Hershey, Pennsylvania, my hometown, is colloquially known as “the sweetest place on earth,” with over 50,000 tourists per year (The summer traffic is so fun). There are a fair amount of fun things to do and see in my hometown, some of which I’ve listed below. Check them out!
1. Hershey Park
Hershey Park is a very popular tourist attraction. It was actually founded as a legitimate park installed by Milton Hershey as a place for his factory workers to relax with their families on the weekends. Since then, it has been turned into an amusement park with lots of rides like the Storm Runner, which goes from 0-60 miles per hour in 10 seconds! Hershey Park also includes a water-park and performances by “The Chocafellas”, an acapella group at Hershey.
2. Chocolate World
Another personal favorite of mine (which I make sure to avoid during the tourist seasons) is Chocolate World! Chocolate World has a HUGE candy store which actually has candy that’s sold exclusively in Hershey. Additionally, there’s a ride that gives an overview of how chocolate is made, fully equipped with singing cows.
3. The Hershey Story
If you want a more educational overview of the history of Hershey, Pennsylvania, The Hershey Story is the place to go! The museum, located on Chocolate Ave, gives an overview of the history of Milton Hershey, the origins of his chocolate factory, and an overview of how chocolate is processed! But, my personal favorite there is a hot chocolate bar where you can sample hot chocolate made chocolate from different cocoa beans from all over the world.
4. The Sweet Lights
During wintertime in Hershey, for $20, you can drive through the “sweet lights”, which are about a half an hour’s drive worth of extravagantly decorated lights.
5. The Hotel Hershey
Another tourist favorite is The Hotel Hershey, which was actually built during the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, Milton Hershey employed members of Hershey to keep the town afloat. As result, there is a beautiful hotel in my town with a Spanish patio and beautiful outdoor attractions. Very popular tourist destinations include Jazz on the Veranda or the Spa at the Hotel Hershey.
I hope that this article gives you some idea of what to do should you ever find yourself in Central Pennsylvania! Hope you’ll take a trip there soon!
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