EVERYONE should make it a priority to visit Gettysburg. For us it was about a 9 1/2 hour drive, most of which was on the turnpike. The trip could be done in a long weekend and here's how I suggest you do it:
Go in mid October when the leaves in southern PA will be at their peak. Leave after school on a Thursday and drive to the Cleveland or Youngstown area. Remember, you'll be on the turnpike and hotels will be a few miles off the beaten path. We didn't plan ahead, so we used the GPS (and my sister by phone)to help us find hotels. On Friday, rise early and get on the road even if those kiddos are complaining, you don't want to waste any time.
Once you arrive on Friday, go to the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg on Baltimore St. and get a room. (This is just a suggestion, but we found it to be conveniently located and a nice place to stay. It was only $80 a night.) Drop off your stuff and walk around the town, making note of places you'd like to visit or eat over the weekend. If you like pizza, try Tommy's Pizza which is just a couple blocks from the hotel or this would also be a good night to eat at the Dobbin's House.
Saturday morning get up and head to the Gettysburg National Military Museum around 9:00a.m. and reserve your personal tour guide. Either take the tour then or spend 2-3 hours in the museum and then take the battlefield tour with the guide. The battlefield tour will take 2 hours. At some point, get some lunch. We bought picnic food and made sandwiches to take to the battlefield. Spend the afternoon at the battlefield exploring on your own.
On Sunday, visit museums and places in town. I'd recommend touring the Shriver House, visiting the train station where President Lincoln arrived, visiting the David Wills house where President Lincoln spent the night and eating at the Dobbins House at some point. The rest is personal preference. There are plenty of places with interesting relics from the battle which we found fun to look through. And of course, there are ice cream shops.
On Monday drive straight home and wah-la, you have just given your kids an amazing lesson in American history that they, and you, will never forget.
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