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

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.
ZooAmerica_quail roadrunner
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.
chuckwalla
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.
Luna the Owl
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.
Zoo America 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.
ZooAmerica_Murphy
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 8th 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:
 choclate world
Then you choose your chocolate bar options and watch as the machine makes it.
chocolate world machine
Adds ingredients if you want them.
vibratory feeder
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.
Chocolate world wrapper
After that you pick up your bar where it’s wrapped in your unique design that you made and you’re ready to go.
Chocolate World finished
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.
Butterfly Atrium 1
You can get close up and personal with any butterfly you like.
Butterfly Atrium 2
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!

Have a Hershey Valentines Day

Disclosure: The below was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

It’s Valentines Day, and you know what that means- Chocolate.  For me, that means one name- Hershey’s!  It’s my favorite, and I love the variety that it comes in.  What better gift to get a choco-holic then chocolate?  Plus it’s the perfect “add on” gift or special something.

valentines day chocolate

Their current collection includes:

Hershey’s® Kisses

Hershey’s® Giant Kiss

Twizzlers® Cherry Hearts

Reese’s® Peanut Butter Heart

Jolly Ranchers®

All these would make any sweets lovers’ holiday complete.   My husband loves the Reese peanut butter hearts.  It is epically huge, and what’s better then a giant Reese?   If you ask my son, the giant Hershey kiss is better- but not by much.  That was always my grandfather’s favorite as well, and it reminds me of him every time I see one.  It’s a great memory, he used to love those. Just be sure to save some of those “giant” candies for later, and not give yourself a cavity and a stomach ache.  Be they sugary sweet candies like Jolly Ranchers, or licorice like Twizzlers, Hershey has a candy for everyone.
[Read more…]

Hershey Holiday Fun

Disclosure: The below was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

When looking for those perfect holiday gifts, why not attack your loves ones through their sweet tooth with the perfect stocking stuffer Hershey’s.  Not only do Hershey’s candies make great socking stuffers, but they also make a great add on to a gift or a gift itself to those who are difficult to shop for.  What better gift to get a choco-holic then chocolate?

hersheys

Their current holiday collection includes:

Hershey’s® Collection Pretzels

Hershey’s® Collection Almond Clusters

Hershey’s® Kisses® Milk Chocolates Gifting Canister

Twizzlers® Tree Shaped Cherry Candy King Size

Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cup Cane

Jolly Rancher® Cane

Bubble Yum® Cane
[Read more…]

Unreal Candy Party

With Halloween just past, and the big man in the red suit waiting around the corner, it is time to reminisce a bit about a wonderful little get together which was held to celebrate sweets and pumpkins. Under the guise of a normal Halloween party, we participated in a pumpkin carving get-together with some absolutely awesome treats. These treats were as natural as Halloween candy can get- maybe even Unreal. Unreal Candy are known as candy unjunked, made with real cocoa, dry roasted peanuts, real cane sugar and natural coloring.

Now you may ask, how exactly is this unjunked? It is quite evident there are lots of wholesome ingredients but the icing on the cake is Unreal candies [Read more…]