You know how after almost every ride at every theme park, they make you exit through the gift shop? So you can buy all those t-shirts, mugs, and themed candy while you’re still high on the adrenaline of the ride itself.
Hershey, Pennsylvania was the exit through the gift shop for this roadtrip. After driving 2800 miles to Canada and 1600 back down to Pennsylvania, all I really did was to drive around town and visit the World of Chocolate, which is, for the most part, just a very large gift shop.
HARRISBURG AIRBNB
But first, let’s talk about my last Airbnb for this trip. I rented this basement room in a young couple’s apartment in nearby Harrisburg. It was nice to have a lot of space, and again, I didn’t really interact with the hosts that much. They invited me to a movie they were watching, but I declined. Instead, I called a good friend of mine, which was just about what I needed at this point in my journey!
I want to say this about Airbnb rentals–I love it when hosts have pets! I think it’s a huge plus when there’s a friendly dog or cat in the house. This couple had a very friendly dog that “helped” me pack the morning I left (i.e. totally got inside of my luggage so I would stay.) He was such a cutie! Extra points for sweet dogs.
The only downside was that I had to walk up a flight of stairs to use the bathroom and up two flights to take a shower. But for a large room with friendly hosts that’s cheaper than a hotel, I didn’t really mind. It looks like they’ve updated the apartment anyway, so maybe they’ve added at least a half bath down there.
Use this link for $40 off your first Airbnb rental!
HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA
I have always wanted to visit Hershey Park, the chocolate-themed amusement park in Hershey. But alas, it was closed when I was there in late October. I did walk down to the gates and sort of look in longingly. I’m sure I’ll go back soon.
The main thing you notice about Hershey is that it smells like chocolate! Just walking around downtown, you can smell the chocolate in the air. The theme park is close enough to downtown that you can see the roller coaster tracks above the buildings. It makes it seem like downtown is just an extension of the park itself, all one little planned community.
Aiding in this impression is that the street lights are Hershey kisses! Each light pole is topped with either a wrapped or unwrapped kiss. It’s a hoot! There are also a few museums and attractions downtown, which I’ll cover in the next post.
WORLD OF CHOCOLATE
All I really did in Hershey was to visit Hershey’s Chocolate World. Parking is free, and it’s right next to the entrance of the theme park. Inside you’ll find every Hershey candy they make in various forms–bulk packs, gift tins, single pieces, mix & match. Plus there are plushes and every Hershey-branded piece of merchandise you can think of. No bumper stickers, though! I totally would have bought a kiss-shaped sticker for my car. Instead, I bought some treats for my friends.
Not only is there lots of stuff to buy, there’s a food hall in the back if you want to eat a meal. And there are attractions! FREE to do is the “factory tour” which is really just a dark ride with a loose representation of how they make the chocolate, hosted by cartoon versions of the major chocolates. And some of it is pretty dusty and not super well maintained. But, hey, it’s a free ride! Not bad for a road trip pit stop.
There are also paid attractions, which you can pay for separately or bundle to save. There’s a popular make your own chocolate bar for $19.95 and a much more authentic representation of the candy-making process. They have a 4D movie starring your favorite candy for $7.95, $6.95 for ages 3-12. A chocolate tasting experience goes for $10.95, $7.95 for 3-12. And a 75-minute trolly tour through the town of Hershey for $15.95 or $12.95 for 3-12. Children under 2 are FREE for all attractions. Various ticket bundles can save you money, with the price for doing everything at $38 for adults, $31 for kids under 13.
Looking back on it, I should have done the trolly tour! That might have been fun. I don’t think I stopped long enough to look closely at the paid options–they all looked too expensive for what they were.
ALMOST HOME
After leaving Hershey in the late morning, I drove straight down highway 81 to stay with my friend in Knoxville, TN, which to say, I was basically home at that point. Stay tuned for the Knoxville Zoo and some fall foliage in Pigeon Forge!
choooocolate!
🙂