Learn about things to do in Hershey, PA near Hersheypark that help to support a community.
Is There Anything to Do in Hershey Besides Hersheypark?
Hershey PA is usually known for only two things: chocolate, and Hersheypark. I have to admit, that’s all I think of when I think of Hershey!
There are actually other things to do in Hershey besides the amusement park. Here are a few of the things I’d recommend if you are visiting with your family.
Things to Do in Hershey Near Hersheypark
Hersheypark Stadium
Have you ever been to a concert at the Hersheypark Stadium? You can see some really awesome shows from big names there and at the Giant Center!
I was there for a show in Summer of 2014 and it was amazing! (In fact, I’ll be there this summer too!) I love that you’re outdoors listening to incredible music all while seeing the rides and roller coasters lit up in the background at Hersheypark.
This is the lineup for Summer 2019 so far:
- Alan Jackson (Giant Center)
- Trevor Noah (Giant Center)
- Luke Bryan
- Carrie Underwood (Giant Center)
- Adam Sandler (Giant Center)
- New Kids On The Block
- Thomas Rhett
- Kidz Bop (Giant Center)
- Breaking Benjamin
- Florida Georgia Line
- Backstreet Boys
- KISS
- Zac Brown Band
- Hootie and the Blowfish
So many great shows! Which one would you go to?
ZooAmerica
While you can get free admission to ZooAmerica with your Hersheypark ticket, you can also visit even if you’re not going to the park.
ZooAmerica has over 200 animals native to North America. You can walk around the 11 acre zoo during the day and even take Behind the Scenes Tours at night!
Hershey Gardens and Butterfly Atrium
The Hershey Gardens is a 23 acre garden with 11 themed gardens, including a Children’s Garden. You’ll also find 3,500 rose bushes there!
One of my favorite parts of the Hershey Gardens is the Butterfly Atrium inside the Conservatory. You enter into an indoor tropical atmosphere and walk among the many species of North American and Tropical butterflies.
If you stand still enough, one might even land on you! Kids LOVE this experience since they’re able to get so close to the butterflies.
View this post on Instagram
Note: If you’re staying at one of the Official Resorts of Hershey like the Hershey Lodge, you may get FREE tickets to visit the Hershey Gardens!
Hershey Theatre
Save the dates! There are some amazing off Broadway shows coming to the Hershey Theatre.
They also have other shows throughout the year, all which can be seen on their events page.
But let’s talk about the architecture inside… it’s stunning inside!
Milton Hershey and his team incorporated a Grecian style in the grand lobby and Venetian influence in the balcony. It really is beautiful no matter where you look.
Fun fact: the theatre was originally a movie theater!
Swipe through these images to see more!
View this post on Instagram
If you visit, don’t forget to look around a bit before you leave!
The Hershey Story
The Hershey Story is a museum dedicated to telling the story of Milton S. Hershey and how he overcame failures and setbacks to become one of the most inspirational chocolateers in history.
Not only was he an amazing business man, he was also committed to his community in ways that other business owners often aren’t.
Inside the Hershey Story are all kinds of artifacts related to Milton S. Hershey, his family, the Hershey company, and the company’s commitment to the community.
What’s great about this museum is that it’s interactive, which makes it fun for kids!
Before the tour, you are given a chip that helps you navigate through the interactive boards. At the end of the tour, you place your chip in the characteristic of Hershey that you appreciate the most. Your name is then added to a puzzle on the screen.
Swipe through these images to see more!
View this post on Instagram
You can also do chocolate tasting at Tastings inside The Hershey Story.
When I was there, we sampled 6 different warm drinking chocolates from around the world. You start with the highest percentage of cocoa beans solids and work your way down to the Hershey’s milk chocolate.
There are a couple of different ‘flights’ to try, including one just for kids.
My favorite? I have two: the Ghana and Java.
Swipe through these images to see more!
View this post on Instagram
Finally, there is the Chocolate Lab inside of the Hershey Story. You can take classes to learn how to make chocolate from scratch and how to use tools to work with chocolate. It is definitely a hands-on experience kids would enjoy!
The Hershey Trolley Works Tour
If your legs need a break but you’d still like to see more of Hershey, PA, check out the Hershey Trolley Works Tour.
On the trolley, you’ll hear the inspiring story of Milton Hershey and see the historical sites of Hershey like the original chocolate factory, Mr. Hershey’s birthplace, his home Highpoint Mansion, Chocolate Avenue, the Hershey Kiss Streetlights, Hershey Park, and Milton Hershey School.
View this post on Instagram
You’ll also get to sample a lot of chocolate as you travel along!
There are two different kinds tours offered: The Historical Tour and the Original Show. The Historical Tour is as I described above, but the Original Show involves some acting and singing about the history of Hershey.
It is definitely an entertaining tour!
You can learn more here about the Hershey Trolley Works Tour.
Okay, so I mentioned places that all are directly related to Hershey.
Want to know why?
Hershey’s Commitment to Community
I didn’t realize this, and I’m sure you might not know this, but here is an amazing fact:
Milton S. Hershey continuously placed the well-being of his workers and their families ahead of profits.
Unlike other successful businessmen, Hershey made sure that those who helped him reach his success were successful in life as well.
This mural is located at The Hershey Story.
He built a model industrial town for his employees which turned into a full-fledged community to support them. He was committed to education and made sure that everyone in his town had multiple recreational activities, including theater and a park, to enjoy.
Milton and his wife Catherine even opened up a school in 1909 for orphaned boys that was built in Hershey.
What does this have to do with the places I mentioned above?
Each of those places and activities mentioned above STILL supports the community.
Even though Milton is long gone, he continues to be an inspiration to those who run the company. Through The M.S. Hershey Foundation and The Hershey Trust, Milton’s community vision continues on.
Back in 1935, Milton Hershey gave 5000 shares of Hershey Company stock to start The M.S. Hershey Foundation so that the community would have cultural and educational experiences readily available to them. Now, the Foundation is responsible for overseeing The Hershey Story, Hershey Theatre, Hershey Gardens, and more to share these educational and cultural experiences with anyone who comes to visit.
Then there’s The Hershey Trust, which is kind of like the umbrella of it all. Originally started as a sort of bank way back in 1905, it became the main financial institution that supported the community since the opening of the Hershey Chocolate Factory.
In 1935 when The M.S. Hershey Foundation was started, the Trust was given the responsibility to oversee the financial decisions. Since then, both have:
- relieved the tax burden of maintaining the local public schools in Derry Township
- fully supported the Milton Hershey School, which now educates children in grades K-12 from income-eligible families from local areas and from out of state. (All programs, activities, supplies and medical care are provided at no charge to students, thanks to the Foundation.)
- established and built the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, which eventually became one of the largest employers in Hershey and brought in more families to live in the community
- preserved farmland and green spaces around the Hershey area as part of the original agreement of the Trust
When you visit the attractions in Hershey that I mention above, you are helping to support the community!
Even now, employees of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, which oversees most of these attractions I mentioned above, volunteer often in and around the community and give back whenever they can. In fact, the foundation of everything they do as a company is rooted in the beliefs of their founder, Milton S. Hershey. Can’t go wrong with that as a business model!
Would You Visit These Attractions?
Would you visit these attractions in Hershey? Have you visited them before? What do you like about them? Share your experiences with me in a comment below!
Laura Jafarkhani says
How fun! I am hoping to take our kids to Hershey Park someday so if we get out there we will need to check out some of these other fun activities!
Jade says
How cool is this article. thank you so much for pouring so many awesome facts in there. I must admit that butterfly atrium is what caught my attention! I love the butterfly atrium’s. Looks like Hershey is a pretty cool town.