Tell me about Hershey, Pa.

[Harters2WDW]

We are considering Hershey for sprng break--just a three day trip. Is it worth it? Can it be budget? Will DD7 and DD3 enjoy it?

We are also considering Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg.

Help! We don't want to break the bank as we are going to WDW in July.

TIA!!

 

[mjkacmom]

I assume to go to Hershey Park? Check the hours - they might just be open on the weekends.

 

[Harters2WDW]

I assume to go to Hershey Park? Check the hours - they might just be open on the weekends.

I don't think the park is open then! We're just looking for something different, close by and not expensive!

 

[disney1990]

I don't think the park is open then! We're just looking for something different, close by and not expensive!

http://www.hersheypark.com/hours/index.php

Spring 2013 hours

 

[Harters2WDW]

http://www.hersheypark.com/hours/index.php

Spring 2013 hours

Already checked that. Our spring break is early March, so there are no hours posted for that time.

 

[Charitycase20]

We are considering Hershey for sprng break--just a three day trip. Is it worth it? Can it be budget? Will DD7 and DD3 enjoy it?

We are also considering Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg.

Help! We don't want to break the bank as we are going to WDW in July.

TIA!!

I saw a Groupon deal for Great Wolf the other day. You may want to check out the website.

 

[tamarabannon]

I went there in August, from Canada.

We did the Chocolate World stuff, like make the bar, go to the movie, etc. It's not bad.

The Museum is really neat, but not 3 year old neat, IMO.

We loved Gettysburg, and we did Indian Echo Caverns as well.

I'm not convinced a 3 year old would really get much out of it, honestly.

 

[Neesy228]

Hershey in March could be pretty brutal weather-wise. If you lucked out and had some spring-like weather, you could feasibly do Zoo America. It's small, but would entertain for an hour or a little more, especially with a little one.

Chocolate World is open and you could spend a few hours there doing the "factory" tour, the Make your Own Candy Bar experience etc...but it wouldn't be a ton of fun for a little one.

If you were going a little later, I would say that it would be great. The Springtime in the Park weekends are pretty fun if the weather is good. However, considering it's March, I would seriously consider Great Wolf Lodge...

If you subscribe to their mailing list, they will send you info about deals. It's not super cheap, but one night gets you two waterpark days. It will definitely entertain your kids too!

 

[Dizisfun]

Amish Country in Lancaster, PA has Amish Farms that you can visit. Also Strasburg Railroad is on Route 741, there's a zoo near Hershey, not sure of the name of the zoo or if any of these places are open in March. March is still very cold time of the year for PA....

I've heard good things about Great Wolf Lodge, but also heard it was very expensive. (Never been there)

 

[Irin997]

I wouldn't waste your time going to Hershey in March. Looks like you are in Richmond, VA. How about Myrtle Beach? Even if it's chilly there's a lot to do there vs Hershey.

 

[Cierese]

I went there in August, from Canada.

We did the Chocolate World stuff, like make the bar, go to the movie, etc. It's not bad.

The Museum is really neat, but not 3 year old neat, IMO.

We loved Gettysburg, and we did Indian Echo Caverns as well.

I'm not convinced a 3 year old would really get much out of it, honestly.

KEEP IN MIND, WE WENT IN JULY.

We went this year... not by choice. But it was a halfway point between here and NH so we settled to meet the ex-inlaws there. My older nieces did Hershey Park while we repeatedly rode the little ride at Hershey World (I think my kids ended up with a six pack of mini-bars each as much as they rode. They even got pics done with the 'characters'. This was a good thing. Give me hope for Disney. Last year, my 3yr old was terrified of all characters at Disney, but ran right up to the giant candy at Hershey! LOL

We drove the tour at Gettysburg, but didnt' pay the insane tour amount. Just picked up the map and did it ourselves with the kids taking turns narrating using the info on the map.

We thought we were going to tour Indian Echo Caverns. I'd purchased passes on LivingSocial but they ended up being for Indian Caverns in Spruce Creek. We would have used them, but we didn't have an extra day and the Grandparents (ex-inlaws) were grumpy by then! I still have the passes, they are good through July 9th, 2013.

You can visit Harrisburg. The State Museum there is great! If you have military ID, its even better (budget-wise.. I think my kids ID got us in for FREE).

Lancaster, Bird-In-Hand, Intercourse, etc.. they are only a little over an hour away... GREAT for learning about Amish and Mennonite Culture. Just beware, some things are expensive and not worth the money, so do your research before hand.

Intercourse pretzel factory is a free, hands-on experience. I'm trying to remember what else... September Farms is sweet. A little family owned cheese factory and you can sample everything and watch them make cheese. Again, FREE.

I will post more stuff as I remember. I think this will be our little half-way stop between TN and NH from now on. My kids really enjoyed the area.

 

[PAcpl]

I wouldn't waste your time going to Hershey in March. Looks like you are in Richmond, VA. How about Myrtle Beach? Even if it's chilly there's a lot to do there vs Hershey.

I agree. Hershey is cool, but not worth that much of a trip.

I have heard great thing about Great Wolf Lodge, but I also heard it is very pricey.

 

[Harters2WDW]

Thanks for all the replies! Leaning toward Great Wolf Lodge, but wanted to keep other reasonable, nearby options open! And for us, anywhere within a five hour drive is nearby!

I saw a Groupon deal for Great Wolf the other day. You may want to check out the website.

Thanks!
I saw that...I think I can get better deals if I wait it out (they had great deals last spring for the time of year when our break falls), but I am going to think it over again!

I went there in August, from Canada.

We did the Chocolate World stuff, like make the bar, go to the movie, etc. It's not bad.

The Museum is really neat, but not 3 year old neat, IMO.

We loved Gettysburg, and we did Indian Echo Caverns as well.

I'm not convinced a 3 year old would really get much out of it, honestly.

This is what I needed to know! Thanks!

Hershey in March could be pretty brutal weather-wise. If you lucked out and had some spring-like weather, you could feasibly do Zoo America. It's small, but would entertain for an hour or a little more, especially with a little one.

Chocolate World is open and you could spend a few hours there doing the "factory" tour, the Make your Own Candy Bar experience etc...but it wouldn't be a ton of fun for a little one.

If you were going a little later, I would say that it would be great. The Springtime in the Park weekends are pretty fun if the weather is good. However, considering it's March, I would seriously consider Great Wolf Lodge...

If you subscribe to their mailing list, they will send you info about deals. It's not super cheap, but one night gets you two waterpark days. It will definitely entertain your kids too!

Subscribed!! I am originally from NE Indiana, so I definitely understand weather that time of year and we often go back to Indiana that time of year!

I wouldn't waste your time going to Hershey in March. Looks like you are in Richmond, VA. How about Myrtle Beach? Even if it's chilly there's a lot to do there vs Hershey.

We do Myrtle Beach in the summers -- we went twice this summer including Labor Day weekend.

 

[Irin997]

We do Myrtle Beach in the summers -- we went twice this summer including Labor Day weekend.

How about a DC or Baltimore trip then? March will be chilly but there's a lot to do.

 

[trinchick]

I'll add another vote for Amish Country. We visit just about every spring/summer and my kids (now ages 7 and 2) have always had a great time. The Strasburg Railroad is great for those ages, as are all of the petting zoos in the area. There's a children's museum (called Hands On House) which would be good for your kids' ages. We all enjoy just driving around and seeing the buggies and the farmers working their fields with teams of horses. Another plus is lots of family restaurants that are reasonable with food the kids will enjoy.

 

[Cierese]

padutchcountry.com

Great info on the area