Do you love chocolate? You will love Hershey!
Chocolate Town, United States. The history of the American dream. And a great place for a weekend getaway or a week-long vacation. Come on tour with us as we visit the unique city of Hershey, Pennsylvania. It is the realization of Milton Hershey’s dreams.
He was born shortly before the Civil War (1857). The frequent transfers of his family interfered with his education. He did not pass fourth grade. At 14, he apprenticed to a printer and was fired. He later became an apprentice to a candy maker.
Milton’s first commercial attempt failed, as did several others. Meanwhile, he worked for other candy makers, gathering their secrets. In 1885, he and a partner started a candy business in Lancaster. The fresh milk that he used in his sweets was part of his secret recipe. Finally, the audience responded with enthusiasm. Hershey’s candies were shipped as far as Europe and the business expanded.
Milton traveled to the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1892 to learn about European sweets. While he was there, he bought a German chocolate roll. He sold the candy company to finance his new chocolate factory. After years of experimenting to find the right recipe, the Hershey Bar went on sale in 1900. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Hershey is an entrepreneurial city, designed for the employees of the chocolate company. Milton Hershey’s philosophy included taking care of the workers in his charge. When the depression hit, he kept his construction workers busy building the hotel and a school. The hotel’s design incorporated many of the places he and his wife had visited in Europe: Spanish tile, quarry stone, a huge circular dining room “no bad views”, and lush formal gardens with fountains and reflecting pools. Unfortunately, Ms. Hershey died before construction began.
Whether you are staying at the Hershey Hotel or not, this great lady from American Grand Hotels is well worth a visit. Stroll through the gardens. Sip a cocktail in the Iberian Lounge. If you are not a guest, reservations are required in advance for gourmet dining in the circular dining room.
Nearby, Hershey Gardens stretches up the hill that overlooks the city. The grounds of the hotel, Milton Hershey School and the headland line the gardens. Mr. Hershey started with just 3½ acres to “create a nice garden” of roses for his wife. In five years, it included 23 acres. More than a dozen themed areas include specimen trees, unusual shrubs, and seasonal flower displays. Tour the Kindergarten and the Butterfly House.
In June, the scent of roses is so sweet that it overpowers the scent of the chocolate that the city is famous for. The smell of chocolate comes from the shells of cocoa beans that are used as mulch, everywhere! The rain enhances the sweet scent of chocolate. Entry to the gardens is only $ 10; it is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Special events are held throughout the year. Enjoy the rhododendron show in mid-May and a wine and rose celebration in early June.
Your Hershey tour won’t be complete without a stop at Chocolate World. It is a simulated tour of a chocolate factory. Bite into a free sample at the end of the trip. Buy chocolates at the Factory Store. Take a picture next to the giant Hershey kiss. Even city street lamps are made to look like Hershey’s kisses.
Add a day at Hershey Park to your recipe for a great vacation. The combo ticket includes admission to the park, plus the adjacent ZooAmerica and the Hershey Museum. Sixty rides delight all ages. There is also a small water park, entertainment, and a variety of dining options. If you are visiting at Christmas, be sure to see the display of lights throughout the park. It is a winter wonderland.
There are dozens of other fun places to visit in the area: historic rail tours, local caverns, the nearby Dutch country of Pennsylvania, and the Gettysburg battlefields. Whether you’re going on vacation or staying a week, Hershey, Pennsylvania is a nice place to visit.