10 Things To Do In Gettysburg (Besides Visit The Battlefield)

Visitors to Gettysburg, Pa. often don’t realize the many great things you can do here without visiting the battlefield. Of course, I’m not saying you shouldn’t see the bloodiest ground on the face of the earth. I’m just saying don’t stop there and stay. Here are 10 other wonderful things to do while in town:

1. Ski Liberty – Just a couple of miles out of town and slopes for the entire family.
2. Visit the National Apple Museum - Located in Biglerville, just a stone’s throw away from Gettysburg. A must see for the whole family using a pre-Civil War built barn as a museum to honor the nation’s fruit.
3. Eisenhower Farm – Actually located in Gettysburg and one of the favorite sites among visitors to Gettysburg.
4. Take a ghost tour – I think Gettysburg has more ghost tours than we have ghosts. Really. It’s not hard to find a ghost tour in Gettysburg any time of the year. And it’s something you’ve got to do at least once.
5. Eastern Museum Of Motor Racing - Located in York Springs, Pennsylvania near the Latimore Valley Fairgrounds, this museum houses vintage racing cars and memorabilia of one of America’s favorite sports.
6. Go on a scenic train ride - For 75 minutes, or three hours if you prefer, you can take a train tour through Adams County and see the beautiful landscapes from a different perspective.
7. Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival – Like music? Like Bluegrass music? Then you can enjoy great Bluegrass music twice a year at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival. Takes place between Gettysburg and Fairfield in the spring and fall each year.
8. Golf - The Links at Gettysburg is an 18-hole golf course carved out of indigenous red rock formations and meandering streams.
9. Visit Washington D.C. - The nation’s capital is just a two-hour drive away.
10. Ride a Harley – Every year, thousands of bike riders descend upon Gettysburg for Bike Week. You can join them.

There are lots more things to do in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. Don’t wait for an invitation. Plan your next trip now.

George Washington Slept Here

On his way back to Virginia from stomping out the Whiskey Rebellion, which took place in Pennsylvania, George Washington stayed a night right here in Adams County, at Russell’s Tavern.

The tavern is a stone building located on Biglerville Road just at Goldenville Road. The year was 1794.

Russell’s Tavern is the last sight you see on the Scenic Valley Tour, which you can learn more about from the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau. It’s fun ride and takes you by car through a little more than 30 miles of Pennsylvania countryside in Adams County. It truly is a beautiful tour and there are several places where you can get out of your car and walk. When you take the Scenic Valley Tour, be sure to stop and Russell’s Tavern and get a real good look.

Do You Like Apple Sauce?

Adams County Pennsylvania is called Apple Country for a reason. If you want tasty, beautiful apples then this is the place to go. Biglerville, a small town just to the north of Gettysburg about seven miles, is the home of the National Apple Museum. Arendtsville, three miles west of Biglerville, plays host to the annual Apple Harvest Festival and Apple Blossom Festival, held in the Fall and Spring every year, respectively.

Apple season is almost upon us. It will be just around the corner and people will flock to Adams County Pennsylvania to pick, eat, and take home the best apples in the world. You can pick your own apples on one of the many farms here in the county and enjoy the great entertainment offered by the upcoming Apple Harvest Festival. You can even take a scenic drive through the county and view the beautiful orchards from your car. There’s more to do in Gettysburg than just see the old battlefield. If you like apples, come to Adams County Pennsylvania for some grand apples and make your own apple sauce.

Nearest Cities To Gettysburg, Pa.

Two of Gettysburg’s nearest cities with a population more than 50,000 are in Maryland. Frederick, Maryland is the nearest with more than 50,000 and Baltimore, Maryland is the nearest city with more than 200,000 residents. The nearest city with more than 1,000,000 residents is Philadelphia and it’s 144 miles.

Nearby small towns include Biglerville, just seven miles away, Arendtsville, which is almost eight miles, and York, Pa., a good half hour drive. There’s plenty to do here.

Arendtsville is where the annual Apple Blossom Festival takes place. Biglerville is the home of the Apple Museum. And, of course, York has its own historical flavor. Baltimore and Philadelphia likely need no introduction. There is plenty to do in both cities and each has its own historical and cultural significance. What I mean is, fun is just a day drive away. But if you don’t feel like driving, you can always get in trouble in Gettysburg.

Harbaugh-Thomas Library: Mount Vernon In Biglerville

One of the most beautiful buildings in Adams County, Pennsylvania is the Harbaugh-Thomas Public Library. Only a year old, the building is modeled after Mount Vernon, the famous home of George Washington. The name carries the name of two of Biglerville’s most important and traditional families – the Harbaughs and the Thomases.

One unique thing about the library in Biglerville is that it is completely modern. You would not expect it from this little podunk town, but the amenities at the library are as world class as world class can get. The card catalog system is completely computerized and the library offers free Internet usage for the public. They even have their own MySpace page.

The Harbaugh-Thomas Library in Biglerville is not just for residents of Biglerville. If you are a visitor to the Adams County, Pennsylvania area, be sure to stop by and see the beautiful courtyard and the building’s architecture. You can even step inside out of the heat and watch a free movie in the community room.

Address: 59 W. York Street
Biglerville, PA 17307-0277

Phone: (717) 677-6257