Day 1

When you first arrive to Gettysburg Friday afternoon, you may be looking for an overview of the battle. Begin with a trip to the Gettysburg Heritage Center – Museum for an orientation experience beginning with a 20-minute movie showcasing the major events of the battle, followed by a museum offering civilian and soldier perspectives, artifacts, 3-D photography and hands-on fun. Or see the entire 6,000 acre battlefield at one time with a visit to the Gettysburg History Center’s Gettysburg Diorama. Over 20,000 hand-painted miniatures bring the battle alive.

For dinner, we recommend a visit to your first stop along the Adams County Pour Tour, Appalachian Brewing Company – Battlefield. It’s just down the road from both museums, and you can get your Adams County Pour Tour passport stamped for sampling their hand-crafted beer and spirits. Give their Bay and Beer Flatbread or Mile High Meatloaf a try.

End your night with live music at Knob Hall Winery – Tasting Room. They stay open late, bring in amazing local talent and produce a variety of wines to suit your palate.

Day 2

If you’re an early riser, take a sunrise walk at Gettysburg National Military Park. Reflect on what you’ve learned about the history of Gettysburg and imagine what it was like to be a soldier marching on these battlegrounds in 1863. We promise, you won’t regret waking up early for such a poignant experience.

Head to Ragged Edge Coffeehouse or Gettysburg Baking Company for a cup of coffee and some breakfast. Now that you’re downtown, you can choose from several stops along the Adams County Pour Tour and some sprinkle in some museums and historical attractions for a full day of exploring. Sample the sweet wine of Adams County Winery – Gettysburg Wine Shop or choose from wine, cider, beer, spirits and mead at Mount Hope Winery at Gettysburg. Consider a stop at the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station where President Lincoln arrived when he visited Gettysburg. Or head to David Wills House where he stayed during his visit to Gettysburg and put the final touches on the Gettysburg Address.

Next, head down Baltimore Street for a wine tasting at J & P Winery or a cider flight and more wine at Reid’s Winery: The Cider House. Mix in a trip to the Shriver House Museum or The Rupp House for stories of the civilians who lived in Gettysburg during the battle. Also check out the Gettysburg Museum of History for an eclectic mix of artifacts from the Civil War, World War II, and other prominent historical occurrences.

End with dinner at Battlefield Brew Work/Spirits of Gettysburg Distillery. Located in a PA Dutch brick end barn built around 1848, this brewery and distillery has a history of its own. The barn was one of Gettysburg’s largest Confederate field hospitals after the Battle. Today, tasty craft brews and refreshing cocktails and spirits are produced inside.

Or head to nearby Abbottstown, Pa. for dinner at Center Square Brewing. President Eisenhower was a guest at the dining room upstairs – but we recommend dining at the brewery downstairs and adding a flight of their one of a kind beers to your dinner.

Day 3

Before departing on Sunday, a stop at Mason Dixon Distillery for Sunday Brunch is a must. Pastrami Hash, Raisin Pecan French Toast, Short Rib Eggs Benedict… have your pick and if you aren’t driving, pair it with a Bloody Mary made with their own vodka. The grains used to produce Mason Dixon’s spirits are grown right on the historic Gettysburg battlefield – the perfect ending to your Taste of History Gettysburg trip.