Gettysburg with Kids

johnwalkerpa1 wrote:
While I don't have any additional ideas to offer, I do have one caution. The OP mentioned that the trip would be in the spring.

Depending on how early in the spring he is talking, some or all of the ideas mentioned (water park, pools, Land of Little Horses, HersheyPark) may be closed completely or only open a limited number of days/hours.

Just something to keep in mind.

X2. I was literally about to post the same thing.

While I don't have any additional ideas to offer, I do have one caution. The OP mentioned that the trip would be in the spring.

Depending on how early in the spring he is talking, some or all of the ideas mentioned (water park, pools, Land of Little Horses, HersheyPark) may be closed completely or only open a limited number of days/hours.

Just something to keep in mind.

Crowe wrote:
It's a place for adults to go to in order to help understand history

And older children. It's not undoable with younger kids and "mixing missions" is not hard either. I suspect JP isn't the type that would leave his kids when he goes camping. While this trip is probably better left to when the kids are older it's not out of the realm of possibility.

I live close to Gettysburg and I am up there a couple of times a year for special events and I know a couple of good restaurants. It's a rural area. Trust me, there is nothing that a toddler and two 5 year olds would find interesting for more then a few minutes. Depending on the level of inspection you want to take, a couple of days could be spent, looking at monument, walking the battlefield, visiting the museum.

Artillery Ridge does have horseback riding and Drummer Boy has a medium size water park. Hershey Park is about an hour or so away, so there's a day shot. The battlefield is just that, the battlefield. Good for a history buff. For little kids, not so much. You see a lot of teenagers, but you don't see a lot of tykes at the battlefield.

I suspect that Mom would be happier at another destination.

But hey, it's MHO. To each his own.

The world isn't about entertaining little kids and making them happy. Sure, they can get cranky if they don't get their way, but that is the fault of the parents. First, kids need to be taught to behave in all situations, and if they are bored, then just be quiet and patient. Parents today are too focused on making everything perfect for the kids at the expense of their own sanity. Having said that, there are great things to explore at every stop at the battlefield. The OP's kids are too young to understand the history and the military maneuvers, but they are old enough to look at the monuments and point out what they see and how each one is different. They are old enough to go through the museum and the cycloramic painting with things explained at their level. Many great museums around the world have programs just for kids. If a parent chooses to actually parent and teach, rather than just entertain, then Gettysburg will be a place the kids want to come back to.

It's a place for adults to go to in order to help understand history

And older children. It's not undoable with younger kids and "mixing missions" is not hard either. I suspect JP isn't the type that would leave his kids when he goes camping. While this trip is probably better left to when the kids are older it's not out of the realm of possibility.

katleman wrote:
Visited Gettysburg a few years back when my youngest was 9.

As one buff to another, its not a place they will enjoy, without them being interested in the topic. Nor will you get the time to enjoy the site.

Taking my young ones to national parks works really well, or to places that are reenactments or living history. But outside of that, places like Gettysburg are essentially museums.

You are so close, you'll be able to take them again when they are older.

Leave the kids with relatives and just the two of you go for 2-3 days. Otherwise its really just a trip for the kids, that happens to be at Gettysburg.

x2.

It sounds like you are trying to mix missions. Gettysburg is not an amusement park. It's a place for adults to go to in order to help understand history. The five year olds will quickly become bored. If your mission is to make sure that the kids are entertained, go to Hershey Park.

Gettysburg isn't for very small kids, however it's really for those old enough to understand what happened there and why. Even then the person must have a real interest in the Civil War since that's what the whole area is about. My 2cts of course. I didn't take our daughter until she was in middle school and she enjoyed the tours because she was old enough to understand what happened. I took my grandson when he was 10 and he fell in love with the place and wants to go back every year and just walk over the battlefield. Good luck.

Ditto's on Land of the Little Horses.They would enjoy that for sure.We took our grandson there when he was around 5.

Hmmm, I kind of disagree, Gettysburg is almost more a park than a museum.

If I had kids I'd spend a day at the campground swimming, biking, then a half day at the visitor's center. The gun display will surely delight, and take the kids to the movie and cyclorama. The gift shop is very kid friendly.

The final half day take them to the eternal flame peace monument and visit the cannons. Also tell the story of the 11th PA and their mascot dog Sallie. The 11th PA monument is near the peace monument. Head over to Devil's Den, and let them climb around. Then head up to Little Round Top and the overlook tower there.

Have fun.

Visited Gettysburg a few years back when my youngest was 9.

As one buff to another, its not a place they will enjoy, without them being interested in the topic. Nor will you get the time to enjoy the site.

Taking my young ones to national parks works really well, or to places that are reenactments or living history. But outside of that, places like Gettysburg are essentially museums.

You are so close, you'll be able to take them again when they are older.

Leave the kids with relatives and just the two of you go for 2-3 days. Otherwise its really just a trip for the kids, that happens to be at Gettysburg.