Okay, spooky sibs, grab your paranormal pals and be ready to book your trip to Gettysburg! Gettysburg is THE place if you want to experience the spooky, while also learning so much history in the process! I’m going to tell you all about our long weekend trip and places that you need to see, eat at, and stay!

*Photo from: Beth Lawson personal collection*

Lodging

To start, I booked our party of 3 a stay at the Inn at Lincoln Square, specifically the Sarah Danner townhouse. Even though myself and my two spooky pals are all about the paranormal, I didn’t intend to set us up to stay at a haunted place all weekend, but that’s what ended up happening! The whole stay, I heard footsteps, thumps, felt like someone was watching us, and dealing with a shower ghost. The shower ghost decided to take their ghostly hand and push the shower curtain in on me one evening while in my most vulnerable state! Also, there was the 2am woman screaming bloody murder that was a tad unsettling, especially after a paranormal investigation and on the cusp of sleep (but that came from a spirit from the street outside). However, I never felt anything was nefarious and they were just living their best spirit lives.

I know, I know, most people would find a stay like that to be terrifying, but we’re used to it and if you’re here reading this blog, I’m sure you are too! I will also preface this by saying that my friends and I are highly sensitive to spirits in general, so we probably hear and feel more than most. I actually loved the place and I’m so glad we booked there!

One of the best things about the Inn at Lincoln Square was the location. It was in close proximity to restaurants, shops, and a short drive from the main parts of the battlefield and any museum you’d like to visit. Another good perk was the reasonable price of the townhouse, which included a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and plenty of beds. I’d definitely recommend staying there to anyone planning a trip there!

*Photo from: SusanTregoningPhotography.com*

RESTAURANTS

Now on to one of my favorite things to do - EAT! We ate at some really yummy places while we were there! I think my favorite though was the Spring Tavern at the Dobbin House. We arrived around 7:30pm, when they closed at 8. We had JUST made it into town from a long drive. We walked in and noticed it closed at 8 and we stood there talking about other places to go because we weren’t about to do that to them 30 minutes before closing. The hostess kept insisting that we could be seated and they didn’t mind. She was so sweet! So we finally agreed and I’m so glad we did! The little cellar area that you’re seated in is straight out of the Civil War era dreams! I just love how quaint it was! If you love a reuben, they have this AWESOME open-faced reuben that’s to die for! Our waiter was so friendly and when it came to dessert, I had asked for it “to go” to keep from having them stay longer than they had to. He kept offering to let me eat it there because he was in no rush. Of course, I still didn’t take him up on his offer, but he never made us feel rushed at all. Great service and great food!

A few other places that we LOVED:
- Cottage Creperie - Had sweet and savory crepes! Great for breakfast and a sweet treat!
- Gettysburg Eddies - Yummy lunch choices! I had the soup of the day and grilled cheese! VERY large portions!
- Blue & Gray Bar & Grill - Would be great for lunch and dinner!
- Sweney’s Tavern at the Historic Farnsworth House - Their potato soup was delicious! They also still have bullet holes in the side of their building that you can view from outside!

THINGS TO DO

I’m sure everyone is here for the paranormal bits, so I’ll hop right into it!

We booked a private paranormal investigation at the Jennie Wade House and the Haunted Orphanage through Ghostly Images of Gettysburg (click HERE to book).

We were able to easily go back and forth between the two buildings and investigate for a few hours. It was so fun! However, I will say that the stories of these two buildings may be even more haunting than the actual ghostly activity that goes on. Although we had some really good interaction, the history between the two buildings may haunt me every time I think about them. If you want a super awesomely nice tour guide, George is your person!

On another evening, we drove out to the Sach’s Bridge which is known to be haunted. Although we would’ve loved to have stayed out there to investigate for a bit, it got a little too cold for us, so we were only there to take a few pictures and videos. It was definitely eerie out there and will definitely get your spooky meter going!

*Photos from: Beth Lawson personal collection*

If you’re looking for more things to do around Gettysburg that’s not really paranormal related, I would definitely recommend booking a bus tour, which you can also book through Ghostly Images of Gettysburg (use this link https://www.gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/bus-tours/ ). We booked a two hour enclosed bus tour of the battlefield and had a very knowledgeable tour guide who had been giving tours for 27+ years. We drove all over the battlefield learning about each area and the important battles that took place throughout.

Of course, you could always just get in your car and drive all around the battlefield and read the monuments, but there’s so much to read and look at, it’s nice to have a professional giving you the cheat notes. We did drive around to places such as the Devil’s Den, Little Roundtop, the Gettysburg National Cemetery, and Evergreen Cemetery to have more time in those areas. Speaking of Evergreen Cemetery, this is where you can find Jennie Wade’s and Elizabeth Masser Thorn’s memorials.

During our long weekend stay, we decided to go to their newest museum - Gettysburg Beyond the Battle. You can book tickets here Reserve Tickets - Gettysburg Beyond the Battle or walk in and buy them. This museum was so interesting and the thing I really loved was their immersive experience! They have built a room that replicates a house during the battle. You’ll sit at a kitchen table while hearing gunfire outside the windows, the ground shaking, lights flickering, and talking going on below you (like there were people in a cellar) and outside the windows. It literally gave me chills to experience even a fraction of what the people in Gettysburg went through!

Gettysburg is FULL of history and this long weekend trip is now in my top favorites! I can’t wait to take my husband and child back in the future and experience even more of it! I would also like to recommend to anyone reading this to read up on the women of Gettysburg because after learning about a handful, I’ve become obsessed with their stories and plan on writing a blog post about some in the future!

And as always, thank you to anyone who has served our country! Making that kind of sacrifice is honorable and I respect you all with every fiber in my being and heart. Keep it spooky, sibs!

Gettysburg Travel Blog