Hershey Christmas

This past weekend, we went to Hershey, PA. Our friends have gone every year for the past twenty years and encouraged us to go with them last year in December. Our entire family enjoyed the trip so we decided to go with them again this year. Hershey is 140 miles away, so we usually stay over night. This year, our friends' Christmas gift to us was a stay in the Hershey Lodge.

(Hershey Lodge)

We left Friday afternoon around 5 and arrived in Hershey around 7:30. The lodge is beautifully lit from the outside and we couldn't wait to get inside and see it for ourselves. As soon as the automatic doors parted, the smell of chocolate wafted through the air. Every person in our party got a free Hershey bar at check-in.

Inspection of the room revealed that the wallpaper in the bathroom was covered in Hershey Kisses. The complimentary bottles of shampoo, conditioner and moisturizer in the bathroom were cocoa-infused. They smelled like chocolate!!

The lobby was packed with people there to see the arrival of Santa, the lighting of the tree, carolers and some Hershey characters looking for photo ops with your children. The staff were all very friendly, even offering to take our camera and snap a photo of all of us with the characters.

Everyone was hungry, so we went out to eat and returned to a lobby that was significantly less-crowded. We walked around for a bit, window-shopped at the now-closed gift shop and gazed at the fire in the mammoth four-sided fireplace. The kids were starting to get cranky and it was ten o'clock, so we went upstairs to bed.

Upon arrival back in our room, we discovered that our elf, Peppermint, had followed us to Hershey!

The next morning, we had a leisurely breakfast in the hotel where you could either order off the menu or partake in the breakfast buffet. If you are so inclined, you can even order a chocolate chip omelet. (I was not inclined to do so)

Hershey Park does not open until noon, but Chocolate World (located just outside the entrance to the park) opened at ten, so we headed there first. In chocolate world, you can find any Hershey product your heart desires, purchase souvenirs, scrumptious bakery confections, have a chocolate Pepsi (Pepsi with Hershey's syrup), make your own candy bar creation and ride the Chocolate World Tour. The tour is free and takes you in a little car through a tour of how the factory works and the chocolate is made. The tour ends with, what else, free chocolate!!
(Chocolate World)

We then headed into the park where the kids anxiously lined up to see what height category they were in. Instead of using actual height requirements at the rides (i.e. "you must be 48" to ride") you find out what category you fit into when you enter the park and the rides will tell you that perhaps you have to be a Hershey bar to ride alone, but Twizzlers and above must be accompanied, etc. Noah graduated up to a Hershey Bar this year and Zoe was a Hershey Kiss! Zoe wanted to ride the rides with her brother, but I consoled her by riding the carousel with her.

We spent the entire day in the park, riding rides, playing in the arcade and just walking around. Once it was dark and the holiday lights came on in the park, we got in the line to ride the train. The line was long, but moving really quickly. The train ride took us through the park and gave us a great view of the beautiful lights. Once we exited the train, we stopped for kettle corn on the way out and then one last stop by Chocolate World for a drink and some Reese's cupcakes.



We arrived home around ten o'clock p.m. and everyone was exhausted but glad we went for a visit. I am already looking forward to next year and hope our finances provide so that we can stay at the Hershey Lodge again.