When I told many of my acquaintances I was moving to Pennsylvania, the first travel destination many of them asked about was not what you’d expect. They weren’t interested in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh or even my new proximity to New York City and the shore. They all wanted to know how close I lived to Hershey and when I would be visiting.

Five months later, I took the drive from Philadelphia with my fiancé and his parents across some beautiful Pennsylvania countryside to spend a few hours at Hershey. If you’ve never been, yes, there really are Hershey’s Kisses on the light poles, but, no, the air does not smell like chocolate.

We were primarily there for the Hershey’s Chocolate World attraction. Even on a cloudy Sunday morning, it was crowded with families. Hershey’s Chocolate World has several activities you can buy tickets for, such as a trolley ride around the area and a chocolate tasting session as well as a free educational tour ride, but the majority of the building is one giant gift shop. Any Hershey-branded item you can imagine you will find. We tried out the educational tour ride and the make-your-own-candy-bar experience, where you pick the ingredients, toppings and packaging for an oversized Hershey bar and then watch it made on a conveyer.

Overall, it was a fun experience and would be a perfect family outing for people already in the area. While it was more of a one-time attraction rather than a repeat destination, I would love to go back and visit Hersheypark, the accompanying amusement park situated right next door.

— Holly Godbey, marketing & sales assistant