Classic Americana: Gettysburg National Military Park

Site of the Civil War's greatest battle, in July 1863, Gettysburg National Military Park is where Abraham Lincoln delivered his immortal address. The park, which encompasses nearly 6,000 acres, contains over 1,400 monuments, markers, and memorials hidden across its wide expanse. A new multi-million-dollar museum and visitor center, which opened in April 2008, orients visitors to the park and Gettysburg, with historical exhibits and a massive museum collection of Civil War and Gettysburg artifacts, plus the fully restored Gettysburg Cyclorama. Gettysburg lies about 55 miles west of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and about 60 miles northwest of Baltimore, Maryland.

Photo credit: Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania (Photodisc/Getty)

Baltimore Trip Idea: Camden Yards & Orioles Baseball

Baltimore’s atmospheric ballpark, Camden Yards, is only a short walk from the city’s popular Inner Harbor shopping and entertainment district. Home ground for the Baltimore Orioles—the “O’s”—since 1992, Camden Yards is also site of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame, Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, and 22,000-square-foot Sports Legends Museum. Head there before or after the game for a stroll through the colorful history of this sports-mad town. The Orioles, who play in the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball’s American League, start their 2010 season with a three-game away series at Tampa Bay on April 6-8; their first home game at Camden Yards is on Friday, April 9 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Photo credit: Sports Legends Museum and Camden Yards, Baltimore (Visit Baltimore)

Baltimore's Maritime Heritage

Once a center for maritime commerce, ship building, and an entry point for new immigrants, Fell's Point served as the original Port of Baltimore for over a hundred years. With a splendid collection of 18th and 19th century homes and warehouses and the city's oldest public market, it remains a vibrant waterfront community of unique character that retains a deep sense of its rich past.

Photo credit: Fell's Point, Baltimore, Maryland (Photodisc/Getty)