Ghosts in the Water

Being the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the entire Civil War, Gettysburg is a small town filled with hiking and history and ghosts alike. It sits just west of York and Harrisburg, and marks the scene of one of the shortest but compactly brutal events in the American Civil War, where over 50,000 people have lost their lives. The union won that day, but the bloodshed is remembered for years to come. This is especially considering that fathers and sons fought alongside one another, with one usually losing the other to war, or with both losing their lives, and the youngest of soldiers usually being an average of 15 years old and 5 foot 3. I guess if all else fails back then, you go to war.

Many historians have covered the bloody events that occurred over the span of 3 days, especially the Pickett's Charge across the rather large battlefield at Devil's Den and the gruesome injuries that were sustained on the blood-splattered fields. I would not begin to do them justice if I started talking about the historical components of Gettysburg, but what I can attest to is that the terrain is tumultuous, which means perfect for hiking, and apparently, also haunted.

Several hotels and inns have reported sightings of ghosts and paranormal activity, including one photographer who claims to have captured a picture of the late General Lee himself. Myself, I visited one of the famous haunted bridges late at night, and although I didn't photograph any ghosts or specters, it did provide a very eerie and off-putting sensation. If you go for the ghost tours, it is best to do it freelance and bring your own gear, but there are usually some ghost tours that are lead on weeknights starting around $30 per person. If you are a skeptic or a non-believer, this could potentially be the turning point for you.

Good 'ol Re-enacters.

As far as the hiking goes, Devil's Den is a wonderful place to practice rock climbing. The trails in the surrounding area leading to Little Round Top and Big Round Top Spin at least 7 miles, and provide a scenic backpacking route through one of Pennsylvania's most famous cities. The city itself is still rather small, but the land in the surrounding area has been preserved by the Department of Agriculture and several historians. Civil War reenactors usually come to different locations every weekday, and with all of the memorials and points of interest, there's a lot to see and do in Gettysburg. My favorite sightseeing point I visited was there largest cemetery, right outside their welcome center. Much like the Memorial Wall in DC, observe sacred silence when you go here.

If you are more of the indoors type and exhibit type, there are several indoor museums and preserve sites you can visit. Admission for a few of them has gone up in recent years, but there are still some cheap attractions, such as the Dime Museum and the Gettysburg Museum of History. There are several other museums scattered throughout Gettysburg, and if you're up to saving money, going around and doing all the different memorials and cemeteries is a cheap way to spend your time and Gettysburg. Trekking through the National military Park is not for the faint of heart, so be sure to stop by some local restaurants to enjoy a bite to eat. A lot of American bars and breweries are scattered throughout Gettysburg, as well as a traditional Italian pizza shop and a McDonalds.

The view from the tower by Devil's Den.

Much like Hershey Park, I'm fortunate to have grown up only a half-hour from Gettysburg. I know people that have traveled several hundred miles or more just to see the sites in person. I think the craziest license plate I've seen in the community parking was one from Missouri. It must be a psychological phenomenon to believe that things are less important because we grew up near them, because as many times as I've been to Gettysburg and acquaint as it is, I'm still deeply surprised that I see people coming from the other side of the United States to see the park. However, the same could be said for when I drive up to Maine, or when I decide to take a cross-country trip to see some obscure things in Montana. And it can definitely be said for that time I found myself wandering the streets of Paris.

So that being said, read up, and come out for a visit! There may be ghosts in the water, but rest assured, they are friendly.

In The Beginning

On top of Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland.

Greetings, world. My name is Lynn Gable, and welcome to my blog. In this first post, I'm going to discuss a bit about myself, things that I've seen and done, and what I hope for people to get out of this blog.

At the time of writing this post, I was 23 years young and situated in the electronic town of York, Pennsylvania. It is the first capital of the United States, home of the oldest fair in the United States, and a place for families and Drifters to find their place alike. Not much ever happens here, though, so from the age of about 20 years old and on, I've done everything I can to see what lies beyond its city limits. Although I chose to study health care in college, my biggest passion has always been writing, reading, creating music, and discovering culture. And so, I started writing as a creative outlet to present information to the world.

Some may say that in the beginning, there was light. I say that in the beginning, there was millions upon millions of unexplored galaxy to travel. Whatever Cosmic being was around that time definitely had a field day exploring all of the things that would come to be in the billions of years to come. It's still crazy to think that after all of this time, all the events that led to the formation and cultivation of our planet, that genus homo has arisen and somehow claimed its place at the top of Earth's food chain. It's even funnier to think of how nomadic homo sapiens and other members of genus homo used to be, and now people prefer to sit still in one place and be complacent.

The aim, purpose, and mission statement behind my blog are all pretty synonymous within themselves. I want to inspire others to see this world for what it is, get out there and witness reality with your own eyes, encourage personal and cultural growth from within, and show people that there is so much to see and do even in your own backyard. Some may argue that the grass is not greener on the other side, but those individuals clearly haven't seen the grass that grows on different continents. As well as other forms of life, plants, foliage, flora and fauna, Etc.

As I blog, I'm going to cover travel, culture, places that have inspired me, things that inspire me to be who I am, places I've gone hiking, places I've traveled to, and some of the wonderful sights and sounds I've been blessed enough to see. Stay tuned for more!