Being an ambassador for Hershey has really been an awesome hit in my family!
However, my tenure is coming to an end…sad but true. But I do have some really amazing fond memories of the land of chocolate!
As my #RealMomTravels lead me to all different places around the world to experience—the number one thing I look for in travels is ‘What is their story?” Hershey, Cape May, even Disney: I found such beautiful stories about their history and if I can put a family spin or leaning lesson into anything? I’m in!
Hershey, Pennsylvania about an hour and a half from Philly. And if you live on the East coast—you have a shot to get there from your part of the country!
9 Things Not To Miss in #HersheyPA
Hershey’s Chocolate World – this is a staple in every Hershey visit! Plus? OMG. Get a $5 peanut butter milkshake. It’s To.Die.For. And you get a commemorative Hershey cup! Hmmmm. Hershey’s Chocolate World is right next the HersheyPark so you can surely beat the heat with an icecream milkshake!
Holidays – Chocolate and holidays go together well! In fact – HELLO – Valentine’s Day deals and CHRISTMAS!!
The Chocolate Spa at Hotel Hershey – Seriously. No brainer. If you aren’t a ‘spa goer’ and treat yourself you’re totally missing out on life’s great pleasures! ha. Especially here. Get a massage or something. JUST to visit the spa and enjoy their amenities! I had a few different services and loved it. All of it. The hot cocoa in the waiting areas? WORTH IT. They have an ‘I Live For Mondays Spa package too! Hi Monday!! Bring it on!
Hershey Bears Game – We absolutely loved this! The Hershey Bears is Hershey’s local hockey team. And it’s beyond legit! They play at the Giant Center, an entire shop dedicated to Coco and the mascot! My two-year-old died and went to heaven at that game. It was really a highlight when they came to us and he got to hug the bear. Sooo cute.
HersheyPark – Total no brainer! When in Hershey – you have GOT to Play!! The park is changed for each season. We went for Christmas and we saw reindeer!! That and all the ‘Smores and hot cocoa you can eat??? LAWD. That was ALL ME. And in summer they have the water park open. Spring is great on gorgeous days and Halloween is a huge HersheyPark hit too!
The Hershey Story – At The Hershey Story, do the chocolate tasting at Cafe Zooka! They have a country of origin warm chocolate drink tasting that you’ll be delightfully surprised about! Hit up the Chocolate Lab too! Really fun thing to do with the family. Kind of a make and take craft – but with chocolate!
Hershey Gardens – Ok, this is so fabulous that you just have to DO IT. If you stay at either of the hotels (Hershey Lodge and Hotel Hershey) you get tickets for free to walk through. For me, I LOVED taking a break from my family and heading over for a gorgeous sit through. (I call it a sit through cause…ahem.. I liked to walk a bit – sit a bit – walk a bit – sniff – walk – sit – sniff. (Sniffing the flowers of course! lol)
Hotel Hershey – We stayed here both for our summer and our holiday visit. I LOVE this hotel! It’s gorgeous. Filled with lots of history and great things to do! This hotel is the MUST stay for the summer months! Their outdoor pool area is so awesome! Plus, there is a kids club that my son Boston LOVED!! I loved going in there and playing with them too. Be sure to take a walk around the hotel and hit up the awesome stories on the walls and images!
Hershey Lodge – If you are looking for a place to stay that is affordable and ‘low key’ this is a great hotel. I stayed there only on visits where I was not going to be an ambassador so as a paying patron, I can assure you that Hershey Lodge is the ultimate family place! The characters, the atmosphere, all of it. Super fun. *This is my holiday visit hotel pick for sure!
Am I missing anything? I mean, I can’t forget the outlet mall, the dining, the zoo, exploring…there is a TON I’m missing. But then again – you gotta visit to make your own MUST NOT MISS parts of your trip and come back and share them here!
This post originally appeared on Real Mom Media on January 3, 2015.