45 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Hershey PA

There are so many fun things to do with kids in Hershey PA. It is a great family friendly destination for a weekend getaway or a family vacation. Today we are sharing the best things to do with kids in Hershey Pennsylvania.

Hershey, PA is truly the sweetest place on earth with chocolate inspired attractions, Milton S. Hershey history, some of the best collection of roller coasters, and many family fun attractions. A lot of the attractions revolve around chocolate and you will find fun activities for the entire family.

Best Things to Do with Kids in Hershey, PA

1. Ride Laff Trakk at Hersheypark
2. Taste Test Chocolate at the Hershey Story Museum
3. Take a ride on the Hershey Factory Tour at Hershey’s Chocolate World.
4. Experience a Hershey Trolley Works Tour.
5. Enjoy the view from the Kissing Tower at Hersheypark.
6. Walk through ZooAmerica to see animals of North America.
7. Take a early morning or late evening tour of ZooAmerica.
8. Enjoy breakfast at The Circular restaurant at the Hotel Hershey.
9. Make S’mores and go camping at Hersheypark Camping Resort.
10. Spend the day at the Boardwalk, Hersheyparks water park. (Seasonal)
11. Enjoy Hershey Lodge Water Works as a guest at the Hershey Lodge.
12. Create your own unique candy bar at Hershey’s Chocolate World.
13. Watch the Great Candy Expedition at Hershey’s Chocolate World.
14. Enjoy a King Size Shake at Simply Chocolate inside Hersheypark.
15. Eat Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab Fries inside Hersheypark.
16. See the Butterfly Observatory at Hershey Gardens.
17. Indulge in a Spa treatment at the Hershey Spa located in the Hotel Hershey.
18. Meet characters inside Hersheypark.
19. Shop at the World’s Largest Hershey gift shop inside Hershey’s Chocolate World.
20. Learn about the journey of your chocolate bar from bean to bar in Hershey’s Unwrapped at Chocolate World.
21. Enjoy a sweet treat from Hershey’s Chocolate World bakery.
22. Trick or Treat at Hersheypark in the Dark for Halloween. (Seasonal)
23. Visit Santa at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane for the Holidays. (Seasonal)
24. Take a drive to see the holiday lights at Hershey Sweet Lights.
25. Help save the day on Reese’s Cupfusion at Hersheypark.
26. Visit The Hershey Story Museum to learn about the impact Milton Hershey had on the town.
27. Stop at Duck Donuts to create your unique tasty treat.
28. Visit Troeg’s Brewery for giant pretzels.
29. Check out the antique cars at the Hershey Antique Automobile Museum.
30. Enjoy an original Hershey Chocolate Bar where it all began.
31. Go see a show at the Hershey Theater.
32. Make a reservation at the Chocolatier and try the chocolate infused food.
33. Ride Candymonium at Hersheypark.
34. Watch a Hershey Bears Hockey Game
35. Founders Hall Visitors Center at Milton Hershey School
36. Hershey History Center
37. Adventure Sports in Hershey
38. Tanger Outlets Hershey
39. Pennsylvania State Police Museum
40. See a show at Giant Center
41. Get tickets to a Broadway touring show at the Hershey Theater
42. Take a hike at nearby Hawk Rock (a day trip about 35 miles away)
43. National Civil War Museum (Harrisburg area)
44. Turkey Hill Ice Cream Experience (Harrisburg area)
45. Wildwood Park (Harrisburg area)

Free Things to Do in Hershey, PA

Many of the things to do in Hershey, PA require an admission ticket but we have had the best time visiting Hershey Chocolate World without purchasing any of the extras.

The Hershey Factory Tour ride is free to all visitors and it is open year-round! Visitors may also want to take in the scenic Appalachian Trail for some outdoor time.

Want More? Read on for details on things to do in Hershey, PA and our suggestions for where to stay!

Where to Stay in Hershey PA: Hershey Accomodations

We have stayed at the local hotels for a few visits but some of the best places to stay are the Hershey Resorts. They offer great accommodations and many on-site perks like transportation to the park and early entry. They also have daily activities for families.

Hershey Lodge

Hershey Lodge is a great place for families because it has Hershey Water Works, an indoor water park available for on-site guests. After a fun day at the parks it was great to let the kids burn off some steam playing in the splash pads and water slides.

If you are considering a stay at Hershey Lodge I recommend reading my post, Hershey Lodge: A Family Weekend Getaway, that goes into more details about our stay.

Hersheypark Camping Resort

If you enjoy camping and are on a budget, Hersheypark Camping Resort is a good choice. At the resort they have cabins and camping sites.

As a family of five I appreciated the space it gave us and I loved having our own kitchen to prepare a few meals. I go into more details of what you need for your stay at the cabins in my post, Hersheypark Camping Resort Winter Stay.

The Hotel Hershey

The Hershey Hotel is the last of the three Hershey resorts and it is the most luxurious. It has a spa, a Kid’s Club(additional cost), an indoor and outdoor pool, private luxury cottages, and on-site restaurants.

This is family travel luxury and is may be worth the splurge on your Hershey visit.

My favorite part of the Hotel Hershey is the Circular that offers amazing dining options for families. You can learn more about staying at the Hotel Hershey in our post.

There are other off-site Hershey locations to stay at that may save you money and offer great family friendly accommodations. Check out The Suites at Hershey for another option.

Our 17 Favorite Things to Do in Hershey, PA

We have visited Hershey many times in the last few years and have experienced many family attractions near Hershey, PA including Hersheypark as well as other downtown Hershey attractions.

As we return year after year, we found that we have our favorite family activities we keep going back to. We created this list for your family to plan an awesome visit to Hershey, Pennsylvania.

We’ve included some of our favorite attractions at Hersheypark as well as things to do around Hershey, PA outside the amusement park.

If you are staying in Hershey consider a stay at one of the three on-site Hershey resorts. You can find great prices during the off-season too.

Hershey’s Chocolate Tour

Hershey’s Chocolate Tour is a ride attraction. You board moving carts that take you through the history and creation of Hershey Chocolate.

This free tour has a catchy song and animatronic Hershey characters throughout the tour. It is fun for the entire family. You even receive a special Hershey treat at the end.

Create a Candy Bar

If you have ever wanted to create your own candy bar this is for you! Guest will take a 45 minute authentic Hershey factory tour and create their own candy bar at the conclusion.

This does require reservations and you must purchase tickets, I suggest calling ahead or ordering online.

Chocolate Tasting

Enjoy all the many flavors of chocolate and step inside the chocolate tasting lab. Here you will be immersed in the sights and smells of chocolate and discover what your favorite chocolate is. Tickets can be purchased online or in the lobby.

Trolley Tours

The Summer Trolley Tours takes you on a tour of Hershey, PA and shares the story and history of Milton Hershey. The tour is family friendly and requires reservations that can be made online or in the lobby of Hershey Chocolate World.

They also offer many different tours through out the year.

• Historical Trolley Tour is offered year round and takes you on a tour of the town with a tour guide that shares all about the history of Hershey.
• Seasonal Trolley Tour is offered Memorial Day-Labor Day and has actors as your tour guide to engage and entertain while learning about the history of Hershey.
• Seasonal Trick or Treat Trolley blends the entertainment of the Seasonal Trolley Tour with some kid friendly Halloween fun.
• Seasonal Holly Jolly Trolley is a Christmas themed tour with a visit from Santa Claus!
• Sweet Lights Trolley drives through Hershey Sweet Lights celebration during the Christmas holiday. This is a great way to see the lights and not have to worry about driving and waiting in line.

Tickets for all the attractions at Hershey Chocolate World can be found on their website. To save on ticket prices consider purchasing your tickets online and as a bundle.

Try a Milkshake at Simply Chocolate

I know you can have a milkshake anywhere but nothing compares to the milkshakes at Simply Chocolate inside Hersheypark. Simply Chocolate is home to the King Size Shake and it truly lives up to it’s name.

We tried the Hershey Kiss one and it was perfect to share!

Share a Bucket of Fries at Chickie’s & Pete’s

Chickie’s & Pete’s have two locations inside Hersheypark: Pioneer Frontier and the Boardwalk. The Crabfries are our number one choice during our visit and we always purchase the big bucket to share.

Often this replaces a meal or we will add on a basket of chicken fingers. We never skip this on our visits!

Meet Characters at Hersheypark

At Hersheypark you have the opportunity to meet all different Hershey characters. Typically we see Kiss, Hershey, and Reese, but there have been moments where we have seen Twizzler or Jolly Rancher.

Check the park guide book when you arrive for time and locations. Be sure to meet the characters during the seasonal events to see them dressed for the season.

Rides at Hersheypark

Hersheypark is known for it’s thrill rides but what I have always loved about visiting is that there are rides and attractions for all ages. We love riding Laff Trakk(an indoor coaster), the Monorail around the park, and the Reese Cupfusion.

There are also big coasters for your older children and many rides that are for the little ones. Some of the most popular rides are Wildcat’s Revenge and Candymonium roller coaster.

Check out this article that tells you about the rides and Hersheypark ride height restrictions.

Enjoy the View of Hershey on the Hershey Kissing Tower (Hersheypark)

I am not the biggest fan of heights but a ride up the Hershey Kissing Tower is the best way to see some breathtaking views of Hershey, PA. It is a slow climb and great for all ages. It gives you a 360 degree view of the town of Hershey.

ZooAmerica

ZooAmerica is a Zoo located inside Hersheypark. They have animal exhibits that focus on North American Wildlife. It is a small sized zoo and you could spend about 1-2 hours depending on the age of your kids and their interest in animals.

Typically we will visit for about an hour.  When you purchase tickets to Hersheypark, ZooAmerica is included in your ticket.

Hersheypark Halloween

Hersheypark Halloween is Hersheypark’s annual Halloween seasonal event. Walk around the park dressed up in your favorite costume and stop at the special Trick or Treat stops along the way.

Read all the details for Halloween at Hershey in this post: Halloween at Hersheypark

Christmas Candylane

Christmas Candylane is the holiday event that typically runs mid-November until January 1st. The park is decorated with holiday lights, the characters are wearing their holiday costumes, and there are special attractions throughout the park.

Your family can meet Santa and see his reindeer and there are a few rides and attractions open.

Hershey Sweet Lights

Hershey Sweet Lights is 2 miles of holiday lights set along a wooded area near Hersheypark. It is not located in Hersheypark and you can purchase your tickets online.

I recommend arriving early because the car line can get very busy. Learn more in this article, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane: A Family Holiday Tradition

Hershey Chocolatetown

Hershey Chocolatetown is a dining and shopping addition right outside the Hersheypark gates. It has a sit down dining restaurant, the Chocolatier, as well as a large gift shop and sweet shop.

The Chocolatier is great to try their chocolate inspired appetizers. It has some of the best food at Hersheypark.

Hershey Gardens

Hershey Gardens is an outdoor garden area to explore. They have a children’s garden area as well as an indoor butterfly garden. The outdoor area is the largest part and the rose garden is beautiful in full bloom.

If you can time your visit when you can explore outdoors. They also have seasonal Halloween and Christmas events that look fun during the off-season visits.

Hershey Story Museum

The Hershey Story Museum shares the history of the town of Hershey, where it started, and how it got where it is today. The kids loved visiting because they had a special scavenger hunt activity for the kids to participate in during our visit.

Duck Donuts

Duck Donuts is our most recent discovery on our Hershey visits and we will definitely be back. Duck Donuts offers a customized donut experience.

You can pick the toppings and flavors you like and create your best donuts ever! The kids can’t wait to go back and create their next specialized donut.

There are many things to do with kids in Hershey, Pa that are great for a day trip or a family weekend getaway making it a year round destination for families.

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Read Next: Best Hersheypark Food Options for Your Day at the Park

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