Laughing Lindsay

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Hersheypark Tips for First Time Visitors

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A while back, I posted a list of must try foods at Hershey. Today, I’m sharing a list of general Hersheypark tips, particularly for first time visitors. So, if you are planning a trip here, then keep reading for my advice.

Hersheypark Tips

Hersheypark Tips

While it may be one of the more chill theme parks to visit, I also think these tips were helpful in planning my trip to the chocolate themed park.

  • Utilize free Preview Hours – There’s a whole page on the website dedicated to getting the most park hours out of a ticket here. However, I wanted to draw attention to the fact that they have preview hours for every ticket holder the day prior to your first day visit! So, a one day ticket to the park is actually more of a 1.5 days ticket! My mom and I planned a day at Chocolate World and then hopped over to the park in the afternoon. Then, we spent all of the next day in the park too! I highly recommend that itinerary.
  • Get a Sweet Start – Staying at an official resort becomes even more worth it when you realize that you get additional hours in the park! When you have a park ticket and stay at either Hershey Lodge or The Hotel Hershey, then you can enter the park 1 hour early!
  • See the zoo – This is the only theme park that I’ve been to that has an attached zoo! Your ticket to the park includes entry to Zoo America too. In fact, there is a separate entrance from the park over to the zoo you can use. My mom and I enjoyed slowing down during the warmer part of the day and looking at the animals. It’s a smaller zoo, but still fun to look at.
  • Visit the water park – The Boardwalk at Hersheypark is the water park inside of the park! During the summer months, you can come and go to the water park with admission to the theme park! I didn’t go inside the water park, but I saw lots of people having fun there. I think it’s great for a longer trip and makes for a more affordable vacation to have an all-in-one destination.
  • Check the park calendar – While the park is open every day during the summer months, its hours are drastically reduced during the off seasons. It closes during the winter months and is open on the weekends in spring/fall/Christmas. So, consult the website for special events and operating hours before planning a trip here.

Other Hersheypark Suggestions

While there aren’t as many Hersheypark tips or tricks as there are for other parks, these are the few important ones I recommend keeping in mind. Also, I would like to point out that the elevation of the park varies from area to area. It’s not a flat park, so wear comfortable shoes and watch where you are walking. Also, keep an eye out for some adorable Hershey characters! Do you have any other suggestions I missed?

Must Try Food at Hersheypark

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One of my favorite things about traveling is getting to eat new things! So, I thought I would highlight some must try food at Hersheypark!

Must Try Food at Hersheypark

Food at Hersheypark

There is lots to see and do in Hershey, PA. However, some of my most memorable experiences involves the delicious food! Seeing as how the Hershey Company is known for chocolate, it makes sense that their theme park would have lots of tasty options. Personally, part of the appeal of visiting here was getting to try chocolate on everything. As you will see, any chocolate or sweet fan can find lots to try here.

Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor

I initially was going to tell you about some delicious ice cream whoopie pies I had here. However, when I went to write this post, I realized they were no longer available. Although, you can get some tasty ice cream to cool off with from Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor! You can also get a big bucket of chicken bites with various sauces here! We tried the chicken and were pleased with it. I don’t have pictures as we snacked on them during a sudden downpour outside and the restaurant was packed! Plus, everything was wet. Nonetheless, I can recommend stopping here for a quick bite to eat.

Mini Donuts

We loved trying the flavor of the month mini donuts from the East Coast Donuts Truck! When we were there, they had these tasty donuts with a marshmallow glaze and Fruity Pebbles cereal on top! This was straight up childhood nostalgia for me and I would eat these again in a heartbeat!

The Chocolatier Restaurant

The Chocolatier is a full-service restaurant and bar that is just at the gates of the park. It is open year round and is certainly a must-do for anyone visiting. The best thing I ate in Hershey was at this restaurant. I got a huge slice of Reese’s peanut butter and chocolate cake that I split with my mom. It was amazing! I don’t see it on the menu currently, but I’m sure any of the desserts here would be just as good.

Hersheypark Foods I Wish I Tried

Seeing as how we spent only a few days at the park, I didn’t get to try everything I wanted to. If I ever go back, I’d like to try the crabfries from Chickie’s and Pete’s as well as anything from The Sweeterie.

New Foods for 2023

Hersheypark just opened for its 2023 season and announced some new foods! The Simply Chocolate dessert shop will have new King Size Shakes flavors! They’ve also added a new Philly Cheesesteak Co. location in the Pioneer Frontier region of the park. Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor is now serving a Chicken Bacon Ranch Grilled Cheese and seasonally exclusive ice cream flavors like Lemon Meringue Pie! Lastly, The Chocolatier will have some new seasonal dishes including a Summer Berry Salad and Peach Upside Down Cake.

So, if you have visited, what was your favorite food at Hersheypark? If you haven’t been, what would you like to try?

Things to Do in Hershey, Pennsylvania

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I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there are so many things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I always assumed it was just the theme park. However, when I planned my trip back in 2021, I was happy to see there were so many options. Here are some of the things you can experience when you visit!

Things to Do in Hershey

Things To Do In Hershey

While I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer number and variety of things to do in Hershey when I visited, I have to admit that I didn’t get to experience everything I would have liked. Unfortunately, things were still re-opening from the pandemic (understandable). So, while I wasn’t able to experience all of these things personally, I will give my opinion on the things I did.

Visit Hersheypark

I think I have to begin this post with the most obvious thing to do in Hershey, PA: visit Hersheypark! This is the wonderful theme park that is themed to the chocolate company! It’s one of the few parks I know of that includes admission to a zoo as well as a waterpark during the warmer months! There’s a lot to do here and you can easily spend a few days enjoying this place!

Hershey’s Chocolate World

Located right beside Hersheypark is Hershey’s Chocolate World! This is a must visit for any chocolate lover! In fact, I’ve already written an entire post detailing all of the fun you can have at Chocolate World! Again, I highly recommend spending a half to a full day here, depending on your interests. Such a fun and unique place!

Visit the Musuem

If you are a history buff, then you must visit the Hershey Story! It’s a museum filled with artifacts telling the story of Milton Hershey! They also offer some fun add-on experiences/classes here from time to time. I was very disappointed that I didn’t get to do one on my trip. However, I did enjoy visiting the museum as admission was included with our stays at the Hershey Lodge and The Hotel Hershey. You can click those links to read my reviews of those resorts.

Visit the Gardens

Staying at one of the official resorts also offers free admission to the beautiful Hershey Gardens! It’s hard to believe that the gardens were started when Milton requested a rose garden. Now, all of these years later it’s grown into this big, beautiful place! My mom and I enjoyed walking around here and just looking at everything! We especially liked the butterflies!

Get a Spa Treatment

This is one of those things that I wish I had done on my trip. I’ve actually never gotten a spa treatment. However, the idea of a chocolate spa treatment sounds appealing to me. Maybe someday!

See a Show

I didn’t realize it until we arrived, but there’s a theater as well as a few entertainment venues in Hershey, PA. You can catch a Broadway caliber show, a famous music act, or even catch a Hershey Bears hockey game! I recommend looking at the schedule of entertainment whenever you plan your trip!

So Much to See and Do

It would be easy to spend several days here and not do everything! There are just so many things to do in Hershey! So, have you done any of these things?

Hershey’s Chocolate World Review

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Back in 2021, my mom and I took a trip up to Pennsylvania and visited Hershey’s Chocolate World, among other cool spots. Hands down, this was our favorite part of the trip. So, I thought I would do a review highlighting why we enjoyed it so much.

Hershey's Chocolate World

Hershey’s Chocolate World

While Hershey’s Chocolate World is technically a huge Hershey store, it’s much more than that. There are several add-on experiences that make this a must-do for any chocolate fan. In fact, my mom and I happily spent an entire day here on our trip and would love to go back to do it all again! 2023 marks the 50th Anniversary of this experience, so you know they are doing something right here! Without further ado, here are the activities you can do here!

Chocolate Tour

The Hershey Chocolate Tour is a free ride that shows you the process of making chocolate! At the end of this attraction, you are given a free piece of candy! We may have rode this attraction a couple of times! It’s a fun break from the heat in the summer and who doesn’t love free chocolate?!

Create Your Own Candy Bar

Did you know that you can design your own candy bar from the ingredients to the packaging here? It’s a super fun experience to choose the ingredients and then get to follow your candy bar being made! Then, you get to take it home to eat! I loved everything about this!

Hershey’s Unwrapped

Unwrapped is a fun little tasting tour of chocolate! You are given a box of chocolate at the beginning of the show and then you get to taste your way through it as you are told the history of chocolate and the Hershey company. You also learn about what makes different types of chocolate unique. It’s a cute show that allows you to try different types of chocolate.

Hershey Trolley Works

Another highlight here for me was the trolley tour of Hershey, PA! I loved learning about the formation of the town and having historical markers pointed out. I highly recommend this tour for anyone who likes history. We did the Historical Tour, but they also have a shorter 45 minute Original Tour as well as special seasonal tours that sound awesome! Oh, you also get some free chocolate here too!

Hershey’s Chocolate World Tips

You can save money on these activities if you purchase them in a bundle ahead of time. My mom and I booked Adventure 6 with all three activities included and saves $21. We also added a meal deal to our ticket, which saved another $4. It also made it really easy to get lunch at Hershey’s Chocolate World as it was already pre-paid. I loved trying the Jolly Rancher slush as my beverage!

As I stated above, this can be a whole day or it could be a half-day too. It’s up to you. If you are visiting Hersheypark or just staying at The Hotel Hershey or The Hershey Lodge, then you really should consider adding this to your trip!

What to Pack for a Theme Park

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I know there are probably loads of other posts out there on what to pack for a theme park visit. However, like most things, I believe these lists to be subjective. I also believe we can all learn something from each other. So, I’m sharing the things I take when I visit one!

What to Pack for a Theme Park

What to Pack for a Theme Park

When thinking about what to pack for a theme park, you have to start with the bag itself. I know lots of people like to take a backpack. However, I prefer a crossbody bag because I can see my bag at all times. That way, I don’t have to worry about someone stealing from my bag. Perhaps I’m too careful, but I know thefts still happen on vacation.

The bag in the picture above is a Disney Vera Bradley Crossbody Bag. I purchased it at a VB Outlet store in Pigeon Forge, TN last year. I love that it’s a soft fabric, washable, and that particular pattern features the Walt Disney World castle. I take this bag when I’m visiting Disney parks. This is the second Disney Vera Bradley crossbody bag I’ve owned. The first one was starting to get worn in the crossbody strap, so I replaced it with this one. However, I had carried it for years. In fact, I think I got it about the time I went to Disney Social Media Moms.

Back in 2019, I purchased a black Michael Kors crossbody bag at that same outlet mall in Pigeon Forge, TN. I have been carrying it when I’m not going to Disney. The fabric is not as soft as VB, but it’s holding up well. It’s also stylish no matter what I pair it with.

List of What to Bring

Without further ado, here’s my list of things to pack for a theme park:

  • Sunglasses and/or Hat – I wear glasses, but have several pairs of sunglasses that go over my glasses. In fact, I never leave the house without a pair to protect my eyes. In recent years, I’ve gotten better about protecting my skin by wearing hats too.
  • Poncho – If you are traveling to Florida, you need a poncho. They frequently have short rain showers while remaining hot. So, a light poncho is perfect. Also, you can save several dollars by bringing your own! I also sometimes carry a mini-umbrella if it’s calling for rain.
  • Charger – You will be using your phone to take pictures as well as using the park’s app. It drains your battery quickly. Bring a charger and cord.
  • Wallet – You have to have your tickets/id anyways. I know some parks have gone cashless, but I’m already carrying my bag, so might as well bring my wallet too.
  • Sunblock and bug spray – You need to reapply through the day. I got a brush with powder sunscreen inside the handle last year and like carrying it around.
  • Hand sanitizer – Ideally, you wash your hands before eating. However, at least you can sanitize after riding a ride.
  • Gum – Disney doesn’t sell gum in their parks. So, if you are a gum chewer, bring your own gum.

So, did I forget anything? What do you pack for a theme park?