As parents for almost 4 years now, Andrew and I have had moments where we question if we are really doing this parenting thing right. We’ve been hard on ourselves more often than not. Yet, as we see our girls growing into beautiful, thriving, older children, we know we are doing it right by them. After having our second daughter, we have definitely relaxed and tried not to stress about so much being “perfect”. With Skibbles, we both helicoptered over her making sure that she didn’t have screen time, didn’t eat anything that wasn’t healthy, and so much more. What ended up happening though is that we were both constantly stressed about messing something up. Then…. second child, and life kicks in and you realize that most things are just not that serious. The other thing we realized was that chocolate could cure almost every meltdown. And it didn’t even have to be a lot, a small Hershey’s Kiss solves most of life’s problems for a toddler.
We were recently invited to Hersheypark on behalf of Pepsi and after our weekend getaway I’m convinced that chocolate can solve all of life’s issues for everyone. A summit in Hershey, PA, with all the world leaders, would solve every world problem, I’m absolutely sure of it. Our whole family was so happy the entire time and we didn’t have one huge meltdown from Skibbles. I’m pretty sure the town of Hershey wafts chocolate in the air. The residents there have to be the happiest people in the world.
As soon as we hit the town, I got instantly happy. The light poles were shaped like Hershey Kisses, so many places named cocoa this or that, how could we not be happy!? I wanted to make the most of our weekend trip, so I had our full itinerary planned once we got there.
- Saturday
- Chocolate World and go on FREE Chocolate Factory Tour
- Hersheypark to do some rides and visit ZooAmerica (Free admission when purchasing Hersheypark tickets)
- Check into Hershey Lodge (resort)
- Have dinner
- Sunday
- Breakfast
- Head to Hersheypark
- *Download the Hersheypark App before heading there
- Visit the Boardwalk (water park into Hersheypark)
- Check out Pepsi Oasis
- Hershey Waterworks (inside Hershey Lodge)
- Dinner
- Monday
- Check out of Hershey Lodge
- Visit Hershey Gardens (free admission when staying at Hershey Lodge)
- Visit The Hershey Museum (free admission when staying at Hershey Lodge)
Watch our 3 videos over the course of our stay. (Scroll down to read more)
Hershey Lodge and Waterworks
Hersheypark, ZooAmerica, and Chocolate World
Hershey Gardens
We arrived early in the day on Saturday and headed straight to Chocolate World. Both of the girls absolutely loved the Chocolate Factory Tour, which is completely free. We ended up doing it both Saturday and Sunday because Skibbles asked to do it again. While at Chocolate World you can also upgrade to paying activities, like making your own chocolate bars.
Once we were done, we walked the short distance to the Hersheypark entrance. I had downloaded the Hersheypark app, so we knew exactly where to go for the rides that Skibbles and the baby could go on based on their height. The app even tells you how long the wait time is for rides. It was perfect for helping our family. We made our way to ZooAmerica first. It was so hot, we stopped and grabbed a Pepsi souvenir cup that costs just $.99 to refill anytime all season long or free water refills. It was the best investment we made. I kid you not we refilled that bottle at least 30 times over two days.
ZooAmerica was so much fun, but Skibbles was begging for rides. Hersheypark has been by far our best family park experience thus far. Skibbles was able to ride a pretty big roller coaster and she was so thrilled we rode it three times in a row. I was also excited about how many things the baby could ride with us helping her. On Sunday, in addition to the rides, we fed ducks, and went to the Boardwalk, the waterpark area of Hersheypark. Since the baby’s leg is broken, we decided not to do much there, but we did let Skibbles run around for a bit in the splashpad area. We were also excited to find the new PepsiMoji statues and check out Pepsi Oasis. The PepsiMoji statues are Pepsi’s way of bringing the emoji craze to real life. You can check out more or share your own with #SayItWithPepsi
Inside the Pepsi Oasis is the new Pepsi Spire machine, an innovative digital beverage fountain that allows you to completely customize you favorite Pepsi beverages. Skibbles thought it was so fun that she could pick and choose flavors to make her drink taste better. She chose Pink Lemonade with Strawberry and Grape. I’ll admit it was actually really good. I tried Sierra Mist with Raspberry and YUM! So, so good. There’s other flavors like vanilla, lemon, cherry, and more also. It’s all about having fun and getting inspired surprises.
The accommodations at Hershey Lodge were phenomenal. There was so much to do and there’s no way we came close to doing even most of it. Kids get their own check-in and lanyard with chocolate, coloring page and crayons. We were given a list of all the kid’s activities to do at the resort like free craft time or up close with some animals brought over from ZooAmerica. It was also the opening weekend of Hershey Waterworks, the indoor water area at Hershey Lodge. When you stay at Hershey Lodge you are given complimentary passes to The Hershey Museum and Hershey Gardens, and there is also free mini golf on location. There is also a free shuttle that runs every 30 minutes back and forth to Hersheypark. Best of all, if you show your resort key, you get into Hersheypark an hour early!
The food. Oh, the food. Hershey Dining was divine. Again, it’s something just about the abundance of chocolate that makes you enjoy everything more. Hershey Lodge has an abundance of restaurants on location. While there, we chose to dine at The Bear’s Den and Hershey Grill for dinner and we went to Libbie Leibericher’s and Cocoa Beanery for breakfast. There were also a ton of locations to eat around the immediate area as well. At Hersheypark we also had the most amazing Reese’s funnel cake and rainbow Dippin’ Dots that tasted like sherbet. I had never seen before but at Dippin’ Dots you could even make a float with your choice of Pepsi beverage. I thought that was neat! At the end of every meal you get Hershey Kisses instead of mints too! Naturally, Skibbles loved that.
Overall, we had an amazing experience and we can’t wait to go back. There were so many things that we weren’t able to do just because time ran out. We highly recommend staying at a Hershey resort and experiencing the whole chocolate experience.
We even decided to start a family tradition where we will purchase a mug every time we go somewhere. It was actually hard to choose just one, but this is the one we ended up going with! Do you have a tradition of something to purchase when you go somewhere?
****GIVEAWAY****
Leave a comment below letting me know where you would head to first once you arrive in Hershey, PA. One lucky commenter will receive 4 passes to Hersheypark. *Must be 18 years old to enter. Giveaway will run from 6/9 /16 to 6/16/16 at 11:59pm EST. No purchase necessary. Giveaway winner will be chosen by random.org based on the number of comments entered.
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Janet Marie Gillich says
June 9, 2016 at 12:15 pmWe would heard to Hershey World and the new revamped Hershey ride tour.
Michelle woodring says
June 9, 2016 at 12:15 pmWe also have stayed at Hershey Lodge! The Hot Chocolate there is Amazing! At Christmas, we go to see the lights, they also have a dinner/ show….. I would highly recommend seeing.
Lindsay DAngelo says
June 9, 2016 at 12:20 pmI would love to go to Hersheypark to let my son go on all the rides. He would be amazed!
Kelly Finger says
June 9, 2016 at 12:22 pmI’d head right to the chocolate factory of course!!!
Sandi DiMarco says
June 9, 2016 at 12:26 pmWe would definitely head straight to Hershey Park! Although the chocolate factory tour would be a close second! I made so many memories at that park as a child, I can’t wait to take my kids!
michelle Pancoast says
June 9, 2016 at 12:49 pmWe would head straight to the chocolate!!!!!
Jo Taraborelli says
June 9, 2016 at 12:51 pmOh it’s been so long since I went to HP. Yes!!!!. The SMELL OF Hershey!!!!
I’d do the tours for sure, so much fun! Great post WP!
Amanda says
June 9, 2016 at 12:52 pmWell I thought we would hit the rides first thing, but maybe we will try the chocolate factory tour! The food looks delicious too!
Denise owens says
June 9, 2016 at 1:13 pmYou always have to do the chocolate world tour first! That’s always our first stop!
Amber says
June 9, 2016 at 1:16 pmGreat article! Hershey is a favorite place for our family too— however this is our first year (going in July) taking the kiddos (3yrs and 5 months)… I hope our trip is as awesome as yours sounds (meltdown free)
We will prob do chocolate world first too
Hope we win the giveaway 😉
Jill Stockdale says
June 9, 2016 at 1:17 pmI would definitely head to the Boardwalk. We didn’t plan for it the last time we went and I was disappointed! We love Hershey Park!!
Tomika Bryant says
June 9, 2016 at 1:24 pmI was visit the spa!! But kids would definitely want to hit the roller coasters first
Jenna Wells says
June 9, 2016 at 1:27 pmMy family would head straight to Hershey Park!
Chaquia Cook says
June 9, 2016 at 1:32 pmFirst place we would go is the chocolate factory and teach Cayson a little history about the placed called Hershey Park!!! This is amazingly educational and loved every minute of it!
Megan Sutliff says
June 9, 2016 at 1:42 pmI would love to check out Hershey Gardens and we’d all love the park and chocolate world! Thanks for the chance to win tickets!
Brooke says
June 9, 2016 at 2:12 pmI would head straight to the coasters!
Tami Burkholder says
June 9, 2016 at 2:58 pmI would head to Hersheypark with my grandkids. I haven’t had a chance to go there with them yet and would love to do so. I have many happy memories there with my children and would love to create some with the grandchildren.
Reesa Lewandowski says
June 9, 2016 at 2:58 pmIt’s always been that we go right to the carousel when we get into the park! But our real first stop after the shuttle is chocolate world!
Jenny Johnson says
June 9, 2016 at 8:18 pmWe were just talking about how we would like to take our boys here! I’m glad you wrote this post, it’s very informative. We would definitely go to ZooAmerica first because G LOVES to watch the animals. ?
Julie says
June 9, 2016 at 10:15 pmI loved reading your review of Hershey Park! I was there a couple times when I was younger and absolutely loved it. My first stop would definitely be the tour. The smell is always delicious and I loved the big shop they have attached to it 🙂
Jessica L. says
June 10, 2016 at 10:22 amWhenever I go to Hershey, the first place we visit is the Chocolate World and ride the factory tour ride!!
Susan says
June 10, 2016 at 10:34 amI would head right to the sweets pick up as few, then I would head to the coasters, what fun!
Donna says
June 10, 2016 at 12:04 pmYour trip sounds amazing. If I were to go to Hershey, I think Chocolate World would be my first stop or maybe the spa. They have the best hot chocolate in the world!
Tracy McMechan says
June 10, 2016 at 12:12 pmI’d head to the Chocolate World tour first, because I think my 6yo would love it! After that, we’d head straight for some roller coasters!
randy campbell says
June 10, 2016 at 6:28 pmI would go to Hershey Park.
Amy Brooks says
June 10, 2016 at 8:55 pmI think we would head to Chocolate World first then right into the park! I am so glad to hear your children enjoyed it – our son is turning 4 this month and I really want to take him!
Kelly D says
June 10, 2016 at 10:03 pmI would head to the chocolate factory tour, which is always my first stop. It is so much fun there!
Ellen Ricciardi says
June 13, 2016 at 6:28 pmIf I won I would first check out the Chocolate Factory Tour! I’ve always wanted to know how the chocolate is made. I would pick up a ton of chocolate souvenirs from Chocolate World!
Brittany says
June 14, 2016 at 5:16 pmWe always get a magnet from everywhere we visit. It’s a fun way to show all the places you’ve been right on the fridge. If I won I would hit the rides at HersheyPark first!
Trish says
June 15, 2016 at 11:24 pmWe would go to Chocolate World first! It’s such a yummy smelling place 🙂
neiddy says
June 16, 2016 at 6:11 amI think the first thing my kids would like to do is to go create their own candy bar, they love eating Hershey’s chocolate and this would be a unique and fun experience for them, Thank you for the chance to win!
Lauren Hamilton says
June 16, 2016 at 6:19 amI would visit chocolate world first. A tradition my family has just started is collecting magnets for each place we go to.
Harmony B says
June 16, 2016 at 6:45 amWe would head to the park first, my boys love roller coasters. I would love to go to the chocolate spa, I may never leave.