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I am going to be visiting Gettysburg in a few weeks. Other than the Devil's Den, Culp's Hill and Little Round Top are there must see points on the battlefield? I am also wondering if there is a spot that gives the best overall vista of the battlefield.
It has been a lifelong dream for me to see Gettysburg. We are traveling to Boston before we fly to Germany in a month and I told my wife that we absolutely have to spend a day at Gettysburg.
Walk to the top of Big Round Top, you'll get a view, plus a good workout.I have been to Gettysburg several times in my life, and each time I learn more.While not Civil War related, take the time to visit the Eisenhower Farm, it impressed the heck out of me.It's like time stopped in 1969 when the ex-president and General died...well, I'm a big Ike fan, so mabye it impressed me more than others.2 dining tips...The Dobbin House, good food in the downstairs pub for lunch or dinner. Good cheap (not a tourist trap) place for lunch is Ernie's Texas Lunch on Rt30/Cashtown Rd a few blocks from the square. Killer Texas wieners.
We ate at the Dobbin house..Good recomondation. Dont forget the town itself, lots to see there as well. I made that mistake, hopefully I will get to go back someday and rectify that.
I only had a day to spend at Gettysburg so I concentrated on the Battlefield. Did get to the top of both Round Tops. One thing I hated was how crowded the battlefield was with tourists and how disrepectful the majority were of the ground they were walking. It was as though they didnt realize the import and sanctity of the ground they trod so blithely. This is something I did not experience at Shiloh last year and it was disheartening. I will say that having now seen the ground, I have much greater respect for the men who walked across that field in Pickett's Charge. that was a fool's errand if ever there was one. I took aout 300 pictures and I will post them somehwere and provide the link once I get set up in Germany, probably a few moths from now. Gettysburg was definitely worth the trip though, it gave me a completely new understanding of the battle that I could not get from books and movies.Ate lunch at a place on the Square that both sucked and cost an arm and a leg. I think $60 for 3 sandwiches and iced tea is a little outrageous.
Speaking of, one of the old trees that was around at the time of the battle was recently cracked in a storm. I suppose it's naturally going to happen even if it's a bummer."Witness tree" at Gettysburg damaged in storm
Scout –I know what you mean about dissing what a lot of us consider hallowed ground. The nice thing about walking to the top of Big Round Top was that since no roads go to it, there were no tourists there, period. ;D.Sorry to hear you got rooked at a restaurant, but that's why they're called "tourist traps". If you are ever there again, try Ernie's Texas Lunch. We will be going there in the fall (my sis just bought a house in Gettysburg). Stumpfoot - glad to hear you enjoyed the Dobbin House as well. the town is OK, interesting old hardware store there that just happens to sell guns ;). Great hobby/model train shop as well. Its like they knew my vices ;D
