Going to Hershey! The CHOCOLATE Capitol! Any Tips?

[spaddy]

We just returned from a Baltimore/Hershey trip and it was great. We ended up not using 1 day of our 2 day flex ticket so we will be going back sometime this summer.


If you are looking to go to the park just one day the local Giant (grocery store) sells discount tickets that are a pretty good deal. For 2 days the flex ticket you can buy at the park seems to be the best deal. They also have the preview plan. Basically you can go to the park at 7:30PM (depends on the closing time) and get in for free if you are using your ticket the next day.

Definitely bring your bathing suit if you like waterparks. The Boardwalk area is really fun.

They have some good wooden roller coasters. I rode the Comet for the first time with my son and it was really fun.

 

[WaltD4Me]

We took a day trip to DC while we were there. We just drove to the nearest metro stop and took the train in the rest of the way. It was a great day, maybe a little more than you want to do on a short trip, we were there for a week.

Really? That sounds very interesting. I would love to take the kids to DC. We are staying in Harrisburg for 4 nights, could you tell me how far a Metro stop might be and how long is the ride to DC? Do you just do DC for the day?

 

[spaddy]

I forgot to second Don's suggestion of the trolley tour. It is very silly, but my son thought it was the greatest thing ever. He still talks about the tour.

 

[WaltD4Me]

What day are you doing Hershey? Our company picnic is August 9th at Hershey and our family is going

Rats, we won't get there until August 16th! It would have been fun to have our own mini-DIS Chocolate meet!

 

[WaltD4Me]

We always do Hershey and Baltimore (Inner Harbor) as 1-2 punch. The harbor is awesome with the National Aquarium and Science building. Its a great summer trip !

I have always wanted to see Baltimore, but I don't know about the 2 hour drive, we didn't really want to drive too far from Harrisburg once we got there. We were trying to keep the one day trip somewhere to somewhere under an hour away.

 

[disneyholic family]

funny, i never thought of hershey and DC as being nearby each other (hershey seemed really far away when i was in school in baltimore)...

but if you can make it to DC, it's a really wonderful wonderful place to visit - a beautiful city with so many great places to see with kids.....

 

[dpuck1998]

Really? That sounds very interesting. I would love to take the kids to DC. We are staying in Harrisburg for 4 nights, could you tell me how far a Metro stop might be and how long is the ride to DC? Do you just do DC for the day?

from the center of Harrisburg it is about an hour and 30 mins to the Shady Grove metro stop. It is only 4?75 to park for the day. We hoped on the metro there and the red train took us right to Metro Center. You can hop from there to any stop on the metro. The train ride from Shady Grove to Metro Center is about 30 mins. We spend the entire day walking around the museums and the mall. It was a long day, but the kids slept on the way back.

One of my all time favorite photos from this trip. (I did a photoshop black/white and color)

If you want to see all my photos from Hershey/DC click here

 

[dalt01]

you have to buy chocolate from Chocolate World...it tastes awesome and tastes better than what you buy at the stores. I guess because it is fresher.

 

[disneyholic family]

from the center of Harrisburg it is about an hour and 30 mins to the Shady Grove metro stop. It is only 4?75 to park for the day. We hoped on the metro there and the red train took us right to Metro Center. You can hop from there to any stop on the metro. The train ride from Shady Grove to Metro Center is about 30 mins. We spend the entire day walking around the museums and the mall. It was a long day, but the kids slept on the way back.

One of my all time favorite photos from this trip. (I did a photoshop black/white and color)

If you want to see all my photos from Hershey/DC click here

what a GREAT picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she is ADORABLE!!!

 

[maroo]

What day are you doing Hershey? Our company picnic is August 9th at Hershey and our family is going

Did you know that Magic Meets (Disney meets with some podcasters and websmasters from various sites) is that weekend?

There is a group of people going to Hershey Park on August 9th.

I will be going to Magic Meets but not sure yet if I will be going to Hershey Park or staying for the Sunday breakout sessions...but you will probably see some Disney fans there, if you are looking. I imagine they will be sporting some sort of Mickey gear!

 

[sc9500]

I have always wanted to see Baltimore, but I don't know about the 2 hour drive, we didn't really want to drive too far from Harrisburg once we got there. We were trying to keep the one day trip somewhere to somewhere under an hour away.

Its worth the xtra hour to baltimore - maybe you can catch a game at Camden Yards - have fun wherever you go !

 

[AnneR]

We are planning on going to Gettysburg one day and planned on going to Boyds Bear Country. I used to collect Boyds a few years ago, not so much anymore, but wanted to see it. Is it not worth it? We were trying to decide between going to Gettysburg or Lancaster one day, one of the reasons we decided on Gettsyburg was Boyds Bears.

It has been a year since I went to Boyds Bear Country but my vote would be skip it. It is not what it used to be, while they still have Boyds Bears, they are selling other products. I would also make sure it is open as business was bad last year.

 

[stitch teacher]

I second what other posters have said about Boyds Bear Country. It used to be one of our favorite places to visit, but it has gone downhill.

If you like to shop, there are two great outlets in Lancaster (Tanger and Rockvale). If you are a AAA member, you can get a discount coupon book for Tanger.

If you still wanted to do Boyds Bears AND shop, there are some great outlets right on Route 15, on your way into Gettysburg.

Enjoy your trip[/FONT]![/FONT]

 

[WaltD4Me]

I second what other posters have said about Boyds Bear Country. It used to be one of our favorite places to visit, but it has gone downhill.

If you like to shop, there are two great outlets in Lancaster (Tanger and Rockvale). If you are a AAA member, you can get a discount coupon book for Tanger.

If you still wanted to do Boyds Bears AND shop, there are some great outlets right on Route 15, on your way into Gettysburg.

Enjoy your trip[/FONT]![/FONT]

That's too bad about Boyd's, but thanks for the info, maybe we will think about Lancaster instead.

 

[GenieCat]

If you like history, the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg is an amazing place.

http://www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'll say one thing about Hershey...you can find cheaper "on property" hotels at Disney! The Econo Lodge in Hershey is $150 a night! Hampton Inn Hershey is $200. We are staying in Harrisburg, off property, in a 1 bedroom suite for $122. And the character breakfast at Hershey park is $27! I have no desire to meet a life size Reese's Cup, so we are skipping that!

 

[dpuck1998]

I'll say one thing about Hershey...you can find cheaper "on property" hotels at Disney! The Econo Lodge in Hershey is $150 a night! Hampton Inn Hershey is $200. We are staying in Harrisburg, off property, in a 1 bedroom suite for $122. And the character breakfast at Hershey park is $27! I have no desire to meet a life size Reese's Cup, so we are skipping that!

We stayed at the Homewood Suites in Harrisburg and it was great. Easy access to the park and other activities. The prices for Hershey hotels were crazy and the accommodations weren't as nice, IMHO.

 

[WaltD4Me]

We stayed at the Homewood Suites in Harrisburg and it was great. Easy access to the park and other activities. The prices for Hershey hotels were crazy and the accommodations weren't as nice, IMHO.

I checked out that Homewood in Harrisburg, it looks really nice, but it was $60more a night. We are staying at brand new Country Inn & Suites. It just opened in May, so I'm crossing my fingers that it'll be nice.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I haven't been to Hershey yet (although I live fairly close!) - it's on our to-do list, so these tips are great!

I have been to Gettysburg - if you like history at all, it's wonderful. You can pick up an audio from the visitors center or gift shop that will take you on a driving tour of all the battle sites. And they have a 360 "show" that tells the story at the main center. My husband loves history (the Civil War is his favorite war!) so he really enjoys Gettysburg. Although I never cared much for history classes - it really is something to stand in the actual places where these events took place.

I also don't consider Baltimore that close to Hershey - but if you're going to Baltimore, try to go to a game at Camden Yards. The aquarium is great. Eat in Little Italy and stop by Vaccaro's for dessert.

 

[bsusanmb]

Well, I live here...Chocolate World is fun. There is a 3 D movie there that is fun for kids, but costs extra. The roller coasters are great, water park wonderful, lots of hills in Hershey Park. Have been to Dorney Park a lot of times, and Hershey beats it by far IMHO...cleaner, more places to eat, less crowded in the water park area. Zoo is all about American animals and it is small, is included in your park pass, but if you are strapped for time, not worth going through...it is connected to the park.

I would not eat in the park..it is very very expensive. Compared to WDW, it is NUTS. On route 39 there are some fast food and restaurants, usual FF and there is Bob Evans, Applebees and on the hill by Kmart off 39 there is a Japanese hibachi...also one of the soup and sandwich restaurant chains...name escapes my old brain.

There is a DIsney store in the Hershey outlets, and a great scrapbooking store if you like that sort of thing...but not cheap.

The Hershey gardens are pretty if they are in bloom, but in Aug it is usually too hot and dry and everything is dying off for fall blooms.

As for Harrisburg, City Island does have some little food stands and shops and a boat ride. You can see the capitol from there. It is pleasant at times.
I wouldn't go out of my way to do it.

Gettysburg is a pretty area, and has some historic venues with the battlefield.
It depends on what you like, if it is Boyd's or do you want to see the PA dutch country of Lancaster? There are lots of outlets on route 30 in Lancaster.

Agree about the street lights along Chocolate Ave....kisses...and everyone wants pictures of that.

You can eat inside Chocolate World cheaper than in the park.

The trolly that leaves from Choc World is fun and you will see all of Hershey if you ride that...don't know about cost.

Since I live here and we have horse and buggies tied outside our Walmart, I can't speak too much as to Lancaster and what to see. I think if you google it you will get information. There is a tourist center in Lancaster and they might be able to send you some information.

South of Hershey on route 743 there is a fun place, the name escapes me, might be Adventure Sports, but there are go carts and bumper boats and perhaps mini golf? It is about 2 miles south on 743 towards Elizabethrown. I know that my kids/grands like it.

My brother has 5 kids and when they come from NC in July they LOVE to go to Hershey Park especially now with the water park. As kids we had season passes, but with all of the additions, he really thinks it is great, and so do the kids, ages 18 down to 5. There is something for everyone.

It if rains, there is a movie theater in Hershey.