This post was sponsored by Hershey Park along with Visit Hershey and Harrisburg . All the reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.
My family and I were fortunate enough to get away for the weekend at the sweetest place on Earth – Hershey Park. The last time we were able to take a trip like this was in October, so we were due!
Our ride was about one and a half hours, while my mom and aunt had double the drive at about three hours. This was my first experience at Hershey Park, but my mom and aunt had each been while on an elementary school field trip.
Not everyone knows, but Hershey Park was originally built in 1906 by Milton S. Hershey. It’s sole purpose was as a leisure park for the employees of the chocolate factory before major expanding.
Myself and the kids met up with my mom and aunt at the Fairfield Inn and Suites on Chocolate Ave. Although we arrived 3-4 hours before normal check-in time, it was an absolute breeze. The assistant manager was kind, friendly, and welcoming despite our imposition.
With a two queen bed suite, there was plenty of room for the five of us. Thankfully there was also two TVs that allowed us to watch a kid show and adult show simultaneously. The kids were immediately excited to see an indoor pool which has hours of 7am to 11pm making it impossible NOT to check out.
Because of the age of my kids, they were excited about something as small as the trolley ride from our parking spot to the entrance. Which for me is a win because I didn’t have to do a thing!
Walking up to the park is immediate fun! You’re greeted by a life size line of your favorite candy bars which double as ride height checks. This allows you to figure out which candy size you are and will act as your guide throughout the rest of the park.
After you walk the path to the park, it opens up to the most notorious ride of all – the carousel. We rode the standard size together and the kids opted to ride the smaller version, twice. We stopped for lunch at Founder’s Kitchen for the family meal of chicken tenders, fries, and drinks. It was delicious and just the right amount of food for us all.
Hershey Park is filled with a proportionate amount of adult, kid, and family rides. The kids were able to ride small versions of classic rides like the carousel (as mentioned above), Granny Bugs, and Dinosaur-Go-Round. The adults have the ability to ride roller coasters, the Howler, and the Pirate. Meanwhile you can bring your whole family on rides like Tilt-O-Whirl, Scrambler, and Tea Cups. It is a place everyone can enjoy!
When we first arrived I saw a man carrying a gigantic plush unicorn prize that he had won and I went on a mission to find it. Once I did, we made it a point to win one of them also. WE SUCCEEDED. Then we took a break from the games to stop by the Our Friends from the Sea 4pm show. We watched as the seals and sea lions showed us their tricks and learned new facts about them we didn’t previously know.
The kids had gotten it in their heads that they needed to have their faces painted, so we made a pit stop for that. A dinosaur for the dino obsessed boy and a unicorn for the magical girl.
Our last stop of the day was for sweets and treats. Founder’s Way Funnel Cakes was an obvious choice. A Hershey’s Chocolate version for me and a classic version for the little lady. We also stopped by Simply Chocolate after hearing that they had THE. BEST. ice cream around. They didn’t disappoint.
Our second day in Hershey, PA was predicted to be a rainy one. While it wasn’t raining in the morning, we chose to be safe. Hershey Chocolate World was our destination for the day. This is the insiders look at the factory and how chocolate is actually made. Here you can shop in a HUGE candy store and enjoy fresh milkshakes, ice cream, and baked goods.
We watched the 4D Chocolate Movie where we helped Reese, Hershey, and Kiss solve a chocolate factory mystery. The kids loved being able to see the movie come to life, feel the air blowing on them, and be sprinkled with ‘chocolate’ which was really water.
For the final stop of our SWEET weekend getaway, we headed into the Create Your Own Chocolate Bar attraction. After putting on our hairnets and aprons we headed into the factory to begin creating. We entered our names and our candy bar preferences before waiting on the assembly line. You watch as your candy bar starts in the beginning then glides down the line through each stage of the creation before designing your label. Don’t be fooled by little lady’s face, she enjoyed it, it was just getting dangerously too close to nap time.
We have a great first visit to Hershey, PA and I see a lot of trips in our future. There is so much to do for the whole family. It is a place that my family can grow with and still enjoy. I recommend checking it out as a day trip option if you’re close enough or planning a weekend away like we did!
Here’s hoping you enjoy the Sweetest Place on Earth as much as we did!
