Hershey, PA - summer vacation idea?

[KerriMc]

Hello

We are trying to come up with a spot we can take the kids to for about four or five days in July. I read a good review in Family Fun about Hershey, PA and thought it sounded fun for the girls (and us!). I went on the Hershey website and the prices for their hotels are really high! I guess my question is if it is worth it? Is there really all that much to do in Hershey?

We have been looking at a few places to go with the kids and are trying to come up with somewhere in the US to visit for four or five days. We are in Ontario, but don't mind a bit of a drive. Any ideas of something fun for the kids other than Hershey? I'd love some ideas!!!

Thanks so much

 

[FredinFL]

Have you ever done Niagara Falls? The American side has the park that's absolutely awesome. Cave of the Winds Tour, Three Sisters Island. We had a great time there. We stayed at a KOA Campground on the Canadian side.

 

[crazydaisy00]

Took the kids to Hershey years ago and we did have fun. We stayed at the camp ground which was less expensive than the hotel, you can buy tickets at a discount price if your staying on site and they also had a late afternoon offer for park tickets. However after doing WDW I couldnt see spending the money when we could go to WDW instead! I live in Western PA not far from Ohiopyle State Park. They have White Water Rafting on the Yough River (google White Water Adventurers Yough River or www.wwaraft.com) They have B&B's in the area, The Yough Plaza motel, or state park camping (numerous camps in the area or cabin rentals). Depending on your kids ages they offer 3 different guided trips, or you can rent and also request rubber kayaks or other types of rafts (lunch included on guided trips) Middle Yough is a scenic family float trip 11 miles long ages 5 and up, you can also fish on this section, Lower Yough is a beginner level for ages 11-12 and up class 3=4 rapids 7.5 miles long, Upper Yough ages 16 and up for experienced rafters class 5 rapids and 9.5 miles long (this is an awesome trip if you have experience). This a beautiful area and has great hiking trails, bike trails (rentals available) Fallingwater which is a Frank Lloyd Wright house that was built for The Kaufmann family over a waterfall is just a few miles from Ohiopyle, very interesting even if your not into architecture. Laurel caverns is also a few miles from the state park. This is a beautiful area and a very fun and relaxing getaway. Hope this helps for different ideas

 

[MisguidedSabrina]

I live in a little town just 10 minutes south of Hershey. It's such a great place! I actually work in Hersheypark during the summer. I would suggest coming here for a vacation. I can answer any more questions you might have.

 

[KerriMc]

Thank you for those suggestions! I am inclined to think Hershey is a bit too expensive - I might as well fly to Florida and go to WDW!! My hubby won't do that in the summer as he will overheat. Another reason I am concerned about Hershey is that hubby is now a diabetic and I worry he won't get the full enjoyment in Hershey Poor guy - a darn chocoholic - so that may be tempting!

I will look into the other things in Pennsylvania though ... my girls would like those. I'm not a camper though ... hubby would love me to want to camp, but I am just not a bugs and dirt kind of girl ... now an RV I could probably handle! I have thought about looking into an RV rental, but I think they are a bit pricey too!

Another spot I am considering is New Hampshire in the area near Santa's Village / Storyland ... my girls are 10 and 7, so we may be able to enjoy those attractions this year, but not for much longer. I shall have to look at that as well.

As for Niagara Falls - we did that last year We stayed at Embassy Suites on our side in Ontario ... we had a lot of fun and it wasn't a long drive! A plus!!! We also drove over to a great children's museum just over the border in Rochester --- would love to take them there again on or way to wherever we go!!

Thanks again!
Kerri

 

[KerriMc]

Sabrina - thanks ... I will look into it a bit more and if I have any questions I will let you know I would like to know what other locations there are to stay at as those Hershey hotels are very expensive!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

We live about an hour from Hershey, so we make it a day trip fairly often. There are many enjoyable things to do there - the chocolate tour, Hershey Park, many good summer concerts, a garden, a small zoo, and a museum. But I would suggest if you are going to drive all that way that you make it a combo vacation - Hershey and some of the Philadelphia area attractions. Add Philly to the mix (with about a two hour drive? Not sure - Philly is forty minutes from me, and I'm an hour from Hershey, but there's probably a more direct route between the two...) and you can add the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Franklin Institute Science Museum, tons of other great museums, historical tours, carriage and boat rides, and best (imho) the incredible Philadelphia Zoo (member here! love it!). Not to mention Sesame Place, Longwood Gardens - great stuff!

Get a hotel a bit out of Hershey and drive in - you'll save on cost, and it's an easy trip through rolling countryside.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

We went to the Hershey area last summer--we rented a house about half an hour out. We typically rent houses, since we're a fmaily of 6. Anyway, this one was on a working dairy farm, and the kids had a blast. We didn't participate in milking at all, but the kids got to feed calves, gather eggs, pet the horse, and there were lots of kittens to play with. Form there, we took various day trips--Gettysburg for my older two, Hershey, a chocolate and pretzel factory, etc. We had a lot of fun. There's plenty to do in the area, and it's really beautiful.