Two or three times every year we take the grandchildren down to Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This attraction is popular with tourists and locals alike. What’s really cool is that its FREE to visit! Inside you can walk around and take the free ride tour, visit & purchase food from the food court, pay for additional offered activities, do some gift shopping, etc.
I like to go there to buy all of our favorite Hershey’s chocolate candies. I can find all kinds of candy that I can’t find on retail store shelves and its fresher! I will typically stock up on all of our favorites to last us a few months at a time. We’re huge fan of the flavored Hershey’s Kisses and the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. YUMMY!
Our two grandchildren enjoy getting on the free ride. You go upstairs and get into these cool slow-moving cars. The cars take you through the attraction where you’ll learn about Hershey’s Chocolate, its history, how the candy is made and so forth. There are animated displays, music, videos, flashing lights, several of the Hershey’s characters, etc. along the way.
On the ride tour the kids love going through the roasting oven, seeing the singing cows and near the end of the tour you’ll go through another multi-light tunnel which is fun too. The kids NEVER get bored and always look forward to our visits down to Chocolate World.
After the ride tour they offer you a free miniature chocolate candy bar. You can pay for professional photos of you and your family enjoying the tour or opt out. We never buy the photos because I always take my own camera along. Besides, I think their prices are way too high!!!
Downstairs is where you’ll find the rest of the attractions where kids can build their own candy bars, see a 4D movie, etc. All of those activities charge a FEE. The ONLY free activity is the ride tour itself. We like to head to the food court area and treat ourselves to milkshakes and s’mores. YUMMY!!!
In addition to buying all of your favorite Hershey’s candies there you can pick up other cool souvenirs and gifts: t-shirts, hoodies, jewelry, home decor, toys, gifts, etc. Just be forewarned, this is a tourist attraction so things can be on the pricey side. However, if you’re looking for good deals on the candy…that’s where I like to go. On our recent trip I got 5 large bags of Hershey’s Kisses (in their flavors) for $20.00. They had some holiday varieties still leftover and those were marked down to $2.00 to $2.49 per package.
When visiting Hershey’s Chocolate World the parking is free and you’ll want to park in their designated parking lot. If you’re handicap, they have designated spaces for that too. They offer wheelchair and baby stroller rentals should you need those additional services.
If you want to take a really cool tour through Hershey and learn all about the town’s history I would recommend taking the trolley tour. Hershey Trolley Works is located at Chocolate World and you can buy your tickets for the trolley tour while you’re there. This is a fun place that your entire family will enjoy!
I do love the fact that the visit to this Chocolate World is free. I know that my grandchildren would love to take the trolley ride.
That would be a fun place to visit. I’d stock up on Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
I feel like I need to go there just to see the singing cows. It looks like there are many fun activities and chocolate to keep everyone happy.
I have never been but would love to. I especially would want to check out the chocolate!
I went there many years ago. I would like to go back but it is so far away now.