Hershey, PA

Address:Hershey, Pennsylvania

Hershey, Pennsylvania is the chocolate lover's ultimate dream. The sweet smell of chocolate constantly wafts through the air and the street lights are shaped like Hershey's kisses. The makers of Hershey's chocolate welcome you into their yummy world. Take fun tours of the chocolate factory and shop for all things chocolate. Have crazy, mind-numbing fun on the roller coasters at Hershey Park and when you're done, treat yourself to chocolate spa treatments!

Milton Hershey, the creator of that distinct chocolate flavor, built the town of Hershey and Hershey's Chocolate World, where giant Hershey's product characters greet you at the entrance. You're invited to learn how chocolate is made with a ride through the factory followed by tastings and creative customized chocolate products. Make your own chocolate cup cake or have your face put on a chocolate bar at Chocolate World's Factory Works. Have some musical fun with the giant Hershey products in a 3D animated musical adventure in Chocolate World's theater. The characters seem to jump off the big screen and come to life. Also, watch for surprising in-theater special effects!

Shop for anything and everything Hershey's at Chocolate World's Marketplace Shoppes. Stock up on classic favorites, or try the irresistible homemade fudge and freshly baked cookies. You will also find sweet gifts and souvenirs, including toys, apparel, collectables, colorful tins of chocolate, and special gifts that you can create yourself. You can even add your own personalized message to one of Hershey's solid milk chocolate novelties or greeting cards.

For some real food, stop by the Café Food Court and the Kit Kat "Gimme a Break" Café. Each offers hot or cold deli sandwiches, salads, specialty beverages and delicious desserts. For a full selection of fresh-baked pastries, chocolate goodies and specialty coffees head to the Hershey's Bake Shoppe where waiters called Hershiyzers are at your service.

Your visit to Chocolate World won't be complete without taking the Hershey's Trolley Works Tour. Singing trolley conductors dressed in period costumes entertain and inform you on fun ride through Hershey, or Chocolate Town, USA, as it's commonly called. There's a fee for the tour and there's limited seating so get your trolley tokens early.

At the Hershey Museum you'll find out all about the man, the town and the chocolate through a variety of interesting exhibits, unique artifacts and interactive displays. Of course there's a huge collection of Hershey-related exhibits such as History of the Kiss Chocolate Drops. You can also watch an original piece of 1930s chocolate machinery in action, hear stories from former Hershey's workers and see factory film footage. Kids can get some hands-on history in an interactive learning room. Museum tours are available.

Voted the #1 amusement park by Family Fun magazine, Hershey Park survived two world wars, the Great Depression and the nationwide decline of amusement parks to emerge as one of the nation's most popular theme parks. Hershey Park has over 60 rides, including over two dozen rides for small children and 10 heart-stopping roller coasters, including the Roller Soaker water coaster featuring water squirt guns, water sprays and geysers! Suit up for the 15 different water rides and Sandcastle Cove, an interactive water playground just for kids. Families can choose from 30 rides ranging from mild to aggressive thrill. Get your picture taken with any of the Hershey product characters. Hershey Park is something to see in the winter, when it is lit up by half a million tiny lights. Kids can visit with Santa at the "North Pole." Year round, Hershey Park has full-service restaurants with themed dining. There's also plenty of fast food and snacks.

Other nearby attractions offer plenty of family fun. Adjacent to Hershey Park is ZooAmerica, an 11-acre, year-round North American wildlife park with 200 animals of 75 species. Hershey Gardens offers 23 acres of themed gardens. Kids will also love the Children's Garden, which is designed just for them! The quirky characters and colorful plants provide a fun, self-guided learning environment the whole family will enjoy.

The Butterfly House at Hershey Gardens houses more than 300 magnificent butterflies. Learn about the lifecycle of the butterfly by viewing all stages of their remarkable transformation. Open daily June through mid-September. The Chocolate Spa at the Hotel Hershey is a European-style spa where chocolate is not just a treat to eat, but a necessary ingredient for innovative spa treatments like Whipped Cocoa Bath or the Chocolate Fondue Wrap. The spa also offers standard spa treatments. Shoppers will enjoy the Outlets at Hershey, with over 60 stores in an open-air setting.

For nighttime fun, the downtown Hershey Theater presents touring Broadway shows, classical music and dance attractions, and world-renowned entertainers. Go behind the scenes of Hershey Theater every Friday with the Spotlight tour. The theater offers free parking.

Hershey, Pennsylvania is located in southeast Pennsylvania, about 25 miles east of Harrisburg.