Three Days in Pennsylvania
Last week, Marty and I decided to take a short vacation i did not attend the high school trip to Gettysburg, Hershey, and Lancaster last May because I was about to go to Myrtle Beach with the senior class, but it seemed like such a great trip and it was relatively close to home, so we began to plan for an amazing, American adventure: three days in Pennsylvania. We planned to visit all three locations, and Marty booked our suite in York, which was pretty centrally located.
Day 1: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg National Military Park
We love visiting historical destinations, so this was a definite “must stop:”
Cyclorama & Museum Experience
“The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center provides exclusive resources and unique experiences to introduce you to the Battle of Gettysburg and prepare you for your tour of the battlefield” The Cyclorama painting is a completely amazing work of art with added details in the foreground to add to the 3-D, 360* experience that tells the tale of the battle.
“The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War, the Union victory that ended General Robert E. Lee’s second and most ambitious invasion of the North. Often referred to as the “High Water Mark of the Rebellion,” Gettysburg was the Civil War’s bloodiest battle and was also the inspiration for President Abraham Lincoln’s immortal address. From the veil of early morning fog through the day’s setting sun, visitors experience all the incredible history of the battlefield.”
Monuments honoring companies of soldiers from many states line the driving tour. Several observation towers allow a bird’s eye view of the landscape. Cannons and split-rail fences border the road. The atmosphere is charged with all that happened here during the three-day battle and beyond..
Lincoln’s Address
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
“Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863
Day 2: Hershey, Pennsylvania
The Chocolate Legacy
With streetlights shaped like iconic Hershey Kisses, this town is all about the chocolate! When I was about ten years old, my grandparents took my brother and me to a no-longer-offered tour of the factory. My biggest memory of that is not the sight, but the smell–overwhelming CHOCOLATE. At the end of the tour, we were offered a free chocolate bar. I didn’t want it. Since that tour is no longer and option, we visited the Hershey Story Museum.
I never knew the story of Milton Hershey before, but he and his wife were certainly two inovative, kind and generous individuals!
“In addition to leaving us with America’s most iconic chocolate bar, Milton S. Hershey left behind a legacy of goodness. It’s a story of persistence, spirit, compassion, selflessness and purpose.
“Perhaps Milton’s most cherished contribution to the community was the Hershey Industrial School for orphaned boys. Founded by Milton and his wife Catherine, they built the school with the intention of providing young boys with a productive and fulfilling life. Having had no children of their own, they came to consider the boys as family. Now named the Milton Hershey School, this institution fosters the academic and social potential of over 2,000 boys and girls a year, providing them with the skills and resources for success in all areas of life. Prior to his death, Milton left the entirety of his fortune with the school to ensure its continued success.”
After we toured the museum, we had a chocolate “tasting” of liquid chocolate from around the world. Then we went to the chocolate lab where we got to make a candy bar!
Botanical Gardens
Aside from our chocolate adventures, we also srolled through the botanical gardens. I was so impressed by the beauty of not only sight, but scent! Roses, herbs, cedar–such a lovely, colorful, relaxing walk.
Butterfly Arboretum
As much as I love flowers, my favorite part of the gardens was the butterfly arboretum. The delicate creatures are brought in weekly in their chrysolis stage, are hatched, nurtured, and then released into the arboretum to flit and flutter about, delighting their visitors. Knowledgeable volunteers are on hand to answer questions. What a great experience!
Hershey Zoo
“ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park brings the roaring excitement of North American animals up close to your backyard of Hershey, Pennsylvania.”
It was getting really hot by the time we walked through the zoo, so some of the animals were snoozing and several birds had been put up to protect them from extreme heat. We did meet a few fun animals that included snakes, cats, bears, and a particularly friendly skunk.
There are plenty more things to do in Hershey, but by mid-afternoon, we faced some torrential rain and headed back to our suite (we were ready for a nap anyway). My students really enjoyed Hershey Park on their trip.
Hersheypark
“For 115 years, Hersheypark® has been known as the top clean and green PA destination for family fun. Our theme park has something for everyone including some of the most popular Pennsylvania attractions like coasters from mild to wild, classic family rides, a water park, a zoo, and of course, chocolate. Plus, experience Hershey’s Chocolatetown®, featuring shopping, chocolate-inspired restaurants, and our sweetest coaster, Candymonium®. Plan your next family vacation to Hershey The Sweetest Place On Earth®.”
Day 3: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Our third day brought us back to history. We started off with a perfectly lovely historic home.
Historic Rock Ford
Rock Ford Plantation was the home of Edward Hand and his family as well as enslaved and free servants and laborers. During the American Revolution, Edward Hand was Adjutant General to George Washington. Today, Historic Rock Ford is comprised of 33 acres at the southeastern edge of Lancaster City surrounded by Lancaster County Central Park. It offers guided tours of the elegantly furnished rooms of the circa 1794 Hand Mansion as well as the opportunity to visit the John J. Snyder, Jr. Gallery of Early Lancaster County Decorative Arts which is housed on the 2nd floor of a re-constructed 18th century bank barn.”
It was a joy to just sit on that porch and soak in the atmosphere as we waited for our tour.
Wheatland
A short drive brought us to another lovely home, President James Buchanan’s Wheatland.
“Built by an unknown architect in 1828 for William Jenkins, lawyer and bank president, Wheatland consisted of a mansion and several outbuildings on 156.5 acres of land. The mansion itself was built in the Federal Style of the period, which highlighted symmetry and Greek Revival architecture. The construction is split into three parts that include a center section and two wings on either side. Inside, the mansion has two main floors, an attic, and a basement (which originally housed the kitchen and the wine cellar).
“The two surviving outbuildings, also built in 1828, are the [eight-seater] privy, and a building that includes the smokehouse and the icehouse. The privy is divided into two rooms, one with five seats at varying heights and one with three seats. The smokehouse and icehouse are found within one outbuilding. The smokehouse is located on the upper level, while the icehouse is located on the lower level and is surrounded by a limestone pit.”
I enjoyed our guide’s tales of the strong women in the life of James Buchanan and their exploits in the running of affairs at Wheatland and in the White House.
Our next atop and grand finale took us way back in history through the magic of Sight and Sound Theater.
Sight and Sound’s Production of Noah
We were able to experience the story of Noah with a whole backstory that included song, dance, comedy, tragedy, special effects, live animals, and animatronics. It was enthralling! I just can’t say enough about the Broadway quality of this entertainment. And the ANIMALS! Whether one is a believer or not, this is a top-notch theater experience! As a believer, I viewed the story from a whole new perspective.
I saw the video in May and my understanding is that the video productions will be in theaters soon, but it was nothing compared to the live, on-stage version.
Back Home to Ohio
Immediately after Noah, we headed home, tired, but feeling very blessed for all we were able to do. I can honestly recommend this Pennsylvania destination for couples, families, friends, young or old. It’s a perfect mix-and-match vacation where one can learn, laugh, gasp, sigh, and feel all the feels surrounded by the lovely Allegany landscape.
One final note: If you are a senior citizen or active or retired military, ask about the discounts! Those Pennsylvanians are very generous!
God bless you and give you safe travels!
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