Yesterday was our last day at the shore and teh ride home is a long and boring one. I wanted to cut the trip up by doing something cool. I searched the Interweb for something that was cool, creepy, abandoned, and so many things came up. Centralia, Gettysburg, ruins at Valley Forge, Mt. Moriah Cemetery. The only thing was this...they were certainly geared towards me, even though MiniMe would somewhat enjoy all of these. I thought and thought and realized, this time, let us do something that is a total surprise and so unlike that in which we usually do and have it be JUST for Little Girl. So, mid way between LBI and PITT is Hershey, PA. My chocoholic was going to be in her motherland.
so, a little over 3 hours after we left Beach Haven, we came upon the CHocolate World. My Backseat Partner was sleeping so the arrival was a true surprise. "Carolyn, wake up, we are here." "Home? we are home?" "No, honey, look where we are." "HOLY CHOCOLATE!!!" And so the adventure began.
FYI - if you are in this area, go to Hershey. Not only is the town so wonderful, the grounds of the Milton Hershey School spectacular and the Park itself looked super fun, this experience we did was FREE. Yes, 100% FREE. We parked after the nicest woman, whom I swear smelled like dark chocolate, welcomed us and told us where to go, what to see and all with the cheeriest of smiles. Parking up to 3 hours was FREE. Our parking spot was literally right across the road from the entrance. Perfection. We stopped for photo ops prior to going in and we marveled at all the brown bags. What did everyone buy? Chocolate obviously,but what kinds?
Upon walking in we took a beeline to the bathroom - so clean and no line. Uh, was this an alternative planet we were on? Then we just browsed the space. Lots of places to see fun characters and take pictures. Little Maam was in awe. Looking here and there, seeing Kisses, bars, toys, chocolate, figurines, you name it. We walked towards the back of the space and went on the chocolate factory tour. FYI - this is not a real factory, as I am sure you are aware, but a ride that gives you information in a fun means. And FREE!! Since seeing a Middle School production of Willy Wonka, golden tickets, chocolate factory tours and the making of chocolate has been a small obsession. We were about to become Charlie Bucket.
The kine was swift moving and the ride was quite enjoyable. We both learned a lot and, to be honest, Princess Hershey Bar was in awe. I read her the history from the walls, showed her on map where the beans come from.
Post ride, we wandered through the store, picked out lots of different chocolates and then exited. we were only there a little under 2 hours, and that was a perfect amount of time. Had we had more time, we would have made our own chocolate, but with an additional 3.5 hours of driving, I wanted to get on the road. (and Peanut's bar would have been a classic bar since she is a purist.)
And so, through the countryside we traveled. I looked back, my best travel partner was a smile surrounded by brown, sticky chocolate. "Did you like your surprise, Honey?" One word uttered, muffled and smelling like chocolate...AWESOME! Mission accomplished!
so, a little over 3 hours after we left Beach Haven, we came upon the CHocolate World. My Backseat Partner was sleeping so the arrival was a true surprise. "Carolyn, wake up, we are here." "Home? we are home?" "No, honey, look where we are." "HOLY CHOCOLATE!!!" And so the adventure began.
FYI - if you are in this area, go to Hershey. Not only is the town so wonderful, the grounds of the Milton Hershey School spectacular and the Park itself looked super fun, this experience we did was FREE. Yes, 100% FREE. We parked after the nicest woman, whom I swear smelled like dark chocolate, welcomed us and told us where to go, what to see and all with the cheeriest of smiles. Parking up to 3 hours was FREE. Our parking spot was literally right across the road from the entrance. Perfection. We stopped for photo ops prior to going in and we marveled at all the brown bags. What did everyone buy? Chocolate obviously,but what kinds?
Upon walking in we took a beeline to the bathroom - so clean and no line. Uh, was this an alternative planet we were on? Then we just browsed the space. Lots of places to see fun characters and take pictures. Little Maam was in awe. Looking here and there, seeing Kisses, bars, toys, chocolate, figurines, you name it. We walked towards the back of the space and went on the chocolate factory tour. FYI - this is not a real factory, as I am sure you are aware, but a ride that gives you information in a fun means. And FREE!! Since seeing a Middle School production of Willy Wonka, golden tickets, chocolate factory tours and the making of chocolate has been a small obsession. We were about to become Charlie Bucket.
The kine was swift moving and the ride was quite enjoyable. We both learned a lot and, to be honest, Princess Hershey Bar was in awe. I read her the history from the walls, showed her on map where the beans come from.
Post ride, we wandered through the store, picked out lots of different chocolates and then exited. we were only there a little under 2 hours, and that was a perfect amount of time. Had we had more time, we would have made our own chocolate, but with an additional 3.5 hours of driving, I wanted to get on the road. (and Peanut's bar would have been a classic bar since she is a purist.)
And so, through the countryside we traveled. I looked back, my best travel partner was a smile surrounded by brown, sticky chocolate. "Did you like your surprise, Honey?" One word uttered, muffled and smelling like chocolate...AWESOME! Mission accomplished!