Category: Things to Do with Kids

All Aboard: Explore Gettysburg’s Countryside by Rail

When people think about Gettysburg, they often picture battlefields, monuments, and the Gettysburg Address. Few realize the railroad helped shape many of those stories.

Long before visitors arrived for weekend getaways, trains carried soldiers, supplies, journalists, and eventually President Abraham Lincoln to Gettysburg. After the battle, the railroad became one of the community’s most important lifelines, helping transport thousands of wounded soldiers to hospitals throughout the region.

Today, trains tell a different story. Instead of rushing people through Gettysburg, they invite visitors to slow down, to watch the countryside roll by, hear stories from the rails, and experience Adams ... Read This Story

Cozy Holiday Getaways in Gettysburg, PA

By: Rick Kennis

Gettysburg transforms into a cozy winter escape each holiday season, with candlelit inns, festive shopping downtown, and events like A Gettysburg Christmas Festival and the Holiday Tuba Carol Fest. Discover warm hospitality, historic charm, and holiday cheer throughout Adams County.

When the first flakes of snow begin to fall and twinkling lights wrap the town square, Gettysburg transforms into a charming holiday destination filled with warmth, wonder, and tradition. Whether you’re planning a festive escape with loved ones or a solo weekend retreat, a Gettysburg holiday getaway is the perfect mix of history, hospitality, and holiday ... Read This Story

Gifts with a Story: Holiday Shopping in Gettysburg & Adams County

By: Tina Klym-Snyder

This Christmas, if you love Gettysburg, give Gettysburg.

This holiday season, plan a getaway to Gettysburg and discover how giving local makes every gift more meaningful. In the season of giving, what better way to show your love of something than by sharing it? And in Adams County, there’s so much to share. From handmade confections, handpicked produce, and heirloom artifacts to dazzling jewelry, stylish décor, charming pop culture, and immersive gaming, From charming downtown boutiques and artisan shops to countryside farm markets and small-town antiques, Gettysburg and Adams County invite visitors to experience the joy of shopping ... Read This Story

Peace, Pottery, and Produce

By Destination Gettysburg Staff, from interviews with David and Junko Young, November 2025

At the foot of Little Round Top, where history shaped the nation, David and Junko Young and their four sons have shaped something quieter: an oasis of handmade pottery, fresh produce, and peace. Their business, The Lion Potter, a Gettysburg pottery studio and farmstand, blends art and farming in a way that feels both surprising and completely natural. It’s not a gallery. It’s not a farmstand. It’s a place where beauty, nourishment, and stillness meet.

The Lion Potter is a Gettysburg pottery studio and farm stand ... Read This Story

Color Outside the Lines

As seen in the 2026 Destination Gettysburg Getaway Guide

History meets a rainbow of color with the Li’l Lincoln America 250PA Adams County Coloring Contest, a fun, creative way for kids to join the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

Designed especially for young artists, this contest invites children to put their own colorful spin on Li’l Lincoln, complete with flags, ribbons, and patriotic flair.

Entering is easy. First, download or pick up the official Li’l Lincoln coloring page. Then let your child color away—neatly, wildly, or anywhere in between. When the masterpiece is finished, complete the entry form on ... Read This Story

All Hands-On Fun

As seen in the 2026 Destination Gettysburg Getaway Guide

History here isn’t just something you read on a plaque. It’s something you climb, touch, taste, explore, and play. Gettysburg and Adams County are packed with hands-on experiences that invite kids (and curious grown-ups) to step into the story, get a little messy, and make memories along the way. From orchards and museums to nature trails and living history, these adventures turn learning into action and curiosity into discovery.

Hands-On History & Museums

Interactive experiences where kids can step directly into the past.

Sit in the seat of a real WWII vehicle ... Read This Story

History for Kids

As seen in the 2026 Destination Gettysburg Getaway Guide

Family-Friendly Historic Getaways for America’s 250th

Within a few hours’ drive, families can turn a Gettysburg visit into a road trip filled with places where kids can walk, climb, imagine, and ask questions as highlights of American history come to life.

In Philadelphia, families can stroll the same streets as the Founding Fathers, explore interactive museums, and discover how big ideas were born in small rooms.

Washington, D.C.. invites kids to connect the dots between history and today through hands-on museums, open-air monuments, and wide green spaces made for exploring.

Baltimore, ... Read This Story

Elephant-Sized Sweet Surprise

As seen in the 2026 Destination Gettysburg Getaway Guide

Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium

Part roadside attraction, part candy wonderland, Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium in Orrtanna has been delighting visitors for generations. What began in the 1970s as a small confectionery stop has grown into one of Adams County’s most unexpected and joyful experiences.

Inside, shelves are packed floor to ceiling with thousands of elephant figurines of every size, color, material, and personality imaginable, creating a playful museum that surprises first-time visitors and keeps longtime fans coming back. The collection has become a beloved hallmark, ... Read This Story

Family-Friendly Things to Do This Summer in Gettysburg

By Austin Poulson

While Gettysburg is best known for its Civil War history, families quickly discover there’s much more to explore. From interactive museums and wildlife encounters to mini golf and hands-on learning experiences, Gettysburg offers plenty of opportunities for kids to stay engaged while parents enjoy a memorable summer getaway.

School is out and Summer is the perfect time to make unforgettable memories with your kids. While you may not think of Gettysburg as a “Summer Getaway”, this small Pennsylvania town might surprise you. From hands-on museums to outdoor adventures, Gettysburg makes it easy to keep the whole ... Read This Story

Why Gettysburg Should Be Your Juneteenth Destination This Year

By Moellyn Ramos Yetsko

For a town known for a battle about freedom, Gettysburg still holds a lot of stories peoplenever hear.Most visitors come to Gettysburg expecting cannons, monuments, and Civil War historyfrozen in time. They come looking for Lincoln. For the battlefield. For the turning point.And they should.

But if America’s 250th anniversary is asking us to reflect on the story of this country, whofought for freedom, who defined it, who was denied it, and who is still fighting to fully claim it, then Gettysburg becomes more than a historic destination.It becomes a mirror.Because the story of ... Read This Story