This past Sunday the girls and I drove up to Hershey, Pennsylvania to pick up my dad – their Papaw – for a quick visit. The last time they had seen each other except for on video calls was last Christmas, so the 2 and a half hour drive was well worth it!
Since I am not one to waste an opportunity – life is too short! – I booked a “create your own candy bar” experience for the four of us at chocolate heaven, or as it’s officially known, Hershey’s Chocolate World!
There’s an amusement park, a school, a quaint little town with Hershey kiss shaped street lamps and over the weekend, a massive car show all within close proximity to Hershey’s Chocolate World. There is so much to do and see, though our time was limited so we got right down to business – chocolate making business.
The first step as chocolatier-for-a-day is to decide what kind of bar you want to make. From a touchscreen just outside the production room we were able to design four unique candy bars. Mine consisted of dark chocolate, chocolate cookie bits, pretzel pieces and sprinkles to top it all off once it’s enrobed in Hershey’s famous milk chocolate, of course.
Once you’ve made your selections, the fun begins! I was slightly worried my little one who is just under 2 would get bored and restless, however she was just as interested and entertained as the rest of us throughout the whole process, which just added to the joy.
We loved watching our Hershey’s candy bars be made from start to finish but I think our favorite part was the chocolate waterfall (probably not the industry term) our almost completed bars went through!
With our custom creations in hand, we made our way for the “factory” tour (quotations because it’s not the actual factory but the kids would never know that) and my favorite part – some Hershey history!
Did you know…
- Milton Hershey (founder of Hershey) created the first milk chocolate bar in 1900.
- Hershey and his wife Catherine opened The Milton Hershey School, a boarding school for orphans in 1909 which is still run today as a boarding school for underprivileged children.
- Hershey gave the school his entire fortune – $60 million – and a controlling share in his company.
- Hershey supplied over 1 billion ration D bars to troops in WWII.
Following the tour, we grabbed some lunch, bought some souvenirs and made our way back home to Maryland.
We spent a happy hour and a half in chocolate heaven and left with messy hands, a pleasant sugar high and treasured memories.
I’m so glad we made the trip to Hershey and stopped to experience such a sweet place!
“One is only happy in proportion as he makes others feel happy” – M.S. Hershey
♥Mia
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