Hershey, PA Things to Do and Attractions
Featuring cars, busses, and motorcycles from the 1890s to 1990s, the Antique Auto Museum at Hershey (also known as the AACA Museum) showcases nearly 100 historic rides. Many are set in dramatic dioramas, including one that takes visitors back to the
Featuring cars, busses, and motorcycles from the 1890s to 1990s, the Antique Auto Museum at Hershey (also known as the AACA Museum) showcases nearly 100 historic rides. Many are set in dramatic dioramas, including one that takes visitors back to the Hershey of the 1920s with authentic panoramic views of downtown Hershey. Group tours are available and there are several venues for group functions, including the main gallery with a journey through time and space from New York in the early 1900s to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge in the 1970s, the upper level rotunda for meals for 150 overlooking the rolling hills of Pennsylvania through floor-to-ceiling windows, a theater for 50, a boardroom for 22, and more, in addition to a full buy-out of the 71,000-square-foot museum, which can accommodate 600 for a reception or 300 for a banquet.
The museum is open daily 9 AM to 5 PM. Regular admission is $10; group discounts available.
Home of the Hershey Bears hockey team, the Giant Center is also frequent host to top-name performers and family-style entertainment. Group tickets are available and several venues can host groups of various sizes for receptions, from Coco's Den and
Home of the Hershey Bears hockey team, the Giant Center is also frequent host to top-name performers and family-style entertainment. Group tickets are available and several venues can host groups of various sizes for receptions, from Coco's Den and Power Play Banquet Rooms, each for 40, up to the whole facility for receptions for 2,000 or concert seating for 12,500.
Hours and ticket prices are variable; group tickets available.
At the base of the Hotel Hershey, overlooking the town of Hershey, are 23 acres of botanical gardens that bloom year-round with more than 5,600 fragrant roses. Other highlights of the more than a dozen specialized gardens include the changing
At the base of the Hotel Hershey, overlooking the town of Hershey, are 23 acres of botanical gardens that bloom year-round with more than 5,600 fragrant roses. Other highlights of the more than a dozen specialized gardens include the changing seasonal garden display; a Memorial Garden featuring red, white and blue flowers; a tranquil Japanese Garden; and the Butterfly House, home to 300 North American butterflies.
Regular admission to the Gardens is $10 and group discounts are available. Private guided tours are available, as are several sites for functions, including the Shaded Classroom for 23 guests, the Education Center for 40 attendees, and outdoor tents for up to 250 in various locations from April to October. Complete the day with a private lesson in floral arranging.
Built between 1929 and 1933 as part of Milton S. Hershey's "Great Building Campaign" during the Great Depression, the Hershey Theatre brings Venice to central Pennsylvania with marble walls, inlaid Italian floors, and several remarkable ceilings,
Built between 1929 and 1933 as part of Milton S. Hershey's "Great Building Campaign" during the Great Depression, the Hershey Theatre brings Venice to central Pennsylvania with marble walls, inlaid Italian floors, and several remarkable ceilings, including a gold dome and a painted "stars and clouds" ceiling. Group tickets are available for regular shows, which include touring Broadway productions and other big-name entertainers on a regular basis. When dark, the 1,904-seat theater can be rented for functions. One-hour Spotlight Tours take place every Friday morning, and private tours can also be arranged.
As a full-day outing or an evening break, the 110 acres of Hersheypark feature 11 roller coasters, 60 rides, the Boardwalk water park and live entertainment, including resident shows, strolling performers, wandering product characters and top-name
As a full-day outing or an evening break, the 110 acres of Hersheypark feature 11 roller coasters, 60 rides, the Boardwalk water park and live entertainment, including resident shows, strolling performers, wandering product characters and top-name performers in the amphitheater.
The park is open on weekends beginning in early May and daily from late May through Labor Day. Saturdays are the busiest day at the park. The park is also open select weekends in the fall and winter for themed activities around Halloween and Christmas.
Discounts for group tickets are available and several areas can be used for group picnics for 20 to 10,000. Free shuttle service is provided to and from the Hershey Lodge and Hotel Hershey.
Hershey's product characters and the sweet smell of chocolate greet groups upon arrival at this interactive world of chocolate fun. Individuals or groups start off on the Great American Chocolate Tour, a slow-moving ride for an upclose look at the
Hershey's product characters and the sweet smell of chocolate greet groups upon arrival at this interactive world of chocolate fun. Individuals or groups start off on the Great American Chocolate Tour, a slow-moving ride for an upclose look at the process of making chocolate, before viewing the Really Big 3D Show (seating for 250), an animated musical adventure complete with product characters and special effects.
Other highlights that lend themselves to group activities include Hershey's Create Your Own Chocolate Bar, a one-of-a-kind opportunity to select favorite ingredients, use real factory equipment, and design custom packaging for individually created candy bars; Hershey's Dessert Creation Studio, with free reign to create unique combinations of desserts; a chocolate tasting adventure; and receptions in the themed entrance lobby or the Courtyard Cafe.
Give attendees take-aways with a basket of goodies from the aisles of chocolate products and memorabilia—including candy not found anyplace else—or a milk chocolate wrapper or Hershey's syrup bottle personalized with the attendee's photo, a logo, or customized phrase.
Hours are variable depending on the day and season. General admission and the tour are free; variable pricing for add-ons, with group rates available.
Singing trolley conductors dressed in period costume entertain and inform on a ride through Chocolate Town, departing from the main entrance of Chocolate World on re-created, turn-of-the-century trolleys.
Regularly scheduled tours showcase the
Singing trolley conductors dressed in period costume entertain and inform on a ride through Chocolate Town, departing from the main entrance of Chocolate World on re-created, turn-of-the-century trolleys.
Regularly scheduled tours showcase the town and its history year-round, and private charter tours can be arranged on the seven trolleys (up to 49 people per trolley).
Individual fares are $12.95; groups of 20 or more are $10.95 per person; variable pricing for charters.
Hershey Meetings includes four golf courses: East and West courses at the Hershey Country Club, Hershey Links and the family-friendly Spring Creek Golf Course. In addition to regular play and tournaments, groups can learn from the pros with an indoor
Hershey Meetings includes four golf courses: East and West courses at the Hershey Country Club, Hershey Links and the family-friendly Spring Creek Golf Course. In addition to regular play and tournaments, groups can learn from the pros with an indoor golf simulator, experience a video analysis, watch a ball flight demonstration and more. Hershey Country Club also features more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including the all-season Picard Grand Pavilion overlooking both the East and West courses.
New in 2009, the museum tells the story of Milton S. Hershey, from his early failures and successes through his transformation of milk chocolate production to his philanthropic efforts that live on today.
Group possibilities include a Countries of
New in 2009, the museum tells the story of Milton S. Hershey, from his early failures and successes through his transformation of milk chocolate production to his philanthropic efforts that live on today.
Group possibilities include a Countries of Origin Chocolate Tasting of warm chocolate flavors from around the world and learning about tempering, molding, dipping and making chocolate by hand during a hands-on encounter in the Chocolate Lab. Small meeting rooms are available and the Grand Lobby can accommodate up to 240 for a reception.
Open every day 9 AM to 5:30 PM; general admission is $10; additional $10 for chocolate lab class; chocolate tasting $9.95.
Chocolate forms the basis of many of the signature treatments at the upscale spa, such as a Chocolate Fondue Wrap, a Whipped Cocoa Bath, and a Chocolate Bean Polish, complemented by a range of more traditional massage, hydrotherapy, exfoliation, and
Chocolate forms the basis of many of the signature treatments at the upscale spa, such as a Chocolate Fondue Wrap, a Whipped Cocoa Bath, and a Chocolate Bean Polish, complemented by a range of more traditional massage, hydrotherapy, exfoliation, and other options. In addition to individual treatments, spa meetings breaks are available.
The small family-oriented zoo is home to more than 200 animals from the five regions of North America, including bobcats, black bears, wolves and more. A guided tour of the 11-acre zoo takes about one hour, and a variety of programs are available in
The small family-oriented zoo is home to more than 200 animals from the five regions of North America, including bobcats, black bears, wolves and more. A guided tour of the 11-acre zoo takes about one hour, and a variety of programs are available in addition to animal encounters.
The zoo is connected to Hersheypark and included in the cost of park admission. Separate admission is available for $9.50, with discounted rates for groups of 15 or more. The zoo is open year-round from 10 AM to 4:30 PM, with extended hours in the warmer months.
It was Milton S. Hershey himself who insisted there would be no corners and thus no bad tables in the Hotel Hershey's Circular Dining Room—no corners in which to hide single diners or bad tippers, no pillars or other obstructions to block the 13
It was Milton S. Hershey himself who insisted there would be no corners and thus no bad tables in the Hotel Hershey's Circular Dining Room—no corners in which to hide single diners or bad tippers, no pillars or other obstructions to block the 13 colored leaded glass windows that overlook the formal gardens.
But it's not just the room that's imaginative; the food is as well. Executive chef Ken Gladysz goes beyond chocolate as a sweet in the decadent desserts to incorporate it into savory dishes too, such as cocoa dusted diver scallops. Menus are updated seasonally and feature fresh local ingredients.
Semi-private dining for up to 10 is available in the alcove of the Circular Dining Room, including the option of a chef's table, where the chef introduces and discusses each of the six courses, accompanied by wine flights if desired. Groups can do a full buy-out, with seating for 210.
Dinner is served in the Circular Dining Room Tuesday to Saturday from 5:30 PM to 9 PM, and there are three Sunday brunch seatings from noon to 2:30. Jackets are required for men, and no denim or sneakers are permitted during dinner or Sunday brunch. The dress code is a more relaxed resort casual during breakfast (daily 7 AM to 10:30 AM) and lunch Monday to Saturday noon to 2 PM. Dinner entrees range from $30 to $38; Sunday brunch is $39.95.
Just outside the main strip of Hershey, technically in the tiny town of Union Deposit, is the Union Canal House, right where it's been since 1751 when it first opened its doors as a tavern to the soldiers of Fort Swatara in what was then the
Just outside the main strip of Hershey, technically in the tiny town of Union Deposit, is the Union Canal House, right where it's been since 1751 when it first opened its doors as a tavern to the soldiers of Fort Swatara in what was then the Pennsylvania frontier. A tunnel still exists from the building, once known as Ye Olde Tavern, to the site of the fort, used by soldiers during the Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War.
The family-owned restaurant retains its Colonial charm with dark woods and low lights, but the food and drink is thoroughly modern, including signature crab cakes, Long Island duckling, thick steaks, vegetarian pastas and more.
The Union Canal House is open for dinner Monday through Saturday 5 PM to 10 PM. Entrees start at $13.95 and top out at $39.95 for the jumbo king crab legs; most fall into the $18 to $25 range.
Contemporary and casual, What If… challenges diners with a fresh and creative menu. On Chocolate Avenue, only one mile from the Hershey attractions, the restaurant features American cuisine with an innovative twist in ingredients as well as
Contemporary and casual, What If… challenges diners with a fresh and creative menu. On Chocolate Avenue, only one mile from the Hershey attractions, the restaurant features American cuisine with an innovative twist in ingredients as well as presentation, such as the signature black bean margarita starter or crab martini. In addition to an extensive wine list, cocktail selections are constantly updated with new combinations as well as seasonal delights, like a fall-themed pumpkin spice martini. The hot fudge peanut profiterole and turtle brownie are just two of the many chocolate highlights on the dessert menu, all made on the premises.
Two private dining rooms are available for groups of 30 and 55, and can be combined to accommodate up to 100 guests. Off-site catering is also available, in addition to bag lunches and breakfasts for groups on the go.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday to Thursday 11 AM to 10 PM and Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 11 PM. Dinner is served on Sunday from 4 PM to 10 PM. Entrees range from $17 to $29.
