Fun things to do around Hershey Park ?

[jjenniboo]

My family and I were planning on spending a day or two around hershey park but now we're thinking of staying longer (maybe 5 days). I was wondering if anyone knew of other fun things to do? We're already driving about 4 hours to get there so maybe no longer then an hour away and things that my DD5, DH, and myself would all enjoy. Thanks

 

[java]

There is Dutch Wonderland- geared towards children your dd's age
Knoebels
The Strasburg Railway
There is also a little cavern nearby if I remember correctly where you can also pan for gold.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

We went a few years aog, so I'm trying to remember...but we spent a day at the amusement park and a day at the chocolate world part, and didn't see everything. We also went to Hershey Gardens and it was a very nice - even for children. There's a zoo, too, but we didn't go to it (not enough time). You'll have a good time, I'm sure.

HTH

 

[Teacher510]

Chocolate World has a free ride through the "factory" and a 3-D show for about $7. The trolley ride (tix bought inside Chocolate World ) is lots of fun and there are nice outlets nearby. There is also mini golf a few miles away with boat and car rides. DD went to college 8 miles from Hershey so I have spent alot of time there before, during and since then.

 

[Kycha]

What are the dates for your trip?

 

[Desnik]

Lancaster County is no too far from Hershey. You can go to Dutch Wonderland(you can buy a pass that will give you admission to both Hershey Park, and Dutch Wonderland. You can go see all the Amish type attractions, the Strasburg Railroad is a lot of fun too. There are train museums in the area too. If you need Hershey Park info check out my info site at www.hersheyinfo.com You'll find ticket info, park hours, all the info on Chocolate World, tons of pictures, ride info, menus.
Also I have a message board www.hersheyboards.com there you can read info and click on links for area attractions.

You really could spend 3-4 days doing Hershey attractions. I could spend one day just in the new water park section of Hershey Park! Then there is all the entertainment in the park as well as the rides. Then Chocolate World with the free tour, 3D show, Trolley Tour, Factory Works, shopping, food and desserts! Plus the Zoo America! You get free admission with your park pass the day you are in the park. You could check out the Hershey resorts and have lunch or dinner at some of the restaurants at either or both resorts. Then there is mini golf and don't forget the outlet shopping too!

Let me know if you need any more help!

 

[Daisy&Donald]

We went a few years ago and did 2 days in the park and on the way up we stopped at Yuengling's tour of the factory, after you tour the factory they let you taste the beers. http://www.yuengling.com/tour.htm After the park one day we went to the Indian Echo Caverns, very interesting.http://www.indianechocaverns.com/home.html
On the way home we stopped at the pretzel factory and made a pretzel and stopped at the Herr's potato chip factory. http://www.herrs.com/SnackFactoryTours.html
http://www.tomsturgispretzels.com/tom_sturgis_pretzels.htm
Most of the tours are free so this trip was very inexpensive compared to Disney and my daughter is still talking about it, she had a great time.
http://www.factorytoursusa.com/StateList.asp?state=PA

 

[Cristy]

Most of the suggestions listed are great. If you want to travel west a a bit, Gettysburg is about an hour and fifteen minutes and has easy road access to get there. They have a Boyd's Bear barn your DD would love. I know my grandkids do! Heading east from Hershey, the crayola factory is near Allentown, and even though it is a little more than an hour, it still may make a good stop, depending upon where you are travelling from.

 

[java]

OH yeah my kids loved Boyd's bear country-It is a ways out into the country but there is also a little outlet mall that we passed along the way.

 

[fairydust72]

I live about an hour from Hershey and it is tons of fun.I have to say though depending what you like to do,we had even more fun in Lancaster County.

There is a farm there that is so much fun we spent an entire day there.Its called Cherry Crest Farm in Paradise pa.They have a website if you google it.Not sure when the corn maze opens but its a lot of fun.

Also there is a really funny"gag" store(completely appropriate for kids) called The Outhouse on Route 30.Right down the road is Millers for a great buffet of homestyle cooking.

If you go into intercourse,pa there is Kitchen Kettle Village with all kinds of country stores and further down the road is a pretzel place where they teach you to twist your own pretzel.

Tons of shopping,restaurants,outlets on 30 also.There are also Amish farms and house tours too.

As you can see,we have spent a lot of time there.We moved from NY to PA(near Knoebels-a really great amusemsnt park by the way)and love to go down to Hershey and Lancaster.

One year while living in NY still I gave the kids a choice of PA or Disney and they picked PA! I was very dissapointed.LOL

You can request a Lancaster County guide at one of the PA sites.Not sure which but google visit Lancaster County or visit PA.

Sorry the post is so long but as you can see I love the area!You will have a great time!!

 

[PaulaSue]

You don't need 5 days at Hersheypark and all the things in that area, 2 3 at the most. I'm not sure your DS is old enough to enjoy the other things around here beside all the nice DIS people here. Have fun on your trip! My favorite are the outlets.

 

[5 Disney Fans]

We like to catch a drive-in movie while we are in that area since we don't have them by us. The kids think it is so cool to go to the movies in their jammies

 

[ardig123]

We like to catch a drive-in movie while we are in that area since we don't have them by us. The kids think it is so cool to go to the movies in their jammies

I am not sure that there are anymore drive-ins in the area?!

 

[mikehn]

If your spouse is any kind of outdoorsman he might like visiting Cabelas in Hamburg, about 45 minutes away. Cabelas is an attraction in of itself.

 

[Kycha]

I am not sure that there are anymore drive-ins in the area?!

There is one in York...at the fairgrounds. They show movies on an inflatable screen. We saw The Simpsons Movie there last year.

 

[puffkin]

If your spouse is any kind of outdoorsman he might like visiting Cabelas in Hamburg, about 45 minutes away. Cabelas is an attraction in of itself.

I was going to suggest this as well. It is my Dad's Disney World Also the PA Renaissance Fair goes on through out the summer I believe and isn't far from Hershey. That is always intersting. If you are going in August the Reading Fair happens for a week, but I am not sure of the dates. The Reading Phillies are also a really fun minor league baseball team to watch. Also check to see if there are any events at the Giant Center (Hershey) or the Sovereign Center (Reading).

 

[Goofy_4_WDW]

Here's more info for you

http://www.padutchcountry.com/


http://www.800padutch.com/

 

[bjscheel]

Ooh, good stuff. I have been wanting to visit the Crayola Factory for years (I collect) and was on the site last week. It mentioned Hershey Park as a nearby attraction so that was on my mind to look into for summer 2009. I will have to check this stuff out!

 

[BearHawk]

Drive in info:

http://www.usatheatres.com/

 

[jjenniboo]

Thank you for all the replies. Someone asked when we were going and it's the week of the fourth of july so we'll probably hit hershey more in the beginning of the week then I'll figure out what to do later in the week.