Hershey Park and Armish Country?

[happily single]

I think we are going to take a roadtrip to Hershey Park this year seeing how my last minute roadtrip to Orlando in April was awesome! But I would love to incorporate a little "Dutch Wonderland" and Armish country.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I can't ever planning a remember vacation that does not include a Mouse!

I'm thinking of staying 2-3 days in Hershey and 1-2 days in Armish Country?

My kids are dd13; ds11 (PPD) and ds5.

 

[cheyandrew7]

You don't want to come and see them they aren't the greatest. Believe me i live around them but i live in ohio

 

[Halbleib1]

There is nothing wrong with the Amish most of them just prefer to be left alone to live their lives. They are people just like you and I; they just choose to live a simpler live. They do not want their pictures taken as it is against their religion. So if you do come please be respectful of that. If you do take a picture at least be respectful enough not to photograph their faces. www. padutchcountry.com has some good info. for you.

 

[Matt'sMom]

Amish, not Armish.

Any ways, if you want info on the two Amusement parks and the associated sights around Hershey area (Chocolate World, the gardens & museum, Zoo America, etc.), try this: http://www.hersheypa.com/index.php (Admission to our zoo is included free with park admission.)

If you want to learn about our Pennsylvania Deutch/German heritage while in the area, I recommend a visit to Landis Valley Living History Museum. (Far better than any of those tourist traps around Lancaster that charge you for a faux Amish experience.) If you can time your trip to see one of their special event weekends, such as Civil War Day in late July, all the more fun! http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/

And while you are in the area, be sure to stop by Strasburg and visit the historic Railroad and train museum there too. http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/

If you ever plan a visit to this area during Hockey season, you may also want to try to score tickets for a Hershey Bears game. We take our hockey very seriously here in Hershey. Back to back Calder Cup Champions in 08-09 and 09-10! Hershey will be hosting the AHL All-Star Classic during the anniversary next season too. Go Bears!

 

[disneyfreak71]

Here are two awesome websites for the Lancaster County area.

www.padutchcountry.com

www.800padutch.com

Dutch Wonderland is actually owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts. They have combo tickets you can buy for both parks.

www.hersheypa.com

There is also a professional baseball team in Lancaster which is fun for the family.

www.lancasterbarnstormers.com

There are many nice hotels in the Lancaster area. Amish View Inn and Suites is really nice as well as Best Western Eden.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Halbleib1]

Amish, not Armish.

Any ways, if you want info on the two Amusement parks and the associated sights around Hershey area (Chocolate World, the gardens & museum, Zoo America, etc.), try this: http://www.hersheypa.com/index.php (Admission to our zoo is included free with park admission.)

If you want to learn about our Pennsylvania Deutch/German heritage while in the area, I recommend a visit to Landis Valley Living History Museum. (Far better than any of those tourist traps around Lancaster that charge you for a faux Amish experience.) If you can time your trip to see one of their special event weekends, such as Civil War Day in late July, all the more fun! http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/

And while you are in the area, be sure to stop by Strasburg and visit the historic Railroad and train museum there too. http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/

If you ever plan a visit to this area during Hockey season, you may also want to try to score tickets for a Hershey Bears game. We take our hockey very seriously here in Hershey. Back to back Calder Cup Champions in 08-09 and 09-10! Hershey will be hosting the AHL All-Star Classic during the anniversary next season too. Go Bears!

I agree the landis valley farm is a great place to visit. I have never been to the strasburg railroad but my husband has and thinks it is a great place to visit.

Also you can visit the herr's potatoe chip factory for a free tour any weekday mon-thurs. Call ahead for friday tours. You can find the info.here: http://www.herrs.com/SnackFactoryTours.html

Also there are many other free factory tours offered in the York/Lancaster county area as well: http://factorytoursusa.com/StateList.asp?state=PA

 

[Swimalie]

There is nothing wrong with the Amish most of them just prefer to be left alone to live their lives. They are people just like you and I; they just choose to live a simpler live. They do not want their pictures taken as it is against their religion. So if you do come please be respectful of that. If you do take a picture at least be respectful enough not to photograph their faces. www. padutchcountry.com has some good info. for you.

I agree. I went to Dutch Country as a kid, maybe 12 years old so around 27 years ago and I remember it to this day. It's a great way to learn about a whole new culture living right here in the US in a whole new way. I highly recommend it. We're looking at a trip there, too. Although we have friends who are living up there. They aren't Amish but have friended Amish and are living on one of their farms right now so we're looking at an inside tour.

 

[KristaBelle]

Your two older children will probably be a little bored with Dutch Wonderland. Though it is a really nice little park, it is really aimed at the Elementary School and younger. However, Hershey Park will have plenty for all ages.

I would agree with the others to avoid the tourist traps. The museums are much better. The train museum is great. There is a children's museum, but would only be good for the youngest. There is of course the outlet shopping! Including a Disney Outlet, but it is really just like a Disney Store, not much of an outlet.

A nice place to stay in Lancaster with a family is the Best Western Eden Resort, they have suites, some with bunk beds.

If you like buffets the Shady Maple smorgasbord is very good food. It's Menonite owned so it is not open on Sunday.

I enjoy just driving through the back roads and taking in the scenery.

Have a good trip!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I think if you do 2 days at Hershey, you'll be really disappointed with Dutch Wonderland. There's some kind of combo ticket that is sold for both parks, I don't remember the specifics. Hershey's a nice amusement park, though.

I agree about the shopping in Lancaster though, the outlets aren't bad.

 

[3mickeymom]

It is a store that has lots of silly gag type gifts/coffee mugs/ etc. My 11 yr old son(at the time) thought it was hilarious. We did a few of the silly machines for a quarter. The one he liked best was "see what you will look like when you are old" He still tells everyone about it. We took lots of funny photos in the store, holding up the funny signs. Afterwards, we had some homemade rootbeer and some shoefly pie from a roadside stand. A little too much shopping involved for the boys in my family.We loved hershey Park though. Had a blast. Take a ride through the backroads. My kids didn't complain about cleaning their rooms for a month after seeing how hard the Amish children worked. Beautiful scenery.

 

[maslex]

We've done the whole Hersheypark and DutchWonderland thing about 7yrs ago or so. My boys were about 6 and 7. They both LOVED DutchWonderland (it is aimed toward the younger kids though, so your children might be too old) Then again, we also loved Hersheypark but they were both a bit too young for most stuff.

We did have a good time at either place though.

 

[mom2cookies]

Don't know if you are of a particular religion, but also in Lancaster area at the Sight and Sounds theater they have shows based on Biblical stories. Right now they are showing Joseph. They have live animals in their productions.

http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSiteSS/getlanguages.do

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Does anyone know if you can purchase discount tickets for Hershey park any where?

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Does anyone know if you can purchase discount tickets for Hershey park any where?

Giant supermarkets. www.giantpa.com for locations I think there is one right near the park. ZIP 17033

 

[mjkacmom]

We've done the whole Hersheypark and DutchWonderland thing about 7yrs ago or so. My boys were about 6 and 7. They both LOVED DutchWonderland (it is aimed toward the younger kids though, so your children might be too old) Then again, we also loved Hersheypark but they were both a bit too young for most stuff.

We did have a good time at either place though.

My youngest were 6 the last time we went to Hershey, and there were only a few rides they didn't meet the height requirement for. We did most of the big coasters as a family!

 

[GenieCat]

http://www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org/index_1.php

The National Civil War History Museum is in Harrisburg, not far from Hershey, and the Gettysburg Battlefield.

 

[Karenj2]

Also, if you're into gardening, about an hour east of Hershey Park is a BEAUTIFUL public garden called Longwood Gardens. The property was originally owned by one of the DuPont's, and then turned into a public garden. It has stuff for kids, and it's just beautiful! (I live near there, and go all the time.)

 

[Leshaface]

Yay! I'll be in York visiting my family on Wed thru next tuesday!

We've done Hershey and it's awesome! We're actually going again on Thursday! Ugh, I hope it won't be too hot...

 

[3darlings]

Yay! I'll be in York visiting my family on Wed thru next tuesday!

We've done Hershey and it's awesome! We're actually going again on Thursday! Ugh, I hope it won't be too hot...

You are in luck - Thursday (and Wednesday) are suppose to be beautiful! Have fun!

 

[Leshaface]

You are in luck - Thursday (and Wednesday) are suppose to be beautiful! Have fun!

Thank goodness!!!