Summer is the perfect time for a family getaway! While Hershey is known for its chocolate-inspired theme park, there is much more to do there and along the way during a road trip! Featured today on Theresa’s Reviews, check out how we spent three days there.
Weekend Family Getaway to Hershey and Harrisburg
When you have busy schedules like we do, it’s important to make the most out of a weekend road trip. On our recent getaway to Hershey and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, we found memorable places to stop along our drive, and we had a fun-packed experience!
Weightlifting Hall of Fame
On our way, we stopped at the Weightlifting Hall of Fame at York Barbell Company in York, Pennsylvania. It is a good place to get out and stretch your legs during the drive, and it has interesting exhibits that teach about the history of weightlifting.
This was a memorable experience for my daughters, who got to see photos of their late grandfather Georgie Ernie Pickett who had his photo and name displayed as a member of the 1968 USA Olympic Weightlifting Team. You can read more about his experience training at the York Barbell Club here.
The retail shop had lots of weightlifting equipment at an outlet price. My daughters bought a slam ball and enjoyed testing it out in the fantastic hotel gym! It was a healthy start to a Hershey road trip that we knew would be filled with sweets and chocolatey desserts.
Lodging at TRU by Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue
Our lodging was at the new TRU hotel by Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue. Located near downtown Hershey and within walking distance to the Hershey Italian Lodge, the hotel had a family-friendly atmosphere with Foosball tables in the lobby and a free breakfast in the morning. Breakfast had waffles, cereal, yogurt, and fruit, with some eggs and sausage. It was nice to get a meal in before going out for the day!
It seemed like a family friendly place, so the noise levels were low. The room was nice and clean with comfortable beds. There were large squeezable containers for soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the bathroom, which was nice, so we didn’t have to wonder if we would run out!
The pool was a very small indoor pool. As I said earlier, there was also a really nice gym, which we usually wouldn’t use, but it had so much fun equipment (slam balls and a box jump, plus the typical elliptical and treadmill) that my kids were begging to visit each day. There were some other kids there visiting for sports using the gym, so that seemed okay to do.
Making New Memories at Hershey Park
Hershey Park is a sweet place to make summer memories! One of our favorites was my daughter going on her very first roller coaster ride! It was also my children’s first time to try a deep fried Oreo, which they said was delicious.
Recently, the Reese’s Cupfusion Ride opened! Unfortunately we didn’t have a great experience since after we waited an hour, it closed right before our turn, and then it broke when we finally did ride it. However, riding it actually was really fun! You get to shoot all the bad, evil candies with lasers, while earning points that connect to a wristband and go on a scoreboard.
Make sure to check the app for ride availability or use your Fast Pass here. Also be prepared to accept that it might close for maintenance, which happens to many new rides.
Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat Cruise
After walking around Hershey on Saturday, taking a riverboat cruise on the Pride of the Susquehanna was a relaxing way to spend Sunday morning! Located on City Island near the baseball stadium, this experience offers an authentic stern-driven paddle wheel riverboat that goes along the skyline of Harrisburg.
The riverboat cruise is about 45 minutes long and offers snacks and beverages. Make sure to arrive early to get the best seating as it can fill up quickly before departure.
Turkey Hill Experience
On our drive home, we made a reservation for the Turkey Hill Experience. In the main, interactive section, children can learn to milk a cow and do a photo shoot inside a gigantic ice cream jug. Another activity is creating your own ice cream flavor and designing the carton. Then, you can create your own commercial! Check out ours below.
We also signed up for the Taste Lab, which involves learning how to make your own ice cream. Start by choosing either vanilla or chocolate ice cream, add extract to flavor it, then add the candies or nuts, which are known as inclusions. Finally, add a swirl of flavor, taste and enjoy!
Taking a road trip to Hershey and Harrisburg offers fun for the whole family! While some of the attractions are known for their sweet candies, chocolates, and ice creams, learning more about weightlifting during our journey also inspired exercise in the hotel gym, and hopefully inspired more family fitness activities in the future. From relaxing on a riverboat to new roller coaster experiences, we made fantastic memories this summer!
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Your turn! What is your favorite part of visiting the Hershey / Harrisburg area? Share in the comments!
Disclosure: I received a free item, but it in no way influenced my opinion.
