Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Scavenger hunts, horseback rides, train rides and haunted ghost trails bring U.S. Civil War history to life for families traveling to historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Many creative tours are offered for children visiting Gettysburg, the site of the epic battle in which 51,000 soldiers lost their lives and where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address.
The National Park Service engages children through an interactive, one-hour program from mid-June through mid-August. Visitors age 7 to 12 "enlist" in the Army and learn about the daily life of a Civil War soldier. Another hands-on activity for children is the Junior Ranger Program, which challenges young visitors to earn rewards by answering questions at key Civil War sites. At the Gettysburg National Park Visitors Center, ask for the junior rangers' activity guide.
Gettysburg National Military Park
1195 Baltimore Pike
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 334-1124, ext. 8023
nps.gov/gett/forkids/index.htm
Seeing the Gettysburg battlefield on horseback provides a memorable experience for novice and experienced riders alike. At Artillery Ridge Camping Resort, riders choose from one-hour trail rides or two-hour history tours, with overnight camping available. For horse owners, Artillery Ridge has equestrian boarding and two-hour private tours for up to 25 riders.
Artillery Ridge Camping Resort
610 Taneytown Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 334-1288
artilleryridge.com/horseind.html
Storytellers in period dress reveal spooky tales of Civil War hauntings during a candlelight walking tour of some of Gettysburg's historic locations. Children wear glow bracelets and hunt ghosts, using special electromagnetic field detectors--the same kind used by professional ghost hunters. The family-friendly tours cover about half a mile. Dinner tours are available.
Civil War Hauntings
237 Steinwehr Avenue
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 752-5588
cwhauntings.com/location.htm
At the Lincoln Train Museum, families ride a simulated train with President Abraham Lincoln, experiencing the sights and sounds of his 1863 trip from Washington, D.C., to Gettysburg to deliver his famous Gettysburg Address. The train ride rolls through the Civil War countryside and has audio broadcasts of Lincoln's personal thoughts. The museum also houses 1,000 trains and dioramas explaining the role of the railroad during Civil War times.
Lincoln Train Museum
425 Steinwehr Avenue
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 334-5678
gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com