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Philadelphia is ripe with history, but anyone who’s stood in the weekend line for the Liberty Bell has probably done it for the first and last time. There’s the National Constitution Center, Betsy Ross’ house and the country’s oldest penitentiary — been there, seen that.
For those looking to get a dose of America’s past this autumn, a 140-mile drive through red, orange and yellow foliage-lined country roads will land Philadelphians in Gettysburg — home of the famed 1863 battle and Lincoln’s address. The town — the largest battlefield shrine in America — relishes a history based on those three fateful days.
Walk the ground where people claim the ghosts of patriotic soldiers can still be felt. Stand and imagine the powerful words "four score and seven years ago …" as they were delivered from our 16th president. Self-guided or expert-led tours are offered to help visitors comprehend the impact of what unfolded on the 40-mile battlefield.
For the pedestrian-challenged, "Ride into History," offered by the National Riding Stables, parades visitors on horseback through a guided battlefield tour and a little more of the 5,700 acres of rolling country field than can be accessed on foot. Bicycles are another form of preferred transportation.
But the town is much more than a historic site. Those with family in tow can spend time at Land of Little Horses Farm Park where entertainment, a petting zoo and other seasonal events such as pumpkin picking will keep tykes busy. The aspiring golfer in the bunch can be put to the test at Mulligan MacDuffer Adventure Golf, whose old-fashioned ice cream parlor and deck provide a relaxing, end-of-the-day treat (but only through October). For year-round fun, Boyds Bear Country, which has been in the area for a little more than 20 years, is "the world’s most humongous teddy bear store," according to its Web site. Inside families can adopt furry companions from the teddy-bear nursery. While family-friendly activities abound, adults can head eight miles west to Adams County Winery, where tannin-flavored festivals and classes with a majestic mountain backdrop offer a bittersweet escape.
"We are nestled into the South Mountain chains, so our vineyards craft the mountainside," Jessica Fogas, the winery’s marketing manager, said.
As if more incentive were needed, the winery also offers holiday-themed events.
"We do Halloween at the winery. We do wine tasting by candlelight with eerie music and have all sorts of potions and concoctions for visitors to have and fun little games," Fogas said, adding the winery also helps out with the Haunted Gettysburg Ghost Walk around locales allegedly rift with specters and the stories that accompany them, for those who don’t want to leave the town.
When ready to delve into our nation’s back pages once more, a visit to the Wills House where the Lincoln Room Museum is located — though currently closed to the public for major restoration and to reopen on an unknown date — allows visitors to see where Lincoln meticulously set every detail of his Nov. 18 speech before reciting it to the public. Or roll back the clock even more and retrace Lincoln’s route from Washington to Gettysburg at the Lincoln Train Museum.
All this history is sure to work up an appetite and by nightfall it’s time to enjoy the fine local cuisine. The Farnsworth House Inn, which boasts an authentically restored dining room decorated with oil paintings of the commanding officers at Gettysburg, offers an array of foods that will surely satiate an army-size hunger. Ranging from game pie to Maryland-style crab cakes, this culinary institution has received approving nods from food-focused national publication Bon Appetite. Or grab a bite at the reservation-recommended Herr Tavern & Publick House, a fine example of American dining ranging from honey-brined smoked quail to a Black Angus filet. If feeling less daring, try Dunlap’s Restaurant for a taste of home-cooked burgers and other hearty fare.
Delaying this westward travel will mean passing up the Fall Studio Tour starting at 10 a.m. Oct. 20, when the Adams County Spirited Ladies open up their shops, studios and galleries to showcase the finest in artisan jewelry, stained glass, painted stemware, floral arrangements, water colors, fiber art, embroidery and more through Oct. 21.
Even if you can’t make it all for fall, Gettysburg offers a full range of entertainment any time of year. Pack up the kids or keep it to just two, but either way enjoy the stress-free ambiance of an earlier time steeped in the rich history of America’s past.
