A WEEKEND IN HERSHEY, PA
Known as “the sweetest place on Earth,” Hershey, Pennsylvania honors its namesake, the American chocolatier and philanthropist Milton Hershey, with a theme park, a museum, Hershey kiss lampposts, and a huge candy store. If you find yourself in PA, head to Hershey to get your sugar fix!
There are over 100 street lights that are in the shape of Hershey kisses in town, some wrapped, some unwrapped! How many can you spot?
There are two separate attractions that are extremely popular in this sugar-laden town, and those are Chocolate World and Hershey Park. Chocolate World is right outside Hershey Park, and is a huge candy store. This store boasts of having items you can’t get at your local grocery store, a ton of candy and chocolate themed merchandise from Legos to pillows, and many activities. Hershey Park, on the other hand, is a family amusement park with dozens of attractions – including 14 hair-raising, spine-tingling, CJ approved roller coasters (as of August 2023)!
An assortment of candy bars found at Chocolate World
To start your weekend, grab some breakfast at The Hershey Pantry, a local eatery with American breakfast items. Then make your way over to Chocolate World! While entrance to the store is free, I suggest purchasing tickets for activities in advance, as these fill up fast. I highly recommend the Historical Trolley Tour, a 75-minute tour that takes you around on a trolley, as you sample Hershey products and learn about the history of both the founder and the company.
After hearing about how Milton Hershey made his chocolate creations, enjoy Hershey’s free Chocolate Tour, which is an attraction within Chocolate World. Sit back as a motorized buggy brings you along to see how chocolate is made at Hershey. Then grab some lunch (if you haven’t filled up on sweets) at the food hall. Keep in mind that options are quite limited and cater to the palate of people who appreciate candy the most – children!
Then create your own candy bar! At a kiosk, you will be able to choose what kind of chocolate you would like your bar to mainly consist of, up to three additional ingredients, and design your packaging. Then watch as your creation goes through the conveyor belt. While the outer top shell of your candy bar will be milk chocolate, I made the rest of my candy bar dark chocolate with bits of pretzel, butterscotch, and health bars.
With chocolate bar in hand, take a final sweep of Chocolate World and purchase any and all delights! Then make your way to the Hershey Story Museum, which further explains Milton’s journey, as well as the Hershey products and marketing over the years. End the day at The Mill for dinner.
Then spend the next day at Hershey Park!! Note that while Chocolate World is open year-round, Hershey Park is not. If you would like to visit both spots, I would check the Hershey Park website for up-to-date park admission. As Hershey Park is quite popular, I recommend purchasing Fast Track tickets, so you are able to skip the general admission lines to all of your favorite rides! Though you purchase this in advance, you will have to go to a kiosk on site to print your Fast Track wristband. If you simply show your confirmation on your phone, you will be turned away at rides unless you have that wristband! Lastly, download Hershey Park’s phone app to get real time information on wait times, food options, and additional park information.
Here is CJ in front of the markers for height requirements to ride the attractions!
Hoping you leave Hershey, PA with an abundance of candy and an appreciation for the man who started it all!
