- Why We Love It: dive into a world of chocolate with an amusement park, museums and other Hershey attractions
- Free Things to Do: chocolate tour, horse racing, Swatara Creek
- Getting there: 20 minutes from Harrisburg International Airport
- Where to Stay: Sunny Hershey Abode (from $238/night, sleeps 6); House in the Heart of Hershey (from $234/night, sleeps 9); Hershey Historical Home (from $370/night, sleeps 8)
Known as the “Sweetest Place on Earth,” Hershey is a great family destination for those who want to experience a theme park without the sky-high prices. It’s also a favorite cheap family vacation destination of PureWow’s VP of Editorial Content, Candace Davison, who has some *valuable* itinerary advice to share:
“If you're headed to Hershey, you have to make a pit stop at Hershey Gardens (the botanical gardens are lovely, and there's a kid zone, so little ones can let loose), as well as Hershey's Chocolate World. The latter is located right next to Hershey Park, and parking is free if you're there for less than three hours. The chocolate tour ride is free, and everyone gets a mini Hershey bar at the end, plus it's the place to stock up on all kinds of limited edition sweets that are harder to find anywhere else. While Hershey Lodge is pricier than other hotels in the area, it's worth visiting in the off-season, when rates are cheaper, and taking advantage of the hotel's many perks, like character meet and greets, s'mores making and—my family's favorite, the WaterWorks indoor water park. We'll spend half the day there, easily. Plus, your stay also comes with free tickets to Hershey Gardens and the Chocolate Museum.”
Oh, and in the event that you feel the need to burn off all that sugar, Swatara Creek and the Hershey Medical Center Trail are great places for outdoor activities, including 10 trails for hiking, biking, walking and kayaking. (Or just go all in with some seriously tasty savory food, which can be found at Houlihan’s or The Chocolate Avenue Grill—two restaurants that get stellar reviews for having diverse menus with expertly prepared dishes at a reasonable price.