I love the feeling of small town America. There is something about the peace and quiet that has always attracted me. I guess is because my life is hectic as it is and I am always looking to escape the routine.
While I look forward to be in a quiet place my family always scramble and have a hard time. Usually they associate peace and quiet with boredom. Most of the places I like to vacation or spend time are not their ideal place to be or at least for them. But what about if there a place where is not overcrowded, it gives the small town America feeling I am looking for but it also have exciting things for the rest of the family to do.
That is when we discovered a place called Hershey, Pennsylvania located just east of the state capital Harrisburg. This little town had its beginnings back in the 1890s when chocolate entrepreneur Milton Hershey started his chocolate empire. This community was created as a model town for the Hershey workers.
This rural town offers the peace and quiet I am looking for away from crowds, but also offers great attractions for the entire family.
Hershey Pennsylvania
You will find attractions for all the family, at the time of our visit the town was not overcrowded considering we were visiting the town during high season.
Hershey Pennsylvania
Hershey's Chocolate World
Chocolate Town is where most of the action happens in this little town. You can easily spend two to three days to see all the attractions.
This sweet mega store you can explore, taste, create and enjoy everything chocolate. Here you can take a tour and learn the process of chocolate making. This 30 minute ride is free for all visitors to the store.
You can also purchase tickets to create your own personalized candy bar. If you want to do this activity, I recommend to plan in advance. There are limited seats but the experience is worth the hassle.
From here you could also hop on the Hershey Trolley Works. A guided tour through the town full of fun facts, history and chocolate sampling.
Hershey Park
Open in 1907 as a modest green space for the Hershey workers to relax. Now, features thrill rides, a water park, and a zoo.
Hershey Park is also located in Chocolate Town, with rides for the entire family. Perfect for a full day of adventure and discoveries. The entrance includes the thrill rides, the water park and the zoo admission.
If you are looking to explore the entire park, be ready to spend two full days here. This park is not crazy full, even though we visited during the top of the season.
The Chocolatier
Open daily for lunch and dinner, The Chocolatier features unique cuisine for the chocolate lovers. The plates are confectioner with the popular Hershey’s chocolate for those who love to try something different.
At the core The Chocolatier celebrates the life of its founder Milton Hershey by continuing to bring people together for happiness, fun, and of course, chocolate.
If you are in the area and would like to savor a taste of this restaurant, I recommend you to plan accordingly. It is usually full with wait list of over two hours. Reservations are highly encourage.
I recommend you to visit this little town in Pennsylvania for those who want to have fun things to do without having to deal with heavy traffic and crowded places. For more information about this hidden jewel, watch my video below.