Pam, Author at Have Sippy Will Travel

Hershey Sweet Welcome Lights and Overnights #HersheyPA

December 13, 2016 by Pam 2 Comments

Not sure what to do with the family this holiday season? Schedule some time in Hershey Park, it’s the perfect get away for the whole family: Hershey Park has something for everyone! Wondering where to stay while at Hershey? Don’t fret; Hershey has accommodations for every price point and style.

If your family is outdoorsy, try Hershey Park Camping Resort. You can book cabins, pitch a tent, or bring your RV. So many housing options. But don’t think that you’ll miss out on the fun. There’s a shuttle that will take you to the park and weekends are filled with family friendly activities.

These cabins are great. They sleep a whole family and have a bathroom and a small kitchen. And the porch! It would be great for watching the world go by, I think.

If roughing it isn’t your thing, you can try the Hershey Lodge.The Woodside Cottages at The Hotel Hershey make for a memorable holiday experience. The most premium accommodations at the Hotel, the Woodside Cottages feature larger bedrooms, world-class bathrooms and private outdoor entrances. Individual rooms or full cottages are available for reservations. Guests who reserve a full four- or six-bedroom cottage receive access to a multi-functional great room with cathedral ceilings, fireplace, microwave and wet bar.

Available at Hershey Lodge November 11 – December 29, 2016 (When Hersheypark Christmas Candylane is in operation)

Overnight packages during the holiday season include:

Christmas Candylane Package
Available at The Hotel Hershey November 25 – December 18, 2016 (Friday & Saturday nights)
Package Includes: Deluxe accommodations, breakfast buffet with Santa per person, one-day admission to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane per person, admission for one vehicle to Hershey Sweet Lights, seasonal admission to Hershey Gardens, admission to The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience.
- Lunch With Santa Package
Available at The Hotel Hershey November 25 – December 18, 2016 (Friday nights)

Package Includes: Deluxe accommodations, lunch buffet with Santa per person, one-day admission to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane per person, admission for one vehicle to Hershey Sweet Lights, seasonal admission to Hershey Gardens, admission to The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience.

New for 2016 is Hershey’s Water Works at Hershey Lodge. The new indoor pool complex includes two interactive indoor pools, Twizzlers Twists Slides, Reese’s Water Walk, water play structures and the Cocoa Cabana dining location with a full bar.

The pool has several lifeguards on duty so parents can chill out with the famous (chocolate) martinis at the bar.

Need a little pampering? Then stay at The Hotel Hershey. The Spa at the Hotel Hershey will pamper you like you’ve never been pampered before. Leave the kids with the grandparents and indulge yourself in a little bit of grown up fun at The Hotel Hershey. It’s a world class resort and you could spend all day at The Spa pampering yourself! At the spa, known as The Chocolate Spa you can indulge in the steam room, sauna, an inhalation room, a silent meditation room, and of course you can get any chocolate treatment your little chocoholic heart desires. Want a whipped cocoa bath? It’s yours. Need a cocoa massage? Of course you do. Head over to their website to see all of the options. There are even non-chocolate options.

The following packages are available:

The Spa At The Hotel Hershey

Holiday Season Sampler

November 1 – January 31

$185 Monday -Thursday, $195 Fri-Sun

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Immersion

December 1 – January 31

$195 Monday -Thursday, $205 Fri-Sun

Peppermint Mocha Manicure & Pedicure

December 1 – February 28

$140 Monday -Thursday, $150 Fri-Sun

The Spa at Hotel Hershey Lounge

Here’s the lounge where you can rest while waiting for your appointment. Hot water for hot chocolate and fresh cold water are available while you wait.

The decor of the spa is just as beautiful as you’d expect.

The Spa decor

This beautiful giant urn is also a quiet pool with tinkling water sounds for relaxation.

After your spa treatments you should totally indulge in the buffet with bellinis.

The spa bellini

Your first night at the park, I highly suggest checking out Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. Christmas Candylane is bringing back all the past favorites, along with all the new additions that were added last season. Wildcat, sooperdooperLooper, Cocoa Cruiser and Laff Trakk will be open during Candylane (weather pending). With Laff Trakk sporting a special holiday theme inside the indoor glow-coaster. Two NEW additions will be added to the rides open in Candylane; Wild Mouse and Howler. Four million sparkling lights will illuminate and excite as you make your way through Hersheypark.

A NEW holiday show will be sure to put you in the holiday spirit, get ready for A Music Box Christmas. In addition, some of everyone’s favorite Candylane activities will be returning, including: Santa and his live reindeer, Rudolph’s Skating Pond, and NOEL, the breathtaking light show.

Christmas Candylane begins Friday, November 11^th and is open on select dates through Sunday, January 1, 2017. For operational hours and dates visit www.Hersheypark.com.

Don’t miss the reindeer while you’re there!

After you’ve had your fun at the park, drive through two miles of lighted displays from the comfort of your car in Hershey Sweet Lights. Enjoy illuminated holiday lights through the fields and wooded trails while listening to holiday music. Sweet Lights begins Friday, November 11^th and is open on select dates through Sunday, January 1^st. For operational hours and dates visit www.Hersheypark.com.

When you’ve worn yourself out for the day, come back to your room and enjoy a special milk and cookies for kids or any one of the other delicious in-room amenity baskets available.

Gift basket of yum.

Little kids (and the big ones) will love the extra touch of cookies and milk at bedtime. The chocolate scented toiletries, and hershey kiss designs on the sheets and walls will have you dreaming of chocolate all night.

See the lights and spend the night in Hershey, PA; what a sweet weekend.

Disclaimer: Sweet Welcome was sponsored by HE&R and we received complimentary items and admission.

Filed Under: traveling Tagged With: chocolate, Hershey Lodge, Hershey Park, hotel, The Hotel Hershey, travel

Hershey’s Sweet Welcome To Do and The Zoo (America) #HersheyPA

December 8, 2016 by Pam 1 Comment

There is so much to do in Hershey Park. If you need a break from the rides and pampering you really should visit ZooAmerica. ZooAmerica is an active zoo, educates the public about conservation and protection of animals native to North America.

One of the very interesting things you can do at ZooAmerica is to go on an after hours tour. During the after hours tour you can visit nocturnal animals who are normally asleep during the day.

This is the space where the quail and roadrunner live. Also there are live owls flying around. It’s kinda creepy at first but the owls don’t bother you.

Part of the tour includes an educational segment.

This little critter is called a chuckwalla. He’s a lizard. He came by to say hello but I declined to pet him. He seemed nice enough though.

The moment I had been waiting for was the chance to befriend an owl named Luna.

She didn’t bring my letter from Hogwarts but she did make friends with everyone. Her eye is damaged so she will never be able to live in the wild. That’s what is so great about ZooAmerica. They care for animals and also use them to teach.

On the tour we saw an alligator.

This guy is an American Alligator. Don’t let that smile fool you. He was waiting for the snacks to come through the little door off camera.

We saw an ocelot, blood drinking bats, ferrets, coati, and snakes. At night they are active so we it was a special treat that doesn’t happen during the regular zoo hours.

The highlight of the tour was feeding Murphy and Chief, black bears. Murphy was especially friendly and hd learned hand signals to give kisses. He even held my hand.

I think he likes me!

Did I mention we fed otters? So much to do at ZooAmerica; it’s fun for the whole family!

If your idea of live entertainment doesn’t include wild animals, you should totally check out Hershey Theatre. Amazing holiday shows will be featured at Hershey Theatre during the holiday season. The dates and times are listed below:

Straight No Chaser – December 4 at 2:30 and 7:30 PM
Elf – December 6-8 at 7:30 PM
The Piano Guys – December 10 at 3:00 and 8:00 PM

Visit www.HersheyEntertainment.com for tickets and more information.

The Hershey Story Museum

Little Elves Workshop – The elves have once again set up their workshop, where kids of all ages can create their own unique ornament out of chocolate clay. Participants will roll, cut and ice their creations and design their own packaging. $5.00 per ornament; adults many accompany participating children at no charge.

Available select dates November 12 – January 1 at 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Snowball Saturdays – Friendly indoor snowball fights are the centerpiece of this holiday event! In addition, kids can visit with a snowman and Coco the Bear, and hear stories about wintertime fun. Free; admission to the Museum Experience not required.

Available December 3, 10 & 17.

Holiday-Themed Chocolate Lab Classes – Guests can enjoy a 45-minute class where they learn about chocolate and make their own chocolate treat. Ticket purchase required; children must be at least four years old to enter the lab. Class themes are as follows:
- Candy Cane Bark, Chocolate Reindeer, Create a Kris Kringle and Make a Very Merry Bar

Available daily beginning November 12 – January 1, 2017, class times vary.

* Classes offered on Snowball Saturdays only (December 3, 10 & 17): Let it Snow Chocolate and Marshmallow Mischief.

NYE Bubble Wrap Stomps – Kids can celebrate the New Year with bubble wrap stomps on Saturday, December 31, 2016, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Stomps take place in the museum’s patio, weather permitting. (In the event of inclement weather, stomps will take place in the museum’s Grand Lobby.) Free; admission to the Museum Experience not required.

Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction

Hershey’s Chocolate World is filled with great indoor family-fun activities:

Start your day the merry way with Breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus, Saturdays & Sundays from November 11 through December 24.
See the unique and magical 8^th annual Hershey’s Holiday Chocolate House! Every inch is covered in Hershey’s confectionery products and a sweet donation is made to Children’s Miracle Network.
Take a cozy trip on the Christmas Trolley Adventure which is guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit with caroling, stories, and even a special visit from a certain jolly, old elf.

While at Chocolate World, we made our own personalized chocolate bars. First, they suit you up:

Then you choose your chocolate bar options and watch as the machine makes it.

Adds ingredients if you want them.

I did not add any sprinkles, or jimmies or anything. I’m a purist.

Finally your chocolate is cooled, then wrapped in a special box with your name on it.

After that you pick up your bar where it’s wrapped in your unique design that you made and you’re ready to go.

Mine isn’t very creative but I made it!

Not everything is chocolate themed at Hershey. Aside from the ZooAmerica, Hershey PA is home to Hershey Gardens, a 23 acre garden of roses. It was much too cold to tour the gardens while we visited, but we did visit the spectacular Butterfly Atrium. We saw so many beautiful butterflies up close; it was amazing.

You can get close up and personal with any butterfly you like.

They are so amazing! But don’t touch. And don’t try to sneak one home with you.

Such a great time in Hershey PA; so much to do and you can visit the zoo!

Filed Under: traveling Tagged With: candy, conservation, hershey, Hershey Park, PA, sweet welcome, travel

Sweet Welcome: Dining and History in Hershey #HersheyPA

December 7, 2016 by Pam 5 Comments

Just when you think Hershey couldn’t get any better, think again. You’ll want to eat while at Hershey. In fact, you’ll want to eat a lot when you’re in Hershey. If you want a holiday themed dinner and a show you could try Holiday with Dickens at The Hotel Hershey Sunday, December 4 at 3:00 PM Holiday Tea ($40) and 6:30 PM. Holiday Dinner ($99).

This heartwarming show-of-the-season is performed by Gerald Charles Dickens, the great, great grandson of literary master, Charles Dickens. During his energetic one-man show, Dickens brings A Christmas Carol to life. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 717-534-8800.

If it’s just you and your significant other, put on your best outfit and eat at The Circular, at The Hotel Hershey. I love The Circular breakfast because of the omelet station and the fresh squeezed orange juice. The decor is so breathtaking, restored to look as glamorous and beautiful as it did in the 1920s. Also? Chef Cher Harris was crowned Pastry Queen in the World Pastry Championship in Italy. She’s the chef for The Hotel Hershey so no matter what restaurant you eat at The Hotel Hershey, it’s sure to be delicious. While at the spa we noshed on an array of desserts that were awesome.

There are four other restaurants at The Hotel Hershey: Trevi 5 featuring Italian, Harvest, featuring American, the Cooca Beanery for your breakfast needs and the Iberian Lounge, which is a dark after hours bar, that looks like someplace Hemingway might enjoy.

hotel-hershey-views

Everywhere you turn there is something spectacular to look at.

If super fancy meals aren’t your style then you’ll still find something to suit at The Hershey Lodge. There’s Hershey Grill, The Bear’s Den, Coca Beanery Debbie Lebkicher’s, and The Forbear. While we didn’t eat at The Forebay, we heard that if you’d like to try wild game (boar, rabbit, venison) that The Forebay is the place for you.

As much as I enjoyed the chocolate, my favorite meal was Devon’s Seafood + Steak, located in The Hershey Press Building. Chef Hellberg greeted us and he couldn’t have been cuter or nicer. I really valued that given my non dairy limitations they provided a meal that was as fulfilling and as beautifully plated as everyone else’s.

No matter where you dine, you should totally try the chocolate martinis.

chocolatini

After a great meal, I think the next thing you should do is take the Chocolate & History Trolley. This trolly is THE best sightseeing tour you’ll ever go on! Seriously, the staff dresses up in period costumes and “cover the inspiring story of Milton Hershey and the main sites of the town of Hershey (the original chocolate factory, Mr. Hershey’s birthplace, his home Highpoint Mansion, Chocolate Avenue, the Hershey Kiss Streetlights, HersheyPark, and Milton Hershey School).” They are entertaining AND they hand out chocolate every few minutes, what’s not to love? It’s incredibly charming and informational. It’s the best 75 minutes you’ll ever spend.

Whatever you decide to do, let Hershey give you a sweet welcome.