Side Trips For RVers In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

The Land Of Little Horses is a farm where they have miniature horses, but that is not all.

The $12 price of admission includes a true dog and pony show, where the horses dance do math problems, and a dog plays basketball with children from the audience.

There is a petting zoo with unusual animals including an alpaca and a camel, and children can have a pony ride for an additional $2. Don't be thinking it is just for kids, as the grownups in our group really enjoyed it, too.

Cooking enthusiasts will love Hacienda Shiloh -- a garlic farm where the owner, Marda, will take you on a tour of the gardens and even do a 'garlic tasting'. She has 23 different kinds of garlic growing there, and has a wonderful gift shop to browse before you leave.

For an unusual kind of architecture, don't miss The Round Barn. The drive to it is through orchard country and it's a treat, too. While you're there, you can pick up some home made canned Chicken Corn Chowder.

If you are in town at the right time of year -- usually the weekend before Memorial Day in May or the weekend before Labor Day in August -- you can catch the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival at Granite Hill Camping Resort. They have been putting this show on twice a year for more than 25 years now and have some of the top name acts in bluegrass.

It's about a 30-mile drive over to Hanover and the Snyder's of Hanover a manufacturing plant. You can take a tour of the plant and get some fresh baked pretzels at the end.

Want some beer to go with those pretzels? Yungling has been brewing since 1829. You can drive the 100 or so miles to take a tour of the brewery in Pottsville, or just go to The Pike and sip a pint or two. And while you're at The Pike, you really don't want to miss their onion straws, either.

If you like steamed crabs and seafood, a short drive over to Emmitsburg, Maryland will get you to Dave's Crab Shack They have all you can eat steamed crabs or shrimp, as well as steaks, burgers, and chicken on their menu. It is the best seafood in the area. Call ahead for directions and to make sure they are open and have crabs available. (717-642-5025)

The Grotto of Lourdes is also located in Emmitsburg. The Shrine is one of the oldest American replicas of the revered French shrine, dating to about two decades after the apparitions at Lourdes (1875).

There are many campgrounds in the area. If you are going to be staying more than a night or two, or if you are planning to be there over a popular weekend such as Memorial Day or Fourth of July, reservations are highly recommended.

Some choices for RV camping nearby:

Granite Hill

KOA

Roundtop Campground

Gettysburg Campground

No matter where you stay or for how long, there is a lot to do in Gettysburg, PA.