Best Things to do at Hersheypark (8 Hersheypark Can’t Miss Moments!)

Today we are sharing the best things to do at Hersheypark. These are our picks for the best Hersheypark can’t miss moments!

My first ever visit to Hersheypark was in 2004. My husband and I spent the weekend at Hersheypark Springtime in the Park. It was a really fun event and a great way to check out the park. Fast forward 14 years later and we visited with our family of five. I couldn’t believe that it was 14 years to the date that my husband and I had our first Hersheypark visit.

In the last 4 years we have visited Hersheypark multiple times. We have stayed on-site at the Hershey Lodge, The Hotel Hershey, and the Hershey Campgrounds. We have experienced Hersheypark in the Dark for Halloween and Hershey Christmas Candylane during the holidays.

Visiting Hersheypark is great any season because of their great lodging options and seasonal events.

These are the family traditions that we love! Each season and visit is different, and we like to watch the kids enjoy new experiences as they grow-up. After visiting many times, we have come up with this list of the best things to do at Hersheypark during your Hershey, PA vacation.

8 Things to do at Hersheypark with Your Family

Ride Laff Trakk

The first thing we ride on every visit is Laff Trakk. It is a fun house themed indoor roller coaster. With a height of 42 inches, all of us can ride and it has become a family favorite. When you arrive at Hersheypark I suggest starting with Laff Trakk because it can get long lines through the day. We rode it 3x in a row because we were one of the first to arrive.

Be prepared to walk because Laff Trakk is at the very end of the park. Starting here works for us and then we work our way back to the front of the park. This is our favorite ride at Hersheypark and we make sure we ride it every visit!

Meet Characters at Hersheypark

A visit to Hersheypark wouldn’t be complete without meeting KISS or Hershey. We have also met Reese and KitKat. If you are visiting during Halloween or Christmas you will see them dressed up for the season.

Often you will find them around the carousel and typically the lines are short. You can also meet them near the ZooAmerica entrance. Check your guide to find times and locations.

Animals at Hersheypark

If you have an animal lover in your family you can walk over to ZooAmerica. A visit to ZooAmerica is included in your Hersheypark admission ticket. It is a small zoo but a nice quiet place to walk around in the afternoon. We enjoyed the quieter pace and it was a break from the action of the theme park.

There is also a water show called Our Friends from the Sea. Featuring the seals Bumper and Mango, this is a great place to take a break from walking the park.

Realted Post: Behind the Scenes After Hours Tour at ZooAmerica

Lunch at Chickie & Pete’s

It is always about the food for us and we have two favorites when we visit the parks. The first is Chickie & Pete’s. You will find two Chickie & Pete’s locations inside the park.

One is near The Boardwalk entrance and the other is in Pioneer Frontier. I cannot recommend this place enough. They have burgers and chicken fingers but we go for the Crabfries. Fries are perfectly acceptable for lunch on vacation…right??!!

Try a King Sized Shake

When in Hershey you have to enjoy something sweet. There are so many options for sweet treats inside the park but our all time favorite is the Kind Sized Shake. The King Sized Shake at Simply Chocolate doesn’t disappoint. With many different flavors and options this is a great treat to share…if you can pick only one!!

Awesome Roller Coasters

My kids are not quite tall enough to ride some of the big coasters, but if you love roller coasters Hersheypark has some of the best. We like to ride any roller coasters that we can all enjoy as a family.

Our favorites are The Comet and the Trailblazer. They are great for kids that aren’t tall enough for the really big coasters but still enjoyable for the entire family. They are adding a brand new thrilling roller coaster to the park in 2020 called Candymonium. It will be the tallest and fastest coaster in the park.

Rides for Everyone of All Ages

When we visit theme parks we like to stick together. I don’t want to split our family up. I love that there are rides for everyone spread throughout the park. There are kiddie rides and bigger rides in most areas so you don’t have to split your family up for too long.

Enjoy the Special Seasonal Events

The seasonal events have become part of our family traditions. In the fall we visit Hersheypark in the Dark for some not so scary Halloween fun. In winter we visit Hersheypark Christmas Candylane for a chance to see the park light up with Christmas spirit. During the spring Hersheypark has their Springtime in the Park event that welcomes visitors to the park for the opening season.

Things to Know for Your Hersheypark Visit:

• Hersheypark is huge. Be ready to walk and become familiar with the park map before you arrive. This will save you from walking back and forth. You can check out the map here.
• Order tickets online before you arrive. This saves you time waiting for tickets in the morning.
• Check your kids heights before you enter the park and plan your day based on what attractions are best for your family.
• Use the Hersheypark App to check wait times, ride closures, and height requirements.
• There is a full water park called The Boardwalk. This is located inside Hersheypark. The Boardwalk is open seasonally for the summer. Learn more here.
• 2020 will be a different season due to COVID-19. As of publishing Hersheypark is set to open on July 3, 2020.

With so many things to do at Hersheypark you and your family will need the entire day to explore. It has always been a favorite park for our family to visit and its a family tradition we enjoy year after year.

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