Hershey (Chocolate), Pennsylvania

We have talked about visiting Hershey many times since we started this adventure, primarily since Cindi has fond memories of this exact place when she visited here years ago with her grandparents. Bummer that Cindi couldn't go with us but the kids were excited to visit "The Sweetest Place on Earth." So after school we drove an hour north to Hershey, PA to visit "Hershey's Chocolate World." The first thing we did was go on the ride called, "Great American Chocolate Tour" where we briefly learned about chocolate from "bean to bar." It was an entertaining "Disney-type people mover" ride through a pretend factory. A real factory tour would have been much more interesting--I'm not sure if they even offer such a tour anymore. The ride was mildly entertaining and a free sample at the end made it worth it. So much so that we went twice. We passed on the 3D movie as we heard it wasn't worth it. We did shop though. I gave the kids 5 bucks each to buy whatever candy they wanted in the large store on site. The last thing they needed was more candy after Halloween but after all we were at Hershey World. The kids were surprised how many different types of candies Hershey's actually makes. In addition to the Hershey's bars and kisses, they also make Reece's (Sterling's favorite), Kit Kat, Whatchamacallit, Almond Joy (surprisingly Peyton's favorite), Mounds, PayDay, 5th Avenue, Heath, Rolo, Skor, Milk Duds (loved those as a kid... and now), Take 5 (Cindi's favorite), Whoppers, Zagnut, Zero, York Peppermint Pattie, Jolly Ranchers, Good & Plenty, Twizzlers, Bubble Yum, Ice Beakers, Breath Savers, Moana Loa, and fine chocolates called Cacao Reserve.

On the way back to Gettysburg we drove around Pennsylvania's capitol building in Harrisburg. Not too exciting. It's days like these that we are glad we have a pull car. We leave the 8 miles per gallon 40' monster behind and take our 20+ mpg Saturn on day excursions.