Hershey is nicknamed the sweet city for a reason, its candy and chocolate-making prowess. It is among the few Pennsylvania cities where vacationers can roam freely with a zero budget.
While there is a general feeling that free things are substandard, that’s not the energy here in Hershey. The freely available facilities turn out to be the best for a successful vacation. From wonderful botanicals to history-rich museums, this city offers more than just chocolates.
Here are the top free things to explore in Hershey.
10 Chocolate Tour
The first and most exciting activity of the Hershey adventure is touring the city’s chocolate manufacturing plant. People are so much into chocolates but can hardly tell how they are made. Not all chocolates are made from dairy. Others are plant-based and Hershey is the perfect place to witness this first-hand. The tour runs for approximately 10 minutes. Within that short time, visitors get out feeling like they can run a successful chocolate business. Kids love this tour more because of the happy endings, the chocolates of course.
9 Soaking At Hershey Waterpark
Water is a critical part of the Hershey experience. At one point in the vacation, adventures will need to cool off the effects of Pennsylvania’s scorching sun. Inside Hershey Park is a swimming pool dubbed The Shore. This pool is free to the public provided they have the necessary swimwear. The Shore accommodates both adults and kids with the latter having a secluded space on one end and the former enjoying the larger part of the pool.
8 Hershey Garden Tour
Adventurers looking for unique vacation spots never go wrong with Hershey Gardens. Cutting across 23 acres of land, this garden has a lot more to be explored than the flowers. In the middle of the garden is a water park with water jetting up before falling back to the park at the center. This garden has hundreds of tree species and acts as a new lease of life in a world already rocked by global warming and climate change.
7 Hersheypark
Amusement parks are in recent times emerging as a trend among vacationers. Each time people go out, there is the urge to sample some park somewhere, especially if there are kids involved. At Hersheypark, it is all fun and games. From swimming in the water park to taking on crazy rides, everything is here for the vacationer to explore. The area around the park has shops where tourists can have a quick chocolate bite.
6 Live Horse Race Watching
The Hershey experience is as interesting as it can get. A recommendation to make the adventure worth it is attending a live horse race at Hollywood Casino. The best part is that vacationers above the age of 21 don’t need to pay anything to get in there. Maybe the usual rates to buy a cup of tea or something of that sort.
5 Antique Automobile Club Of America
The Antique Automobile Club of America is a great introduction to Hershey’s interesting museum world. This particular spot is all about cars, vintage cars for that matter. Kids of today are born in a time when electric cars dominate American roads. They have no idea about the vintage diesel cars used in colonial and pre-colonial times. A walk through the museum depicts the evolution of America’s automobile industry and what the future holds for the vintage edition.
4 PA State Police Museum
Having been introduced to the museum world by the vintage cars, now it’s time to explore the police museum. Although it is small, this facility has a rich history and is a depiction of how the police force has evolved. The recorded information dates back to 1905. Seeing how the uniforms have changed over time is part of the experience.
3 Hershey Public Library
Being on vacation doesn’t mean one shouldn’t catch a book or two. If anything, it is a recommended way of staying focused throughout the vacation. Hershey Public Library is designed to suit everyone’s needs. From toddlers to adults, there is a designated wing for every age set. Kids are taken through photo books as adults enjoy newspapers and magazines.
2 Hiking
Hershey is home to magnificent hiking trails. More pronounced is the Hershey Medical Center Trail that cuts across ranges to reveal the city’s wildly vibrant side. Biking and strolling are alternatives for those who aren’t confident enough to hike. Hiking is a great way for adventurers to familiarize themselves with the region while still keeping fit.
1 Disk Golfing
Disk golfing is a great way to sum up the Hershey experience. Unlike regular golf which is regarded as an elite sport, disc golfing discriminates no soul. At Shank Park, vacationers are treated to a disc golfing experience like no other. The 18-hole course at one end of the park allows vacationers to learn the sport one unilateral throw at a time. On the other end of the public park is a small playground fitted with slides and swings. As parents enjoy their favorite game of golf, kids will be busy sliding and swinging. Everybody eventually gets home happy after an eventful adventure.