Hershey Park

Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Season: May – September 1^st.  Closed January – March. 

Open 3 weeks in October for Halloween, one week-end in April for Springtime in the Park and week-ends in November & December for Christmas Candylane.

If you’re in the Northeast for your summer vacation, particularly the Pennsylvania area, be sure to check out Hershey Park, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, "The Sweetest Place on Earth."

Hersheypark is a venerable and top-rated family amusement park, started in 1907 by chocolatier Milton Hershey as a place where his employees could enjoy a Sunday afternoon.  It has evolved a lot since then!  

My parents grew up in Pennsylvania and remember when rides there only cost a nickel!  When my siblings were kids you could tour the actual chocolate factory. At the end of the tour they’d toss rejected, but still edible, chocolate candy out for the kids to pick up and enjoy. With all of our health and safety standards today, viewing the factory or dispensing chocolate in this manner is no longer possible.

Hersheypark is now a major theme park with sixty rides including some wicked coasters; but there's also water rides, family rides, and kiddie rides as well.  Admission price to Hersheypark also gets you into the ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, a modest-sized walk-through zoo, and  the Boardwalk. The Boardwalk features 5 distinct water attractions including East Coast Waterworks, the largest water-play structure in the world!!

My parents tell me I went to Hersheypark many times as a small child, but I don’t remember. We are continuing our family legacy of fun by taking my small son to start his Hersheypark memories.  Now as an adult I can share with you what I remember from our recent trips taking our son.

If you’ve never been to Hershey, PA, you’ll be impressed with its quaint appeal. All of the street lights in the city of Hershey are shaped like Hershey kisses. Some even have the wrappers on complete with the familiar blue & white paper string tag.  The first time my son saw this he thought it was pretty neat!  He also loved the fact that the whole town smells like chocolate! It really does! The scent gets stronger as you approach the factory.

Hersheypark is clean and very well done. We never saw a mess anywhere. The buildings are all carefully maintained and quaint. Window boxes full of flowers abound in the shop windows. Bands stroll playing music. You might even get lucky like we did and see a giant Hershey Kiss or Rolo walking around for a photo opp!

Since my son is still young, we can vouch for the fact that there is a large assortment of kiddie and younger kid rides including the famous carousel, the monster truck ride, the balloon swings, the tiny car rides and many more!  For older kids and adults we can hear the screaming as they seek the thrills of the larger coasters and gravity rides.

Be sure to visit the on-site 11 acre walk-thru zoo. All small children love animals! They also have a Seal Show which is quite entertaining. Take a break to rest your feet to see this & other shows & concerts.  MOMS TIP: Stop along the bridge to feed the ducks.  Feed is available for only a quarter. Cheap entertainment for small children!

Pack your swimsuit so you can splash down at the Boardwalk featuring 5 distinctive water attractions. Lockers are available at the park to store your swimsuit or wet clothes after visiting the Boardwalk.

MOMS TIP: While you can no longer visit the actual factory, be sure to stop at Chocolate World before you enter the park. Admission is free. If you don’t want to enter the park, you can stop here to take a tour of a simulated chocolate factory.  It is very interesting & has the wonderful scent of chocolate as they actually make some chocolate in this tour. At the end of the tour you'll receive a complimentary Hershey chocolate candy treat.  The treats can vary depending on what they are promoting.

You can also shop for the “latest & greatest” chocolate treats at Chocolate World as well as your other favorite Hershey candies and souvenirs.  We found chocolate candies that we never saw back here in Texas.  Many of the Hershey treats are test-marketed in Pennsylvania only.  Last time we went they were testing an Elvis anniversary special – peanut butter & banana cups - that we found at a local Pennsylvania convenience store & at Chocolate World.

DISCOUNTS

Well-known published discounts tickets are available at local Giant & Martin grocery stores. Savings are $11/ticket.  Other discounts may be available we are not aware of.

So if you happen to be in the Northeast or like to visit amusement and theme parks across the US, put Hersheypark on your list.  Gear up your chocolate appetite & prepare to have fun!  Just being there will make you crave chocolate!

AroundTownKids Mom on the Go

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