"How to best enjoy a battlefield visit?" Topic

What is the best way to enjoy a battlefield visit …

…and, with a loved one in a wheelchair?

Thank you

Uhhhh…try not going there while the bullets are flying?

sorry…

Private car with Audio.

Move at your own pace and get out for the high points.

Most (if not all) visitor centers are handicap accessible and should be the first stop.

Depends which battle!

I'm not sure about the private car option. Many battlefields are inaccessible by car!

Visitor centres are usually built for wheelchair access, though.

We went to Manassas a couple of years ago when I was in a wheelchair. We went into the visitor center and my daughter was able to push me in there and also when we went to the Henry House Hill and looked at that part of the battlefield.
We toured the rest of the area in the car.

If you say which ones you're planning to visit,you'll be more likely to benefit from the TMP Hive Mind.

Agree with Hafen – and I think for most situations, a leisurely drive in a car or golf cart would be the best

Agree with VCarter. Probably too obvious to state, but
--check opening and closing dates and times, especially for the visitor center, but also nearby museums and such.
--can't emphasize prior research--and carrying maps and photos with you--enough. You don't want to get there, come home and say two weeks later "I wish I'd checked that while I was there!" And you want to know your options for accommodations and shopping.
--have an alternate plan for the loved one, especially if she's doing this because it's your interest and not hers. My wife was--not well, in her later years. Not wheelchair bound, but no stamina. Some of our worst days were trying to do things together where our needs and desires weren't compatible. If you just have to have half an hour to retrace the assault to complete the experience, look at finding a place she can be warm, dry and looked after for half an hour rather than leaving her uncomfortable for fifteen minutes and you with less time than you need.
--work on an assumption of mud and cold drizzle.
If you'll give us a place, probably some of the horde can make more specific suggestions.

Western Europe and U.K. mainly. Then east coast USA, and South Africa.

France, next year.

Thanks.

For UK battlefields, visit the Battlefields Trust website and use the links etc.

Accessibility varies from site to site, so please get in touch so we can advise and/or set something up (many battlefields have local associations and they can also be of help .. ) …

Some parts of my own local battlefield, Naseby, are accessible, but not all. Visibility from cars on UK battlefields is very often obscured by hedges and trees (hedges, trees and boundaries which weren't there at the time of the battle) so often the best time to visit is Winter, when the foliage is down.

Phil

The new museum at Waterloo has a lift and is accessible. The rest of the battlefield is best walked although certain highlight areas do have car parks. She could of course enjoy a drink at the restaurant whilst you climb the Lion mound!

Others are more current on mainland Europe.
UK I've only done Bosworth and Auldearn. Can't recommend either in your circumstances. Bosworth has a visitor Centre, but they're still working out where the battlefield ought to be. Auldearn has one plaque on a hill. (Yes, I'm glad I went to both. But my circumstances were different.)

East coast US, Gettysburg was pretty much remade for auto tours. Antietam should work. Bull Run--stop at the Park Service Building on Henry House Hill and leave it at that. Fredericksburg is so-so, but you can time it to go with Historicon. Most of the Shenandoah Valley sites are accessible and not built over, but they lack abundant rides or trails. Do try New Market with the VMI building, movie and gift shop. There are some excellent lodges at Gettysburg, and again in the Valley.
Southward double-check, but the last I heard Guilford and Cowpens were well maintained for your purposes.

I would exercise great care in South Africa. By all reports it's not getting better. Daylight, large groups, and guides who also function as guards would be good ideas.

Oh. And Cellar Door, if you're European and/or British--the old trick with home maps of the same scale is strongly recommended. Visitors from across the Atlantic keep underestimating distances and thinking they can swing by Chicago after New York and before Washington DC. We're very spread out here.

In the US,there are a number of helpful websites. If you're doing Civil War,for instance, here's a good place to start:

civilwartraveler.com

Bosworth has a visitor Centre, but they're still working out where the battlefield ought to be.

Err … no issues from any commentators on where the battle was fought (Fenn Lane, as proved by Glenn foard's archaeological survey and entirely accepted by LCC and the visitor centre): see the exhibition there.

Because of the ownership of the land, the circumstances of access are still developing (but you can go to the battlefield – a public road runs right through it).

Wheelchair access looks good to me throughout and I have not heard of any issues.

Phil

Study upon battle before you go

Have been to G-berg a couple of times.
Much better when I had read up on it prior to visit

Check with the Park Service before going to Antietam. Burnside's Bridge and other portions of the field were closed for extensive repairs/renovation earlier this sum. I don't know how long the work is expected to take.

The wheel hair thing will be arduous if you don't check everything before hand. Call the place and explain. If no one, a tourist pffice nearby or even cafe or someone who would have ideas how things are if not organized a la US battlefield parks. This kind of stuff is pretty rare at all in Europe. You will have to do most of your going around and research.

If you have the money you can best call people who can organize tour, tailor made, they would find out the ways.

Of course this also depends upon what you are looking for: just " I've bben there" pics in front of the Denkmahl or deeper look. 4x4wd biggie might be needed too esp in your case.

In addition to the good advice given above don't forget to:

-Read about the battle beforehand
-Try to obtain aerial picture from Google map or other source
-Plan according to situation and loved one

enjoy!

Thanks for the good advice.

Normandy next year.

What we'd like (me) is a trip up the Hudson Valley to Saratoga and surrounding areas.

if you are going to be in the Hudson Valley, I STRONGLY recommend a visit to Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Some of the oldest original flying planes and replicas of WW1 craft in the world.

Noted. Thanks daler240D