Planning a trip to Gettysburg

[dale]

You could try www.Pamplinpark.org

This is a more kid friendly and family friendly Civil War Park. A large variety of interactive activities. It's a place where they try to actually "teach" the Civil War as an experience. I am sure it will much more interesting for four and five year olds and wives as well.

[Amish John]

While you're on the west side of town don't forget to see the First Shot Marker. Probably not 1 in a thousand tourists see it.

http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.co ... stshot.php

When you get to Knoxlyn road you can turn left off of route 30 and park along Knoxlyn Road and CAREFULLY cross route 30, climb the embankment to see the marker. I believe the yard and house where the marker is located is owned by the park service (I think).

[Little Powell]

Excellent. Thanks AJ, we'll make sure and visit that site. Keep the ideas coming guys!

Dale - From what I read on the Pamplin Park website, it looks like the park is open only for group reservations. It's a little unclear, but it says you have to pay $100 and that covers you for a group of up to 10 people..

[dale]

Pamplin Park is normally not open Jan and Feb. The $100 minimum is for groups wishing to attend in the offseason. I think the fee in April will be $10 for adults plus $5 for kids. This park is interesting because it is a private restoration and educational center, not a Federal park. I personally have not been there yet, mostly because I think that it is aimed at the first-time-ever to a battlefield crowd, but it should be perfect for the kids and wife. They train school teachers here in how to teach the Civil War history.

The access to the park is actually convenient from I95-I85.

If you do go to Malvern Hill you will likely take I-295 around Richmond to get there. You will exit at the Rt 5 interchange and go east on Rt 5 until you get to Rt 156. (I think the jaunt down Rt 5 is about 10 minutes from the I 295.) This little jog actually takes you right by the Deep Bottom landing, New Market Heights Battlefields and Shirley Plantation. In other words you will be in a little area oozing with history from 1608 on. Rt 5 itself also has the plantation homes of Presidents Tyler and Harrison and about 10 other fabulous plantation sites. Harrison's Landing is where McClellan camped after retreating from Malvern Hill and where Taps was composed. Have fun!

[Little Powell]

dale wrote:

Pamplin Park is normally not open Jan and Feb. The $100 minimum is for groups wishing to attend in the offseason. I think the fee in April will be $10 for adults plus $5 for kids. This park is interesting because it is a private restoration and educational center, not a Federal park. I personally have not been there yet, mostly because I think that it is aimed at the first-time-ever to a battlefield crowd, but it should be perfect for the kids and wife. They train school teachers here in how to teach the Civil War history.

The access to the park is actually convenient from I95-I85.

If you do go to Malvern Hill you will likely take I-295 around Richmond to get there. You will exit at the Rt 5 interchange and go east on Rt 5 until you get to Rt 156. (I think the jaunt down Rt 5 is about 10 minutes from the I 295.) This little jog actually takes you right by the Deep Bottom landing, New Market Heights Battlefields and Shirley Plantation. In other words you will be in a little area oozing with history from 1608 on. Rt 5 itself also has the plantation homes of Presidents Tyler and Harrison and about 10 other fabulous plantation sites. Harrison's Landing is where McClellan camped after retreating from Malvern Hill and where Taps was composed. Have fun!

Ah, I was under the impression that the changes to Pamplin park were permanent because the park was struggling due to the economy. You can read the announcement here: http://www.pamplinpark.org/press_releas ... Change.pdf

I'll run it by the wife and she if she's interested, definitely looks like fun.

Thanks for the info Dale!

[Little Powell]

Ok, so instead of stopping by battlefields on the way there (we'll be seeing enough of a battlefield in Gettysburg) we've decided to spend the first night in Harpers Ferry.

After a 9 hour drive, it sounds like it'll be a nice place to spend the night, and have a few hours the next day before we head off to the Civil War Buffs playground.

My wife fell in love with it when she saw the pictures, and it just sounds like a great place for the whole family.