The morning scurry and hitting the road at 6:00 am was a great idea, as my driving (after one wrong turn) promptly placed us in downtown Washington. However, trusty Automated Angie found the way out and we were quickly on our way to one of our trip highlights, Gettysburg National Park.

Gettysburg Museum/Visitor Center - We arrived in Gettysburg shortly after 8:00 am from DC and, after grabbing a coffee, headed for the Gettysburg Visitor Centre. Already the parking lot had vehicles from all over the US and even Ontario. We quickly added Nova Scotia to the mix, locked the car and went to see when things opened. The Gettysburg experience includes the film "A New Birth of Freedom", the Gettysburg Cyclorama and museum exhibits and displays. We also made good use of the gift shop and dinner in the saloon!!! We started our visit by freshening up and purchasing tickets for four to all three parts of the visitor experience.

Film "A New Birth of Freedom" - We tromped into, with one other group, the huge theatre for an excellent film which introduces the Civil War, Gettysburg, Lincoln and the pivotal role the battle played in the abolition of slavery and maintenance of the union. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, the video served as a great introduction to the Civil War, Gettysburg and American sentiment during the 1860's. The quality of information and presentation was superb, and really helped the whole family understand the importance.

Gettysburg Cyclorama - When finished we were directed to the cyclorama. In essence, it was a massive display area surrounded by a painting of Pickett's Charge as a backdrop and the foreground interspersed with actual props and materials designed to give a three dimensional effect blurring the horizon between the foreground and painting. After a brief introduction, the presentation began and through narration and the use of lights/sound we viewed the battle as it was originally intended. We viewed the whole event from central platform, easily following the story line and scenes from the battle. We were really caught off guard by the power in the presentation, and I think it really left a mark on Peter who has shown continued interest in the battle, personalities and impact the 3 days in July had on an entire nation.

Gettysburg Museum - The Cyclorama staircase empties into a lobby area at the Museum entrance. The Museum features 12 exhibit galleries featuring artifacts, interactive exhibits and hands-on displays that captured the imaginations of Jane, myself, and the kids. Especially useful were the audio visual segments woven throughout the museum which told the story of the causes and impact of the Civil War on Gettysburg, as well as the nation. There was, if anything, too much to absorb in one visit. One could spend an entire day just in the museum portion of the visit. The stories, artifacts, exhibits and video information were the best presented I've ever seen. Just unbelievable.

Gettysburg National Military Park - After the museum we broke for lunch and a trip to the gift shop. Peter got a Yankee cap and gun, while Monica selected a plush toy to match Mom's new bugle ear rings. On my part, I had designs on hanging on to everyone a little bit longer for a visit to Cemetery Ridge to look out over the battlefield where Pickett's Charge, The Angle, and the High water Mark are located. With our trusty Auto Tour Guide we surveyed the area and visited several monuments (i.e. Pennsylvania Memorial). All in all, one of the most memorable museum experiences I've ever had the good fortune to participate in. As a Civil War soldier might say, it was "First Rate"!!!

Gettysburg, PA to Fairfield, CT - We left Gettysburg around 1:00 pm and made tracks for Steve an Jennifer MacKenzie's in Fairfield, CT. Jane and I, not at all happy with our first crossing into New Jersey, decided that we'd look for an alternative route across New Jersey into New York state. Jane studied the maps and decided to try the Tappan Zee Bridge Route across the Hudson into White Plains and off to Route 15 into Connecticut. Great decision it was, as we cruised along without incident avoiding all of the supper time traffic and congestion we surely would have faced in New Jersey / Manhattan at the GW Bridge.

We arrived shortly before 6:00 pm and later enjoyed a barbecue and ales before retiring from a long days travel. It was the first step towards home and a perfect set up for one day in New York City to check out a couple of attractions we'd missed on earlier visits.