Guide to the Best Things to Do in Hershey, PA
Hershey, Pennsylvania, is a charming town well-known for its association with Hershey’s chocolate brand. However, the city offers much more than just sweet treats. There are plenty of fun things to do for visitors of all ages, from thrilling theme park rides to peaceful gardens.
For those looking for an exciting adventure, Hersheypark is a must-visit. This amusement park features over 70 rides and attractions, including roller coasters, water rides, and various shows. The park also has several themed areas, such as the Boardwalk, which has a beach-themed atmosphere, and the Hollow, a Halloween-inspired area. Visitors can also tour Hershey’s Chocolate World to learn about Hershey’s chocolate’s history and how it is made.
For those looking for a more relaxed experience, the Hershey Gardens is a beautiful oasis that offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the theme park. The Gardens feature over 23 lush botanical gardens, including a rose garden, a butterfly house, and a Japanese garden.
Visitors can also stroll along the tranquil paths and enjoy the beautiful views of the gardens and surrounding countryside. The Hershey Gardens also has several events and activities throughout the year, such as a seasonal butterfly exhibit, a holiday light display, and a summer concert series.
Hersheypark
Whether you want to visit Hersheypark for a day or a week, plenty of activities and attractions keep you entertained. The town is home to several unique events, including the World Chocolate Festival and the Hershey Bears hockey team. There are also many outdoor attractions and hiking trails to enjoy.
If you’re looking for something more educational, you can visit the Hershey Trolley Works. This organization offers narrated town tours and passes by many of the most famous sites in the community. These tours teach about the settlement’s history and prominent figures’ birthplaces.
Another fun Hershey’s attraction is the Giant Center. This facility is located in downtown Hershey and is regularly hosted at concerts and sporting events. It features an interior dome and a 74-foot-high mosaic floor. In addition, its museum features a collection of artifacts from Hershey’s past.
If you’re looking for outdoor activity, rent a kayak or a canoe. Cocoa Kayak Rentals of Hershey is located just outside of the town.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Hershey’s Chocolate World is an excellent place for families in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It offers a variety of activities, including a 4-D movie that displays Hershey’s products. There are also chocolate-themed rides and interactive chocolate experiences.
Hershey’s Chocolate World is the world’s largest Hershey’s Chocolate store. You can find a massive assortment of Hershey’s products, including candy, pens, and cups. You can also create your own personalized Hershey’s chocolate bar. Hershey’s Chocolate World also has a chocolate theater that features a chocolate bar and a chocolate story.
Hershey’s Chocolate World has other fun activities, including a milkshake shop, a chocolate creation studio, and a bakery. There are even a couple of counter-service meal locations. In addition, you can choose from various chocolate treats, including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and more. There are even custom candy wrappers for the candy-loving.
The creative studio is interactive, and you can choose from various ingredients for your candy bar. Then, you can create your personalized candy bar, which you can eat and savor.
ZooAmerica
Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, ZooAmerica is an 11-acre zoo open year-round. Its focus is on conservation and education. The zoo contains more than 200 animals. In addition to its many animals, the park is home to a wide variety of native plants and landscaping.
ZooAmerica offers a variety of tours to see its animals. They are perfect for families with children. The terms include snacks and refreshments. They also provide the chance to take pictures with some of the animals.
For younger kids, there is a day camp. It is designed to allow children to see the zoo’s operations and closely examine some animals. The campers also participate in enrichment activities and animal encounters.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredits the zoo. In addition, it is a member of the Species Survival Plan, a collaborative initiative of zoos and aquariums to protect endangered species. Its current conservation projects include breeding black-footed ferrets and Canada lynxes.
ZooAmerica’s Great Southwest exhibit features a vampire bat, a nine-banded armadillo, and a desert box turtle. It also includes nocturnal animals, such as ocelots, gopher tortoises, and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes.
Hershey Gardens
Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Hershey Gardens is an arboretum and botanical garden. In addition to a stunning variety of plants and flowers, the parks offer families fun and educational opportunities.
Hershey Gardens features a large rose garden. The garden has 115 varieties, including hybrid tea roses and shrub roses. The garden also features a butterfly house, an outdoor Butterfly Atrium, and a children’s playground.
The Conservatory is a 16,000-square-foot building. It features large doors and bright, sunny windows. It has a horticultural and educational wing, which hosts events and exhibits throughout the year. In addition, the Conservatory has a beautiful display of tropical plants.
Hershey Gardens also features an outdoor Butterfly House. This house features 600 North American and tropical butterflies. The atrium also houses non-native species, which are replaced at the end of their life cycle. It is a fun, educational way for families to experience butterflies in a tropical environment.
The Conservatory also features a Welcome Pavilion and an Educational & Horticultural Wing. This wing features various plants and flowers, including cacao trees. It also offers self-guided tours.
Hershey Gardens is open 363 days a year, Monday through Sunday. The hours vary depending on the season. The Conservatory also has a gift shop featuring stained glass art. You can find gifts for everyone in the family.
Hershey Gardens also features a Japanese garden, a Children’s Garden, and Oak Grove. These are great places to take a break from the busy theme park.
The Hershey Story Museum
Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, The Hershey Story Museum is an excellent place for kids to learn about chocolate. The museum includes interactive exhibits and chocolate workshops. There are also chocolate treats to buy. The museum is free for kids under two, but admission costs a bit more than other museums.
Hershey’s Story Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Hershey. It tells the story of the Hershey Company and its founder Milton S. Hershey and also offers a look into American history. There are several interactive displays, including a chocolate lab for kids. There are also several artifacts from the Hershey family, including vintage toys. There are also holiday activities and photo opportunities.
The museum is open Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased online up to one day in advance. Adults can accompany children for free.
There are also interactive exhibits that teach visitors about Hershey’s philanthropy and chocolate flavors. There are touchscreens, I Spy booklets, and more. There is also a chocolate-tasting bar that offers chocolates from around the world. You can try chocolates from Tanzania, Java, and other exotic places.
Tröegs Independent Brewing
Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Tröegs Independent Brewing produces world-class beers. The brewery boasts a 5000-square-foot tasting room. In addition to tastings, visitors can also tour the facility.
The brewery produces four hoppy ales each season. They also offer recommendations on different varieties of hops. The Troegs brand is a staple in the Mid-Atlantic region. The brewery also sells select beers by the bottle. In addition, the brewery is one of the sponsors of Harrisburg Beer Week, a 10-day event that showcases craft beer events and education.
Troegs is a family-owned brewery in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The brewery features a 5,000-square-foot tasting room and a snack bar. In addition to tastings, visitors can take a self-guided tour.
The Troegs Brewing Company is famous for its experimental beers and the wood-aged Splinter Series. They also produce the Troegenator Double Bock, an award-winning beer. They have also expanded their brewhouse with solar panels, doubling their canning capacity. In addition, the Troegs Brewing Company offers regular beer dinners with local restaurants.
The Troegs Brewing company is a family-owned and operated company that started in 1996. The company has been brewing world-class beers for over 20 years.
Hershey Lodge
Located near the city of Hershey, Hershey Lodge is an ideal choice for your next vacation. It offers a convenient location and is only ten minutes away from the Hersheypark. It is also close to many other area attractions, making it a great vacation destination for families.
Hershey Lodge offers guests a variety of recreational activities, including swimming pools and basketball and volleyball courts. In addition, there are several dining options. There are also many shops within a five- to 10-minute walk of the hotel.
The hotel also offers a complimentary shuttle to area attractions. There is also a rental car agency in the lobby. You can also take advantage of laundry and dry cleaning services and supervised children’s programs.
The hotel’s spa also offers a variety of treatments. There are also saunas and silent meditation rooms. There is also an indoor pool, a Jacuzzi, and a nail salon. You can also enjoy a chocolate spa prescriptive facial.
Hershey Lodge is also close to Harrisburg International Airport, a fifteen-minute drive away. It is also a short drive to downtown Hershey. It is also convenient to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which is only a ten-minute drive away.
Hershey Lodge offers a wide variety of accommodations, including suites. Each suite offers a separate living and dining area. These suites can accommodate up to eight guests. They also feature full kitchens. Some suites even have master bedrooms.
Other amenities include free Wi-Fi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Guests can also enjoy the convenience of an indoor and outdoor pool.
Hershey Theatre
Located in downtown Hershey, Pennsylvania, the Hershey Theatre is one of the area’s premier performing arts centers. It is home to touring Broadway shows, dance, and classical music attractions. The Hershey Theatre is also the host of a Classic Film Series.
The building’s interior was designed to reflect Milton Hershey’s love of Venice. The ceiling is sculpted and painted with pastoral scenes. In addition, it features a bas-relief image of Apollo.
In the 1950s, Hershey Theatre hosted a wide variety of Broadway tours. Regular guests included Jeanette MacDonald, Katharine Hepburn, and Olivia de Havilland. In addition, Victor Borge made eleven appearances at the theatre.
A vaudeville show was also held on the occasion. The show featured nationally-known performers, dancers, and acrobats. In addition, the Hershey Theatre hosted the Pennsylvania Scholarship Pageant, a community event that was part of the Miss America pageant.
The theatre’s house sound system is described as “state of the art.” It features two 2-way speakers mounted on the proscenium opening, a custom three-way center speaker cluster, and additional speakers for the rear orchestra. In addition, the theatre has a new stage system that can handle more weight.
In the 1960s, the Hershey Theatre took a stand against first-run films. During the war, Hershey was home to 213 different full-length pictures. However, the theatre was showing its age by the end of the 20th century. So in 1969, the theater decided to stop showing movies.
The Hershey Theatre has a variety of seating options. Patrons can choose from the lower, upper, orchestra, and loge seating. In addition, the theater’s Grand Lobby offers a floor-to-ceiling tile area.