Visit My Adventures to read about our trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania and see pictures on my Photos page or by clicking into the album through one of the images posted.

Date of trip: 2004, November 2010

There are few things more American than a Hershey’s chocolate bar and when I learned there was a town built around Hershey’s chocolate, I had to visit. I expected it to be a fun trip to a kitschy, dated, amusement park but Hershey is so much more than that.

Highlights:

-The Hotel Hershey was built in the 1930s and is a member of the Historic Hotels of America. It’s expensive but it shouldn’t be missed even if you don’t spend the night. There’s a huge full service spa offering chocolate treatments, several excellent restaurants including the stunning Circular Dining Room, and some great gift shops. Outside, the grounds include beautiful gardens and a skating rink!

-Hersheypark was originally created for the employees of the Hershey’s Chocolate Factory but these days it’s a well loved family destination open to the public. It may not be as exciting as some of the bigger theme parks in the country, but it has its fair share of excellent roller coasters, including a wooden one from the 1940s. Other favorites are the old fashioned Carousel and the Kissing Tower, a rotating observation deck with Hershey Kiss windows. The park is most visited in the summer but it’s open for special events throughout the year.

-My favorite place in Hershey is Hershey’s Chocolate World because there are so many fun attractions there. The 3-D show is as cool as anything you’ll see in Disney, a ride shows you how Hershey candies are made and a chocolate tasting teaches you about the different varieties of chocolate that the company produces. There’s a huge store where you can buy clothes, souvenirs and plenty of candy and a food court offers many dining options including delicious Hershey’s baked goods and ice cream specialities.

-The newest attraction in Hershey is The Hershey Story a museum all about Milton Hershey, how he started the company and the legacy he left. Despite his success, it’s amazing to learn how many times Hershey failed during his life. His is truly a story of perseverance. I also loved discovering all the philanthropy efforts supported by the company, especially the Milton Hershey School for underprivileged kids. It made me want to go out and buy a candy bar to support the cause.

When I travel, I love relating places I visit to life today. Whether or not you like Hershey’s chocolate, there’s no arguing it’s place in American and world culture. The great thing about Hershey is that it’s not only historically significant but it’s also fun, luxurious and delicious! It’s perfect for families and couples of all ages and it can be as low key or as decadent as you like. There aren’t too many places that can please everyone, but Hershey is definitely one of them.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Hershey Links:
Hershey Official Site
Hotel Hershey
Hersheypark
Hershey’s Chocolate World
The Hershey Story

I came across this great offer from Delta and American Express today. From now until May 31, 2011 you can earn a 50% bonus on Membership Rewards points transferred to your Delta Skymiles account if you’ve never done a transfer between them before. You will also get 25,000 Medallion Miles when you transfer at least 50,000 points – enough for elite status. So, if you transfer 50,000 points you’ll get 75,000 miles plus Silver Medallion status for next year.

This is an excellent offer if you consider that AMEX points are valued at around $100 per 10,000. A transfer of 67,000 points would get you 100,500 miles which is enough for a first class ticket to Europe. That’s a ticket worth at least $6,000 for points worth $670! Add the elite status bonus and it’s worth even more.

Remember: This has to be the first transfer you’ve made between the two for you to be eligible for this offer. Also, you must REGISTER before you transfer the points on this page:

http://dmn.delta.com/offers/getmore/

In a bold move to improve their Skymiles program, Delta has eliminated frequent flier mile expiration effective January 1, 2011. That means if your miles were set to expire on or after that date, they no longer will. It’s nice to have one less thing to worry about when it comes to tracking miles, but it’s also worth noting that miles will always decrease in value over time due to increased award rates and fees. So use them when you can!

I love this micro-bead filled travel pillow. Sometimes there’s nothing like a little bit of color to lift your spirits when dealing with the hassles involved in traveling!

$20 Flight 001

American Airlines and JetBlue Airways are allowing travelers to earn frequent flier miles in each others programs on select routes. TrueBlue members can earn miles on 17 American flights and AAdvantage members can earn miles on 35 JetBlue flights. For more info, go to aa.com/jetblue.

PetSmart PetPerks members can save up to $50 each way on travel for their pets on Continental Airlines. If you’re not a member, you can sign up for free at any PetSmart. Every little bit helps!