Welcome to this month’s Blogorail Peach Loop. Today we are exploring fun you and your family can have this winter.
Top 5 Things to Do in the Winter in Hershey PA
We love to go to Hershey no matter what season it is, and each season is special in its own way. Of course, summer is fun because Hersheypark is open, along with the water fun on the Boardwalk. Hershey is special in the fall and Christmas time with decorations and fun at Hersheypark. But what is there to do all winter when Hersheypark is closed? Here are my top 5 things to do in the winter in Hershey PA.
Hockey
It’s hard to believe with as small as Hershey, PA is that there is a hockey team there. The Hershey Bears is an AHL team affiliated with the Washington Capitals. I never thought that we would find ourselves going to watch hockey regularly, but that is what has happened. Go Bears! #DefendTheDen
Believe it or not, Marvel Boy has pressed past some of his hearing sensitivity issues by going to see something that he really enjoys. I remember when we took him to his first hockey game last January. We sat at the back of the bottom section, and Marvel Boy wore his ear protectors. Fast forward to now… He leaves those ear protectors at home and wants to sit down near the boards. It is amazing how he has changed over the last year!
Shows
When Milton Hershey was alive, he did everything he could to give his workers fun things to do without having to go into the city. One of the things he built was the Hershey Theatre. Not only is the Hershey Theatre beautiful inside and outside, it also hosts some really great shows! We have seen a few shows there, and we are amazed at the quality of the shows that come here. Besides the Hershey Theatre, there are also shows at the Giant Center (home of the Hershey Bears). If you are interested in seeing a show this winter, check out what is coming to town on the Hershey Entertainment website.
Hotels
My two places to stay in Hershey are The Hotel Hershey and the Hershey Lodge. Both are great choices, but they are different. Above is the fountain lobby of The Hotel Hershey. It is such a cool place that just exudes the history of the hotel. It is as much beautiful as it is comfortable. There is also the Chocolate Spa, if you are interested in some extra indulgence. You can read more about The Hotel Hershey here.
The Hershey Lodge has a more laid back feel and is definitely a little more children-friendly with its indoor water play area called Hershey’s Water Works. Whether you are sitting with your feet up by the fire, cheering on your favorite sports team while eating at The Bears’ Den, or playing at Hershey Water Works, the Hershey Lodge has your fun covered!
Both of these hotels have great food options! Whether it be sweets or a full meal, I always seem to find something good to eat! I’ve included a few of my favorites above.
If you are interested in booking a stay at either of these hotels, you can do so from the Hersheypark website.
Area Attractions (The Hershey Story, Hershey Gardens, ZooAmerica, and Hershey Theatre)
The Hershey Story is a museum of the history of Milton Hershey and Hershey, PA. If you like the history of Hershey or the history of candy and chocolate making, this is the stop for you!
Besides learning history, there is a small restaurant in the museum. Keeping with the “theme” of Hershey, there are usually several different types of desserts. If you have the time and are hungry, picking up something to eat and a cupcake is definitely recommended!
This past summer, Hershey Gardens opened their new Butterfly Atrium. Seeing the butterflies is definitely a high point of any visit to Hershey Gardens. We love watching all the butterflies fly throughout the atrium and sometimes even land on us.
We have the “Discovery” package added on to our Hersheypark season pass that allows us to go to The Hershey Story and Hershey Gardens whenever we want, and it was well worth the additional money. If you stay at one of the Hershey Resort hotels, tickets to The Hershey Story and the Hershey Gardens are usually included with your hotel stay.
Another place to go is ZooAmerica. ZooAmerica is a nice laid-back zoo with enough animals to watch but not so many that seeing all of them is overwhelming. Did you know that porcupines climb trees? I didn’t until I saw the porcupine in the tree above. ZooAmerica is part of our Hersheypark season pass, so we can go pretty much any day other than Thanksgiving and Christmas. [Hersheypark season passes are a great value!] ZooAmerica also has some addition programs including the After-Hours Tour.
I mentioned the Hershey Theatre under the show section, but Hershey Theatre is actually an attraction itself. The architecture is really something to see! Hershey Theatre has a Spotlight Tour on Fridays year-round [phone the theatre to verify tour will occur] and Sundays during certain times of the year. You can find out more about the tour on the Hershey Theatre website.
Chocolate World
If you are traveling to Hershey, PA, you definitely need to experience Hershey’s Chocolate World! After all, chocolate is what Hershey was built around. There are all sorts of chocolate and souvenirs to be purchased here, but there are also the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour Ride and other attractions that include a 4D movie, chocolate tasting, and making your own chocolate bar. Make sure to read my post about our experience at Chocolate World!
As you can see, there are plenty of things to do this winter in Hershey, PA!
Disclosure: My family and I have experienced some of the things above free of charge as part of the Hershey Sweetest Mom group. Some of the things we have paid for on our own. Either way, all opinions are our own! We love Hershey, PA so much I wish we could live there!
check out the other great posts from the Blogorail!
Here is the map of our Blogorail Peach | Family Adventure | Winter Travel
- 1st Stop – This Roller Coaster Called Live | Top 5 Things to Do in the Winter in Hershey, PA
- 2nd Stop – Magical Memories with the Mouse | Tips for Visiting the Grand Canyon in Winter
- 3rd Stop – Cool Nouns | Day Trips
- 4th Stop – My Dreams of Disney | A Winter Tour at Yellowstone National Park
Now I really need to visit Hershey! Do you know if they have gluten-free foods/chocolate?
I know they have gluten-free selections in Hersheypark, but I’m unfamiliar with their other options. Let me reach out to my contact and find out.
Yes, they have both
I have never been to Hershey and always wanted to go. While we will probably go at a time that HersheyPark is open, you’ve shown me so many other things to do. Thanks!
(Actually, who am I kidding? You had me at chocolate. LOL)
Sometimes, we just go over for the chocolate, too. 😉
I always wanted to go to Hershey park looks fun
Great post, Naomi! My hockey team IS the Washington Capitals, and I am super excited that they have such a long running affiliation with the best AHL team in hockey! Go Bears! I’ve never been to one of their games, especially since I live now in Raleigh, NC, but one day!
Small world! I still haven’t made it to a Washington Capitals game, but maybe in the future.
I would love to visit Hershey, PA
I would love to go to Hershey Pennsylvania! It looks great to take a vacation their in the Winter. The food and treats look amazing and what a great place to visit with the family!
I have always wanted to visit this area there is so much to do and the country is so pretty.
I would love to stay at Hotel Hershey! The chocolate spa is calling my name.
Wowza. There is so many amazing things to do. I would start with those desserts, might end with them too 🙂 I really need to visit Hershey.
Thanks for the great review of things to do in the winter in Hershey. I love the town and though we don’t live close anymore, we get back to visit on occasion. I’ve always enjoyed the Hershey Bears and hope to catch a game this season.
I’ve never been to hershey, PA but hope to someday! I’d love to go see a hockey game! I love the name of the team too.
We enjoyed Hershey when we visted a few years ago.
Who doesn’t love Hershey’s? Sounds like a fun place to visit!
Hershey looks like a lot of fun. I would like to see Hershey Gardens & sample some of those desserts!
It sounds like such a fun place–we almost went there for our honeymoon.
(Top 5 Things to Do in the Winter in Hershey PA) I would love to visit Hershey, PA someday with my husband. I would really like to visit the Hershey Theater.
Alas, never have been there…. but while they do have other things to do there, I would sooooo hit the chocolate stuff first, because, you know, chocolate. 😀
WOW! I didn’t think that there was so much to see and do in Hershey park in the winter time, I wouldn’t mind
visiting this place now, looks so wonderful.
@tisonlyme143
These are fun things to do in Hershey, PA when Hersheypark is closed.
I have never been to Hershey but this looks like a great place to visit. And all that chocolate!!
I so want to visit Hershey, PA!! Hopefully ONE day!
I hope to visit. I love the pictures.I might start my vacation planning for there.
Hershey is in my home state which makes it easy to travel to. Many fun things to do and see.
Looks like a lot of interesting things to do and places to go.
I have never visited there; the museum sounds great and of course chocolate world.
What great fun! I had no idea about the hockey, what a great activity to watch.
Thanks for the great ideas when traveling to Hershey! I have never been there, but it sounds wonderful! Zoo America looks awesome!
I have been wanting to vacay here for a long time. Maybe the hockey will help convince my man. ssoo
CHOCOLATE WORLD! As a Food Historian, this right near the top of my bucket list, I absolutely must go see it! One question I’m dying to ask the staff…how can you stay so thin?
Oh I would love to bring my family someday! Looks like so much fun and so much to do! The Hershey Lodge looks so neat!!! Would love to stay there when we go!
Oooh, I want to go to the Hershey’s store!
I’ve heard about Zoo America and of course Hershey park and been meaning to figure out a good time to visit. They sound like a lot of fun.
It’s amazing! Thank you for covering it so thoroughly…and making a lot of people itching to go. 🙂 The hotel is beautiful and caught my eye first, the chocolate of the Hershey Story looks to die for, and the butterfly gardens and zoo both look fun and adventurous. So many different attractions yet I want to see them all. Thanks.
We went to Hershey in December a couple years ago and had a great time. It was fun seeing all the Christmas decorations and the park all decked out too. Hershey world was a lot of fun too.
I want to go there someday!! It looks so fun!
Looks like a nice place to visit. And a good place to eat.
Sounds like a great place for a vacation!
One of my favorite childhood memories is visiting Hershey.
Hershey is wonderful!!! (But reading your review has made me crave a Hershey Bar with Almonds, my favorite!) We only went in the winter to see Hershey Park at Christmas and their wonderful Christmas lights. I think it’s time for another visit!
Who knew there was more to Hershey, PA than chocolate? So enjoyed this article! Adding Hershey, PA to my bucket list of places I’d like to visit & explore. Thank you so much for an informative article!!