Jay has only one niece, Ashley that he dotes on and yes, spoils rotten (to a degree). Ashley was about to celebrate her 8th birthday and Jay wanted to give her something special. She'd been begging to ride in Jay's new RV so I suggested "Why not take her on a trip in the RV?"
"Where would I take her?" he asked.
"Somewhere fun for kids, obviously. Someplace like say, Hershey, PA that's geared toward kids."
He thought about this a moment and said "Only if you go with us."
"This is YOUR trip with Ashley. Why on earth would you need me along?"
"Because I don't know what to do with an 8 year old girl! You do!"
Cool Hand Luke. Sometimes.
I swear...put a scalpel in that man's hand and a child's defective beating heart in front of him and he's Cool Hand Luke.
Saddle him with a giggly 8 year old girl or two and he turns into something resembling a half set, quivering Jello mold. *Eye roll*
That trip would become an annual birthday affair with Ashley over the years, something that delighted the two of us to no end as we both love kids and loved spending time with Ashley and her friends we'd often invite along on our trips.
Our trip to Hershey was some time ago so I'm updating that itinerary to contain the latest discounts and deals as of March 1, 2026.
In Hershey, PA, you have several transportation options:
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Free Shuttle Service: Hersheypark offers a FREE shuttle service that runs from one hour before park opening to one hour after closing.
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Several area hotels offer complimentary shuttle service to Hersheypark® during the summer. When making your reservation, ask about these services, including rides to/from Amtrak and Harrisburg International Airport.
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Public Transportation: The Capital Area Transit (CAT) provides bus services to and from Hershey to downtown Harrisburg.
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Commuter Services: Commuter Services of South-Central Pennsylvania offers free services for commuters and employers in surrounding counties.
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Find My Ride: This program helps individuals find transportation assistance programs across Pennsylvania, including options for seniors and people with disabilities.
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If you’re looking to get behind the wheel, our region has several national car rental companies including Enterprise, Alamo, Hertz, Avis, and Budget with hubs around the region and at Harrisburg International Airport and the Harrisburg Amtrak station.
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Parking: Parking is free in Downtown Hershey and at most attractions.
There are any variety of accommodations in and around Hershey, in any price range and to suit any budget.
However, for this trip my recommendation for accommodations suitable to kids and adults alike, as well as a convenient location, my recommendation would be the Hershey Lodge, 325 University Drive, Hershey, PA
Get the best price on Hersheypark tickets, FREE front gate shuttle service, FREE extra hours, and so much more when you book a stay at Hershey Lodge.
VIP benefits come standard with your stay, so your family can play longer at Hersheypark, explore more of Hershey The Sweetest Place On Earth®, and save big on the whole adventure.
Benefits:
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FREE front gate shuttle service to an exclusive resort drop-off location - just steps away from the front gate of Hersheypark - on all Park operating days.
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Best price on Hersheypark tickets
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Up to 3 extra evening hours with Preview Plan
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1-hour early access with Sweet Start during Summer Season
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FREE admission to Hershey® Gardens*
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FREE admission to The Hershey Story Museum Experience*
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FREE chocolate at check-in for the whole family
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Access to 2 award-winning golf courses
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Preferred pricing to ZooAmerica® North American Wildlife Park
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Outdoor & Indoor Pool Access**
Be sure to check out the accommodation packages offered!
Hersheypark also has its own campground, Hersheypark Camping Resort. Enjoy immaculate RV, cabin, and tent camping in a beautiful campground featuring activities for couples or the whole family.
The free shuttle also services the campground. Camping packages and specials here.
If you want to stay outside of the Hersheypark accommodations:
For you campers out there, here is a list of the 10 best campgrounds in and around Hershey.
Here are some budget to mid range accommodations for your consideration:
Bluegreen Vacations Suites at Hershey
Hampton Inn Harrisburg/Grantville/Hershey
And for you fellow RV'ers, we found a fantastic RV park that we just loved.
We highly recommend Thousand Trails RV Park, 493 S Mt Pleasant Rd, Lebanon, PA.
The park sits on 200 acres in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, We could wallpaper our wall with the list of the amenities it includes.
Take a virtual tour of the RV park here (Scroll down the page a bit)
A fellow RV'ers review of the park:
The RV park was perfect for us and Ashley got to stay in the RV like she'd wanted to.
You'll need to purchase tickets to the attractions you want to see in advance of your trip, especially those of Hersheypark and its related attractions.
Purchasing tickets to the park is similar to buying admission tickets to Disney. There are base packages plus add on's. For example, there are 1 or 2 day park passes available in addition to season passes. Parking is a $25 add on. Similar to Disney's old Fast Pass, Hersheypark has Fast Track options ranging in price from $30 to $170 that allow you to skip to the head of any ride line once per day per ride or a more expensive option that allows you unlimited opportunities to skip to the head of the ride line unlimited times per park visit.
And like Disney, there are add on drink and food packages at an additional cost.
We only planned on spending 2 days in Hersheypark so purchased the 2 day admission ticket with the parking and unlimited Fast Pass.
There's a very handy Hershey's Resorts App you can download here that includes a resort interactive map, activities and restaurants.
Money $aving Tips:
Hershey park Coupon & Promo Codes for March 2026
Max Offer: Hershey park Coupon & Promo Codes for March 2026
Best Price of Summer Tickets
Hersheypark’s Best Price of Summer promotion allows guests to save more than 45% on 1-Day Any Day Tickets when purchased online by March 31, 2026. Tickets are valid for any 2026 public operating day through January 3, 2027, and include a complimentary Preview Plan granting extra evening access the night before your visit.
Season Pass Discounts
The 2026 Hersheypark Season Passes are available at the Best Price of the Year, offering unlimited visits throughout the year, including Spring Weekends, summer, Halloween, Dark Nights, and Christmas Candylane. Pass types include Giant Size, King Size, Full Size, Bite Size, and a free Pre-K Pass for children in families with Full, King, or Giant Size passes. Benefits include free or discounted parking, early summer access, exclusive events, and discounts on food, drinks, and games. An 8-month payment plan is also available.
Military Discounts
Active and retired members of the Armed Forces can receive 20% off regular 1-day tickets by presenting a military ID at Ticketing Services. Military discounts also extend to 50% off apparel and souvenirs.
Morning: Arrive in Hershey and get settled into your accommodations.
Our first stop is Hershey's Chocolate World, 101 Chocolate World Way, Hershey, PA.
Photo credit: Visit Hershey Harrisburg
We kicked our chocolate adventure off with the Hershey Trolley Works - Take a ride through the town of Hershey on one of their trolley tours for a live show packed with fun facts, laughter, history and chocolate samples! Watch as the inspiring story of Milton Hershey and his HERSHEY'S Chocolate unfolds, between the historic landmarks just outside your window and the charismatic conductors sharing incredible-but-true stories!
Parents, they also offer a FREE tour ride where you and the kids can watch the candy making process from liquid form into solid candy! They'll even take your photo on the ride for you to take home as a souvenir.
FREE tour ride shown below.
Ashley's favorite activity at Chocolate World was Create Your Own Candy Bar. Dream up your perfect candy bar and watch it come to life, from flowing chocolate to solid bar. Choose your ingredients and design a personalized wrapper on a touchscreen they have. (I had to smile when Ashley decided to make her candy bar as a thank you to her Uncle Jay, naming the candy bar "Sweet Uncle Jay Chocolate Bar". I swear I saw "Uncle Jay" getting a little choked up when she handed him the candy bar. (I don't think he'll ever eat it because it went straight in the freezer...for posterity I imagine.)
Incidentally, we had breakfast at the Chocolate World Food Hall...so that you know this is an option. We each had the ALMOND JOY Breakfast Bowl - Vanilla yogurt with layers of granola, sliced almonds, flax seed, shredded coconut, and HERSHEY'S Mini Chocolate Chips.
I lost it when Ashley came out with "Boy, for being OLD you guys are fun! My parents would NEVER let me eat THIS for breakfast!" (Gee, thanks kid. Apparently there's an age limit restriction on being fun that we weren't aware of.)
The Food Hall serves other fare like pizza, salads, sandwiches, hot entrees, soups, kid's meals and adult beverages as well.
Another activity Ashley loved was Reese's Stuff Your Cup - and what kid wouldn't?! You start by choosing the perfect mix-ins, like crunchy pretzels, mini marshmallows, cookie bits and even REESE'S PIECES Candies. Their tasteologists will fold your ingredients into fresh REESE'S Peanut Butter and scoop everything into a huge chocolate shell for you. That puppy will give your kids a sugar high that will last into the next century!
Tip for parents: Jay had the presence of mind to put the cooler with an ice pack in the car to put these peanut butter cups in so they didn't melt into a mess sitting in the car in the hot summer temps while we continued on with the day's activities.
We pretty much spent the morning at Chocolate World by the time we got through with all of the different activities and I have to admit Jay and I had as much fun as Ashley did.
Money $aving Tips:
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Chocolate World offers admission ticket bundles that include several of its attractions in one bundled package. We took advantage of a special they were running at the time, where you could bundle all attractions together into one admission package that covered everything for $44.95 per person. Had we bought all of these activities separately, it would have cost $105. We saved $60 each by bundling our admission tickets.
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Tripster: Save up to 15% instantly with no hidden fees when booking through Tripster. We bundled our tickets, then got the 15% savings on top of that.
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Promo Codes: Check for verified discounts and promo codes on websites like CouponAnnie for additionalsavings
Afternoon: The restaurant we had lunch at (Simply Greek) closed and has reopened as Hershey Social Restaurant 1190 W Chocolate Ave, Hershey, PA.
Photo credit: Bethel Advocate
Hershey Social was redesigned to reflect the community’s energy and culinary creativity. The company said the new concept will feature a relaxed, casual dining atmosphere with an expanded bar, ideal for both locals and visitors exploring downtown Hershey.
Visit the Hershey Story Museum, 63 West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, PA.
The Hershey Story museum experience takes visitors on a journey through his life, his chocolate company, his generous philanthropic legacy and the town of Hershey, PA. Engaging museum exhibits explore Mr. Hershey’s early failures, how he successfully revolutionized the process of making milk chocolate, and how the orphan boys of the Hershey Industrial School became heirs to his fortune.
This family attraction is also an interactive experience perfect for kids. The Scavenger Hunt is a great way to present the Hershey Story to younger visitors, allowing them to experience the museum exhibits. The museum also develops special exhibits and hands-on museum displays with kids and families in mind!
Hours of operation vary by month. Admission and Pricing info here.
Money $aving Tips:
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Groupon: Admission + Full Flight of Warm Chocolate Tastings for 1 Adult or Senior $29.50 marked down to $22 - save 25% $18.49 with code SAVE
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Military Discounts: Non-active military, veteran, and first responders can receive $3 off admission with valid ID.
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We Love Teachers: Teachers can receive $3 off admission with valid school ID
By this time Ashley's pre-trip excitement was catching up with her so we returned to the RV park so all of us could rest up before dinner. Plan some R&R time on Day 1 to rest up from traveling to Hershey. You're on vacation after all!
Evening: Ashley likes Red Robin and that night was Kids Eat Half Price plus Ashley would get a free ice cream sundae for her birthday. 621 Park Ave Hershey.
We'd signed up for the Red Robin Rewards program some years prior so took advantage of the rewards and points we'd accumulated.
For every $1 you spent you'd get 1 point. 100 points = $10 off your meal. We knocked $20 off our meals plus
upgraded Ashley's birthday sundae reward to a FREE Birthday Burger.
Got an early start for Hershey Park, 100 Hersheypark Dr, Hershey, PA, as Jay had made reservations for Ashley to have a Character Breakfast at the park's Chocolatier Restaurant.
My honest review of the Hershey Character Breakfast: First of all, I didn't know Hershey even had characters.
I think the Character Breakfast is an overpriced buffet that basically amounts to a photo op with the Hershey Characters. Save your money! The Hershey characters show up in the park at various times throughout the day so you can snap a FREE pic of the kids with them rather than pay for a Character Breakfast to do that.
Hershey Park is rather like Disney World when it comes to tickets - only FAR less complicated. You have your base admission ticket and then there's a gazillion options you can add on to the base ticket, all for an extra price of course. They do offer an "any day" ticket for 1 day, 2 days, etc.
At the time Jay booked, we took advantage of a special offer that was an all inclusive package that included admittance to everything as well as parking, for $47.95 per person. This was a $106 savings over the regular admittance options. I believe the only add-ons that Jay added were Ashley's character breakfast and Ultimate Fast Track. So be sure to check the Hershey Park website for any specials they might be offering before you purchase tickets!
(Their website looks like it might be gearing up to offer a similar all inclusive deal for Christmas)
Like Disney's old Fast Pass, Hershey Park has two Fast Track add on's. The first less expensive option allows you a limited option in skipping the lines to rides, etc.
The Ultimate Fast Track allows you to skip the lines as many times as you want during the day. If you have wiggle room in your budget for Fast Track, go for it.
We spent most of our time on the rides as Ashley and I discovered we both love roller coasters and other thrill rides so we were INTO IT!
Luckily as things turned out Jay had bought the 2 day any day adventure bundle, taking a day off between the 2 park visits in our itinerary.
Budget friendly alternative: Hershey Park is and isn't like visiting say, Walt Disney World,,,that every kid knows about. I found a more budget friendly option that offers most everything Hershey Park offers - Dutch Wonderland. It's located at 2249 Lincoln Highway East in Lancaster PA.
Photo credit: Dutch Wonderland
Dutch Wonderland has comparable rides, etc. to that of Hershey Park but Dutch Wonderland is geared to very young children more so than Hershey Park is - at least in my estimation.
For a 1 day any day admission ticket to Hershey Park you'd currently pay $70 and that's just base admission, everything else is an add on. By comparison, a 1 day any day admission ticket to Dutch Wonderland currently costs $45. That's a $30 savings for every member of your family 3 years of age or older. And like Hershey Park, you get the same Preview option you can use 1 day prior to your park visit - enjoy the last 1.5 hours of the Park the night before your visit for a full day – FREE.
And here's a plus...Undercover Tourist (who I bought my discounted Disney tickets through) offers tickets to Dutch Wonderland through them!
Granted, Dutch Wonderland isn't nearly as expansive as Hershey Park is but it's an option to Hershey Park if you're on a tight budget, especially if you have younger kids to which an amusement park is just an amusement park, no matter what it's named.
On with our Day 2 itinerary...
Evening: Head for dinner at The Mill, 810 Old West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, PA.
Since the Mill's opening in 2014, their scratch kitchen’s commitment to serving the best meal possible has made The Mill one of the top restaurants in Hershey. They strive to use locally-sourced, high-quality ingredients from local farms, artisanal food producers, and fisherman in all of their dishes.
The atmosphere can't be beat in that The Mill is housed in the old but restored Curry Mill and it offers a unique collection of dining spaces, all of which look different from one another. The Mill is impeccably and simply decorated, boasting large wood beams and stone walls to create unique atmospheres on each level. Or as Ashley put it, "This place is the BOMB!"
Their food and service is the BOMB too. So much so that we ended up eating here twice. Everything was scrumptious - Mediterranean charcuterie board appetizer, sliced beef brisket, fried catfish, Maryland crab cakes, seared salmon Mill Burger with fries. Snickerdoodle Creme Brule for dessert. (Big thrill for Ashley - having a mocktail like a grown up. Sometimes it's so easy to keep kids happy. LOL)
HOURS OF OPERATION
Wednesday: 4-9pm | Thursday: 4-9pm | Friday: 4-10pm
Saturday: 11-3pm, 4-10pm | Sunday: 11am-2pm, 3pm-9pm
HAPPY HOUR: Wed-Fri: 4-6pm | Saturday: 4-5pm | Sunday: 3-5pm
After dinner return to your accommodations and relax.
In my original post, I included the details of our visit to my Amish friends, Jacob, Rebecca and their family. They asked that I remove any personal details about them I included in my original post. Out of respect for their wishes I have done that but will still give you the itinerary to visit Amish country.
If you've never been to Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Dutch country, I'll show you a map so you can get your bearings since we'll be traveling between three cities. You will need a car for this trip.
If you've never been to Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Dutch country, I'll show you a map so you can get your bearings since we'll be traveling between three cities. You will need a car for this trip.
Before we get into today's visit to the Amish community, I need to explain some things about the Amish.
The do's and don'ts of interacting with the Amish. If you take the tour I'm going to recommend, your tour guide will likely tell you what you should and shouldn't do but in case...
You may meet some Amish craftsmen and shopkeepers during the tour but for the most part you will be keeping a respectful distance from them. They will be friendly to you if and when they do interact with you but it will likely be a guarded interaction. Don't take it personally, it's just how they are because of their extremely tight knit sense of Amish community. Be respectful.
Most importantly, DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS OR SELFIES OF THEM WITHOUT THEIR EXPRESS PERMISSION! This is against their religion and belief system! Opinions among them may vary on that subject...some Amish don't have a problem with it, others only tolerate it if the photo is taken from a distance and they are unaware they are being photographed, and still others are vehemently opposed to having any photo of them taken, feeling it violates their Ordinances.
As for Ashley's take on visiting my Amish friends: "Oh COOL! We learned about them in school last year!"
Jacob and Rebecca have a daughter, Sarah that is Ashley's same age and I explained to Ashley she would probably be spending our visit with Sarah. I clued her in to how she should behave, what she should and shouldn't do and that if Sarah had chores to do, she should offer to help Sarah with her chores.
For your part, take a tour around the Amish Village. I recommend the guided tour Amish Farmhouse and Village Tour. Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, The Amish Village offers an authentic look at today’s Amish lifestyle. Located on 12 scenic acres of land, The Amish Village lets visitors enjoy a genuine Amish property and experience Amish culture up close. An additional plus to a guided tour is that they can get you at least limited interaction with some Amish that you most likely wouldn't get touring Amish country on your own.
There are actually 3 different tours you can take. I found that by purchasing the Premium Package of all 3 tours on my first visit to Lancaster it was a much better value ($35 for adults, $25 for kids ages 5-12 and $20 for kids 0-4 years old) as the other tours cost nearly that much anyway. Also it gives you an extremely comprehensive look at how the Amish live.
The tour takes 3.5 hours and you'll see everything:
Premium Package Tour includes:
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25-minute Amish Farmhouse Tour
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90-minute Narrated Bus Tour
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Self-Guided Tour of the Grounds, Schoolhouse, and Outbuildings
You'll also see the Windmill & Water Wheel, Amish Barn and Farm Animals, One-room Schoolhouse, Smokehouse Market, Blacksmith Shop, and the Amish Village Store.
If you want to pack a picnic lunch there are also picnic grounds you can eat at.
But if you want an authentic, homemade from scratch Amish meal using their own farm ingredients, head to Bird-in-Hand Restaurant & Smorgasbord, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, PA. (Get Directions »)
If you’re dining with the whole family, your children 12 and under will love their unique Noah’s Ark Kids’ Buffet. Built by a local Amish craftsman, it features a kid-friendly selection of favorite foods for younger taste buds and, of course, delicious desserts.
The Noah's Art Kid's Buffet, built by an Amish carpenter
Smorgasbord Dining
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Breakfast Smorgasbord: 7–10:30 am
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Lunch Smorgasbord: 11 am–3:30 pm
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Dinner Smorgasbord: 4–7 pm
Menu Dining
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Lunch & Dinner: 11 am–7 pm
Money $aving Tip: Discount packages & special pricing:
From April through December, take advantage of meal packages with discounted tickets for shows at their on-site Bird-in-Hand Stage. For reservations call (800) 790-4069.
Another tip: While touring the Amish Village store, do yourself a favor and pick up some of their homemade jams and jellies. What a difference from store bought!
The Amish Village Store
Afternoon: We stopped at Red Lobster in Elizabethtown for lunch since I had a 50% off our meal coupon + a $25 gift card I needed to use and we all liked Red Lobster.
We ordered the Ultimate Family Feast (above): Tender Maine lobster tails, snow crab legs, garlic shrimp scampi and Walt's Favorite Shrimp. Served with lemon, melted butter, cocktail sauce, two family-style sides and 8 Cheddar Bay Biscuits®. Serves 4.
Regular price was $147 but with our 50% off: $73.50. Minus another $25 gift card = $48.50
You can't buy a single lobster tail for that these days!
The Amish say a blessing before meals and Sarah taught us hers. It's really very beautiful.
Jacob and Sarah did say I could leave the AI likeness I'd done of Sarah and Ashley since it wasn't an actual photo of her...so that's an AI construction of the girls at right.
After dinner we returned to the RV park and the girls wanted to swim in the pool.
We got a real education in traveling with an Amish child, something the Amish don't normally allow.
For example, the Amish don't "swim" per se, they wade. I could understand why when I saw Amish swimming attire!
Made in AI of the 2 girls since I can't photograph Sarah
The 2025 Amish swimsuit/ Photo credit: enjoy-your-style.com
Our hearts went out to Sarah when the girls got to the pool. I imagine that poor child felt like an animal on display in a zoo the way everyone (adults not kids!) stopped to stare at her and whisper among themselves.
Sarah's discomfort was obvious. Ashley to the rescue.
Ashley turned toward the lot of them and indignantly shot at them "What are you all STARING at?!! Haven't you ever seen an Amish girl before?!!"
Then she said to Sarah "C'mon let's swim! Just ignore them!" and the two of them proceeded to wade together as if they were the only two in the pool. Well done, girls! Well done!
If you want to learn more about the Amish, there is the option of having a meal with the Amish, made by the Amish.
Enjoy a more personal experience than you'd otherwise have—with this small-group lunch outing. Following pickup from central Lancaster, travel with your guide to the home of a local Amish family for a sit-down, home-cooked meal. Along the way, learn more about Amish customs and practices—then, on arrival, observe the family's way of life and share a meal and conversation together.
Believe me when I tell you there's no such thing as a bad Amish cook.
Those ladies know how to rock a kitchen in every way possible and they make everything from scratch! Most of it grown and/or raised in their own community. Book this tour here.
Evening: Have dinner at What If, 845 E Chocolate Ave, Hershey, PA.
Elevated casual dining experience, right past the buzz of downtown Hershey. They offer Mediterranean and Innovative American foods. Parking is no issue.
The do have a children's menu and their large adult menu offers plenty of variety.
They also have a superb Happy Hour.
HOURS
Monday through Saturday: 4 pm to 10 pm
Sunday: Closed
Reservations recommended.
All day: Have breakfast then spend your second day at Hershey Park.
Photo credit: Hershey Park
Visit ZooAmerica while you're at the park. ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park brings the roaring excitement of North American animals up close to your backyard of Hershey. There’s a wide variety of animals you see at the zoo, from cold-blooded reptiles to hot desert critters, grasslands herbivores to mighty carnivores, and lively birds to nocturnal animals.
ZooAmerica is free on a same-day visit to Hersheypark when entered from within Hersheypark.
We didn't stop at any one restaurant to eat lunch while in Hershey Park. We grazed our way through the Park.
I know you're sitting there thinking "I don't need an eating guide to Hersheypark. I will eat all the chocolate my heart desires and will subsequently die happy."
But here's a guide so you don't go into a diabetic coma eating at Hershey Park.
The Ultimate Eating Guide To Hersheypark
Tips and Tricks to Save Money on Dining In Hershey Park:
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Plan Ahead: Check the Hersheypark website for any dining deals or meal plans available before your visit. They often offer dining packages that can save you money.
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Season Pass Benefits: If you're a season pass holder, take advantage of the dining discounts and exclusive offers available to you.
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Share Meals: Portions at many Hersheypark eateries are generous, making it possible to share meals and save money.
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Eat Outside Peak Hours: Dining during off-peak times can mean shorter lines and fresher food, and sometimes even lower prices.
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Look for Combo Deals: Many food stands offer combo meals that include an entrée, side, and drink for a reduced price.
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Use a Refillable Cup: Purchase a refillable cup for soft drinks. You can refill it throughout the day at a reduced price, which is cheaper than buying individual drinks.
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Eat breakfast before you arrive at the park. Using these trip ideas you can save a bit here and there and still have SO much fun while you are enjoying the outdoor activities Hersheypark has to offer.
Hershey Park Dining Plan Options and Overview
Hershey Park offers several dining plan options to help visitors save money and enjoy a variety of meals and snacks throughout the park. Here’s an overview of the available dining plans, their costs, and what they include:
Single Meal Deal
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Cost: $16.99
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Includes: One entrée, one side, and one large fountain beverage.
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Usage: This deal can be used at participating locations throughout the park.
All-Day Dining Deal
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Cost: $34.99
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Includes: One entrée and one side at participating locations, available every 90 minutes.
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Usage: You can redeem your meal every 90 minutes throughout the day. Drinks are not included but can be purchased separately. This is the option that worked best for a family of 4. Purchase two all day dining deals online and then rotate redeeming for a meal/snack every 45 minutes. Time it so you maximize the dining plan and share each snack/meal.
All-Day Drink Deal
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Cost: $18.50 (Refillable Souvenir Cup)
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Includes: Free refills on the day of purchase and $1.00 refills on future visits.
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Usage: The refillable cup can be used for fountain beverages and ICEE refills at participating locations.
Season Pass Holder Drink Plan
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Cost: $32.99
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Includes: Free refills for the entire season with a special cup.
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Usage: Season pass holders can enjoy unlimited refills throughout the season at participating locations.
Hershey Park’s dining plans offer great value and convenience, allowing you to enjoy a variety of meals and snacks without worrying about individual costs. Whether you're spending a single day or multiple visits at the park, there's a dining plan that can help you save money and make the most of your culinary experience.
The Top 10 Hershey Park Restaurants:
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The Chocolatier Restaurant
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Chickie's & Pete's
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Simply Chocolate
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Milton's Ice Cream Parlor
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Overlook Food Court
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Founder’s Way Funnel Cake Stand
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Chick-fil-A
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Dispatch Pizzeria Express
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Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs
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East Coast Burger Works
Evening: Have dinner outside of the Park at Fire & Grain, 325 University Dr, Hershey, PA 17033 (Located within The Hershey Lodge).
Photo credit: Fire & Grain Restaurant
Fire & Grain brings a modern twist to classic comfort food, creating a warm and inviting dining experience. Located at The Hershey Lodge, this restaurant is perfect for families, offering a varied menu that caters to all tastes. With its contemporary decor and friendly service, it’s a great spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Hours
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Breakfast: Thursday - Sunday, 7 - 11 AM
A la carte menu offered daily
Breakfast buffet, subject to availability -
Happy Hour: Daily, 4 - 6 PM
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Dinner:
Sunday-Thursday, 4 - 9 PM
Friday & Saturday, 4 - 10 PM
After dinner get cozy at your accommodations and relax.
Morning: Have breakfast at Au Bon Lieu French Creperie,
110 W Chocolate Ave, Hershey.
Crepes made to perfection! Everything is made fresh, including the coffee, so be prepared to wait a little but completely worth it! And you can watch your crepes being made while you wait.
They make both savory and sweet crepes. Excellent selection of breakfast, dinner, and dessert crepes.
We tried both savory and sweet and they were both out of this world!
The owner is French and super nice, very friendly.
If there's any drawback to the Creperie at all it's that the dining room is very small.
After breakfast, we headed to Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Road, Hershey.
Welcome Pavillion / Photo credit: Hershey Gardens
Ash loves butterflies and Hershey Gardens has a fantastic recently built tropical butterfly house.
These gardens are just outstanding overall with 11 different themed gardens, including a Children's Garden that the girls also loved.
The Childrens Garden
When you arrive, stop at the Welcome Pavillion.
The Welcome Pavilion serves as the main entrance to Hershey Gardens. Upon entering, guests will be greeted by several magnificent palm trees and dozens of colorful stained glass butterflies that soar below a glass ceiling.
Admission tickets for Hershey Gardens can be purchased inside the Welcome Pavilion. Admission includes entrance to the conservatory, the Butterfly Atrium and the rest of the 23 acres, including the historic rose garden and The Children’s Garden.
ADMISSION:
Regular (ages 13-61): $17.50
Senior (ages 62+): $16.50
Junior (ages 3-12): $13.50
Children ages 2 and under – FREE
Hershey Gardens Members – FREE
Active duty military personnel are free. Non-active military, veterans, first responders and their guests receive $3 off admission with valid ID, and 15% off in the Garden Shop.
Teachers can receive $3 off admission with valid school ID.
Take a virtual tour here. Photo gallery here.
Afternoon: Have lunch at kid friendly Chocolate Avenue Grill, 114 W Chocolate Ave, Hershey,
Photo credit: Facebook
This casual restaurant boasts a extensive varied menu with traditional favorites like hamburgers, fish and chips, and chicken parmigiana. They also have a kid’s menu and outdoor dining that we took advantage of.
The girls had the Italian beef sandwiches with parmesan fries that they said were really good.
Jay and I both ordered the Chicken Marsala which was superb.
HOURS
Mon-Thur 11am-9pm
Fri & Sat 11am-10pm
Sunday 11am-8pm
From lunch head to Hershey Adventure Sports, 3010 Elizabethtown Road, Hershey. Just 4 miles south of Hershey.
Photo credit: Hershey Adventure Sports
I'll warn you up front...Hershey Adventure Sports is an attraction you can drop a bundle of cash on if you don't keep yourself in check. Which is just what Jay would've done if I hadn't reined him in. Example: One driver on the bumper boats, $11 for a 5 MINUTE RIDE! That's $44 for 4 of us in 4 boats for 5 lousy minutes!
And every activity is priced individually, there's no bundled activity admission packages.
So what you want to do is choose 2 or 3 activities (within your budget) to engage in while at Hershey Adventure Sports and use it as kind of a filler activity where you have limited time to spend before moving on to the next activity on your itinerary.
(Between you and I, I think that big kid at right there
booked this more for himself than Ashley, having
visions of go karts. a batting cage and a driving range
dancing in his head.)
At least until I pointed out to him that an 8 year old girl is NOT likely to have the slightest interest in hitting a bucket full of golf balls on a driving range or hitting baseballs in a batting cage.
So we picked 2 things that both he and Ashley would enjoy doing together and we settled on the bumper boats (multiple sessions amounting to 30 minutes total) and a game of miniature golf.
We purchased Sarah's tickets at the gate when we arrived. They loved both activities and time-wise they were the perfect filler until dinner and the activity we had planned for that evening.
Money $aving Tip: We took advantage of a Buy 1 Get 1 Free Mini Golf Admission so the girls golfed for FREE. This allowed us to spend more on the bumper boats.
Evening: Dinner at Devon Seafood & Steak, 27 W. Chocolate Ave,, Hershey.
Devon Seafood + Steak is renowned for its fresh, high-quality seafood and perfectly cooked steaks. The sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere makes it suitable for both family dinners and romantic nights out. With a dedicated kid-friendly menu, it ensures an enjoyable dining experience for all ages.
Jay must have mentioned when making reservations that we were in PA celebrating Ashley's birthday because this is what we found waiting for us at the table when we were seated. In place of the martini was a mocktail. After dinner they brought out a birthday cupcake for Ashley.
The food was exceptional as was the service. Two thumbs up on Devon Seafood & Steak! $$$$
So I promised you some more affordable dinner options and here they are:
Freshido (Japanese/Asian) $$-$$$
Rotunda Brew Pub $$-$$$
Time for the grande finale of the evening - a trip to Hershey Theater to see a live production of Hamilton.
The Hershey Theater
Located in downtown Hershey, Pennsylvania, the magnificent Hershey Theatre is the area's premier performing arts center, presenting the finest in touring Broadway shows, intimate concerts, classical music and dance attractions, comedy shows, and world-renowned entertainers.
I do need to mention here that Hershey Theater is currently closed while undergoing renovation. Plans are to reopen in early 2026.
I had to laugh at Sarah's open mouth expression upon seeing the theater. She literally gasped and said "This is like a PRINCESS HOUSE!" as she took it all in.
The performance of Hamilton at the Hershey Theater
The girls loved Hamilton and learned a bit more about history in the process. Which was pretty much the point in choosing to take them to Hamilton. If kids can learn while being entertained, it's a win-win.
Ticket prices vary by shows offered throughout the year. Because the theater is currently closed for renovation, there are no ticket prices posted since there are no productions taking place during the renovation.
We all hit the sack early as Jacob had asked us to have Sarah back very early the next morning. It never dawned on us to ask him why we had to have her back by at least sunup.
It's rare that the Amish do barn raisings anymore...but a neighbor's barn had burned down so a barn raising was starting before sunup and we were invited to participate.
If there's one thing to admire about the Amish community, it's how they all work together to help each other out without any expectation of financial payment - or any other kind of payment.
Just the opposite, they all donate to whatever community event is taking place.
This video will show you what an Amish barn raising involves.
The men and older boys of the Amish community (and even non-Amish community members will pitch in) build and raise the barn. The women and girls prepare the food that will be served during the barn raising.
Jacob and Jay took off for the barn raising site while Ashley and I helped the women prepare the food.
The young children in the community can watch the barn raising from a distance but aren't allowed too close to the barn being raised due to how dangerous this work is. Rebecca told me especially the young boys were allowed to watch the process because this is how they learned to do it themselves as young men.
I'm not sure how this works given there were hordes of men moving everywhere at the barn raising site so I don't know how the young boys could see much of anything but a mass of moving bodies.
What amazed both Jay and I was how easily these Amish men walked wood beams far off the ground without any kind of safety device whatsoever to prevent them from falling. You can see this in the video above even when it comes to the roof beams.
I was pretty surprised to see they had the barn up and ready for use by that same afternoon.
After the barn is completed they do hold a religious ceremony inside the new barn as was shown in the video, when the meal is served although I can't tell you if this is their way of "blessing" the new barn so to speak?
Soon enough it was time for us to head back to Hershey and to say goodbye to the Amish community - with a much greater appreciation of the sense of community among the Amish and having been allowed to be part of it during the barn raising.
FOR YOUR DAY 6 ITINERARY
Morning: Have breakfast at the Hershey Pantry, 801 E Chocolate Ave, Hershey, PA.
Photo credit: Hershey Pantry
Known for its delectable breakfast and homemade baked goods, Hershey Pantry is a beloved local spot. Start your day with their famous pancakes or a freshly baked pastry. The cozy, welcoming environment makes it a perfect place for families and friends to gather.
Be sure to check out their Weekly Specials.
Breakfast served all day
Lunch served all day
Afternoon Tea 12:00pm-3:00pm
Monday-Friday:
8:00am-3:00pm
Saturday & Sunday:
7:00am-3:00pm
Get ready for a unique thrill at The Falconry Experience. Where to report: Park in the ZooAmerica parking lot at 201 Park Ave., Hershey, PA 17033 and proceed to the ZooAmerica Entrance. Their admissions staff will direct you to the falconry field on the ZooAmerica grounds.
The Falconry Experience offers a unique opportunity for guests of all ages to participate in an interactive demonstration featuring hawks, falcons, and a golden eagle. This falconry experience includes free-flight demonstrations, a simulated hunt demonstration, and even an opportunity for these majestic birds of prey to land on your gloved hand! The program is run by Master Falconer Jack Hubley.
These types of experiences are rare given all of the government rules and regulations they must abide by so when you encounter one, it's a good idea to take advantage of the opportunity.
Don’t worry you do not have to be a guest of any of the Hershey hotels (The Hersey Lodge or The Hotel Hershey, but there is special resort guest pricing, if you are staying on site be sure to look into that) to experience this program, it is open to anyone that would like to participate. The cost is $65.00 per adult, and for kids 15 & under the cost is $25.00. Not bad at all, it is pretty affordable for such a bucket list type of experience.
For the Private Falconry Experience or the Hawk Walk, contact Jack Hubley to make an appointment: 717-575-0948; eaglehunter0122@gmail.com.
Money $aving Tip:
Afternoon: Have lunch at Soda Jerk Diner. 403 E Main St, Hummelstown, PA.
Soda Jerk Diner in Hummelstown serves classic 1950s diner favorites. Enjoy burgers, shakes & family fun. Less than 3 miles and 10 minutes from Hershey Park.
Serves Traditional American, Greek and Italian food.
(Since our 1950's themed trip, Ashley has fallen in love with 50's-style diners and Soda Jerk was no exception!)
Food was above average diner and came out fast. Friendly staff.
And for you adults that get tired of kids fare (burgers, pizza, etc.) Soda Jerk has sandwiches and salads adults will like. Try their BLT Club!
After lunch we drove 40 minutes to Ronk, PA to check out Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, 150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, PA.
We specifically wanted to check out this farm as it advertises itself to be Amish owned and run. To set the record straight, it is NOT Amish owned and run!
The farm is operated by the Coleman family, who moved from New Jersey to Lancaster County in 1987. While they are involved in farming and have a connection to the Amish community, they are not part of the Amish
tradition and/or community.
This farm won't be for everyone and I'll state that right off the bat.
We only stayed long enough to scope the place out and I will give you my honest review of this farm:
Absolutely mobbed on the day we visited. A lot of do-it-yourself attractions like tug-a-war. If you are looking for an authentic Amish experience, this isn’t it. It's far too commercialized to be genuinely Amish, in my opinion.
At peak season (July 2 to September 6), admission to this farm is as follows:
$24.95 Online *plus processing fees This is the price for anyone 3 years old and up. Under 2 is free.
$30.95 at Gate
Pay as you go items:
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Apple Blasters: $6.00 for 7 shots
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Paintball: $6.00 for 75 shots
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Battle Zone: $6.00 for 6 minute session
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Gem Mining: $8.99 Paydirt Bag
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Souvenir Mug: $13.99
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Kettle Corn: $7.99
That admission price gives you access to 70+ farm fun activities. Nothing here is high tech, it's all Amish-type basics. Here's a list of all of the attractions.
What I suggest is that you visit the Strausburg Railroad instead, just down the road from the Cherry Crest Farm at 301 Gap Road, Ronks, PA.
Strausburg Railroad offers a variety of experiences in which you can ride this steam train.
We decided to treat Ashley (and ourselves) to a 3 course dinner on the Lee E. Brenner Dining Car. (Below)
America’s oldest operating all-wood dining railcar — recreates the traditional dining experience you would have experienced aboard an early 20th-century railroad.
However, children under 21 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
The price was $139 per person.
The Inclusions
-
Sophisticated dining experience aboard the historic Lee E. Brenner Dining Car
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A 45-minute steam train ride through the picturesque Amish Country
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A special menu prepared by Café 1832 (see the menu offering below) and served by a First Class attendant
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One (1) complimentary beer or wine is included with each ticket. Additional alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic drinks may be purchased during the train ride.
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Train fare, PA State Sales tax, and gratuity
The menu offerings were as follows:
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Shareable Charcuterie Board (one per party) – assorted cheeses, cured meats, fruit, and crackers.
Salads— (Choice of):
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House Side Salad
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Caesar Side Salad
Entrées— (Choice of):
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Chicken Marsala — Chicken breast topped with sweet marsala wine and mushroom sauce, accompanied by the chef’s selection of starch and a seasonal vegetable.
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Petite Filet — Two (2) petite filets of beef with mushroom demi sauce, accompanied by the chef’s selection of starch and a seasonal vegetable.
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Lobster Ravioli — Stuffed ravioli shells served with lobster, crab, tomatoes, and shallots in a cream sauce.
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Vegetarian Bolognese — A vegetable medley in a savory sauce served over pasta.
Sweets— (Choice of):
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Chocolate Lava Cake
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Cheesecake
Drinks
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One (1) beer, wine, or soda is included with each ticket. Additional alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic drinks may be purchased during the train ride.
Important note: The website advertises the Elegant Express dinner option is limited to those 21 years of age or older. However, we phoned the Strausburg Railroad, explained we had an 8 year old with us but that she'd be accompanied by 2 adults and that she was well behaved and very mature for her age. They allowed her to go on the experience with us. So phone ahead to Strausburg Railroad if you have kids you want to bring with you on this experience! General Information: 1-866-725-9666
For those of you with very young children, Strausburg Railroad offers rides geared specifically toward children - like the Day Out With Thomas! scheduled for June 12th-14th and June 19th - 21st, 2026 shown at left.
They also offer special seasonal rides geared at kids like their rides with the Easter Bunny in spring and prices on those rides currently run around a more affordable $28-$32 per person.
Money $aving Tips:
Strasburg Railroad offers various discounts on train rides, including:
These discounts can be applied at checkout, and it's recommended to check the Strasburg Rail Road website for the latest offers and to ensure the codes are valid before applying them. Additionally, group discounts are available for larger parties, providing substantial savings on train car rates and merchandise.
In updating this post, I wanted to include an activity we'd taken Ashley to however, I found articles stating Penn National Race Course had brought back this specific form of racing in 2024. But when I went to their website I could find no indication that these races are still operating in 2026.
So I queried whether or not the race track was still having these specific races in 2026 and this is the answer I got:
"Yes, Penn National Race Course is still hosting ostrich races in 2026. The event is part of the unique racing lineup at the track, which also includes camel and zebra races." So your guess is as good as mine on this one!
But I'm going to mention it because Ashley had a blast at Penn National watching these races that were upgraded to include not only ostriches but camels and zebras as well.
These unique races take place between horse races at specific times of the year. Or at least they did...and it was a FREE activity to attend.
The ostrich races in particular are a hoot because ostriches have a mind of their own so you never know what they're going to do on the racetrack.
They can decide they'll run in a straight line - or not, veer off the racetrack entirely - or not, smash into another ostrich - or not, or refuse to run at all, dumping their (horse) jockeys in the middle of the track.
Video: Canterbury Park Ostrich Race 2016
All of which makes wagering on the 'winning' ostrich of your choice all the more difficult! No, the track does not take bets on the ostrich, camel and zebra races. They're for entertainment only and no harm comes to the birds/animals running the races either. We did spice things up a bit on only the ostrich race for Ashley by betting $5 each among ourselves on the winning ostrich - just for fun.
As to when these races are being run, you'll have to watch the Penn National website. But I wanted to at least make you aware of them.
Children ages three and up will love watching the races among camels, ostriches, and horses at Penn National Race Course.
Afternoon: Have lunch at Piazza Sorrento, 16 Briarcrest Square, Hershey, PA.
Piazza Sorrento delivers authentic Italian cuisine with a focus on quality and tradition. This family-owned restaurant offers a variety of gluten-free options, ensuring everyone can enjoy their delicious pasta and pizza. The warm, inviting atmosphere makes it a perfect spot for a memorable great meal.
They have a nice menu variety with reasonable prices and even though they don't have a kid's menu even the pickiest child will find something they'd like to dig into. Their menu changes seasonally.
Overall, great dining experience! The food was fresh, delicious, and was served in a timely manner. Our waitress was friendly and provided top-notch service.
Piazza Sorrento is located a few minutes from the Hershey Lodge and is an excellent option if you don’t want to eat at the hotel.
Money $aving Tip: Print out this page to use as a coupon for 10% off your next visit.
Hershey History Center
40 Northeast Drive, Hershey
Not to be confused with the Hershey Museum, the Hershey History Center showcases artifacts from Hershey's earliest settlers, the town of Hershey, and a one of a kind sports exhibit, from B'ars to Bears, that celebrates American Hockey League's most storied and successful franchise, Hershey Transit trolley exhibit, and their popular, permanent collection, the Veterans Exhibit, that features the personal belongings of Major Dick Winters, and an interactive model train and trolley layout that depicts 1920's Hershey.
Of particular interest to us was the Veteran's Exhibit and Major Dick Winters. My friend, Rose's husband was one of the Band of Brothers, was featured in the movie Band of Brothers and knew Dick Winters personally. Ashley had heard this story so wanted to see this exhibit and the replica of his office they'd constructed in a corner of the museum.
The Dick Winters exhibit was amazing!
We struck up a conversation with a couple who had 3 children - 3, 5 and 11. They were enjoying the heck out of the replica trolley, the interactive trains and other interactive exhibits so kids do find this museum interesting and engaging. It's a small museum that only takes 1-2 hours to go through and it's a good way to escape the summer heat.
ADMISSION
Members Free
Adults $5.00
Children (ages 4-17) $2.00
Children Ages 3 + younger Free
Family $10.00
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday 10 am - 3 pm
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 10 am - 3 pm
Thursday Closed
Friday 10 am - 3 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Pennsylvania State Police Museum
Pennsylvania State Police Museum shelters exhibits that detail more than 100 years of history of the country’s first constabulary.
This museum showcases a plethora of memorials, exhibits, documents and artifacts about the history of the state’s police force.
Come learn about famous crimes, the police rodeo, what it takes to be a trooper, and significant events of police history. This museum is a popular stop for fun things to do in Hershey with kids who have an interest in fighting crime.
Having been in law enforcement, the museum was interesting for me...but I wondered if it would be for 8 year old Ashley. The answer to that was a big YES! (I got peppered with 50,000 questions about what being a cop was like.)
General Admissions
Adults: $7.00
Students: ( 6-18 yrs.old) $4.00
Children 5 and under: Free
Monday – Friday from 9 am – 4 pm
Saturdays: 10am-3pm
Closed Sundays & State Holidays
No appointment is necessary
Guided Tour Costs
Adults: $10.00
Students: ( 6-18 yrs.old) $5.00
Children 5 and under: Free
Guided tours require 2 weeks advance notice and typically take 2 hours through the Museum and the Academy.
Money $aving Tip: Discover PA State Police Museum's history with admissions for adults and students, up to 45% off on Groupon. You can get 2 adult admissions for nearly the price of 1 adult admission.
Evening: We returned to The Mill for dinner as we all agreed that was one of the top Hershey Restaurants in our book.
Catch the Mill every Thursday for $29 Steak Frites! Served with garlic truffle fries, seasonal vegetables, and your choice of sauce or steak butter. Melt in your mouth!
Steak Frites Mill Burger Snickerdoodle crème brûlée
Ashley got her burger and whatever you do, give the Snickerdoodle crème brûlée a try! Heavenly!
HOURS OF OPERATION
Wednesday: 4-9pm | Thursday: 4-9pm | Friday: 4-10pm
Saturday: 11-3pm, 4-10pm | Sunday: 11am-2pm, 3pm-9pm
Money $aving Tip: The Mill In Hershey US Voucher Codes & Coupon Codes - March 2026
Ashley (or more likely Uncle Jay) was up for some excitement after dinner so decided to burn some rubber at K1 Speed.
1001 Bosler Avenue, Old Susquehanna Sports Building, Lemoyne, PA
K1 nationwide indoor go kart racing locations are open to the general public 7 days a week when not reserved for a private event. Arrive & Drive racing allows individuals to come in and compete for the fastest lap against friends, family and other racers. First time drivers will receive a mandatory briefing session on rules and safety. After each race, you’ll receive a race result sheet that allows you to compare your times and overall rank against other drivers. And you can even check your results online to see how you fare against the best of the week or month.