For Military Buffs in Maryland

Frederick is your base for a 3- or 4-day visit to three major battlefields: Gettysburg, Antietam, and Harpers Ferry. Or you could spend a week and add Baltimore's Civil War Museum (site of the first bloodshed in the Civil War) and Federal Hill (where U.S. cannons were trained on the city), plus Delaware's Fort Delaware, which served as a prisoner-of-war camp for 33,000 Confederate soldiers.

Day 1: Frederick

Begin your day in Frederick at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for a different perspective of the war. Frederick was not only a crossroads for soldiers as they headed off to battle but also where many came to recuperate afterward. Take a walk through the historic district, looking for signs that feature photos of the troops as they marched through town. The confrontation between Barbara Fritchie and Stonewall Jackson in 1862 was immortalized in poetry; a reconstruction of her house sits along Carroll Creek.

Day 2: Antietam

More U.S. soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing after the 1-day battle here than at any other time in American history. Stop in the visitor center at Antietam National Battlefield to see a film about the battle and get a tour map. There are maps for biking and hiking along these gently rolling hills, too. Battlefield guides are another option. Take a few minutes to stop by the Pry House Field Hospital, which was also Gen. George McClellan's headquarters prior to the battle and a field hospital afterward. A visit here takes only a few hours and could be combined with Frederick sightseeing if time is short.

Day 3: Harpers Ferry

Abolitionist John Brown's plan to start a rebellion was thwarted here by Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee in 1859. The riverfront town was to see Union and Confederate troops several more times before witnessing the war's largest surrender of Federal troops. It's worth a day trip to visit the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, which still appears much as it did during the war. It's a place of natural beauty, too, so bring your hiking shoes or plan a rafting trip on the Shenandoah-Potomac here.

Day 4: Gettysburg

The 34-mile drive to Gettysburg from Frederick takes you through gently rolling hills, woodlands, orchards, and farms. Take it slowly if you have the time; but, if you have just a day, you'll need to start early so you can fit in the Gettysburg National Military Park, including the Gettysburg Cemetery, where President Lincoln delivered his famous address. Driving the battlefield takes a good 2 hours. You'll also want to see the Cyclorama and museum at the new visitor center. A number of companies, including the well-regarded Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides, offer guided tours that give good historical perspective on the sites here. The town itself, with a charming historic district, has lots of privately owned museums. If you have time, don't miss the Shriver House Museum for a view of how citizens fared during the battle here. One day is enough here, but 2 days gives you time to savor your visit, shop, and dine at a historic inn.