It is very likely that you know the name Hershey. Who hasn’t had a Hershey’s chocolate bar? But, did you know that the birthplace of these sweet treats makes for one of the best family-friendly vacation destinations?
Hershey, Pennsylvania is home to Hersheypark, a theme park originally opened by Milton S. Hershey as a leisure park for employees of his chocolate factory. Hersheypark isn’t just your average theme park. There are not only incredible roller coasters, rides, and dining options, but tons of other attractions available in and out of the park. Let’s look at what makes Hersheypark the sweetest place on earth, including a couple of fruity new attractions coming this summer.
More Than Just a Theme Park
For over 100 years, Hersheypark has delighted guests with its delectable rides, fun characters, and tasty food. Hersheypark has a loyal fan base, but many do not realize that there is more to Hersheypark than just its coasters and dozens of rides. Included with your admission ticket to Hersheypark, you will also be able to visit ZooAmerica, The Boardwalk, and Hershey’s Chocolate World.
ZooAmerica is an 11-acre zoo located within Hersheypark. The zoo includes over 200 animals native to North America. At this North American wildlife park, you can come up close and personal with alligators and birds, or visit exhibits for bears, snakes, and more.
The Boardwalk is the waterpark located within Hersheypark. The park boasts half a dozen tube slides, a racing slide, lazy river, and multiple splash ground areas. You can also ride the waves in the enormous wave pool. There is something for swimmers of all ages at this refreshing waterpark.
Hershey’s Chocolate World is located just outside of the entrance of Hersheypark and is not something you want to skip. Not only is it home to a superstore of sweet treats, but it also features a free dark ride. The Hershey’s Chocolate Tour dark ride takes you on a journey from cocoa bean to candy bar. You can also check out a 4D movie, the Hershey’s Unwrapped show, or create your own candy bar!
Delectable Dining
Hersheypark has over 60 dining locations with treats ranging from your typical theme park faire to monsterous milkshakes and sit-down dining experiences. Of course there is also tons of chocolate! The newest dining option is The Chocolatier Restaurant. The restaurant features classic dishes including some with a hint of chocolate. There is even a roof-top patio. They also have Milton’s Ice Cream Palor with many custom house-made ice cream and all the Hershey’s candy toppings you could want. Hersheypark also offers dining plan options. You can choose an all day meal or drink option, or just a single meal voucher.
Official Resorts and Benefits
Hersheypark showcases 3 official resorts: The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge, and the Hersheypark Camping Resort. At all 3 of these resort options, guests get the benefit of entry to the park an hour early, transportation to the park, and admission to Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience which are located nearby. You can also enjoy more from Hersheypark’s Preview Plan. With the Preview Plan, guests can get in at the last 2 hours of park operations on the night before their purchased ticket date. Resort guests, however, get in for 3 hours. That is 4 extra hours of park time included with your resort stay!
The Hotel Hershey is the most grand and deluxe option. This resort features both indoor and outdoor pools, luxury accommodations, and a chocolate spa. Hershey Lodge is very family friendly. This resort features more rustic accommodations and an indoor pool complex that is practically an indoor water park. The Hersheypark Camping Resort allows you to rent a cabin, park an RV, or camp in a tent. They also have a country store, multiple playgrounds, and 2 pools.
But what about world class roller coasters, does it have any?…
World Class Roller Coasters
I will be honest, when I previously thought of Hersheypark, I thought the park only had a couple of roller coasters, and at most a couple more family friendly coasters. However, this assumption was wrong. Herkseypark has a total of 15 roller coasters, including two coasters topping 200ft tall. The park stands on its own when it comes to roller coasters, and whether you are a thrill seeker or looking for something family friendly, there is something for everyone.
You can check out Fahrenheit with its 97-degree drop and thrilling inversions. They also have Candymonium, a B&M hyper-coaster that has a 210 ft drop and 7 camelback hills. If you are looking for something that will send you from 0-72mph in seconds, head to Storm Runner with its cobra loop, barrel rolls, and flying snake dive. Skyrush is sure to give you a rush with a 200 ft drop and 5 zero-G airtime hills. There are several other thrilling and family friendly coasters to choose from.
A Jolly New Addition
This summer, Hersheypark is introducing two new rides to its spectacular line-up. The first is the reimagining of a previous coaster. Jolly Rancher Remix (formerly Sidewinder) is a Vekoma boomerang coaster that will delight guests with five different “flavors”. From Green Apple to Watermelon, riders will have a chance to experience something new each time they ride. The coaster features a newly added tunnel, with different music, lights, and even scents for each “flavor”. While Sidewinder had become less and less popular among guests, surly this new theming will reinvigorate interest.
In addition to Jolly Rancher Remix, Herskeypark is adding a Zamperla NebulaZ flat ride. Mix’d Flavored by Jolly Ranger is a family friendly flat ride with 4 doubled-sided arms with vehicles at their ends that move and intersect one another. The movements create the illusion of near misses and offers riders fun views and airtime as the arms reach up into the air. The colorful new area is sure to be a sweet treat for guests when the two new attractions open in the summer.
Whether you are a local to the area looking to spend a day at the theme park, or coming from out of state for a week long excursion, Hersheypark has tons of delectable attractions and sweet places to stay, and it is definitely one theme park I will be adding to my bucket list.
