Hershey, Pennsylvania Attractions

A trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania is not complete without the taste of chocolate, and the Hersheypark themepark, ZooAmerica and Chocolate World are all fun attractions for everyone in the family.

Chocolate lovers will enjoy a stroll and the enticing aroma of Chocolate and Cocoa Avenues where the street lamps are shaped like Hershey’s Kisses. When you’ve had enough candy, there’s even more to do in the surprisingly entertaining chocolate capital of the world.

Great Fun for the Kids

(Toddler to Age 8)

Hershey Gardens
170 Hotel Road
Hershey, PA 17033
717/534-3492
The major paths winding through this 23-acre outdoor garden are paved and stroller-friendly. A major highlight is the creative Children’s Garden, an interactive area with 32 different educational themes to explore, including counting, spelling, and telling time. With plenty of creatures and areas to play in — as well as frequent teacher-led programs — this is a calming place to let loose some youthful energy. The Butterfly House, open all summer with weather permitting, houses over 400 of the beautiful insects of over 25 different varieties, and features “flight attendants” who guide visitors through the story of a butterfly’s life cycle. The Garden also features the Hoop House, where kids can discover how easy it is to grow your own garden at home.

Pride of the Susquehanna
City Island
Harrisburg, PA 17108
717/234-6500
Hershey is very close to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the state’ capital, and Harrisburg’s City Island is the base for an old-fashioned paddlewheeler offering rides on the Susquehanna River. The Pride of the Susquehanna has been operating public cruises for many years, and during the summer months, cruises depart daily except for Monday. This could be a great way to cool off on a hot day, or to check baby’s first boat ride off the list. Be sure to call ahead to confirm schedule and check availability. Also inquire about the company’s dinner/entertainment cruise options.

Fun for Older Children

(Up to Age 18)

The Hershey Story
63 West Chocolate Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
717/534-8939
If you recall the Hershey Museum from your youth, it has been replaced with the Hershey Story which focuses on Mr. Hershey himself. While this is filled with a lot of educational facts, the Hershey Story still has lots to make a visit fun. Check out the Chocolate Lab which gives visitors a hands-on experience in how to make chocolate. Then, go on a chocolate-tasting, where you can sample chocolate from Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, and more.

Hershey Trolley Works
Departs from the main entrace of Chocolate World (see below)
717/533-3000
A singing conductor might be a bit hokey, but that’s part of the fun as you tour around town in an old-fashioned trolley. Conductors point out notable landmarks along the way. Those who are interested in Milton Hershey history will want to go along for the ride. Keep an eye out for those Kiss-shaped street lamps!

Antique Automobile Club of America
161 Museum Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
717/566-7100
Vintage car lovers in your family will definitely want to stop by the Automobile Club’s museum, which features old automobiles in time-appropriate scenes and settings. There are even some “celebrity” vehicles, like the bus from Forrest Gump and Matt Damon’s car in the movie “The Good Shepherd.”

Harrisburg Senators
Commerce Bank Park
City Island
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717/231-4444
Want to take a break from chocolate and pursue some peanuts and Cracker Jacks? One fun way to mingle with the locals when you travel is to attend a minor league baseball game, and nearby Harrisburg has a popular team, and seats are cheap. If you have more than a few hours to spend in Harrisburg, you may want to coordinate a game with a paddlewheeler cruise (see above), since both activities operate from City Island.

Fun for the Whole Family

ZOOAMERICA North American Wildlife Park
201 Park Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033
717/534-3900
Hersheys’ 11-acre walk-through zoo offers a home to more than 200 animals, including several that you can get close to. The facility provides care for all the animals and includes specially designed areas for quarantine, infirm care, surgery and x-ray procedures. Enter from inside the Hershey Park on the same day and your visit will be free.

Hersheypark
100 West Hersheypark Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
717/534-3900; 844/330-1811
Hersheypark is filled with more than 70 attractions, including 14 mild to wild coasters and more than 20 kiddie rides, making it a fun day out destination for all ages. Attractions range from a hand-carved carousel dating from 1919 to “Tidal Force,” one of the world’s largest, tallest, splashdown rides. Riders on the Reese’s Cupfusion and Whitecap Racer attractions are given the latest technology to track their scores and view a free ride photo through HPGO, which connects a wristband with the Hersheypark app and Fast Track program. You can’t leave without trying the Reese’s Xtreme Cup Challenge, a laser game that pits car against car in a competition for the highest score. For old-fashioned, boardwalk-style fun, be sure to spend some time in the Midway America area of Hersheypark for rides, games, and food galore. If it’s steamy outside, visit the Boardwalk at Hersheypark waterpark or make a splash on more than 16 attractions, including Breakers Edge Water Coaster, the first hydromagnetic coaster at Hersheypark, and Whitecap Racer, the longest mat racing slide in the world. New for 2019 is Fast Track Unlimited, which allows guests to skip the regular line on up to 14 attractions, including 12 coasters, all day long.

Hershey’s Chocolate World
251 Park Blvd
Hershey, PA 17033
717/534-4900; 800/468-1714
This recently added attraction allows people of all ages to enjoy the world of chocolate and be entertained by watching a simulation of how Hershey’s chocolate is made. Free to everyone, you can tour the factory, have complimentary samples, and participate in a 4-D mystery show where you can enjoy an animated and sensory adventure on the big screen. The “Great Chocolate Factory Mystery in 4D” allows audiences to interact with digital characters in real-time, effectively determining the direction of the show with over 100 possible outcomes. Featuring groundbreaking technology from the famous Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (of “Muppets” fame), this attraction of digital puppeteers is devoted to making a unique experience for the whole family. A new attraction is Hershey’s Unwrapped: a Chocolate Tasting Journey, the place to unwrap and taste your way through the tale of Hershey’s chocolate with a theatrical experience the whole family will enjoy.

For info on all attractions call 800/HERSHEY or visit Hershey PA Tourism.