Hershey Sweet Welcome Lights and Overnights #HersheyPA

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.
Hershey Park Camping
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.
Hershey Candylane

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 11th 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!
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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 11th and is open on select dates through Sunday, January 1st.  For operational hours and dates visit www.Hersheypark.com.
sweetlights
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.
Hershey's Sweet welcome basket
Gift basket of yum.
cookies
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.

Sweet Welcome: Dining and History in Hershey #HersheyPA

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).

Hershey Holiday Show

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.

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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.
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Want to hear more? Click Here.  Interested in dining and lights? Check this out as well 🙂

The Algonquin Resort in New Brunswick

The summer can be the most exhausting time of the year. Figuring out what to do with the kids, the heat, planning your holiday- you can wear yourself out just thinking about it, and I haven’t even mentioned the events yet. It seems like there are always a million things to do, so many places to shuttle off to, and never enough time to do it all. When you need a break, you want to go to a place where your days were carefree and relaxed, sprinkled with fun and one of a kind adventures. Of course, I am talking about The Algonquin Resort.

20140820_152600This resort is amazing. The staff is helpful, knowledgeable, and will help take care of everything for you. Not only is the resort elegant and historical, but they offer amazing perks to make your stay as carefree as possible. You have  the option to hit the greens, go to the spa, take in a game of tennis, and enjoy the indoor or outdoor pools. Then retire to your room, where you will enjoy a historical look and modern conveniences. Some of the rooms offer panoramic views of the picturesque Passamaquoddy Bay, which is lovely.

20140821_072903In addition to offering lovely rooms and a true feeling of luxury, the variety of experiences available for guests offers something for everyone, the kids, the golfers, the lovers and the adventure seekers.  The food at the resort is top notch, with several restaurants to choose from, as well as buffet style options. Children’s menus are available as well, although I always reccomend you have your kids try something fun and new while traveling.  Why not experience new food while in a new place?
pic6The spa offered so many more services than other resorts I have visited- from make up to hair, hands and feet, massages and so much more. You can truly enjoy a day of complete pampering at The Spa at The Algonquin Resort.  The rooms are also perfect for relaxing- quiet, dark when you want them to be, and spacious.  There are kitchen areas with refrigerators, counter tops, a separate eating area, microwaves, and more, making eating in while on vacation an easy option.
20140820_16003820140820_160047If you feel like a getaway is in order to refresh your spirit for the new year, The Algonquin Resort located in New Brunswick’s charming town of St. Andrews by-the-Sea, is absolutely a lovely place to go to relax and unwind or discover a fantastic adventure.  Hang out in the resort, then go exploring in the town.  There are some fun and unique things to do with your family that you won’t want to miss, like whale watching in the Bay of Fundy on the the Jolly Breeze and vising the at Kingsbrae Garden.  Make sure you scheduled time for lunch there- you will get a fun surprise!  Alpacas come and eat on the field just feet away from the tables.  (Far enough so it’s not weird, close enough so it’s fun.)
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Langham Place, New York

Looking to travel to New York City, but not sure where to stay?  There are so many options, and if you are traveling with kids, it can be even harder to pick the right place.  You want somewhere central, but quiet at night so they can sleep- someplace welcoming of your whole clan, not super snooty and off-putting for the littler ones.  You can enjoy yourself and your family getaway in NYC with the right hotel.

 

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If you are heading to New York,  Langham Place, New York is an ultra-modern, luxury option that offers a Family Getaway Package including:

  • two night’s accommodations in a spacious guest room
  • free rollaway bed upon request ($120 value)
  • a $100 credit that can be used towards any of the food and beverage outlets in the hotel
  • two VIP express tickets to the top of the Empire State Building ($120 value)

The food and beverage credit can be used even at these two venues:

  • Measure, which offers Afternoon Tea for Kids on Saturdays and Sundays ($40 for adults, $20 for kids) Tunes with Tina kid’s cabaret brunch on Sunday mornings

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The Family Getaway Package also has added cultural experiences through the Cultured Kids menu of offerings. These tours can be booked for kids as young as 3 years old. Cultured Kids also includes the option to have a VIP visit to the Empire State Building or Tunes with Tina sing-along Sunday brunch.

Starting rates for Family Getaway are $795,  but with the options of so many add-ons there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

pic7A behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen of a Michelin-starred restaurant that is provided by Ai Fiori and hosted by the Executive Chef and the team of culinary artists. This includes an early bird dinner reservation between 5 and 7 PM.  The Empire State Building is located just down the block, and can be seen from many of the rooms.

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view from my room

 

You can also see many wonders of architecture, and a map of the most significant of buildings can be viewed from any of Langham Place’s Empire View rooms and suites. Expedited passes are also available to skip the line at the Empire State building.
Langham Place, New York is your destination to experience a 5-Star Luxury Hotel that has modern British allure and service. The hotel has made a smooth transition from it’s beginnings in Langham, London in 1865 that set the ultimate standard in hospitality in the 19th century! They were founded on luxury, innovation and of course, grandeur, so that is what you will experience when you visit today.

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You will also have all the conveniences of home that you sometimes miss when you travel. The bathrooms are spacious and most have both a shower and a bathtub (which smaller kids as well as mom and dad can enjoy- they are large enough for grown-up bodies, which is very nice).  Suites have kitchens with stove tops, full sized refrigerators, and my favorite- washing machines and dryers.  Every parent knows that being prepared is key- having the ability to wash out your kid’s messes on the spot is priceless.

While planning your next trip to New York City, make sure the Langham is your first stop.  Book by calling (212) 695 4005 or emailing lpnyc.info@langhamhotels.com

Enjoy your stay, and have fun in the city.

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A Visit to the Hotel Adler Thermae, Tuscany

A getaway does wonders for the spirit, but when that trip is to Tuscany your soul will sing with delight. The sights, the sounds and the people offer a refreshing change of pace from the daily grind. A more lovely place to vacation couldn’t be found.

resorts in tuscanyA trip to Tuscany is an occasion, and such a wondrous occasion calls for top notch accommodations. Hotel Adler Thermae fits the bill perfectly. Imagine a luxury resort that is a perfect mix of modern architecture, nature, and classic Italian charm. The Hotel Adler Thermae has a rich history that stems back to 1810. Operated by the 7th generation of the Adler Family with obvious care and pride, this all inclusive hotel offers visitors a one of a kind stay that is drenched in class, style and luxury.

tuscan resort

The cuisine of Hotel Adler Thermae is worth writing home about! Imagine having a cocktail with the host to welcome you, or having a generous breakfast buffet available until 11 am to the delight of your taste buds. Lunch at Hotel Adler Thermae is nothing short of impressive. The salads, antipasti and pasta dishes and grilled meat and fish offerings are the perfect way to refuel for a busy day of sightseeing. The gourmet 4 and 5 course meals at dinner time are nothing short of mouth watering. My favorite part of the edible offerings of the hotel has to be the afternoon break buffet which features home-made cakes, all of which were completely drool worthy.

pic1While I could talk to you about the food at Hotel Adler Thermae all day long, there is so much more to offer at this luxury hotel. The Thermal Spa is a hot spring of wellness. The waters are heated naturally from deep within the earth and have absorbed minerals over time which are great for not only the mind but also the soul.

20140713_120904I loved that there are indoor and outdoor thermal pools for my enjoyment and a special thermal pool for children which features jet fountains and perfectly warm water that will lead to a lot of splashing fun for the kids.  The pool featured above actually goes into a whirlpool every 10 minutes, which my son absolutely adored.

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Head To Vermont, and The Basin Harbor Club

I am a sucker for a hotel that has not only history but also charm. The last time I was in Vermont I had the pleasure of staying at Basin Harbor Club. This hotel delighted my traveling soul. The location is not only is it scenic, but it offers so many opportunities for adventure that one could ponder why anyone would visit another place for a one of a kind vacation.

Basin Harbor

Located on 700+ tranquil acres, Basin Harbor Club is an ideal hotel for couples and families as well as large groups. Regardless of the size of your travel party, there is a spot for you at this wonderful resort. The scenery, the unexpected delights to be found around each corner and the endless opportunities for fun, relaxation, and a chance to reconnect with friends and family make this a noteworthy destination.

vermont resortsFor more than 128 years this lovely resort has been operated by the Beach Family. The love of the property and pride in their resort are obvious and make this a destination that is unforgettable. The history of Basin Harbor Club is rich, which adds something super special to your stay.

hotels on lake champlainLake Champlain offers water lovers the chance to dive into boating, swimming, paddle boarding, fishing, sailing and more. Tennis lessons and a fantastic course for golfing will appeal to athletic guests. Lawn games are a favorite for guests that are looking to get active while playing together as a family.

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Hotel Mediterraneo, Rome

When in Rome, where does one stay? If one stays at Hotel Mediterraneo, a one of a kind experience can be expected for an unforgettable trip. Located in the heart of Rome, this hotel is beautiful and easy to get where you need or want to go from.

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Somebody’s sleeping in my bed….

First, customers are cherished at Hotel Mediterraneo. Expect exceptional service from the staff. The atmosphere of the hotel is infectious, you can’t help but feel very worldly, sophisticated, and maybe even a little pampered when you step foot across the threshold of Hotel Mediterraneo.
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Located on top of a hill and across from the train station, you will admire the impressive views of the city. Designed by Art Deco Architect Mario Loreti in 1936, Hotel Mediterraneo is a 4 ½ star hotel that offers guests the ability to walk to all of the ancient main monuments. 10 stunning floors of art deco decor give this hotel a distinction of being rare, gorgeous and like an art deco dream come true. As the name suggests, the sea will be enjoyed through out the hotel. Marble busts abound and offer a certain sense of ancient class to the establishment that is fantastic and intoxicating.

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Hilton Head Resorts, SC

Is your family itching for a fun in the sun vacation? If a trip to somewhere with oceanfront views, southern charm and an atmosphere the entire family will enjoy sounds perfect, you can sit back and relax, I have discovered the perfect getaway for you.

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The Hilton Head Resorts family has unveiled the Sonesta for your vacationing enjoyment. The resort was recently renovated for your comfort. With 340 guest rooms and suites, the resort offers lovely accommodations to make your family feel right at home. Located on 11 lush acres, you will enjoy world class golf and tennis nearby, on site bicycle rentals and amazing swimming pool complex, with hot tubs and a heated lagoon style swimming pool to name a few.

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