Hotel Hershey & Beyond

About 90 minutes from downtown Baltimore and up I-83, is the resort town of Hershey Pennsylvania, or “Chocolate Town,” if you prefer.

Completed in 1933, Hotel Hershey features 276 rooms.
Completed in 1933, Hotel Hershey features 276 rooms. (Eddie Applefeld)

Any written report on that area would consume more space than I have here, so I will attempt to be as concise as possible and leave out all my clever one liners, or at least most of them.

Let’s begin with one of my favorite hotels anywhere and a place I was away from for too long.

Perched atop of a hill overlooking Hersheypark is the magnificent Hotel Hershey.

Its style is based on a hotel Milton Hershey saw while in Europe.

It was completed in 1933, four years after the Great Depression began.

He didn’t stop work during those years. By the way, an entire volume can be written about Mr. Hershey, and of course it already has.

As an aside, and something I found very interesting, he and Mrs. Hershey had booked passage on the Titanic.

Fortunately for him, he changed his plans.

It makes for the ideal location for that overnight you’ve been talking about now for weeks or months or even years.

Once you check in, and get your complimentary Hershey bar, you’ll find plenty of things to keep you busy, regardless of time of year.

Of course you get a free Hershey bar when you check in to Hershey Hotel in Pennsylvania.
Of course you get a free Hershey bar when you check in to Hershey Hotel in Pennsylvania. (Eddie Applefeld)

This time of year you can enjoy the outdoor pool, tennis, the 18-hole putting course and the beautiful flowers in Hershey Gardens.

This is 23 acres of landscaped flowers in 11 themed gardens. Recently, I gazed upon the thousands of blooming tulips. In summer you’ll be amazed at the close to 5,000 roses.

Other activities include an indoor pool, basketball, horseshoes, shuffleboard, falconry, yes falconry, the spa, which is visited by folks in the entire region, watching the fish in the two pools in the Formal Gardens. You can also walk around the grounds and shopping.

Retail outlets can be found inside.

Incidentally, some of those spa treatments include chocolate.  Can you imagine!

When hunger strikes, you have five options.  When swimming, there’s the pool cafe (outside), Cocoa Beanery, a cafe and retail, Trevi 5 for lunch and dinner, the Iberian Lounge for dinner and drinks and the main room, the Circular Dining Room serving all three meals.

I had a most delightful fish dish for dinner – and the view out all the windows is outstanding.

The hotel has received the Triple A Four Diamond Award, but rates are tricky.  They vary with type of room, location of room and time of year.

Whether it's playing golf, shopping, going swimming or just relaxing, Hershey Hotel has plenty of options - and it provides shuttles to Hershey Park
Whether it’s playing golf, shopping, going swimming or just relaxing, Hershey Hotel has plenty of options – and it provides shuttles to Hershey Park. (Eddie Applefeld)

The rate that was quoted to me was $359.00 on the high end, but with specials and package plans, lower rates can be found.

I can’t leave just yet.  I must add a little about Hersheypark.  It’s probably less than a mile from the hotel and is reachable by shuttle.

If you like roller coasters, here’s your place.

I didn’t count them, but there’s got to be at least 14.

New this year is Laff Track, an indoor coaster.

On those really hot summer days the Water Park is filled with people in various means of undress trying to stay cool.

Kids can stay here all day. Many parents like to drop their kids off here Memorial Day and come back for them Labor Day.

Attached to the park is Zoo America, free with park admission.

I love this zoo. Yes, it is small, but to me that is one of the good things.  You don’t have to stay all day to see all the animals.  The zoo displays over 200 North American animals.

Other attractions around the park would include Chocolate World, the Hershey Story and about four miles away Founders Hall, the visitor’s center for the Hershey School.  I will add Chocolate World contains a fun ride, very slow and easy, that takes you through the chocolate making process without a lot of detail.  It drops you off in a huge retail area.

There is more to Hershey than what you’re reading here as I said at the top.  So to get all the info you need call 717-533-2171 for the hotel or go to hersheypa.dot com for general area information.

Hershey Pa: the Sweetest Place on Earth.

I just made that up!!