Food Fun Family

Hershey’s Kitchens LIVE!

CandyMan — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 14:56:54 +0000

Our family kicked off the holiday season at Hersheypark in November as part of my wife’s Sweetest Moms ambassadorship. Our park admission and some activities were covered by Hersheypark, but all thoughts are our own. Photos that are not watermarked are courtesy of the Hershey’s Kitchens LIVE team.

What weekend getaway is complete without ending up as a guest chef on a cooking show?

When you go to Hershey’s Chocolate World, just about anything can happen.

We’ve been to Hersheypark many times. For many years we even had family that lived in nearby Hummelstown. It was always easy to run up and see them for a weekend and catch a few rides at the park or stop in for a treat or two at Chocolate World.

This time we were in for a new surprise. As I was waiting for Lolli to pick up our tickets to a few of the Chocolate World activities, I spotted a table that had a signup sheet to be part of the Hershey’s Kitchens Live and as chance would have it, they still had an opening for the 7 PM show.

Not knowing what we had to do, I jumped at the chance and signed our names on the line.

We were able to run around Hersheypark, take a tour of Chocolate World, do some shopping, and catch a show before coming back for the taping.

In a nutshell, the Herhsey’s Kitchens Live host put each family against another family in a cookie decorating contest while they joked around with the audience, had fun audience participation games. If you like chocolate and you like decorating cookies, then this is the show for you. I was able to eat a couple pounds of chocolate while decorating. It was a chocolate free-for-all. Thank goodness we had eaten dinner before heading to the taping.

On our show, Lolli, Necco, Reese and I were put on stage opposite a younger and clearly less seasoned family of three. Honestly, it really wasn’t a fair competition with my creativity. With 12 minutes to decorate a tray of cookies, the problem wasn’t what would we do, but how would the other family endure such cold humiliation.

Fortunately, as the Hershey’s Kitchens Live video shows, there were many families who struggled to create edibles as finely adorned as we were able to do.

I even took a break midway to suck down some frosting. I think my Princess Leia cookies were the clear winner and have the added bonus of taking the least amount of time to create.

At the end of the day, we had a great time frosting cookies, hamming it up for the camera, and we even went home with a 5 lb. bar of chocolate. What could be better than that?

See if you can spot us (right around 2:22) – we clearly didn’t get adequate screen time.

https://youtu.be/HEYD7EZwfaw

Check out the other events happening at Chocolate World during the holiday season and beyond!

6 Things to Do at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane

Lolli — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:00:32 +0000

My family and I spent last weekend kicking off the holiday season at Hersheypark as part of my Sweetest Moms ambassadorship. Our park admission and some activities were covered by Hersheypark, but all thoughts are my own.

Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane began Friday, November 11th and is open on select dates through Sunday, January 1, 2017. For operational hours and dates visit www.Hersheypark.com.

Tickets are only $19 and free for kids 2 and under.

I highly recommend bundling up and bringing layers when you visit the park during the holiday season. It’s kind of fun to take a break from our normal summer visits and enjoy the park fully decked out for Christmas. There are festive lights everywhere, Christmas music playing around every corner, and…refillable Hershey’s hot chocolate! It doesn’t get much better than all the hot chocolate you can drink (note: souvenir hot chocolate mugs can be purchased at most of the food vendors throughout the park and can be filled for free on the first day or for 99 cents after the first day. I recommend buying the mug as soon as you get to the park!).

Here are 6 things to do at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane:

Enjoy 5 Fabulous Roller Coasters

Bundle up and enjoy 5 of Hersheypark’s fun and fabulous roller coasters: Cocoa Cruiser, sooperdooperLooper, Wildcat, Wild Mouse, and Laff Trakk. There are a ton of kids rides open as well.

Meet Santa and His Reindeer

Santa is available at Hersheypark (near the Kissing Tower…just follow the signs!) for pictures and the obligatory “gift discussion.”

You can also schedule breakfast or lunch at Hersheypark Place. You get a delicious meal and entertainment from Mrs. Clause and her friends, singing, story telling and a treat for everyone 12 and under. There are tons of photo opportunities with Santa himself. Reservations are required.

Santa’s 9 reindeer (including fan-favorite, Rudolph) are also available for a visit. You can ask the reindeer’s special handlers any question you can think of. We learned a lot about reindeer antlers (did you know that they get a new set of antlers EVERY year and that you can tell reindeer apart by their antlers, which are totally unique from other reindeer?).

A Music Box Christmas

A mysterious music box found in Grandma’s attic brings the magic of Christmas to life in this delightful show that “kids” of all ages will enjoy! Expect lots of dancing and songs and a special, sparkly surprise at the end! A Music Box Christmas can be seen at the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre at Hersheypark.
Presented by Capitol BlueCross

NOEL (“Nights of Extraordinary Lights”) at The Hollow

NOEL, a breathtaking light show featuring more than 200,000 dancing lights synchronized to your favorite Christmas music, is something you can’t miss on your winter trip to Hersheypark! Shows are every half hour starting at 5 PM (when the park is open). Note: there are a few different shows, with a unique variety of holiday tunes, so be sure to check back a few times during the night.

Christmas Candylane Storytime

Join one of Santa’s elves for a holiday story at the Cookie Workshop, located in Kissing Tower Hill.

Weeknights: 6 & 7:30 PM
Saturdays & Sundays: 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 6 & 7:30 PM
Dec. 24, 31 & Jan. 1: 2:30, 3:30 & 4:30 PM

Rudolph’s Skating Pond

Enjoy “ice” skating on Rudoplh’s synthetic skating pond. You can rent skates for a small fee (I believe it was $2 or $3) right next to the reindeer stables.

Photo courtesy of Hershey

What are you most excited to do at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane? Be sure to check back, because I’ll be bringing more family-fun coverage of our trip, including our stay at Hersheypark’s Camping Resort, our appearance on Hershey’s Kitchens Live, and fun things to do at Hershey’s Chocolate World.

Hersheypark in the Dark

Lolli — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 03:04:39 +0000

As part of my Sweetest Moms Ambassadorship this year, my girls and I were invited to spend Saturday (which happened to be my birthday!) at Hersheypark for the opening weekend of Hersheypark in the Dark – Hersheypark’s annual Halloween celebration. Although we were given tickets, we covered all travel expenses and food ourselves. All thoughts are my own.

Fall is my favorite season – with the changing leaves, the cooler temperatures, and the acceleration towards my favorite holidays of the year.

After spending the weekend at Hersheypark, I’ve convinced that fall is also the perfect time to be in Hershey! Hersheypark is transformed into a festive Halloween town, with family-friendly activities and lots and lots of chocolate. Hersheypark is fun all day long, but it becomes magical at night when the sun goes down and the lights come on. I loved the festive Halloween lights, the singing jack-o-lanterns, and the festive music being played throughout the park.

But I think my favorite Hersheypark in the Dark perk was the Pumpkin Pie Funnel Cake – a seasonal treat featuring a pumpkin spice funnel cake drizzled with cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with crumbled graham crackers, and topped with whipped cream. It was heavenly.

Hersheypark In The Dark

Hersheypark In The Dark takes place Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from October 14 – 30 (2016 schedule)

Here are a few of the things you can expect from Hersheypark in the Dark as well as other area attractions:

More than 50 rides and attractions including 13 roller coasters and Halloween-themed live entertainment.

NEW Laff Trakk will be a dark ride experience (ie, NO LIGHTS!) during all operating hours. In addition, the Park will once again turn the lights off the last operating hour of each evening on the three wooden roller coasters: Comet, Lightning Racer and Wildcat.

Hershey’s Trick-or-Treat Adventure with two locations – Hershey’s Chocolate World and Treatville, a hometown village of treats and sweets inside Hersheypark, for children 12 and younger (costumes are encouraged).
Fall-themed food and beverage offerings including pumpkin funnel cakes, pumpkin chili and more!

Live entertainment including favorites “Screaming Mummies,” a band of misfit mummies and their classic Halloween tunes, performing in the Amphitheatre. Additional entertainment offerings including “Boo Crew,” “Monster Party,” and “Treatville Tales” will be located at the exit of Treatville.

Hersheypark In The Dark will offer meet and greet opportunities with your favorite Hershey’s Characters.

For more information about Hersheypark in the Dark, plus hours of operation, visit www.hersheypark.com/seasons/halloween.php.

Laff Trakk is our favorite ride at Hersheypark, but I have to admit…it WAS scarier with the lights out!

Creatures Of The Night at ZooAmerica

Just like the rest of the year, your one-price admission to hersheypark in the Dark also includes admission to ZooAmerica. Starting at 6:00pm every night, guest are encouraged to come to the Zoo with their flashlights to experience Creatures of the Night…after dark and after-hours. This is the only time of the year when guests can experience ZooAmerica in the dark!

See ZooAmerica’s newest additions – two black bears and two armadillos!
Guests may observe the nocturnal habits of North American species with programs and activities nightly starting at 6:00pm (like howling with the wolves!)
Pumpkin treats for select animals.

My girls and I thought it would be fun to howl with the wolves…and it was! Once people and wolves started howling at the full moon (and it really WAS a full moon!), it was hard not to join in.

Hershey’s Chocolate World

We love Hershey’s Chocolate World all year long (especially because it’s a place we can go for good food, entertainment, and as much candy as you could dream of….with free admission!) but like Hersheypark, Chocolate World has some Halloween-themed fun you don’t want to miss!

Hershey’s Trick-Or-Treat Adventure: The candy collecting begins at Hershey’s Chocolate World and continues inside Hersheypark.
Full Moon Fridays: Dress up and enter Hershey Hallow for spook-tacular music, dancing with the Hershey’s Characters and more ghostly activities.

Flavors of Fall Dessert Festival: Bite into the delicious flavors of fall, such as the Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
Trick-or-Treat Trolley: Limited edition tours featuring Milton Hershey’s life story in a fall themed Trolley with plenty of treats and no tricks.
Tricky Treats & Sweets: Shop Halloween treats in Hershey’s largest candy store and pick up delightful sweets from the bakery.

The Hershey Story Museum

Visitors can learn about the history of chocolate at The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue, and families can experience Ghosts & Goodies: Kids are encouraged to wear their favorite costume as they create ghostly treats using Hershey’s candy. This is a FREE event and is held October 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hershey Gardens

Hershey Gardens lights up the night with more than 150 uniquely carved illuminated pumpkins and a variety of whimsical scarecrows that come to life along the path, during its annual Pumpkin Glow. Kids ages 12 and younger are invited to bring a flashlight, come in costume, trick-or-treat throughout the Gardens and experience the following activities:

NEW See a unique collection of live spiders and insects in the Educational & Horticultural Wing of the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory.
Listen to a garden-themed story.
Collect candy treats at stops along the Gardens’ paths.
Watch live pumpkin carving demonstrations.

Pumpkin Glow is from 6 to 8:30pm on October 21, 22, 28 and 29. Tickets may be purchased online at www.HersheyGardens.com or at the door. Please note, the Butterfly Atrium will be closed during Pumpkin Glow hours.

The Official Resorts of Hersheypark

Stay overnight at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark for the perfect fall getaway. Don’t forget that Hershey’s Water Works at Hershey Lodge is new this year and open all year round for guests!

There’s a special Hersheypark In The Dark Package available at Hershey Lodge which includes:

Deluxe accommodations.
Breakfast with Hershey’s Characters.
One-day admission to Hersheypark In The Dark.
Admission to Hershey Gardens (including the new year-round Butterfly Atrium).
Admission to The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience.
The package is available Friday and Saturday nights from October 14 -30 with prices starting from $469*.

*Price is per room per night, based on a family of four. Excludes tax and gratuities. Other restrictions may apply.

The Spa At The Hotel Hershey

Through November 30, The Spa At The Hotel Hershey offers guests fall-themed treatments to relax their mind and body such as Pumpkin Latte Manicure & Pedicure, Pumpkin Soufflé Wrap and Pumpkin Spice Scrub. Please visit www.ChocolateSpa.com for treatments offerings, pricing and additional information.

For additional information, hours and pricing for Halloween In Hershey, please visit www.HersheyPA.com. Follow us on Twitter @HersheyPA, Instagram @TheSweetestPlaceOnEarth and enjoy the latest stories from Hershey, PA at Stories.HersheyPA.com.

Top 10 Reasons to Stay at Hershey Lodge

Lolli — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 22:28:27 +0000

My family recently traveled to Hershey, Pennsylvania as part of my Sweetest Moms ambassadorship. Although our overnight accommodations at Hershey Lodge and Hersheypark tickets were compensated, all thoughts and opinions are my own. #SweetestMoms #hersheyparkHappy

Last month, my family and I made a quick trip up to Hershey, PA for a quick family vacation. Though I had stayed at the Hershey Lodge before and attended a conference here perviously, this was the first time that the whole family was able to stay at the Lodge, and we had a blast! Our only complaint was that we couldn’t stay for a whole week instead of just one night. You know that feeling when the stresses of every day life start to melt away when you’re on vacation? That happens FAST at Hershey Lodge…and I wanted that feeling to stay!

Here are a few of the things that we LOVE about Hershey Lodge and why YOU should plan to stay here when you come to visit Hersheypark:

The beds are the ultimate in comfort. I’m picky when it comes to beds, and the beds at Hershey Lodge are some of my favorite EVER. ANYWHERE. I mean, how can you go wrong with sheets that have Hershey’s Kisses all over them? PS – just a fun tip! If you love the sheets as much as I do, you can pick up a set to take home in the gift shop downstairs!

It’s so nice to have a place to crash after a long day at the park. I hate driving home after a tiring day at Hersheypark, so I LOVE being able to get “home” to the Lodge in just a few minutes for a nice restful night’s sleep.
Hershey Lodge has the BEST eating options! You never have to leave the hotel! Hershey Lodge has you covered for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Let me recommend the Hershey Grill for breakfast (I recommend the S’MORES FRENCH TOAST – chocolate ganache and toasted marshmallow crème anglaise over graham cracker brioche. Wow!), the Cocoa Beanery for any-time-of-day hot chocolate (yes, even in the summer!) and the Bear’s Den for a quick and easy family dinner. Also included at the Hershey Lodge are The Forebay (sit down dining), Lebbie Lebkicher’s (great for breakfast!), and Cocoa Cabana (the newest place to eat the the Lodge, located at Water Works).

Hershey’s Water Works! The newest PERK at Hershey Lodge is an amazing, family-friendly indoor water park for guests of the Lodge only, which means that you don’t have to worry about crowds OR weather. The kids and I loved hanging out at Water Works, which has something for everyone in the family…including a new place to eat – Cocoa Cabana – and a game room for when you’re tired of swimming. Plus, Water Works makes the Lodge a great destination all year long, even when the park is off-season or when the weather outside is less than ideal.

Perks for Hershey Lodge guests – Guests receive discounts on Hersheypark PLUS free tickets to Hershey Gardens and the Hershey Story.
The staff at the Lodge treat you like royalty. If you need anything at all – from an extra toothbrush to an extra towel – they are there to help with a smile. The Lodge staff really take service to the next level.
The atmosphere at the Lodge can’t be beat. It’s a true vacation! I could spend a day just hanging out in the Lodge lobby area. Lots of open seating, character visits, and all-around fun, relaxing atmosphere.

This kid is addicted to hot chocolate and he LOVED the hot chocolate at the Lodge!

The shuttle to and from Hersheypark means you don’t have to pay to park when you visit the park, and it’s SO quick and convenient to go back and forth. I felt SO SPOILED having my own “driver” to take me to and from the park…and the fact that the shuttle is always air conditioned is a huge perk during the summer!
The Lodge is very family-friendly and family-oriented. There are kids everywhere and it’s obvious that kids and families are welcome at the Lodge. I love going somewhere with the family that doesn’t make me feel awkward for bringing my big family along.
Hershey’s chocolate bars at check in for everyone! What better way to welcome guests than with CHOCOLATE? It is Hershey, PS, after all!

We got an extra special welcome package because I’m a Sweetest Moms ambassador. LOVED it!

Check out my other posts about Hersheypark:

7 tips to make the most of your summer day at Hersheypark
ZooAmerica at Hersheypark
The Chocolate Lab at The Hershey Story
Christmas time at Hersheypark
Hershey Gardens (a really old post…I’ve been going to Hershey for years!)

7 Tips to Make The Most of Your Day at Hersheypark #HersheyparkHappy

Lolli — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 13:59:52 +0000

The kids and I spent Memorial Weekend Saturday at Hersheypark and had SO. MUCH. FUN! Definitely a #HersheyparkHappy day! We were invited to attend a media dinner and family day as part of my Hersheypark Sweetest Moms ambassadorship. Hersheypark provided us with complimentary park passes as well as a family 4-pack of tickets to give away, but all thoughts are my own.

Psst! Don’t forget to enter to WIN a family 4-pack of tickets to Hersheypark at the end of this post!

Hersheypark is OUR park. We feel so at home there and love every visit. Since the summer season is a great time to plan a trip to Hersheypark, I wanted to share some of my favorite tips for making the most out of your summer day at Hersheypark.

7 Tips For Making The Most of Your Summer Day at Hersheypark

Get a refillable drink cup – It’s so important to stay hydrated when you’re walking around Herhseypark, especially in the summer heat. When my kids don’t drink enough, they drag….and get extra cranky. We don’t have time for that! We always get a few souvenir cups…they are 100% worth the money! Refills are 99 cents for the rest of the season, and the cups are easy to strap onto a backpack strap or stroller handle (just take my advice and don’t put a full cup inside a kid’s backpack because it will leave all over when that certain kid forgets about the drink and sets the backpack on the ground…). Here’s a healthy AND money-saving tip that I love: Ask for ice and water in your cup. It’s free!

Indoor activities and rides – Whether you schedule a ride on Laff Trakk, Reese’s Extreme Cup Challenge or the Monorail or take a break to watch a show, a little bit of time out of the sun (and often off your feet) seems to give everyone a needed boost. We love to spend some time during each Hersheypark visit at Chocolate World (free), which is just a short walk from the Hersheypark entrance.

Cool off – Spend some time at The Boardwalk (the 5-acre waterpark inside Hersheypark) – When the sun is out, the Boardwalk at Hersheypark is one of our favorite places to hang out! We always bring a change of clothes so that we can fully enjoy the water attractions. There are plenty of lockers for rent in the park so that you don’t have to carry your wet items around all day. Note: the 2016 season for the Boardwalk at Hersheypark is May 28 through September 5. You can always check dates and times at hersheypark.com/hours.

Take a mid-day break – We love taking a break in the middle of the day when the temperature is at its hottest and the kids are starting to wear down. Whether we head to our home base (the hotel or a friend’s house, for example), spend a little time at Chocolate World, leave the park for a restful lunch at a local restaurant, etc. the break is often worth the time away from the park. We head back to the park at night when the sun has gone down and the lines are not so long. Everybody comes back with renewed energy and excitement.

Dress smart – Good shoes are a must, since you’ll probably do quite a bit of walking during your visit to Hersheypark (unless you’re a lucky stroller-rider, in which case you’re probably not reading this…). Go for comfort in everything you choose to wear, and don’t forget to consider the weather. Sometimes it’s chilly in the morning or at night…be prepared with layers if needed. I find that wearing loose, light-colored tops and lighter-weight fabrics on the bottom make a huge different in my comfort level. Don’t forget a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, too!

Get the app – Before you head to the park, download the Hersheypark app (for iPhone and Android) to maximize your time. You can check ride times before you walk over to your favorites rides and even get alerts when they’re not busy. The app also includes an interactive, GPS-enabled app, which means you can get to where you want to go more quickly. The app also lets you know about show times, places to eat, and ways to save. It will even tell you exactly where you parked your car.

And no one wants to have to worry about remembering where the car is parked at the end of a long, exciting day at the park!

What are your best tips for enjoying a day at Hersheypark?

WIN a family 4-pack of tickets to Hersheypark!

I am so excited to share the Hersheypark love! One winner will receive a family 4-pack of tickets to the park. Tickets can be used at any time during the 2016 summer season and are good through September 25, 2016. Giveaway ends June 20, 2016 (the 1st day of summer!).

Note: you must be able to get to Hershey, PA. No travel or accommodations are included in this prize. A winner will be notified via email and I’ll be mailing the tickets personally. Good luck!

Entry -Form