Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, PA: A Visitor's Guide

This summer our family took a vacation to Eastern Pennsylvania. As we wrapped up our road trip, we decided to make one last stop, Hershey. This was a surprise for our kids. So as we pulled into the place that every chocolate lover dreams of, excitement filled the car. As soon as the kids saw the sign on the roof, they knew that something great was about to happen. They were certainly able to recognize the Hershey Kiss and Resee's Peanut Butter Cup on top of the building.

There is a Hershey Theme Park that is next to Hershey's Chocolate World. This hub does not give information about the theme park, but strictly guides vacationers through the activities available at Hershey's Chocolate World.

The factory tour ride is a great part of the Chocolate World experience. As you enter the ride, you can read about the history of Hershey and it's founder Milton Hershey. Thankfully we had come on a day when there were not many people so we did not spend a lot of time reading this part. A three and a four year old just aren't going to be that patient!

The ride is fun and a great way to learn about how the products at Hershey are made. The singing cows make it all the more exciting. The explanation of how the chocolate goes from plant to candy is clear and easy to understand for adults and older children as well. The best part? It's free! And you get a small sample of chocolate at the end of your ride. Parents, beware! The ride ends right at the store...chocolate heaven!!!

Cost: Free

Once you have taken the free tour of the factory, what will you plan to do next? There are many options for you to explore. We had only planned to stay for a half day so our choices were limited. However, you could easily spend an entire day or more just exploring Chocolate World. Tip: You must purchase your tickets for each attraction in the central area. Be sure to do this before you go to any of the activities.

I would probably say that this was our favorite activity at Chocolate World. However, as I mentioned earlier, we did not do a lot of things because of our limited time so it is hard to say if this would have stayed our favorite if we had done more. This was most definitely a kid friendly activity. My four and just turned three year olds both had a great time. Yes, they did need a little assistance to make their selections but it was a very unique experience.

The first thing that you do when you make your own candy bar is cover your hair with a net and put on an apron. Of course the kids loved this part! Then you enter the factory and scan your ticket. Your name is brought up on a screen and you select your type of chocolate (milk, dark or white) and any mix ins that you would like. From pretzels to candy to nuts, there is a wide variety of choices.

As you continue on you are able to see your particular candy bar drop onto the conveyor belt, fill with your mix in choices, and the remaining chocolate get poured in. The final step is to design your own label. At the end it is boxed up and ready for you to take home!

Cost: $14.95 per person

If you are a history buff or just want to learn a little more about Hershey, USA, hop on the trolley and head for a ride. The guided tour gives you a wealth of information about founder Milton Hershey and his chocolate empire.

Cost: varies by age

This is an opportunity to let your creativity run wild! Choosing from a menu of delectable desserts, you are empowered to create your own dessert. This is a great activity for the entire family! You could even challenge each other to see who comes up with the best and most creative treat!

Cost: Varies by dessert selection.

This was a great activity for my little ones. They were able to pretend to be Hershey Kiss Factory Workers. They started by having their picture taken (available for purchase) and then were given a hat to wear. With the guidance of an employee, they packaged Hershey kisses, placed them on the conveyor belt and pressed the buzzer. They had a blast with it.

Cost: Free (Additional items available for purchase.)

Learn a little about how the chocolate goes from plant to candy in this 30 minute presentation. Children and adults alike will be delighted to see the process that makes this sweet treat come alive. Along the way you will sample a variety of delicious Hershey treats!

Cost: varies by age

Dancing Hershey characters? Music and singing? Who wouldn't love that? This is a great opportunity to relax and have good time watching the Hershey characters jump off of the screen and right into your hands. This 3 D movie event is fun for kids of all ages!

Cost: varies by age

This was not a planned event for my family. However each child was given the choice of one souvenir item. Alex, my son, chose a toolbox. Little did we know that it came with the great fun of adding chocolate candies to it. It even came with a hard hat. This made for one happy little boy!

There are lots of things to purchase if you are interested in bringing home a souvenir of some sort. From a plethora of chocolate to apparel, toys, key chains, journals and more. The cost ranges from just a couple of dollars on up. The shopping is an adventure in itself!

We decided after all of our chocolaty fun that we would have a little lunch before we hit the road. I must say that I was quite impressed with the food options. There were the standard pizza, burgers, and hot dogs, but there were also a lot of healthy food options. From hummus to fresh salads to fruit cups to deli sandwiches, there were selections for everyone's tastes. It was not a cheap lunch, however I personally preferred to pay just a little more to eat healthier.

There are many hotel options in the area. We decided not to stay directly in Hershey. Just about 8 miles outside of town there are many less expensive hotel options. We decided that we would rather spend the money on the actual Hershey experience rather than the hotel. Many hotels also offer breakfast included in your cost. Several in the area also have a pool for additional fun!

The hours vary by season. In general Hershey's Chocolate World is open from 9am to 5pm during the winter months. Spring begins to see extended weekend hours with closing at 8pm. Summer months are the busiest and hence the hours are the longest. They are typically open from 9am-10pm during the week and remain open until 11pm on the weekends. Check the website for specific times.