It’s no secret what you will expect to find in Hershey, Pa.—the name of the town gives it all away. From Hershey Kiss-shaped street lights to chocolate-themed attractions, it is no surprise that people leave Hershey with a smile on their faces. It doesn’t matter if you have a soft spot for Reese’s, Kit Kat, Hershey bars or Bliss, some form of confectionary will make you weak at the knees.
Our favorite part of the trip was the tour at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Lines moved quickly as cars took us on a free tour of how the world-famous Hershey concoction is made. While it’s not the real factory, the simulated version was still pretty interesting. The tour offered information, injected with a little humor from cows that claimed to provide the milk that goes into the candy bars. The tour ended with samples of the new Bliss chocolate and a visit to the souvenir store. If you would really like to indulge, the cafes at Hershey’s Chocolate World can satisfy even the biggest sugar craving.
The kids enjoyed a factory chocolate-making experience and the Hershey’s Really Big 3D show where the candy characters pop out of the screen. New for 2009 is the Chocolate Tasting 101 tour, where everyone can enjoy samples of candy. Entrance to Chocolate World is free. The 3D movie is $5.95, $4.95 for kids. Chocolate Tasting is $9.95, $5.95 per child.
We ended the day with a visit to the Cocoa Castle nearby, a huge chocolate-colored play area for kids to run around in. Visit ZooAmerica (North American Wildlife Park) and Hershey Park if you’re in town for a longer time.
We thoroughly enjoy behind-the-scenes experiences to see how things are made. We plan to visit the Crayola factory next time we go to the East Coast—just as much fun, but with fewer calories.
Hershey's Chocolate World(717) 534-4900
www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld
