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Hershey, PA: A Chocolate-infused trip down memory lane

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When I was a kid, my family visited Hershey, Pennsylvania on a family vacation. I still remember that trip, and I’ve been wanting to return to Hershey with my kids someday. Thanks to a great award flight price, I revisited Hershey with my daughter and sister last week.

Hershey Lodge

We stayed 3 nights at Hershey Lodge.

A landscaped area featuring a sign that reads "Hershey Lodge" in large letters. The sign is mounted on a brick wall surrounded by neatly arranged plants and flowers, including red blossoms and tall grasses. There are trees and a well-maintained lawn in the background, with a white fence visible in the distance.

The lodge has beautiful grounds and 665 rooms spread out over multiple buildings.The image shows the exterior of a large building with a red-roofed entrance and two flagpoles in front. The building is surrounded by a parking area with a few cars and landscaped with trees and bushes. The sky is clear and blue.

The lobby was charming and smelled like chocolate, of course. We each received a Hershey chocolate bar at check-in.

The image shows the interior of a spacious hotel lobby. The area features a high ceiling with wooden beams and modern lighting fixtures. There are several seating areas with cushioned chairs and sofas. A large floral arrangement is placed on a table in the center. In the background, a staircase leads to an upper level, and a few people are standing near the entrance. The decor is warm and inviting, with a mix of wood and stone elements.

The image shows a stone fireplace with a lit fire inside. Above the fireplace is a wooden sign with the text "Hershey Lodge." The area is well-lit with spotlights, and there are potted plants on either side of the fireplace.

Hershey Lodge offered several activities throughout the day:

The image shows a large, cartoonish cutout of a smiling chocolate bar character wearing gloves and shoes, with the word "HERSHEY'S" on its body. Next to it is a sign displaying "Weekday Activities" with a list of events and times. The setting appears to be indoors, with a carpeted floor and wooden accents in the background.

Some chocolate characters made appearances in the lobby twice a day:

The image shows two people dressed in large, colorful costumes. One is wearing a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup costume, which is orange with a round, textured top resembling the candy. The other is in a Kit Kat bar costume, which is red with a rectangular shape. Both costumes have cartoonish facial features and are standing indoors on a carpeted floor.

While we didn’t spend a lot of time at the lodge, we did walk through the big indoor pool complex:

The image shows an indoor swimming pool with a basketball hoop and a slide. There are people around the pool, including a lifeguard sitting on a high chair. The pool area has large windows allowing natural light to enter, and the ceiling has exposed beams and lighting fixtures. The water is calm, and there are some poolside chairs and equipment visible.

The image shows an indoor water play area designed like a castle. It features two large castle towers connected by walls, with a blue water slide emerging from one side. Water is splashing around the slide's exit into a shallow pool. The area is surrounded by seating, including lounge chairs and a table with chairs. The ceiling has exposed beams and ductwork, and large windows provide natural light.

And the outdoor mini golf area:

A landscaped garden area with a variety of green trees and shrubs. There is a curved concrete path bordered by small bricks, leading through the garden. A round planter with soil is placed on a section of gravel next to the path. The grass is neatly trimmed, and the scene is surrounded by lush foliage.

Our room had two queen beds:

The image shows a hotel room with two double beds. Each bed has a dark headboard, white sheets, and a decorative bolster pillow with a striped pattern. The beds are covered with blue and yellow bedspreads. Above the beds, there are two framed artworks on the wall. The room has beige walls and carpeted flooring. To the right, there is a desk with a chair and a granite countertop. A window with curtains is partially visible on the left side of the image.

And a bathroom with two vanities:

The image shows a bathroom with a tiled floor and wallpapered walls. There are two granite countertops with sinks on either side. A door in the center leads to a shower area with a bathtub, which is tiled in white. Towels are hanging on rings near the sinks.

Hershey Lodge has 4 on-site restaurants and a few within walking distance. We took the hotel bus to the nearby Hershey attractions.

A white bus with a sign displaying "Lodge" on the front is driving on a paved road. The road is surrounded by lush greenery, including trees and bushes. The sky is overcast.

Activities in Hershey PA

The hotel bus took us to Hershey’s Chocolatetown, which is the gateway to Hershey’s Chocolate World and Hersheypark.

A person is standing next to a large sign that reads "Hershey's Chocolatetown: Where Fun Meets Chocolate." The sign is surrounded by landscaping with rocks and greenery. The person is wearing a white top, a plaid skirt, white sneakers, and is carrying a small bag. The background includes trees and part of a building.

 

Hershey’s Chocolate World has free admission with included activities as well as paid activities:

The image shows the entrance to Hershey's Chocolate World, a large brick building with a clock tower and an American flag on top. There is a sign above the entrance that reads "Hershey's Chocolate World." A digital billboard displays an advertisement for Reese's PB&J with the text "What's Your Jam?" In front of the building, a crowd of people, including families and individuals, are walking and standing around, some carrying bags. The sky is overcast. The factory tour is actually a ride and is free!

A person is sitting in a theme park ride vehicle, smiling at the camera. The vehicle has an orange and maroon color scheme with a screen displaying animated characters from Reese's, Hershey's, and Kisses. The background features a mural of a house and trees, creating an immersive environment.

Hersheypark has amusement park rides and a zoo. We visited on a Thursday when crowds were very low. I loved this band that was marching all around the park:

A marching band is performing in an outdoor setting. The band members are wearing yellow and blue uniforms and playing various instruments, including a saxophone, trombone, trumpet, and sousaphone. They are marching on a paved surface with a brick building and trees in the background. People are watching the parade from the sides.

Hersheypark has a good mix of extreme rides and tamer/classic rides. The famous Kissing Tower gave us a good view of everything:

View from inside a Ferris wheel cabin, looking out through a teardrop-shaped window. The scene outside shows an amusement park with roller coasters, trees, and various buildings. The sky is partly cloudy, and the landscape extends into the distance.

My favorite ride was Reese’s Cupfusion, which is similar to the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disney World.

The next day, we visited Hershey Gardens and the Hershey Story Museum, which were free for us to enter as a perk of staying at Hershey Lodge. Hershey Gardens was beautiful with a great butterfly atrium:

A butterfly with orange and black wings, featuring white spots, is perched on a cluster of small purple flowers. The background consists of lush green leaves.

A young woman is standing in a garden under an archway covered with vibrant red roses. She is wearing a white top, a light blue skirt, and white sneakers, and is holding a small bag. The garden is lush with various plants and flowers, and the sky is clear and blue.

The Hershey Story Museum was fun because it showcased old Hershey commercials. I watched one and saw a familiar face–and sure enough, it was Jason Alexander in an old Hershey Kisses commercial! It was also cool to see the Hershey Kiss streetlamps on the Main Street:

A streetlight designed to resemble a Hershey's Kiss, complete with a silver wrapper and a small flag that reads "HERSHEY," set against a blue sky with some clouds and tree branches in the foreground.

The only non-Hershey thing we did on this trip was a side trip to nearby Indian Echo Caverns. 

The image shows a cave interior with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Below, there is a clear pool of water reflecting the formations above. The cave walls are textured and have a natural, earthy color. A small portion of a person's hat is visible at the bottom right corner.

The image shows the interior of a cave with numerous stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites rising from the ground. The cave is dimly lit, highlighting the intricate formations and textures of the rock surfaces. The scene has a mysterious and natural beauty, with some areas illuminated by artificial light.

This quick trip was a great way to spend the last week of summer!

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

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