As a child, vacations staycations were integral to our family. I can remember many weekends spent in Malibu, strolling the shoreline, shopping, and fishing (indeed!). Apart from our trips to New York to visit family, I hadn’t taken many trips across the country until I was an adult. I dreamed of Europe and the tropics…set my sights on historic DC and snowy Colorado…and vowed one day, even as an adult, to frequent the sweetest place on Earth.
Last month, one of my travel dreams came true! I spent 3 chocolate-filled days in Hershey Pennsylvania. Surprisingly, the most memorable aspect of the trip was the time we spent at The Milton Hershey School. Learning about Milton Hershey’s passion for orphaned children really changed how I view the brand and I can’t eat a piece of chocolate without thinking about those children.
Hershey, Pennsylvania itself is a fascinating little town community with plenty of activities for adults and children alike. Hershey has a rich history, which is depicted at The Hershey Story, a museum dedicated to telling Milton Hershey’s story. The museum just happens to be located on Chocolate Avenue under the infamous Hershey’s Kisses streetlights. Visitors are guided through Milton Hershey’s life, the chocolate company he founded, the town named after him and his legacy. While you’re at the museum, be sure to check out the Chocolate Lab, particularly if you’re visiting with children. Not only will you learn a thing or two about how a cocoa bean becomes that Hershey’s Kiss you like to snack on, you’ll get a hands-on experience working with chocolate. Be sure to check the calendar since the theme and content of the classes changes.
The museum is also home to Cafe Zooka, which on the outside appears to be just another cafe. However, inside you’ll find Countries of Origin Chocolate Tasting which I highly recommend. For $9.95 you’ll get a generous taste of warm, drinkable exotic chocolate from around the world. I personally had no idea that chocolate could taste so different from Mexico to Africa.
A visit to Hershey would not be complete without exploring Chocolate World. Interestingly enough, Hershey’s Chocolate World is the most visited corporate visitors center in the US. But apart from the fact that you will find information about the town, the venue doesn’t really resemble a visitor’s center. Visitors can take a free tour, which follows a cocoa bean from the tropical rainforest where it’s grown and harvested to Hershey, Pennsylvania where it’s transformed into chocolate! The tour, which is an actual ride, is cute and will appeal to children. Admission is free!
Chocolate World features a variety of paid activities including Create Your Own Candy Bar, Dessert Creation Studio (where you create incredible Hershey’s desserts), Chocolate Tasting Adventure (join a chocolate expert for a guided, interactive, multimedia discussion and tasting session), Really Big 3D Show (a surprisingly adorable show about Hershey’s history featuring characters from their products) , Kisses Packaging (a free activity where you can package your own Hershey’s Kisses), Photo Bar Wrapper (pose for a photo and have it printed on the wrapper of a 7oz Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar or a Syrup Bottle), Chocolate Works Machine (create your favorite mix of Hershey’s products), and Trolley Works. Have you ever dreamed of the perfect candy bar? Mine would include dark chocolate, mint, and a bit of crisp rice. Create Your Own Candy Bar is the perfect outlet for expressing your creativity. One of their newer attractions, the experience brings you into an authentic Hershey’s factory to design your candy bar from start to finish. After you’ve donned the appropriate attire, you can use a computer to select the type of chocolate you’d like (milk, Special Dark, or white) and up to three inclusions you’d like (crisped rice, chocolate cookie bits, etc.). You can also opt to add sprinkles to the top of your bar (and I was all over that!). The most interesting part of the process is the creation of your very own candy bar, which is actually done by machines! You can follow your bar through the entire process until it ends up in the cooling area. While your bar is cooling, you get to design your own packaging! You can select from a variety of templates or design your very own. You can Create Your Own Candy Bar at Chocolate World for $14.95.
If you’d like a different perspective on Hershey, you might consider a historical tour aboard a trolley! Trolley Works offers a chocolate-tasting, sightseeing tour of Hershey aboard an old-fashioned trolley car. I think this would be particularly nice to do in the winter when it’s cold and the amount of time you can spend outdoors is limited. Tours depart from Chocolate World.
We visited Hershey at a time when Hersheypark (the infamous amusement park) operates on a winter schedule, so a trip back with the kids is definitely a must. The park features over 60 rides and attractions and will have limited opening days/times in April. The summer season begins in May.
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, a trip to Hershey just might be the ideal romantic getaway. The seventh annual Chocolate-Covered February features events and activities for the entire family as the town celebrates all things chocolate! Here is a list of some of the activities you’ll find this Chocolate-Covered February:
- Chocolate-Infused Dinners: Choose from the Chocolate Dinner Extraordinaire at The Hotel Hershey or a Cuban-Inspired Caribbean Dinner at Hershey Lodge
- The Great Hershey Quest: Enjoy cupcakes, admission to Hershey area attractions, chocolate-themed adventures, and a chance to win the “Ultimate Chocolate Getaway!”
- Chocolate & Spirits Pairing Classes at Hershey Lodge
- Wine & Chocolate Pairings at The Hotel Hershey
- Chocolate Spa Sampler at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey
- Le Vian Chocolate Diamonds Trunk Show
Two packages are offered including one for couples and one for the entire family:
Chocolate-Covered Family Fun Package
- Deluxe accommodations
- Breakfast
- Tickets to Hershey’s Really Big 3D Show at Hershey’s Chocolate World
- Complimentary 5 lb. Hershey’s Chocolate Bar
- Admission to ZooAmerica or Antique Auto Museum of Hershey
- Admission to The Hershey Story Museum
Hershey Lodge from $249
The Hotel Hershey from $349
Sealed With A Kiss Romance Package
- Deluxe accommodations
- Rose petal turndown
- Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries
- Breakfast
- Complimentary 7 oz. Giant Hershey’s Kiss
- Admission to The Hershey Story Museum
Hershey Lodge from $253
The Hotel Hershey from $354
Milton Hershey opened the world’s first modern chocolate factory and built the “model town” for employees and their families to have a place to live, work, and play. The result is a thriving community.
No compensation was received for this post. I was invited to Hershey, PA and all travel expenses were provided by the company.
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Hershey is on my list of places to go. I can’t wait until the day I can get my husband and family out there. SOunds like you had a great experience. Maybe Hershey will do it again sometime.
Hey, a girl can dream right?
I know…I’ve been dreaming about going to Hershey for years….I do hope we get a chance so that we can visit when the amusement park is open. Can’t wait to see you this coming week!