has an outdoor patio where they had live music when we visited. They are open every day of the week.
- Appalachian Brewing Company
Appalachian Brewing Company is another brewery in Gettysburg. They offer food and 9 different brews year-round, as well as some seasonal brews.
- Gettysburg Eddie’s
This baseball themed bar & restaurant is to honor Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and Gettysburg native Eddie Plank. Plank was born 10 years after the Civil War and became the first major league left-handed pitcher to win 300 games. Gettysburg Eddie’s offers burgers, sandwiches, tex-mex, salad, and more.
Historic Gettysburg buildings
It is no surprise that Gettysburg offers lots to see in the way of history. Sheri and I enjoyed strolling the town and taking in the views of all the beautiful historic homes and buildings. Many of the homes bear placards, which indicates that they were there during the Civil War. Some of the buildings are infamous because President Lincoln stayed there when he was in town for the Gettysburg Address, such as the red building below.
Here are some of the highlights of historic homes and buildings you can visit in Gettysburg:
- Farnsworth House / Sweeney’s Tavern
The Farnsworth House is a bed and breakfast, named in honor of Brigadier General Elon John Farnsworth, who led a charge after the failure of Pickett’s charge. The house was built in 1810 and sheltered Confererate sharpshooters during the three day Battle of Gettysburg. Outside, more than 100 bullet holes poke the walls. Inside the Farnsworth House is Sweeney’s Tavern, which features props from the Gettysburg movie. Farnsworth House has been featured on many TV shows, and was a great spot to visit.
- Jennie Wade’s House
The only civilian death during the Battle of Gettysburg, Jennie Wade was in the kitchen, kneading dough to make bread for her sister when a bullet came through the door (pictured below) and claimed her life at the mere age of 20.
Visitors can visit the house, furnished throughout with pieces from the Civil War. Guides, dressed in period attire, tell all about the history of Jennie Wade, her family, and other Gettysburg civilians. There is also a gift shop in the building adjacent to the Jennie Wade house.
- Dobbin House
Dobbin House was built in 1776 by Reverend Alexander Dobbin. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can come to the tavern, restaurant, bed and breakfast, take a tour or shop in the gift shop. It is one of the more popular places to visit in Gettysburg, so you may want to make a reservation in advance.
Other things to see and do in Gettysburg
- Ghost tour
It’s so surprise that Gettysburg offers many ghost tours. Sheri and I did an evening walking ghost tour that led us down the main street, stopping outside of many homes to talk about stories of ghosts that have been spotted. One especially tragic spot was at the building seen here, the National Soldiers Orphanage House, which has stories of the abuse and mistreatment of many Civil War orphans who stayed here.
- Sachs Bridge
We did not get to visit the Sachs Bridge, a 100 foot long covered pedestrian bridge. During the Civil War it was used by both Union and Confederate Armies, but was especially used by the Confederates as they retreated to Virginia after the Battle of Gettysburg.
- Shriver House Museum
Another place we did not get to visit during our trip, but a place I very much want to see, is the Shriver House Museum. Located on the main street in Gettysburg this 1860 restored home teaches visitors all about the civilian side of the Battle of Gettysburg.
- Eisenhower National Historic Site
As if I needed another reason to return to Gettysburg, I did not get to visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site. The Historic Site preserves the farm of our 34th President. Dwight D. Eisenhower and the first lady used this site as their weekend retreat and place to welcome dignitaries away from the hustle and bustle of Washington DC.
Where to stay in Gettysburg
There is a plethora of bed and breakfasts in Gettysburg. However, I can not speak highly enough about the Airbnb that we stayed in while at Gettysburg, the Ertter House. It is a historic home, just off the main strip, and had so much character and charm, as you can see from the photos below.
I hope you found my suggestions for top things to do with a weekend in Gettysburg. I am looking forward to going back to Gettysburg because there is so much more that I want to see and do. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think or share suggestions. Catch you soon!
