I must admit to a slight obsession with websites like Groupon and Living Social. I’ve found many unique activities and products for affordable prices through the companies. There was a point in time when I purchased so many deals, it was hard to find time to use them all! In November 2011, I purchased two tickets for Philadelphia Chocolate Tours, and I was finally able to coordinate my schedule with my mother’s and indulge in the tour the day after Christmas. 

There were predictions of an impending storm in the area, so my mom and I opted to take the train from Doylestown, Pa., to Philadelphia, arriving about 30 minutes before the tour’s 12:45 p.m. start time. The tour started at one of my favorite spots in the city, Reading Terminal Market. I often visit the market for affordable but quality produce, seafood and other goodies, like Termini Bros.’ baked goods and cannoli.

Our stops in Reading Terminal Market include Famous 4^th Street Cookie Company, for a warm chocolate chip cookie; Chocolate by Mueller, famous for its chocolate-covered onion; and Pennsylvania General Store, where we sampled the chocolate version of the Philadelphia breakfast meat staple, scrapple. From the market, we braved the hail to visit Marcie Blaine Artisanal Chocolates, Capogiro Gelato and Cake and the Beanstalk. At each stop, we were treated to a sweet treat.

Along the way, our tour guide shared facts about chocolate. For instance, Philadelphia handles record numbers of cocoa shipments, thanks to our proximity to Hershey, Pa. Philadelphia Chocolate Tours was founded by Valerie Beck; she also operates similar tours in Boston and Chicago. The company was named one of the Top 100 Women-Owned Businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area in 2011 by Philadelphia Business Journal.

The tour was a sweet and unique way to explore my hometown city! I recommend seeking out similar excursions in your town or city; Groupon and Living Social are great references!

— Kimberly Krol, managing editor